.contemplation to acquire Louisiana from France
and U was intended to be applied as a.part of
tlie consideration which might be paid lor thai
territory. On the 13lh of February, 1806, the
same sum was in like manner appropriated,
ith n view to the purchase of the Floridas
from Spain. These appropriations were made
to facilitate negotiations, and as a means to en
able the President tn accomplibh the important
objects in view. Though u did not become
necessary for the President to use theso appro
priations, yet a Mate of things might have arisen
n which it would have been highly important
lor him to do ko, and the widom of making
riicm cannot be doubted. It is believed that
the measure recommended at your last session j timated that an additional annual revenue of about
met with the approbation of decided majorities $2,500,000, amounting, it is estimated, on the 30th
in both house of Congress. 1 ..deed, in differ-1 of June, 1848, to $4,000,000, would be derived
ant forms a bill making an appropriation of two J2 FSSZti.
millions of dollars parsed each House, and it L,m shoulj Congress graduate and reduce the
a! price of such of the public lands as have been
law. The reasons which induced me to re-! iong jn the market, the additional revenue derived
commended the measure at ihai tunc still exiai; jfrom that source would be annually, for several
:md I again submit the Mibject for vour consid-j years to come, between half a million and a imi
tation, and suggest ihe importance of early ac-j Hon of dollars: and the loan. required. may be re
turn upon it. Should the appropriation be made. I uced b-v ,that a0.1 alsiK huld m!aJ
. , 11-. p ures be adopted, the loan required would not prob
and be not needed it will remain tn the I reas- aW exceJ c hQen Qr tlicteen millions 0f dol-
ury; should it bo deemed proper to apply it m iar3 leaving in the treasury a constant surplus of
whole or in pari, it will be accounted for as $4,000,000. The loan proposed, it is estimated,
othrr public expenditure. will be sufficient to cover the necessary expend-
Immediately afier Congress had rerognised itures, both for the war and for all other purpo
se fxistenco of the war wiih Mexico, my at-.ses, up to the 30th of June, 1S48; and an amount
trillion was directed to the darwor that p'riva- f loan, not exceeding one-half, may tie re-
u Tin r linn i irn i r nr nt irwtt i i n nmninrnA r i i
he United States; and I invited the special at
tention of the Spanish Government to the 14ih
article of our Treaty wiih that Powej of the
20th of October, 1795, under which the citi
zrns and subjects of either nation who shall
take Commissions of Letters of Marque lo act
as privaieera against the other "shall be pun
ched as pirates."
It affords mo pleasure to inform you that I
have received assurances from the Spanish
Government that this article of the treaty shall
be faithfully observed on its part. Orders for
this purpose were immediately transmitted from
that Government to the authorities of Cuba and
Porto Rico to exert their utmost vigilance in
preventing any attempts to fit out privateers in
those islands against ihe United States. From
ihe good faiih of Spain I am fully satisfied that
this treaty will be executed in its spirit as well
as its letter; while the United States will, on
their part, faithfully perform all the obligations
which it imposes on them.
Information has been recently received at the
Department of Stale that the Mexican government
has sent to Havana blank commissions to priva
teers, and blank certificates of naturalization,
signed by General Salas. the present head of the for the war, the whole public debt could and would
Mexican government. There is, also, reason to have been extinguished within a short period; and
apprehend that similar documents have been trans- j h was a part of my settled policy to do so, and
milted to other parts of the world. Copies of these thus relieve the people from its burden, and place
papers, in translation, are herewith transmitted. the government in a position which would enable
As the preliminaries required by the practice of it to reduce the public expenditures to that eco
civilized nations for commissioning privateers and ' nomical standard which is most consistent with
regulating their conduct appear not to have been ;the general welfare, and the pure and wholesome
observed, and as these commissions are in blank, ' progress of our institutions,
to be filled up with the names of citizens and sub- j Among our just causes of complaint against Mex
jects of all nations who may be willing to purchase j ico, arising out of her refusal to treat for peace, as
them, the whole proceeding can only be construed well before as since the war, so unjustly com
as an invitation to all the freebooters upon earth, ( menced on her part, are the extraordinary expen
ivho are willing to pay for the privilege, to cruise , ditures in which we have been involved. Justice
against American commerce. It will be for our Jto our own people will make it proper that Mexi
courts of justice to decide whether, under such ! co should be held responsible for these expend
circumstances, these Mexican letters of marque itures.
and reprisal shall protect those who accept them, 1 Economy in the public expenditures is at all
nnd commit robberies upon tlie high seas under ! times a high duty which all public functionaries
their authority, from the pains and penalties of , of ihe government owe to the people. This duty
piracy. becomes the more imperative in a period of war.
If the certificates of naturalization thus granted when large and extraordinary expenditures be
be intended by Mexico to shield Spanish subjects come unavoidable. During the existence of the
from the guilt and punishment of pirates, under j war with Mexico all our resources should be hus
our treaty with Spain, they will certainly prove j banded, and no appropriations made except such as
unavailing. Such' a subterfuge would b6 but a are absolutoly necessary for its vigorous prosecu
weak device to defcal the provisions of a solemn tion and the due administration of the government,
treaty. j Objects of appropriation, which in peace may be
I recommend that Congress should immediately J deemed useful or proper, but which are not indis
provide by law for the trial and punishment as pi- pensable for the public service, may, when the
rates of Spanish subjects who, escaping the vigi- j country is engaged in a foreign war, be well post
lance of their government, shall be found guilty of j poned to a future period. By the observance of
privateering against the United States. 1 do not j this policy at your present session, large amounts
apprehend serious danger from these 'privateers, 'may be saved to the treasury, and be applied to
Our navy will be constantly on the alert to protect
our commerce. Besides, in case prizes should be '
made of American vessels, the utmost vigilance I
will be exerted by our blockading squadron to pre-! It is not meant to recommend that the ordinary
vent the captors from laking them into Mexican and necessary appropriations for the support of
ports, and it is not apprehended that any nation the government should be withheld, but it is well
will violate its neutrality by suffering such prizes . knovvn that at every session of Congress appro
to be condemned and sold within its jurisdiction. I priations are proposed for numerous objects which
I recommend that Congress should immediately may or may not be made, without materially af
provide by law for granting letters of marque and Ifecting the public interests; and these it is recom
reprisal against vessels under the Mexican flag. ' mended should not be granted.
It is true that there are but few, if any, commer- The act passed at your last session "reducing
cial vessels of .Mexico upon the high seas; and I the duties on imports" not having gone into oper
it is,' therefore, not probable that many American alion until the first of the present month, there has
privateers would be fitted out, in case a law not been time for its practical effect upon the rev
should pass authorizing this mode of warfare. ; enue, and the business of the country, to be de-
It is, notwithstanding, certain that such privateers ;
may render good service to the commercial inter-
ests of the country by recapturing our merchant .
ships, should any be taken by armed vessels un-'
der the Mexican flag, as well as by capturing ,
these vessels themselves. Every means within t
i u t. .1 i r... .
our power siiuuiu uu reauereu avauauie jor me
protection of our commerce.
rne annual report oi tne secretary oi me I rea-;
sury will exhibit a detailed statement of the con-1
rri r i . . .-.t tt .
union oi me nnances. xne imports lor me ns- .
IG liiiailVo. jl 11 wipuito iui mc no-
ding the l"th of June last were of the
121,091,797; of which the amount ex-
caryear end
value of SI!
141,893 consisted of domestic productions, and
$11,346,623 ot loreign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same
year were $29,499,247 06; of which there was de-
r.v.d from customs $26,712,067 87; from sales of
public lands $2,695,452 48, and from incidental
and miscellaneous sources $92,126 71. The ex-
penditures for the same period were $28,031,1 14
20. and the balance in the Treasury on the 1st day
of July last was$9,12(?,439 08.
me amount oi me puonc aeoi, niciuuing ireas-
ported was $1 1,316,623, leaving the amount re-.ducedthe amount imported, ana ihus diminished only received none oi the bounties or favors off our citizens by fixing upon the
tamed in the country lor domestic consumption instead oi producing revenue, liy n the taxes! government, uu by the uneoual operations of the nenence has shown they will
SI 10,345,174. The value of the exports for the were imposed not for the legitimate purpose of! protective policy, have been made, by the burdens i the contrary, it is a wise policy
game period was 8113,488,516 ; of which $102,- raising revenue, but to arTord advantages lo lavor- f ol taxation which it imposed, to contribute to the I to our citizens to become the
ury notes, on the first of the present month waslry and high price, and the heavier taxes on those
$24,256,494 60; of which, the sum of $17,788,799
62 was outstanding on the fourth of March, 18-15,
lpavjng the amount incurred since that time $6,-
467,694 98
In order to prosecute the war with Mexico with!
vigor and energy, as the best means of bringing it j
to a speedy and honorable termination, a further i
lnnn will h npcessarv. tn meet the expenditures I
for the present and next fiscal years. If the war J
should be continued until the thirtieth or June,
1848 being the end of the next fiscal year it is
estimated that an additional loan of $23,000,000
will be required.
This estimate is made upon the assumption that
it will be necessary to retain constantly in the
treasury 4,000,000, to guard against contingen
cies. If such surplus were not required to be re
tained, theh a loan of $19,000,000 would be suffi
cient. If, however, Congress should, at the pres-
jent session, impose a revenue duty on the princi-
i Dal articles now embraced in the free list, it is es-
fiscal year succeeding.
In
Mi-Hpr flint timr'lv nntirfi mnv he cm-en. and
t I
proper measures taken to effect the loan, or such !
portion of it as raav be reouired. it is important j
that the authority of Congress to make it be given
at an early period of your present session. It is
suggested that the loan should be contracted for
a period of twenty vears, with authority to pur
chase the stock and pay it off, at an earlier period
r 1 11-
at its market value, out of anv surplus which uiay ,
j at any time be in the treasury applicable to that
purpose. Alter the establishment ot peace wnn rates, because the advantages wnicn me manuiac
Mexico, it is supposed that a considerable surplus turers still enjoy result necessarily from the col
will exist, and that the debt may be extinguished , lection of revenue for the support of government,
in a much shorter period than that for which it . High protective duties, from their unjust operation
may be contracted. The period of twenty years, ! upon the masses of the people, cannot fail to give
as that for which the proposed loan may be con- i rise to extensive dissatisfaction and complaint, and
traded, in preference to a shorter period, is sug- f to constant efforts to change or repeal them, ren
gested, because all experience, both at home and j dering all investments in manufactures uncertain
abroad, has shown that loans are effected upon , and precarious. Lower and more permanent rates
much belter terms upon long time, than when they j of duty, at the same time that they will yield to
are reimbursable at short dates. 'the manufacturer fair and remunerating profits,
Necessary as this measure is, to sustain the will secure him against the danger of frequent
honor and the interests of the country, engaged in changes in the system, which cannot fail to ruin
a foreign war, it is not doubled but that Congress ' ously affect his interests.
will promptly authorize it. Simultaneously with the relaxation of the re-
The balance in the treasury on the 1st of July last strictive policy by the United States, Great Britain,
exceeded $9,000,000, notwithstanding consider- from whose example we derived the system, has
able expenditures had been made for the war dur-;
i ins: the months of May and June preceding. But
objects of pressing and urgent necessity, and thus
the creation of a corresponding amount of public
debt may be avoided.
veloped. It is not doubted, however, that the just
policy which it adopts will add largely to our for-
eigh trade, and promote the general prosperity .
Although it cannot be certainly foreseen what ;
amount of revenue it will yield, it is estimated that
it will exceed that produced by the act of 1S12,
...t.:i. :. ij im. i i: ::!. .. I
I tablished by it are, to levy the laxes with a view
w muu n aupursuueu. nie leauiiijz pnuuipius us- :
. . - i i
to raise revenue, ana 10 impose mem me articles
imported according to their actual value. ,
. x lit ii j-wm., mi u.iv.t,ojnv iuiio ui uui r
"which it imposed on many articles, either totally !
excluded them from importation, or greatly re-;
xne hui oi io'iz, uy me excessive rau-s oi uuiv
ed classes, at the expense of a large majority ofj
! their iellow citizens. ihosc employed in agri-i
1 culture, mechanical pursuits, commerce, and navi-
gation, were compelled to contribute from their ,
substance to swell the profits and overgrown
wealth of the comparatively lew who had invest-
ed their capital in manufactures. The taxes were j
; not levied in proportion to the value of the arti-1
, cles upon which they were imposed; but, widely !
'departing from this just rule, the lighter taxes j
were, in many cases, ievieo upon arnciesoi iuxu-
of necessity and low price, consumed by the great
mass of the people. It was a system the inevita
ble effect of which was to telieve favored classes
and the wealthy few from contributing their just
proportion for the support of Government, and to
lay the burden on the labor of the many engaged
in other pursuits than manufactures.
A system so uneoual and unjust lias been
su-
perseded by the existing law, which imposes du
ties not for the benefit or injury of classes or pur
suits, but distributes, and, as far as practicable,
equalizes the public burdens among all classes and
occupations. The favored classes, who, under
the unequal and unjust system which has been re
pealed, have heretofore realized large profits, and
many of them amassed large fortunes, at the ex
pense of the many who have been made tributary
to them, will have no reason to complain if they
shall be required to bear their just proportion of
the taxes necessary for the support of government.
So far from it, it will be perceived, by an examin
ation of the existing law, that discriminations in
the rates of duty imposed, within the revenue prin
ciple, have been retained in their favor. The in
cidental aid against foreign competition which
they still enjoy gives them an advantage which no
other pursuits'possess; but of this none others will
complain, because the duties levied are necessary
for revenue. These revenue duties, including
freights and charges, which the importer must pay
before he can come in competition with the home
manufacturer in our markets, amount on nealy all
our leading branches of manufacture, to more than
one-third of the value of the imported" article, and
in some cases to almost one-half of its value.
With such advantages, it i3 not doubted that our
domestic manufacturers will continue to prosper,
realizing in well conducted establishments even
greater profits than can. be derived from any other
regular business. Indeed, so far from requiring
the protection of even incidental revenue duties,
our manufacturers in several leading branches are
extending their business, giving evidence of great
ingenuity and skill, and of their ability to compete,
. s
with increased nrosneet of success, lor the open
market of the world. Domestic manufactures, to
the value of several millions of dollars, which can-
not find a market at home, are annually exported
to foreign countries With such rates of duty as
those established by the existing law, the system
will probably pe permanent ; and capitalists, who
have made or shall hereafter make, their invest-
ments in manufactures, will know upon what to i
rely. Ihe country will be satisfied with these
relaxed hers. She has modified her corn laws,
and reduced many other duties to moderate reve
nue rates. After ages of experience the statesmen
of that country have been constrained by a stern
necessity, and by a public opinion having its deep
foundation in the sufferings and wants of impover
ished millions, to abandon a system, the effect of
which was to build up immense fortunes in the
hands of the few, and to reduce the laboring mil
lions to pauperism and misery. Nearly in the
same ratio that labor was depressed, capital was j cie to pay the duties will be large ; and a hranch
increased and concentrated by the British protec- mint, where foreign coin and bullion could be im
tive policy. mediately converted into Ameiican coin, would
The evils of the system in Great Britain were ' greatly facilitate the transaction of the public bus
at length rendered intolerable ; and it has been j iness, enlarge the circulation of gold and silver,
abandoned, but not without a severe struggle on . and be, at the same time, a safe depository of the
the part of the protected and favored classes to re-, public money.
tain the unjust advantages which they have so long The importance of graduating and reducing the
enjoyed. It was to be expected that a similar, price of such of the public lands as have been long
struggle would be made by the same classes in offered in the market, at the minimum rate author-
the United States, whenever an attempt was made
to modify or abolish the same unjust system here.
The protective policy had been in operation in the
United States for a much shorter period, and its;
pernicious effects were not, therefore, so clearly j
perceived and felt. Enough, however, was known
of these effects to induce its repeal.
It would be strange if, in the face of the example
of Great Britain, our principal foreign customer,
and of the evils of a system rondered manifest in
that country by long and painful experience, and
in the face of the immense advantages, which, un
der a more liberal commercial policy, we are al
ready deriving, and must continue to derive, by
supplying her starving population with food, the
United States should restore a policy which she
has been compelled to abandon, and thus diminish
her ability to purchase from us the food and other
articles which she so much needs, and we so much
desire to sell.
By the simultaneous abandonment of the protec
tive policy by Great Britain and the United States,
new and important markets have already been
opened far our agricultural and other products ;
commerce and navigation have received a new
impulse ; labor and trade have been released from
the artificial trammels which have so long fettered
them ; and to a great extent reciprocity in the ex
change of commodities, has been introduced at the
same time by both countries and greatly for the
benefit of both. Great Britain has been forced, by
the pressure of circumstances at home, to abandon
a policy which has been upheld for ages, and to
open her markets for our immense surplus of
breadstuffs ; and it is confidently believed that
other Powers of Europe will ultimately see the
wisdom, if they be not compelled by the pauperism
and sufferings of their crowded population, to
:i i-
Our1 farmers are more deeply interested in main-
pursuu ;i simjiur policy
- - -1 . i
taming tue just ana nocrai policy ot the existing
law than any other class of our citizens. They
cousuiuie a jargu maioriiv oi our population; aw
luiijuiuiu a. iuig iwcijuiiLV Wl um JHJpiJ iilllUlI , and
it is well known that when they prosper, all other
pursuits prosper also. They have heretofore not
bounties which have enriched others
When a foreign as well as a home market is
opened to them, they must receive, as ihey are now
receiving, increased" prices for their products.
They will find a readier sale, and at better prices,
for their wheat, flour, rice, Indian corn, beef, pork,
lard, butter, cheese, and other articles, which they
produce. The home market alone is inadequate to
enable them to dispose of the immense surplus of
food and other articles which they are capable of
producing, even at the most reduced prices, for the
manifest reason that they cannot be consumed in
the country. Tlie United States can, from their
immense surplus, supply not only the home demand,
but the deficiencies of food required by the whole
world !
That the reduced production of some of the
chief articles of food in Great Britain, and other
parts of Europe, may have contributed to increase
the demand for our breadstuff's and provisions, is
not doubted ; but that the great and efficient cause
of this increased demand, and of increased prices,
consists in the removal of artificial restrictions
hitherto imposed, is deemed to be equally certain.
That our exports of food, already increased and
increasing beyond former example, under the more
liberal policy which has been adopted, will be still
vastly enlarged, unless they be checked or pre
vented by the restoration of the protective policy,
cannot be doubted. That our commercial and
navigating interests will be enlarged in a corres
ponding ratio with the increase of our trade, is
equally certain; while our manufacturing interests
will still be the favored interests of the country,
and receive the incidental protection affoided them
by revenue duties; and more than this they cannot
justly demand.
In my annual message of December last, a ta
riff of revenue duties based upon the principles of
the existing law was recommended ; and 1 have
seen no reason to change the opinions then ex
pressed. In view of the probable beneficial ef
fects of that law, I recommend that the policy es
tablished by it be maintained, it has but just
commenced to operate ; and to abandon or modify
it without giving it a fair trial, would be inexpe
dient and unwise. Should defects in any of its
details be ascertained bv actual experience to ex
ist, these may be hereafter corrected; but until
such defects shall become manifest, the act should
be fairly tested.
It is submitted for your consideration whether
it may not be proper as a war measure, to impose
revenue dutips on some of tlie articles now em
braced in the free list. Should it be deemed pro
per to impose such duties, with a view to raise
revenue to meet the expenses of the war with
Mexico, or to avoid to that extent the creation of
a public debt, they may be repealed when the
emergency which gave rise to them shall cease to
exist, and constitute no part of the permanent pol
icy of the country.
The act of the sixth of August last, u lo provide
for the better organization of the treasury, and for
the collection, safekeeping, transfer and disburse
ment of the public revenue," has been carried into
execution as rapidly as the delay necessarily ari
sing out of the appointment of new officers, taking
and approving their bonds, and preparing and se
curing proper places for the safekeeping of the
public money, would permit. It is not proposed
to depart in any respect from the principles or pol
icy on which this great measure is founded.
There are, however, defects iu the details of the
measures, developed by its practical operation,
which are fully set forth in the report of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, to which the attention of
Congress is invited. These defects would impair
to some extent the successful operation of the law
at all times, but are especially embarrassing when
the country is engciged in a war, when the expen
ditures are greatly increased, when loans are to
be effected, and the disbursements are to be made
at points many hundred miles distant, in some case
from any depository, and a large portion of them
in a foreign country. The modifications suggest
ed in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
are recommended to your favorable consideration.
In connection with this subject, I invite your at
tention to the importance of establishing a branch
of the mint of the United States at New York.
Two-thirds of the revenue derived from customs
being collected at that point, the demand for spe
ized by existing laws, and remain unsold, induces
me again toirecommend the subject to your favor
able consideration. Many millions of acres of
these lands have been offered in the market for
more than thirty years, and larger quantities for
more than ten or twenty years ; and being of an
inferior quality, they must remain unsaleable for
an indefinite period, unless the price at which they
be purcnased shall be reduced To place a price
upon them above their real value is not only to
prevent their sale, and thereby deprive the Treas
ury of any income from that source, but it is un
just to the States in which they lie, because it re
tards ihe growth and increase of the population,
and because they have no power to levy a tax up
on them as upon other lands within their limits,
held by other proprietors than the United States,
for the support of their local governments.
The beneficial effects of the graduation princi
ple have been realized by some of the States own
ing the lands within their limits, in which it has
been adopted. They have been demonstrated al
so by the United States acting as the trustee of
the Chickasaw tribe of Indians in the sale of their
lands lying within the Stales cf Mississippi and
Alabama. The Chickasaw lands, which would
not command in the market the minimum price es
tablished by the laws of the United States for the
sale of their lands, were, in pursuance of the trea
ty of 1834 with that tribe, subsequently offered for
sale at graduated and reduced rates for limited pe
riods. The result was, that large quantities of
these lands were purchased, which, would oiher
wise have remained unsold. The lands were dis
posed of at their real value, and many persons of
limited means were enabled to purchase small
tracts, upon which they have settled with their
families.
That similar results would be produced by the
adoption of the graduation policy by the United
States, in all the States in which they are the
owners of large bodies of lands which have been
long in the market cannot be doubted. It cannot
be a sound policy to withhold large quantities of
the public lands from the use and occupation of
;m prices which ex-
not command. On
to afford facilities
owners, at low and
moderate rates, of freeholds of their own, instead
of being the tenants and dependants of others. If
it be apprehended that these lands, if reduced in
price, would be secured in large quantities by
speculators or capitalists, the sales may be re
stricted, in limited quantities, to actual settlers or
persons purchasing for purposes of cnltivation.
In my last annual message 1 submitted for the
consideration of Congress the present system of
managing the mineral lands of the United States,
and recommended that they should be brought in
to market and sold, upon such terms and under
such restrictions as Congress might prescribe.
By the act of the eleventh of July last, "the re
served lead mines and contiguous lands in the
States of Illinois and Arkansas, and Territories of
Wisconsin and Iowa," were authorized to be sold.
The act is confined, in its operation, to "lead mines
and contiguous lands."
A large portion of the public lands containing
copper and other ores is represented to be very
valuable, and I recommend that provision be made
authorising the sale of these lands, upon such terms
and conditions as their supposed value may, in the
judgment of Congress, be deemed advisable, hav
ing due regard to the interests of such of our citi
zens as may be located upom them.
It will be important, during your present ses
sion, to establish a territorial government and to
extend the jurisdiction and laws of the United
States over ihe Territory of Oregon. Our laws
regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian
tribes east of the Rocky mountains should be ex
tended to the Pacific ocean ; and for the purpose
of executing them ami preserving friendly relations
with the Indian tribes within our limits, an addi
tional number of Indian agencies will be required,
and should be authorized by law. The establish
ment of custom-houses, and of post offices and
post-roads, and provision for the transportation of
the mail on such routes as the public convenience
will suggest, require legislative authority. It will
be proper, also, to establish a surveyor general's
office in that Territory, and to make the necessary
provision for surveying the public lands, and bring
ing them into market. As our citizens who now
reside in that distant region have been subjected
to many hardships, privations, and sacrifices in
their emigration, and by their improvements have
enhanced the value of the public lands in the neigh
borhood of their settlements, it is recommended
that liberal grants be made of such portions of
these lands as they may occupy, and that similar
grants or rights of pre-emption be made to all who
may emigrate thither within a limited period, to be
prescribed by law.
The report of the Secretary of War contains de
tailed information relative to the several branches
of tlie public service connected with that depart
ment. The operations ot tne army have been of
a satisfactory and highly gratifying character.
I recommend to your early and favorable con
sideration the measures proposed by the Secretary
of War for speedily filling ujMie rank and file of
the regular army, for its greater efficiency in the
field, and for raising an additional force to serve
during the var with Mexico.
Embarrassment is likely to arise for want of le
gal provision authorizing compensation to he m-tdu
to the agents employed in the several States and
Territories to pay the revolutionary an 1 other pen
sioners the amounts allowed them by law. Your
attention is invited to the recommenda'ions of the
Secretary of War upon this subject. Tiiese agent3
incur heavy responsibilities and perform important
duties, and no reason exists why they should not
be placed on the same footing, as to compensation,
with other disbursing officers.
Our relations with the various Indian tribes con
tinue to be of a pacific character. The unhappy
dissensions which have existed among the Chero
keos for many years past have been healed. Since
my last annual message, important treaties have
been negotiated with some of the tribes by which
the Indian title to large tracts of valuable land,
within, the limits of the States and Territories, has
been extinguished, and arrangements made lor re
moving them to the country west of the Mississip
pi. Between three and four thousand, of different
tribes, have been removed to the country provided
for them by treaty stipulations, and arrangements
have been made for others to follow.
In our intercourse with the several tribes partic
ular attention has been given to the important sub
ject of education. The number of schools estab
lished among them has been increased, and addi
tional means provided, not only for teaching them
the rudiments of education, but of instructing them
in agriculture and the mechanic arts.
I refer you to the report of the Secretary of she
Navy for a satisfactory view of the operatic-rus of
the department under his charge during the past
year. It is gratifying to perceive, that while tho
war with Mexico has rendered it uecessary to em
ploy an unusual number of our armed vessels on
her coasts, the protection due to our commerce i i
other quarters of the world has not proved insuffi
cient. No means will be spared to give efficiency
to the naval service in the prosecution of the war;
and I am happy to know that the officers and men
anxiously desire to devote themselves to the ser
vice of their country in any enterprise, however
difficult of execution.
I recommend to your favorable consideration tho
proposition to add to each of our foreign squad
rons an efficient sea steamer, and, as especially
demanding attention, the establishment at Pensa
cola of the necessary means of repairing and refu
ting the vessels of the navy employed in the gulf
of Mexico.
There are other suggestions in tho report which
deserve and, I doubt not, will receive your consid
eration. The progress and condition of the mail service
for the past year are fully presented in the report
of the Postmaster General. The revenue for tho
year ending on the thirtieth of June last amounted
to three million four hundred and eighty-seven
thousand one hundred and ninety nine dollars,
which is eight hundred and two thousand six hun
dred and forty two dollars and forty five cents less
than that of the preceding year.
Tho payments for that department during tho
same time amounted to $4,084,297 22. Of this
sum $597,097 80 have been drawn from the treas
ury. The disbursements for the year were $236,
434 77 less than those of the preceding year-
While the disbursements have been thus dimin
ished, the mail facilities have been enlarged by
new mail routes of five thousand seven hundred
and thirty nine miles ; an increase of transportation
of one million seven hundred and sixty four thous
and one hundred and forty five miles, and the es
tablishment of four hundred and eighteen new post
offices. Contractors, postmasters, and others, en
gaged in this branch of the service, have performed
their duties with energy and faithfulness, deserving;
commendation. For many interesting detail
.:uiuu;ciuu wun me operations oi us estab'isn-
ment, you are referred to the report of the Post
master General ; and his suggestions for improving
its revenues aro recommended to your favo rable
consideration. I repeat the opinion express ed in
my last annual message, that the business of thi
department should be so regulated that the icve
nues derived from it should be made to eqt al the
expenditures ; and it is believed that thi3 r jay be
done by proper modifications of the prr.ser ttlaws,
as suggested in the report of the Postmast ar- Gen
eral, without changing the present rates off mstage.
U ith full reliance upon the wisdom and patriot
ism of your deliberations, it will be my du ty, as it
will be my anxious desire, to co-opera"te ith vou
tn every constitutional effort to promote the t welfare
and maintain the honor of our common c( Mjntrv-
JAMES K. r QhlL
Washington,. December 8, 1846.
V