m it H: KrreiwtMBmwtum i MESSAGIf: f.": Of the President of the United States; to both: JIouscs of the Thirty-First Congress, Decern bcr, 1849. Fellow-Citizens of the Senate ami House of Representatives: Sixty years have elapsed since ihe establishment of this Government, and the Congress of the Uni "teid States again assembles, to legislate for an em pire of freemen. The predictions of evil prophets, who formerly pretended to foretell the downfall of our institutions, aio now remembered only to be derided, and the United Sates of America, at litis moment, present to the world the most stable and permanent Government on earth. Suchis the result of the labors of those who have .gone before us. Upon Congress will eminently depend the future maintenance of our system of free government, and the transmission of it, unim paired, to posterity. We are at peace with all the world, and seek to maintain our cherished relations of amity with the ; rest of mankind. During the past year, we have been blessed, by a kind Providence, with an abun dance of the fruits of the earth; and, although the destroying angel, for a time, visited extensive por tions of our territory with the ravages of a dread ful pestilence, yet, the Almighty has at length deigned to stay his hand, and to restore the ines timable blessing of general health to a people who have acknowledged his power, deprecated his wrath, and implored his mericiful protection. While enjoying the benefits of amicable inter course with foreign nations, we have not been in sensible to the distractions and wars which have prevailed in other quarters of the world. It is a proper theme of thanksgiving to Him who rules the destines of nations, that we have been able to maintain, amidst all these contests, an independent and neutral position towards ail belligerent pow ers. Our relations with Great Britain are of the most friendly character. In consequence ot the recent alteration of the British navigation acts, British vessels, from British and other foreign ports, will, (under our existing laws.) after the first day of January Tiext, be admitted to entry in our ports with cargoes of the growth manufacture, or pro duction of any part of the world, on the same terms, as to duties, imposts and charges, as vessels of .the United States with their cargoes; and our ' vessels will be admitted to the same advantages iu British ports, entering therein on the same terms :ts British vessels. Should no order in council disturb this legislative arrangement, the late act of the British Parliament, by which Great Britain is brought within the terms proposed by the act . of Congress of the 1st of March, 1847, it is hoped, will be productive of benefit to both countries. A slighl interruption of diplomatic intercourse, which occurred between this Government and France, I am happy to say, has been terminated, and our Minister there has been received. It is therefore "unnecessary to refer now, to-the circum stances which led to that interruption. I need not express to you the sincere satisfaction with which we shall welcome the arrival of another Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from a sister republic, to which we have so long been, and still remain, bound by the strongest ties of amity. Shortly after I had entered upon the discharge of the Executive duties, I was apprized that a war steamer, belonging to the German Empire, was being fitted out in the harbor of New York, with the aid of some of our naval officers, rendered un der the permission of the late Secretary of the Na- vy. lilts permission was grantea aurmg an ar- mistice between that Empire and the Kingdom of Denmark, which had been engaged in the Schles wig Holstein war. Apprehensive that this act of intervention, on our part, might be viewed as a violation of our neutral obligationsj incurred by the treaty with Denmark, and of the provisions of the act of Congress of the 20th April, 1818, I direc ted that no further aid should be rendered by any agent or officer of the Navy ; and I instructed the Secretary of State to apprize the Minister of the German Empire accredited to this Government, of my determination to execute the law of the Uni ted States, and to maintain the faith of treaties with all nations. The correspondence, which ensued between the Department of State and the Minister of the Ger man Empire, is herewith laid before you. The execution of the law and the observance of the treaty were deemed by me to be due to the honor of the country, -as well as to the sacred obligations of the Constitution. I shall not fail to pursue the same course, should a similar case arise with any other nations. Having avowed the opinion, on taking the oath of office, that, in disputes between conflicting foreign governments, it is our interest, not less than our duty, to remain strictly neutral, I shall not abnndon it. You will perceive, from the correspondence submitted to you, in conexion with this subject, that the course adopted in this case has been properly regarded by the belligerent powers interested in the matter. Although a Minister of the United States to the German Empire was appointed by my predecessor, in August, 1848, and has, for a long time, been in attendance at F,rankfort-on-the-Maine ; and al though a Minister, appointed to represent that Em pire, was received and accredited here, yet no such Government as that of the German Empire has been definitively constituted. Mr. Donelson, our representative at Frankfort, remained there several months, in the expectation that a union of the German States, under one constitution or form of government, might, at length, be organized. It is believed, by those well acquainted with the ex isting relations between Prussia and the State? of Germany, that no such union can be, permanently, established without her co-operation. In the event of the formation of such a union, and the organi zation of a central power in Germany, of which she should form a part, it would become necessary to withdraw our Minister at Berlin ; but while Prussia exists as an independent kingdom, and diplomatic relations are maintained with her, there can be no necessity for the continuance of the mission to Frankfort. I have, therefore, recalled Mr. Donelson, and directed the archives of the legation, at Frankfort, to be transferred to the American legation at Berlin. Having been apprized that a considerable num ber of adventurers were engaged in fitting out a military expedition, within the United Stales, against a foreign country; and believing, from the best information 1 could obtain, that it was des tined to invade the island of Cuba, I deemed it due to the friendly relations existing between the United States and Spain; to the treaty between the two nations; to the laws of the United States, and, above all, to the American honor, to exert the jawful authority of this Government in sup pressing the expedition and preventing the inva sion. To this end, J issued a proclamation, en joining it upon the officers of the United States civil and military, to use all lawful means within their .power. A copy of that proclamaton is here with sumbitted. The expedition has been sup pressed. So long as the act of Congress of the 20th of April, 1618, which owes its existence to the law of nations and to the policy of Washing ton himself, shall remain on our statute book, I bold it to be the duty of the Executive faithfully to obey its injunctions. While this expedition was in progress, I was informed that a foreigner, who claimed our pro tection, had been clandestinely, and. as was sup posed, .forcibly carried off in a vessel from New Orleans rto the island of Cuba. I immediately caused such steps to be taken as 1 thought neces Eary, in case the information I had received rhouhl pmrc correct, to vindicate the honor of the country r andlthe riglit of every person seeking an, asylum on our .soilfto the p.rbtectionjfof out I laws.; The' person ajleged to have been abduct-: ed, was promptly restored, and the 'circqmstan-:-ces of the case are nowiibout to undergo investi gation before a judicial tribunal. I would res pectfully suggest, that although the crime charged to have been committed in this case, is held odi ous as being in conflict with our opinions on the subject of national sovereignty and personal free dom, there is no prohibition of it, or punishment for it, provided in any act of Congress. The ex pediency of supplying this defect in our criminal code is therefore recommended to your considera tion. I have scrupulously avoided any interference in the wars and contentions which have: recently distracted Europe. During the late conflict between Austria and Hungary, there seemed to be a prospect that the latter might become an independent nation. However faint that prospect at the time appeared, I thought it my duty, in accordance with the gen eral sentiment of the American people, who deep ly sympathized with the Magyar patriots, to stand prepared, upon the contingency or the establish ment by her of a permanent government, to be he first to welcome independent Hungary into the family of nations. For this purpose, I invested an agent, then in Europe, with power to declare our willingness promptly to recognise her inde pendence, in the event of her ability to sustain it. The powerful intervention of Russia, in the con test, extinguished the hopes of the struggling Magyars. Ihe United States did not, at any time, interfere in the contest; but the feelings of the nation were strongly enlisted in the cause, and by the sufferings of a brave people, who had made a gallant though unsuccessful effort to be free. Our claims upon Portugal have been, during the past year, prosecuted with lenewed vigor; and it has been my object to employ every effort of honorable diplomacy to procure their adjustment. Our late Charge d'Aftairs at Lisbon, the Hon. George W. Hopkins, made able and energetic, but unsuccessful efforts to settle these unpleasant matters of controversy, and to obtain indemnity for the wrongs which were the subjects of com plaint. Our present Charge d'Affairs at that court will, also, bring to the prosecution of these claims ability and zeal. The revolutionary and distracted condition of Portugal, in past times, has been represented as one of the leading causes of her delay in indemnifying our suffering citi zens. But I must now say, it is matter of pro found regret that these claims have not yet been settled. The omission of Portugal to do justice to the American claiments has now assumed, a character so grave and serious, that I shall short ly make it the subject of a special message to Congress, with a view to such ultimate action as its wisdom and patriotism may suggest. With Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, Den mark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Italian States, we still maintain our accustomed amica ble relations. During the rece'nt revolutions in the Papal States, our Charge d' Affairs at Rome has been unable to present his letter of credence, which, indeed, he was directed by my predecessor to withhold until he should receive further orders. Such was the unsettled condition of things in those States, that it was not deemed expedient to give him any instructions on the subject of pre senting his credential letter different from those with which he had been furnished by the iate ad ministration, until the 25th of June last; when, in consequnence of the want of accurate information 01 ine exact, state oi tilings, at mat uistance irom us, hi: wets maum icu iu eaeiuiae 1113 uwu uisnc lion in presenting himself to the then existing government, if, in his judgment, sufficiently sta ble; or if not, to await further events. Since that period, Rome has undergone another revolution, and he abides the establishment of a government sufficiently permanent to justify him in opening diplomatic intercourse with it. With the republic of Mexico, it is our true pol icy to cultivate the most friendly relations. Since the ratification of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidal go, nothing has occurred of a serious character to disturb them. A faithful observance of the trea ty, and a sincere respect for her rights, cannot fail to secure the lasting confidence and friendship of that republic. The message of my predecessor to the House of Representatives, of the 8th of Feb ruary last, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of that body, a copy of a paper called a protocol, signed at Queretaro on the 30th of May, 1848, by the commissioners of the United States and the minister of foreign affairs of the Mexican government, having been a subject of correspon dence between the Department of State and the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentia ry of that republic accredited to this government, a transcript of that correspondence is herewith submitted. The Commissioners on the part of the Uni ted States for marking the boundary between the two republics, though delayed in reaching San Diego by unforseen obstacles, arrived at that place within a short periud after the time required by the treaty, and was there joined by the commissioner on the part of Mexico. They entered upon their duties ; and, at the date of the latest intelligence from that quarter, some progrebs had been made in the survey. The expenses incident to the organization of the commission, and to iis conveyance to the point where its operations wero to begin, have so much reduced the fund appropriated by Con gress, that a further sum, to cover the charges which must be incurred during the present fis cal year, will be necessary. The great length of frontier along which tho boundary extends, the nature of the adjacent territory, audhe'difli culty of obtaining supplies, except at or near the extremes of the line, render it also indis pensable that a liberal provision should be made to meet the necessary charges during the fiscal year ending on ihe 30th of June, 1851. I ac cordingly recommend this subject to your at tention. In the adjustment of the claims of American citizens on Mexico, provided for by the. late treaty, the employment of counsel, on the part of the Government, may become important for ihe purpose of assisting the commidbioners in protecting tho interests of tho United S'aies. I recommend this subject to ihe early and fa vorable consideration of Congress. Complaints have been made in regard to the inefficiency of the means .provided by the Gov ernment of New Grenada for transporting the United States mail across the Isthmus of Pan ama, pursuant to our Postal convention with that republic, of the 6th of March, .1844. Our Charge d'Affairs at Bogota has been directed to make such representations to the government of New Grenada as will, it i hoped, lead to a prompt removal of this cause of complaint. Tho sanguinary civil war with which the Re public of Venezuela has- for some time past been ravaged, has been brought to a close. In its progress, the rights of some of our citizens resident or trading there have been violated. The restoration of order will afford the Vene zuelan government an opportunity to examine and rodreaa these grievances and others of long er standing, which our representatives al Car- ifMTiwm irnr tin accts have, hiheno, ineffectually urged upon j the rjen.tiou of that governmni jmV Tlie ftxieiisinn of the coast ofKlth&U.fSiatea on if lie Pacific, and the uiftixampleti rapidity wttn wtucn me innanitants oi uauiornia, espe cially, are increasing in numbers, have impar ted new consequnce to our relations wuh the other countries whose territories border upon tht"oc!an. It is piobable tharthe intercourse biweon those commie and our possessions in thai quarter, partirularly with the Republic of Chill, will berome extensive and naiurallyad- iantagfiOUH5in proportion as California arid Or egon nhtill increase'in population and wealth, li is desirable,-therefore,. that this Government should do every thing in j is power to foster and strengthen its relations with those States, and that the hpiiit of amity between us should be mutual and cordial. I recommend the observance of the same course towards all other American States. The U. States stand as the great. American power to which, as their natural ally and friend, they will always be deposed, first, to look for me diation and assistance, in the event of any col lision between them and any European nation. As such, we may often kindly mediate in their behalf, without entangling ourselves in foreign wars or unnecessary controversies. Whenev er the faith of our treaties with any of them shall require our interference, we must neces sarily interpovo; A convention has been negotiated with Bra zil, providing for the satisfaction of American claims on that government, and it will be sub mitted io the Senate. Since the last season of Congress, we have received an Envoy Ex iraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from that Empire, and our relations with it are foun ded upon the most amicable, understanding. Your attention is earnestly united to an a mendment of our existing laws relating to the African .lavo trade, with a view to the effectu al suppression of that barbarous traffic. It is not to be denied, that this trade is still, in part, carried on by means of vessel built in the U States, and Owned or navigated by some of our citizens. The correpondence between the Department of State and the Minister and consul of the U. States at Rio de Janeiro, which has from time to nine been Uid before Congress, represents that it is a cuhiomay device to evade the penal ties o! our laws by means of sea-letters. Ves sels sold in Brazil, .when provided wuh such pa pers by the Consul, instead of returning to the U S'a-'es for a new register, proceed, at once, to the coast of Africa, for the purpose of obtaining cargoes of slaves. Much additional information, of the same character, has recently been trans mitted to the Department of State. It has noi been considered the policy of our law to sub ject an American citizen, who in a foreign coun try, purchase a ve-sel built in the U. Siaies, to the inconvenience of sending her home for a new register, before permitting her to pro ceed on a voyage. Anv alteration of the laws, which might have a tendency to impede the free transfer ol property m vessels between our citizens, or the, free navigation of those vessels between different parts of the world, when em ployed in lawful commerce, should be well and cautiously considered ; but I trust that your wisdom will devise a method by which our general policy, in litis respect, may be pre served, and at the same, time the abuse of our flag, by means of sea-letters, in the manner in dicated, may he prevented. Having ascertained that there is no prospect of the re-union of the five States of Central America, which formerly composed the repub lic of that name, we hae separately negotiated with some of them treaties of amity and com merce, which will he laid before the Senate. A., contract having been concluded with the Nicaragua, by a company composed of American ! citizens, for the purpose of constructing a ship canal, through the territory of that. State, to con nect the Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, 1 have di rected the negotiation of a treaty with Nicaragua, pledging both governments to protect those who shall engage in and perfect the work. All other nations are invited by the State of Ni caragua to enter into the same treaty stipulations with her; and the benefit to be derived by each from such an arrangement, will be the protection of this great inter-oceanic communication against any power which might seek to obstruct it, or to monopolize its advantages. All States, entering into such a treaty, will enjoy the right of passage through the canal on payment of the same tolls. The work, if constructed under these guaran tees, will become a bond of peace, instead of a subject of contention and strife, between the na tions of the earth. Should the great maritime States of Europe consent to this arrangement, (and we have no reason to suppose that a proposition so fair and honorable will be opposed by any,) the energies of their people and ours will co-operate in promoting the success of the enterprise. I do not recommend any appropriation from the Nation al Treasury for thi3 purpose, nor do 1 believe that such an appropriation is necessary. Private en terprise, if properly protected, will complete the work, should it prove to be feasible. The parties who have procured the charter from Nicaragua, for its construction, desire no assistance from this Go vernment beyond its protection; and they profess, that having examined the proposed line of commu nication, they will be ready to commence the un dertaking whenever that protection shall be exten ded to thern. Should there appear to be reason, on examining the whole evidence, to entertain a seri ous doubt of the practicability of constructing such a canal, that doubt could be speedily solved by an actual exploration, of the route. Should such a work be constructed, under the common pro tection of all nations, for equal benefits to all, it would be neither just nor expedient that anv grcut maritime State should command the communication. The territory through which the Canal may be opened ought to be freed from the claims of any foreign power. No such power should occupy a posi tion that would enable it hereafter to exercise so controlling an influence over the commerce of the world, or to obstruct a highway which ought to be dedicated to the common use of mankind. The routes across the isthmus, at Tehauntepec and Panama, . are also worthy of our senou.rconbideration. They did not fail, rpfengage Hie attention of my predessor. The negotia tor ofthe treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo was instructed to ofr fer a very large sum of money for the right of transit, across the Isthmus of Tehauntepec. The Mexican government did not accede to the pioppsilion for the purchase ofthe right of way, probably because it had already contracted with private indviduals for the construction of a passage from the Guasa cualco river Tehauntepec. I shall not renew any proposition to purchase, for money, a right which ought to be equally se cured to all nations, on payment of a reasonable toll to the owners of the improvement, who would, doubtless, be well .contented with that compensation and the guarantees of the maritime States of the world, in separate treaties negotiated with Mexico, binding her and them to protect those who should construct the work. Such guarantees would do more to se cure the completion ofthe communication through tho terri tory of Mexico, than any other reasonable consideration that could be offered; and as Mexico herself would be the greatest gainer by the opening of this communication between tho Gulf and the Pacific ocean, it is presumed that she would not hes itate to yield her aid, in the manner proposed, to accomplish an improvement so important to her own best intcrcsis. We nave reason to hope that the proposed railroad across the Isthmus at Panama will bo successfully constructed, under the protection of the late treaty with New Crcn ad a, ratified arid exchanged by my predecessor on the 10th day of June, ISIS, which guarantees tho perfect neutrality of the Isthmus, and the rights of sovereignty and propriety of New Greneda over that territory, "with a view that the free transit from ocean to ocean may not be interrupted or embairassed" during the existence of the treaty It is our policy to encourage every BrrtTirTTfJm''""",',T,"' practicable route across the Uthmus, which connects No'rtlt and South America, eithcr-by railroad or canal, which" the.en cilitutirig intercourse with our-possessionson the Pacific. The position of the Sandwich islands withrespect to the territory ofthe United States on the Pacific ; the surcesa of tour persevering and benevolent citizens who have repaired o that remote quarter in christianizing the natives and in ducing the ii to adopt a system of government and laws sui ted to their capacity and wants ; and the use made by our numerous whale ships of the harbora ofthe islands.as places of resort for obtaining refreshments and repairs, all combine to render their destiny peculiarly interesting to us. It is our duty to encourage the authorities of those islands in their efforts to improve and clevato the moral and political condi tion of the inhabitants; and we should make reasonable al lowances for the difficulties inseparable from this task We desire that the islands may maintain their indcpendence.and . that other nations shouldconcur with us in this sentiment. Vve coaiu in no event uu luuiuuruni 10 tneir passing unuci the dominion of anothqrpower. The principal commercial States have in thisa common interest, and it is to be hoped that no one of them will attempt to interpose obstacles to the entire independence ofthe islands. The receipts into the treasury for the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth of June last, were; in cash, S48.830.U97 50, and in Treasury notC3 funded, $-0,833,040 making an aggregate of S536630U7 59; and the expenditures, fpr the same time were in cish S4G7086G7 62, and in Treasury1 notes lunded $10833000; making an aggregate of $57631767 82. The accounts and estimates which will be submitted to congress in the report ofthe Secretary of the Treasury show that there will probably be a deficit, occasioned by the ex penses of the Mexican war and treaty, on the first day of July next of S5S2tf21 00 and on the first day of July 1851 of S105570'J5 72 making in the whole a probable deficit to be provided for of $16375214 39. The extraordinary expenses of the war with Mexico and the purchase of California and New Mexico exceed in amount this deficit together with the loans heretofore made for those objects. I therefore recom mend that authority be given to borrow whatever sum may be necessary to cover that deficit. I recommend the obser vance of strict economy iu the appropriation and expendi ture of public money. I recommend a revision ofthe existing tariff and its ad justment on a basis which may aucment the revenue. I do not doubt the right or duty of Congress to encourage do mestic industry which is the great source of national as well as individual wealth and prosprity. 1 look to the windoni and patriotis.n rf Congress for the udoption of a system which may place home labor at last on a sure and perma nent footing, and by due encouragement of manufactures give a new "anil increased stimulus to agriculture and pro mote tho development of our vast resources and the extension of our commerce. Believing that to the attainment of these ends (as well as the necessary augmentation ofthe revenue and the prevention of frauds) a system of specific duties is best adapted,! strongly recommend to Congress the adoption of that system, fixing the duties at rates high enough to af ford substantial and aulficient encouragement to our own in dustry and at the same time so adjusted as to insure stability. The question of the continuance ofthe Sub-treasury sys tem is respectfully submitted to the wisdom of Congress. If continued important modifications of it appear to be indis pensable. Foi further details and views on the above and other mat ters connected with commerce .the finances and revenue, I refer to the report ofthe Secretary of the Treasury. No direct aid has been giveu by the General Government to the improvement of agriculture except by the expenditure of small sums fur the collection and publication of agricul tural statistics and for some chemical analyses which have been thus farpuid for out ofthe patent fund. This aid is in my opinion wholly inadequate. To give to this leading branch of American industry the encouragement which it merits I respectfully recommend the establishment of an ag ricultural bureau to be connected with the department ofthe interior. To elevate the social condition of the agricultu rist to increase his prosperity and to extend his means of usefulness to his country by multiplyinghis sources of infor mation should be the study of every statesman and a prima ry object with every legislator. No civil government having been provided by Congress for California the people of that territory impelled by the neces sities of their political condition recently met iu convention for the purpose of forming a constitution and state govern ment which the latest advices give me reason to suppose has been accomplished ; anil it is believed they will shoitly ap ply for the admission of California into the Union as a sov ereign State. Should such be the case and should their con stitution be conformable to the constitution of the United States I recommend their application to the favorable consid eration of congress. The people of Now Mexico, will also, it is believed, at no very distant period present themselves for admission into the Union. Preparatory to the admission of California and New Mexico, the people of each will have instituted for themselves a republican form of government, "laying its foundation in such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to efl'ect their safety tmd happiness." By awai'ing their action, all causes of un easiness may be avoided, and confidence and kind feeling preserved With a view of maintaining the harmony and tranquility so dear to all, we should abstain from the intro duction of those exciting topics of a section al character which have hitherto produced paintul apprehensions in the public mird,and I repeat the solemn warning ofthe first & most illustrious of my predecessors against furnish ing "any ground for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations." A Collector has been appointed at San Francisco, under the act of Congress extend ing the revenue laws over California ; and measures have been taken to organize the cu torn house at that and the other ports men tioned in that act, at the earliest period prac ticable. The Collector proceeded overland, and advices have not yet been received of his arrival at San Francisco. Meanwhile, it is understood that the customs have continued to be collected there by officers acting under the military authority, as they were during the administration of my predecessor. It will, I think, be expedient to confirm the col lections thus made, and direct the avails, (al ter such allowances as Congress may see fit to authorize,) to be expended within the Ter ritory, or to be paid into the Treasury, for the purpose of meeting appropriations for the im provement of its rivers and harbors. A party engaged on the coast survey, was despatched to Oregon in January last. According to the latest advices they had not left California; and directions have been giv en to them, as soon as they shall have fixed on the sites of the two light-houses and the buoys authorised to bo constructed and placed in Oregon, to proceed vitlput deluy to make reconuoisances of the most important points on the coast of California, and especially to examine and determine on sites for light hou ses on the coast, the speedy erection of which is urgently demanded by our rapidly increa sing commerce. I have transferred the -Indian Agencies from Upper Missouri and Council Bluffs to Santa Fe and Salt Lake ; and have caused to be appointed sub-agents in the valleys of Gil j. the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Still further legal provisions will be necessary , for the effective and successful extension of our system of Indian intercourse over the pew Territories. I recommend the establishment of a branch, in California, as it will, in my opinion, afford important facilities to those engaged in mining, as well as to the Government in the 'dispose lion of the mineral lands. I also recommend that commissions be or ganized by Congress, to examine and decide upon the validity of the present subsisting land titles in California and New Mexico ; and that provision, be made for the establishment Qf offices of Surveyor General iu Mexico, California, qnd O regon, and for the surveying and bringing into market the public lands in Territories. Those lands, remote in position and difficult of across, ought to bo disposed of on teims liberal to all,, bitt especially fa vorable to the early emigrants. In order that the situation and' character of the principalj.niineral deposits in California may be ascertained, I.recommend that a .geo logical apd mineralogtcal exploration he con nected with the linear surveys, and that tho pletet'lnid Pcbnsider it obligatory upon me toraiIopt that pol-r iimin'rnnsGtuienceL of th absolute necessity of fa-" mineral lands be divided into small lots suita- 'bleVfor mining, and be disposed of, by sale or leasej: so-as to give our citizens an opportunity to prcTcur.erskpermanent right of property in the soil. This would seem to be as impor tant in the success of mining as of agricultu ral pursuits. The great mineral wealth of CaIiiornia,and the advantages which its ports and harbors; and those of Oregon, afford to commerce, es pecially with the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the populous regions of Eastern Asiar make it certain that there will arise, in a 'few years, large-and prosperous communitiegrori our western coast. It, therefore, becornes-im-portant that a line of communication, the best and most expeditious which the nature of the country will admit, should be opened, within the territory of the United States, from the navigable waters of the Atlantic, or the. Gulf of Mexico, to the Pacific. Opinion, a9 elicited by two large and respectable conven tions, lately assembled at St. Louis and Mem phis, poiuts to a railroad as that which, if prac ticable, will best meet the wishes and wants of the count i y. But while this, if in successful operation, would be a work of great national importance and of a value to the country which it would be difficult to estimate, it ought also to be re garded as an undertaking of vast magnitude and expense, and one which must, if it be in- j deed practicable, encounter many difficulties i in its construction and use. I Therefore to avoid failure and disappointment; ! to enable Congress to judge whether in the con ' dition ofthe country through which it must pass, f the work be feasible, and if it be found so, whether it should be undertaken as a national improvement or left to individual enterprise; , and in the latter alternative, what aid, if any, J ought to be extended to it by the Government, i I recommend as a prelinvnary measure, a care : ful reconnoissance of the several proposed ! routes by a scientific corps, and a report as to the practicability of making such a road, with an estimate of its construction and support. For farther views on these and other matters connected with the duties ofthe Home Depart ment, I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Interior. ! I recommend early appropriations for contin uing tho river and harbor improvements which have already begun, and also for the construc- ' tion of tlioae for which estimates have been made, as well as for examinations and estimates I preparatory to tin commencement of such oth ers as the wants of the country, and especially . theadvanceof our population over new districts, and the extension of commerce, may render necessary. An estimate of the amount which - can be advi-ntageously expended within the ! next fiscal year, under the direction of the Bu- 'reauof Topographical Engineers, accompanies the report of thebecretary of War, to which I respectfully invite the attention of Congress. The cession of territory made by the lute treaty with Mexico has greatly extended our exposed frontier, and rendered its defence more difficult. That treaty has also brought us un der obligations to Mexico, to comply with which a military force is requisite. But our military establishment is not materially chang ed, as to its efficiency, from the condition in which it stood before the Mexican war. Some addition to it will therefore be necessary; and I recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress an increase of the several corps of the army at our distant western posts, as proposed in the accompanying report of the Secretary of War. Great embarrassment has resulted from the effect upon rank, in the army, heretofore given to brevet and staff commissions. The views of the Secretary of War, on this subject, are deem ed important, and if carried into effect will, it is believed, promote the harmony ofthe service. The plan proposed for retiring disabled officers, and providing an asylum for such ofthe rank and file as from age, wounds, and other infirmi ties occasioned by service, have become unfit to perform their respective duties, is recommend ed as a means of increasing the efficiency of the army, and as an act of justice, due from a grates ful country to the faithful soldier. The accompanying report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a full and satisfactory ac count of the conditions and operations of tho naval service during the past year. Our citi zens engaged in the legitimate pursuits of com merce have enjoyed its benefits. Wherever our national vessels have gone they have been received with respect, our officers have been treated with kindness and courtesy, and they have on all occasions, pursued a course of strict neutrality, in accordance with the policy of our Government. The naval force at present in commission h as large as is adnrssible, with the number of men authorized by Congress to be employed. I invite your .ittention to the recommendation ol the Secretary of the Navy on ihe subject of a re-organization of the Navy, in its various grades of officers, and the establishing of a retir- ; ed list for such ofthe officers, as areTlisqualified 1 r i n - n . i . iur nuiivu unu euecuve service . Sliold Con gress adopt some such measure as is recommen ded, it will greatly increase the efficiency Qf the Navy, and reduce its expenditures, I also ask your attention to the liews express ed by him m reference to the employment of war-steamers, and in regard to the contracts for j the transportation of the United States' niails, and the operation of the system upon the psoa perity of the Navy. By an act of Congress passed August 14th, 184S, provision was made for extending post office and mail accommodations toColifornia and Oregon. Evertionshavc been made to execute that law ; but the limited provisions of the act' the inadequacy of the means it authorises, the ill adaptation of our post-office laws to the situ ation of that country, and the measure of com- j pensation for services allowed by those laws, ' compared with the prices qf labor and rents in California, render those exertions in a great de gree, ineffectual. More particular and efficient provision by law is required on this subject. TheactoflS45 reduciug postage, has now, by this operation during four years, produced re sults, fully showing that the income from sucfr reduced postage is sufficient tosusta n the whole expense of the service Post Office Department, not including the cost of transportation in mail steamers on the lines from New York to Cha gres and from Panama to Astoria, which have not been considered by Congress as properly bet longing to the mail service. It is submitted to the wisdom of Congreae, whether a fair reduction of postage should not now be made, mort particularly on the letter correspondence. This should be relieved from the unjust burthen ot transporting and deliver ing the franked matter of Congress for which public service provision should be made from . the treasury. I confidently believe that a change may safely be made, reduc ing all single Iptter postage to the uniform rate of five centd regardless of distance, without thereby impo sing any greater tax on 'he treasury than would constituto u very moderate compensation for this public fcervice: and I therefore respectfully rcc-
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