Jost, nineteen months after the banking
. priiiieges given' by the charter had expi
• - ad; it under its control uncanny.' ed
notes of the late Bank' of ttie - United
States to the amount of tWe‘ty-seven
, • millions five.hundr, & sixty4ne thoufiand
.eight -hundred-and , .. i tfnix-dollika*,ef
which six millions o e ft - Warred and se• - •-
- irenty-five thousand eight hundred and,
. . sixty :five dolyidi were in actual
mcireula
p
tion, one . ' Lion four hundred and sixty
eight - t umanJ six hundred and twenty
seven- ollars at State bank agencies, and
_,
- "bete millions two' thou - s - and three hun
dred and ninetj dollars - Sh tranaing Mhus
/\shownig that upwards of ten millions & a
hl of the notes of the old. bank,were.then
still ept outstanding. — The impropriety
_ of this rcieedure is obvious-At being the .
4 duty of the. trustee •tietincel and not to
• put forth the mites Of an institution,wbose
concerns it had undertaken to wind up.; ,
it the trustee has a right to reissne these
notes now: - I can see no. ieason , why it
may not continue to do's() `after the ex-
Tit ,,
ration ,
of the two years.
* ' A s-no-one_could_have_anticipated-a
'course so extraordinary, the prohibatory
• 'clause - sof the Charter above quoted was
. not accompanied by any penalty or other
-- - special provision for , enforcing •itt nor
have we any general law for the preven
:lion ef similar acts in future.'
-. But it is not in this view of the 'sub;
ject'alone that your interposition is. re.
-quired. The United States, id settling
- with the trustee for their stock.. have'
withdrawn their funds from their former
'direct liability to the creditors of •the old .
bank, yet 'notes of the old institution
continue_to be sent forth_ioittname,_and
- ,apparently upon the authority of the U.t.
States. The transactions connected
with the_ etnployment of the bills of the
old bank are of vist•extent; and should
they
_result unfortunately, the interests
of the individuals may be - deeply coin
, promised . Without undertaking to de'.
cide how fur, or in what - form,-if any,_
the trustee could be-made liable:for notes
which contain no obligation on its part;
.dr.:the old-batik, for such as are put_ in.
--circulation , afterz-the;expiration-of-its.
charter, and without its authority; or the
--Government-for_ indemnit y,_in__l_4 s ,. ,c _
loss, the question atill_presse... - 2 -,',_„,--
your consideration, wh , .. - --: iser","l")n
-..ther at ••-
tent
consis..
tent with duty•and • -
of governme ,... ... good faith on thepart
ut to witness this • roceeding
ithout - '
-_ w_ • .-- i single eff o rtterarrest -- tfi - 7 ---- --;-
. ihe report of the Commissionee Of the
General Land - Ofrice,'which - will -he laid
beTore you by the Secretary of the Tree.-
- aury,„_will_show,..llow the affairs of that
- - office have been conducted for the past
____yeak:l e citiposition of the-public lands
- is one of the most important trusts con•
fided to Congress. The practicability
__- of retaining the title and control of such
extensive-dontaie_Ge._neral Goy.i
- ernritent v at the same time admitting, the
' Territories, and embracing them into the
Federal Union as &tequila with tlie origi
nal 'States, was seriously- doubted by
many _of our wisest statesmen. All
feared that they would_ become a Source
of discord, - and many carried their' ap
prehensions so far as-to see in them the
~.„___. seeds °fa - future dissolution of the Con•
- lederfcy. But happily our experience
has 'already been sufficient to quiet, in a
gre t degree, - all such apprehensions.
T_ osition, it one time absumed—that
o i l)
th ainission Of. new States into the
Union on the same-footing with the ori
• - gine! States, was incompatible with a
right-of soil-in-the-United-States, -and
operated as a surrender thereof, notwith
standing the term of the compacts by .
which . their admission was designed to
~,,be regulated—has been wisely abandon
: ed. Whether in" the , new oil the old
States, all now" agree that the right, of
soil to the public lands remains_in the
Federal Government; and that these
lands constitute a amnion property, to
be disposed of for the common benefit of
all the States, old and new. Acquies
' ' 'cence in this just principle_ by the people :
of the new_ States has paturidly promo
ted a disposiliOn to adopt the mostliber
al policyitt the sale of - the. public lands.
A policy.which• should be limited to the
, mere object of selling the , lands for the
greatest possible sum of money, without
regard to higher considerations, finds but
. few advocates. On the contrary, it is
-generally -
c needed, that whilst the mode
i i
--of-disposi on _adopted by the
m Govern
ent, sh' uld always be a prudelit brit;
yet its leading object .ought twi! the
early Settlement and cultivation of. the
'lands sold; and that it should
-discounte
nance, if it cannot prevent, the accumu
htloll of large tracts in the same hands,
which must necessarily retard the growth
of thetew states,or entail upon them a de
pendent tenantry, and its attendant evils.
A question embracing such im'portant
''''-:•
interests, and so well calculated to enlitit
the feelings .4.4 the • people it every quer-.
ter of
.She ,Union, has very naturally git
`_ en 'rise to, numerous plansifor the itn.
provement of the existing system. The
,
distinctive features of the policy that has
- --hitherto prevailed, are-to dispose "of the
public' lands . at moderate prices, thus en-
, ,abling a greater number - to- enter into
competition for theitpurchase. aod - im:•,
complishing it...doubleobject of pronto
slug their rapid settlemeat, by the put/
chasers, and at the same time increasing_
the receipts of the Treasury; to sell for
cub, thereby, preventlng the disturbing
-- - Influenie of a large mass of private citi.
zees -indebted to the Government, which
. , they have it voice 10 controlling; to bring
them Into market no faster thin good
lands ire Supposed to be wanted for im.
• .• provetnents,•AherebYprevetting the ac..
, 414
~401bn tor-large - tee chir in few
_halide;
::'oo4.o4pitly the proceeds of the-sales to
' .11diiteneril purposes of the Government;
' 6010 diminishing the amount to be rats
- ed -froni the people the States by taxi
.,, tion',.and,giving eachStateits.portion of, 1
the,benefits to be derived from this com
.l mon fund in mannera the ,most spilet,
and at the same time, perhaps, the most
egitaltle that can be devised. - _•• ..
---- These provi - sions,With.occasi en- onal e.
actmenta in- behalf of s pecial - . interests
,
deemed entitled tc: , the favor of the Gov ,
' ." tfnment,• ha - ve,vin'their es.e'eution,' tord
i.,,dated;resuilts as beneficial upoii t the - witat.
-`- 'IOC coidd4eisitibly , lie expected , -lo ''' a
p
matter so:vast, so comphcatcd; and so ,
exciting. Upwards . or. seventy millions
of acres have been sold, the' greater part
of which is believed to have been, pur-,
eha l sed for actual settlement: •The popu
lation-of the new: States and Territories
created out of the public•domain, increas
ed: betweep,l 800' and 1890 from less than
sixty thousand to upwards of two • millions
three hundred'
,thousand souls, constitur
ling, at the latter period, about onerfiftlt
s of the whiile, people olthe , -United States,
The.inerease since -eamiot he accurately
kimn, butthe wliole . may now be safely
estimated Over three and a half-millions
of spuls; - C . omposing nine States, the Te•
presentatiyes of ihich constitute above
one-third of the•Senate,_ and over oneiit
"sixth ,of the House of-Reptesentatives of
the United States. •
Thus . has. been formed .:a body of free.
and independent landholders,_ with a re...
pidity unequalled in the listorY,Of
kind; and this great result has beenpro.
_due, houi lea-Vt . ng---any - tisiby or u,
tare adjustment bet Ween the GovernMent
and its-'citizens. ,The. system,.`Under
which -scrmuelt has . been Accomplished
cannot beintrinsically . bad, and with
casional modifications,•to correct abuses
and-,adapt ii.to changes of circumstances,
may, I think, be safely trusted for the
future. There is, in the management of
such extensive interests, much virtue
stability; and although great ana Abvions
improvements should not, , , , beAeclined,
changes should never be made tvith'but,
the fullest exaniination, and the .cleitiest
detrioristration of. their practical utility._
In -- tfie - history - of the past;-we hive. an :as•. 7
surance --thatithii safe rule Oraction_will,
nut be departed from In
_relation to
public lands; por_ is it believed that any
necessity exists for interferin'g with the
fundamental . principles of the-system; or,
that the pdblic . mind, ven in the tVeiv
:States, is desirMis of nyr4 . ,Cat alters
lions. :On the contra
position appear;; the ,general
be, to , make such
naodificitior s a n d additions - only 9 ti - ls_
-
ectually-carrYlittetitt r ottginitl
the,
l iolicy our new States and Test , .
ritories with an industriousllid indepen7.
.o.ent foOpujatiort..____-_ -- -- _ ,
The modification-most pirseveringly
presse&upon Congress; which has oc
cupied so much °Cita time for years past,
--and.-wilLprobably.--do aci_for_ii Long time
to Come, if- not soonetTaTis sractaiffid—
justed, is a reduction in the Cost ,ofjsucht
portions - of the public lands as are-ascer+
pined to be - unsaleable at the rate mow
established by law, -and a graduation_
according to their relative - valuejf Of ' the
prices at - which - thErmay hereafter - by
sold. It is worthy of •consideration
whether justice may not be done 'to every.
interest in this matter, and a•vexed clues -
ItTrrsetrartest -- --perhaps--forevki - 4—by—a
reasonable compromise of• conflicting
opinion's. Hitherto, after being offered
at public sale, lands have been disposed
of at one uniform price, whatever difler
ance there, might be in their intrinsi
value. The leading considerations ur: d
in favor of the measure referred to, .re,
the that in almost all the land districts and
particularly in those in-which the lands
have been long surveyed and exp sed to
sale, there are still remaining nu erous
and large tracts of-every graduation of
value, from the Government price down
wards;--that these lands•Will-not -- - ' be - pur.
chsaed-at the Government price, so long
as better can be conveniently obtained
for the same amount, that Cher are large
tracts which even the improvements of
the adjacent lands will never r lie to that
price; and that the present urt form price
combined with their irregular. value,
operates to prevent a desirable compact-.
ness of settlement in the new States, and
to retard the full develOpment of that
wise policy on which our land system is
founded, to the _injury not only -of the
several States where the lands -lie, but , of
the United- Sales as a . whole. .
the reined) , proposed has beenza re
duction of according-to-the-length
of time the lands have been in 'market,
without reference to any other circum
stances. The certainty that the efflux of
time would not always in such cases; and
perhaps not even generally,• furnish a
true criterion of valne, and the probabili
ty that persons resitting in the vicinity,
as the period for the reduction of prices
-approached,-pone_purphases
they would otherwise make, for the,,,,pur
pose of availing themselves of the lower
price, with other considerations of a
similar character. hare hitherto been
succeitsfully urged to MeV the gradua
tion upon time. ' .
May 'not all -reasonable desires upon
this subject be' satisfied without encoun
tering any - of theie objections? ' All will
coucederrthe.abstract principle, that the
price of the public lands should be proPor
rioted to their relative value, so far as
that can's _ac complished without depart-,
ing from the rule, heretofore observed, re
quiring fixed Prices in cases of Piivite
entries. • .The ., difficulty of the subject
seems to lie in the mode of ascertaining
• hat that value is. Would not the'safest
'lan be that which has been adOpted 'by
o' •
many of the States as the basis of taxation;
an actual valuation of lands, and classifica
tion of, them into different rated 'Would
it not be_ practicable and expedient' •to
cause_ the relative value of the public landa .,
in the , old districlis which have been for a
certain length of time in market, lobe ap•
praised and classed into two or more rates
below? be Resent minimum price, the
dim e now employed in this , branch of
the public service, or in any other mode
deemed preferable,_ and to Make those
prices permanent , ff Apon the - coating in
of the report they shill prove - satisfactory
'to •Congress? -- Cannot all the objects - ,of
graduation., be accomplished in this way,
and the objections which' have _ hitherto
beers urged against it avoided? It - would
seem to:me that such a stCP, with.* , te
striction'af Idea to limited quantitieis,
r ifi 'd I
'for actull'ireproyemen be t,_ would. ace
frem ell'ittit•exceptian . ;;; _ ' ~'
Bf . the NH ciPositnin of the value of
the lairds thee ,furnished , ', and extensively
(I f
'prbraill iited, peritone,ll4ing et a . distance
waul 'triformett'oftheir true itinditioti,
mad en bled to thtetintotilette/Wort With
o _. .
4..clti - til!,r . ', Tp)T;t4.l!..,.*.#;!_:Wix*4lllo.l.tiVr•
.those resMiug in the vi A nity, the^means
Of,acquiring - alr independent horns , would
be brought within_the-reach — of many whci
are unable to—purchase at - present prices:
the population of the fieW taiesmotild - b
I
sold ,whith ,would other Ise remain . on
hand, not only would the a nd be brought
within the means of,ctl rger, number of
purchasers,_ but many persons ;possessed
of greater rncanswould be content to set
..tleUaLnlarger quantity of , the'Proorer ldnds
rather 63R-emigrate furthfr west in pm ,
suit of a'smalleriluantity of better -lands:
. Such armeasure 'would almost seem to
be mofeetiiiiisteick)Vitlt - th&polity of the
existing ..laws:--that of. converting .the
nkaiq Mtpfti!Ont r o i eultivated farms owned
It'i 'Oen. .occupariti: j 'lrbat,, • policy isJ__ltitt„
best promoted. by sending emiiratioitUri
the almost,lnterminable streams, of the
West..to,occdpy in groups the best spots.
°Eland, leaving iinmetise Wastes - behind
ti - tea.mUn_l_a_rgingthe frontier. beyond
-i
the means of the Government to afilt,rd it
adequate - protection": but - in-encouraging•
it : to occupy, with reasonable dcnseness,
the territory over which it advances, and
tlnd its•best defence..in,the_eifmpact front
hich it,-presents to the Lilian tribes.—
;Many of .you will - bring to_ our consider
ration of. the subject the ad lunges ofio- -
cal• knowledge _ and greater experience,
and all will be desirous of maktng an early
and final disposition of eieTry disturbing
question in regard to this important.in
terest. . 1.1 these suggestions shall in any
degree contributLto - the accomplishment
of so iinp - ortautit mUlt, it Wil,Ltair . d - rne
sincere satisfaction. satis ac ion
. _. --..
• I W - slime seadili, of - the 'country most
of the. l cifillC/lands have :been sold Land
die - re' -- istersiand receivers have very little
_-
to do." g
[t,is a subject worthy of:inquiry
w.liefiter;: in many cases. two - or More dis
tricts May Mit Ibe consolidated,-and the
;lumber orpersons employed iu this Inisi-.
stable-reduced: — lndeed? - theseas - cunsid
time . will come_when it will be:the true
policy of the General Government; as to
some of thee_S.tates, to-transfer to:therai
for a reaSenaliii,7eqnlialitit;•all tliff - eftise
. .
'and .untroill'-landit, and to withdraw the
mticliinrelVf, the federal•land officers al
-logether,„ '.Bll,__who - 'takcjt - comprehensive
View _of our: . federal , system, and believe
tharoneitrils greatest.excellencies Con
sists-in-. interfering as little'. as• pOssible
with the - internal concerns of the
,States, ,
loolc-ferWard • With -great interest' to the
- •
result., •• • -
. . . .
A modification of the existing lawk in
respect to the prices'of the public to
might also- have a -favorable influenie
the legiilatioq,oi_Cortgrcess,--in_relationAo
an - other branch of
have not the ability to buy at present pri
es; settle on those lands, - with , the hope
of acquiring from 'their cultivation - the
Means of purchasing under pre-emption
laws, from time to time passed by Con
grqs. For ..this encroachment_. on the
rights of the United. States, they' excuse
themselves underthe plea of their own ne
cessities; the fact . that they : disPossess no
body, an 4 only enler upon the waste do
main; that they give additional value to
the public lan,ds in their vicinity;.apd their
intention ultimately to . pay the Govern
ment price. So much weighthis from
time to time been attached to these con
siderations,-- that • Congress passed
law.s giving actual settlers on the public
lands a right of pre-emption to the tracts
occupied by them at-the minimum price.
These laws have in all instances.been re
trospective-in their operation; but in a few
years after their passage, crowds of new
settlers • have been found •on the public
lands, for-similar-reasons, and 'under like
expectations, who have , been , indulged
with the same privilege. . This course of
legislation tends to impair public respect
for tht liws of -the country.. Either the
-laws-to-prevent intrusion .upon the public
lands should be executed, or, if that should
be irnpraeticable._:or inexpedient, they
should be modified or repealed. If the
public lands are to be considered
,as open
to be, occupied by any, they should, by
law, be thrown open to all. That which
is intended,in all instances, to be leg Itzed,
should at once be made legal, that those
.who_art_disposed to 4 conform to thelaws
"lip enjoy at le,' equal privileges wit
those `who are not: But it is not believed
.
to be the disposition of Congress to open
the public lands to occuptincy without re
gular entries and payment of the. Govern
ment price. as such a course must tend to
worse eVilkthan the credit syltsm, which
it was found necessary to ab - slt. It
would seem, therefore. to be the part of
wisdom and sound policy to remove, as far ,
as Practicable, the causes which produce
intrusions upon the public lands, and then
talc* efficient steps , to prevent them in fu
ture. Would any single measure be so
effective in removing all plattstble grounds
for_ there as the graduation of
price alreadiatigiettar—A—short period
of industry and economy in any art of
our - country would enable the poore veld
zen to- acCumulate the means to bu .him
a home at the lotver prices, and leave him'
without apology for settling on lands not
his ottm.:- If he did not, under such cii
cumstanees, he would enlist no sympathy
in his favor; and the laws would be readily
executed, without doing violence to public ,
opinion. , .. . '' .
A large portion of our citizens have
seated themselves on the pliblic lands,
withority, since the passage of the
emslast'preo n law, and nowfask the en
actment of another, to enable them to , re
tain the lands Occupied, upon payment "of
the minimum Government price. They
ask that Which his been repeatedly grant
ed before. If-the future may , he, judged'
of by the past, little harm can be done to
the interests of the Treasury by yieldini
10 their requeL A tt Upon a 'critical:exami
nation, it is fouriV :that the lands sold at
:the public salesrsince the introduction of
cash , payMents in 1820, have produced on
an average, the 'lien revenue of only six
cantsi an acre - wore 'than the minimum
Gdierhment pr4e. - There is no lesson
to suppose that intisie , seles . l_ol f t, more
prodtietivev- 4 . 'The Government, therefore,
has no adequate pecuniary.-interest to in
duce it to drive thee e people from the
lands they occhpy, for the purpose of sel
qfig them to - ptherl. - ;. -
Enteytaining these views, I recommend
the passage ora p,e.einption law for.their
benefit, in connection with theprepagtfory
steps towards the , graduation,of the prices ,
of the public-lunds, and further and more'
effectual provisions lo preient intrusions'
hereafter,- :Indulgence tit thoae who have
settled o° these lands with expectatient
:that past.'‘,legislation would;,,bc , --reatie' a
rule - for thefutute, and at the :-.Same titir
removing: the most _tplausible ground on'
which intrusions .are .exouged, and adopt-'
ing_More.eflicient means to ptevent then
hereafter, appeaas to me -the Most judi
cious disposition- which can be 'bade of
this difficult subject. The limitations and
restrictions to guard against abuses in the
execution ora 'pre-emption .lawovill ne4 -
ssarily-attract the_eate_Eul attention
Congress; bui / run ) der no circumstances is
it considered expidient to authorize-float
ing. claims in .any shape. They hatie
been heretofore, and doubtless would be
hereafter,'mist prolific sources of fraud
and Oppression, .and instead of :operating
to confer the favor of the Government on
industrious settlers, are often.used only to
minister to a spirit of cupidity at the "ex.
pense - Of the most meritorious of that
class. _
The accompanying repici or the Secre
tary of War wa,kiring.to your view 'the
,state_syc the Army, and all the various
subjects confided to the superintendence
of thalbfficer.
The principal part of the . Army has
been concentrated in Florida, with a
and in_the 'expectation of bringing -the
- war in that territory to a speedy close. The
necessity of stripping — the posts 'on the
maritime and inland frontierkof theiren
tire garrisons, for 'the purpbse of assem
-bling in field an army of less than four
thousand men, would - seem to-indicate-the
-necessity-0 -increasirig our, regiiliefOrceir
and the - suPerior efficiency is well as great
ly diminished eimente of that description
of troopa, recommend this measure as one
of,economyes73vell - as ofT
refer . to i the report lot' the reasona'which
have indticedllie Secretary of War to urgs,
the reorganization and enlargement of the
staffof-the Army, and of_ the Ordnance
-corps, in which I fully concur. - _ •
It is not, howey_er,_comliatible with the
interests of•the people to maintain; in the
time of peace, a regular force - adequate to .
the clefen'ce okiurextensive - frootiers. Irk
periods or danger nud_alarm, we/must-re
ly principally upon' - a well-organized mili
tia; and, some general-arrangement that
will reniler this description of force more
efficient, has:tong' been a subject of anic
-ions-solicitude:— I t--was-recommended-to.
"the first Congress by-General W, ashing - .
ton, and has been since frequently brought
to your notice;ararecently its importance
strongly urged by my immediate predez
ces'por. •.The provision in the Constitution
ihat renders it necessary
-to adopt an uni.
form system of organization for the militia
thrinighout the United States, presents an
insurmountable obstacle to an efficienter
rangement by the classification.heretorore
proposed, and I invite your attention to
the pliewhich will be submitted by the
Secretary of War, for theprganization of
volunteer corps, and the - instruction of
militia offi9ers, as more simple and practi
cable,- if- not- equally--advantageoua,_as_a_
general arrangement oP the whcile
of the United States . .
A moderate increase attic corps, both
of military and topographical engineers,
' has been more than note recommended
by my predecessor, and' tily conviction of
the propriety, not•to say necessity, of the
measure, in ()icier to enable them to per
form:_thevatious and important_duties im
posed upon them, induces me to repeat
the-recommendation.
any-who-'
The Military Academy continues to
answer all - the purposes- of its- establish
ment, andhot only furnishes - well educated
officers to the Army, but serves to.diffuse
.tlwOughout the inass'of our itizens, indi
viduals possessed, of 'military knowledge,
andthe scientific attainments of civil and
military. engineering. -, At_present, the
cadet is bound, with consent of his parents
or -guardians, to , remain in service five
:-years from the period , of his , enlistment,
- unless'sooner - cliachargediAhus - exactiog
only 'one year's service in the. Army after
his education is completed. _.This does
not appear to me sufficient. Government
ought to command for a longer period the
services of those who are educated at the
public expense; and I recommend that
the time of enlistmeht be extended to se
ven years, and the terms of the engage
ment strictly enfoiced.r - . .
The creation- of a nittional foundry for
cannon, to be common to the service of
the Army . and Navy of the United States,
-has been heretofore recommended, and
appears . to be required . in order to place .
our ordnance on an equal foutinK with that
of other .countries“and,to ,enable . that
branch of the service to control the prices
o nicks, and- graduate the ,aup.
lies to the vents of the Government, as
well as to regulate their quality and ensure
_their uniformity. The same reasons in
duce me to recommend , the erection of a
manufactory of gunpowder, iii . be under
the direction of the ordnance office. T e
establishment, of -a manufactory of a a I
arms, wept of the Allegheny. mountai ,
upon the plan prOtiosed, by the Secryt ry i
of Wai, will contribute, to extend through
out that'coutitrY the improvements which
exist in esiablislinients of a similar de
scription in the Atlantic States, and . tend
' to a much moil economical distribution
of the armament required ,in the western
portion of our Union. , -
The system of removing the Indians
west of the Mississippi, commenced -by ,
Mr. Jefferson in 1804,, has; been steadi
ly persevered ln by every Succeding
President, and may be considered the
settled policy of yo ,,bi country..' Uncan
,Elected at fi rst ith any' countr y .'.
defined
,
systemfor their improvement, the in; ; '
duceinentrheld out to the Indians ,were
confined to the greater' abtindance of
_-`_"~ ~
, .
game'to be . foundi'n'ihe West; bat when
, the beneficial effectil of their removal
were made apparent, a more pkilanthro
pic and enlightened- policy-was kadupted,
in_p.orchasing their lands east'or the
Mississippi. Liberal prices were_ given
and Provisions inserted in all the trea
iifuilthluapryep.eiest
ties. with them for the application 'of the
'funds they , received .in exchange, to
such' urposes as were
. ..best calculated
to p omote their present ' welfare, and
. c b i been attended
reatilts. •
a T i 1 tr iess n fea c
j a m ,
weiat their isru irhe
, It will be Seen,.by refering to the re
port of, the 'Commissioners, of Indian - 1
Affairs, ,that the most sanguineexpec
tations of the friends and promoters of
this system have been realized. The
Choctaws, Cherokees, and other tribes
that first emigrated b,eyond,the.Missis
sippi, have — , tor the most parrabandon- -
ed the:bunter state, and ecome cu Li
vatOrs of the . aoil. ' The - improvement_
in their condition has been rapid, and
it 'is believed that they are :now fitted
to enjoy the advantages of a simple form
of government,_ whichkas been submit
ted to,them and received their sacntion;
and i cannot too strongly, urge this sub ,
ject upon the .atten i tion of Congress.
Stipulations have .!,wn !Ynde'ivitla all
the Indian- tribes to remove them be;
ypnA the Mississippi, except with the
band of the Wyandotts, the Six Nations
in New York; the Menomonees,'lVlan=
dan and ' Stockbridgei in Wisconsin,
and Miamies in Indiana. With all hut
the lenomonees, 'it is expected that
aura gements for the/r emigration will
. - omnleted the Present: year. The
resistance which has - been opposed to
-their removal• by' some of the _tribes,
even after treaties had been made wif I
'them_ to that ,elrect, has arisen from va
-I; rob feiii - s es '-' Oper atinr - di Wei e n t lf - ' — o - n - '
each of them,. In nriost instances they
have been instigated to resistance by
persons to_ whom the trade yvith them •
- and - the —, luisitionJOLlbfdr antitities
were important; and In - some - bytkeTper-,
sonal influence of interested Chiefs.--
These obstacles must—be-oc-ercome; for
the Government-cannot-relinquish—the
execution of this policj , without sacri-_
fixing important interests, and zaban
doning"the tribes remaining east of - the
Mississippi to certain destruction*:=
The decrease in numbers'of the tribes
within the' lirriits of.the states and terri
torieshas-been-most-rapid- If the.,he4e-
Morech_they can be protected_from those
associations ikev_i At t l6 „ , tices,whixert
sT .
-- eriiiiiiitia - a -- rid - d - e-P - friet - Ve - a - ii - lOU
ence over their destinies. They can be
induced to labor . and - to sequire pro
perty, and its acquisition will inspire
them with a feeling of indelendence.—
Their minds can be cultivated, and they .
can' be taught the value of alutary and
uniform laws, and' be madeeensible of
the blessing's of free govelement,:and
capable of enjoying its advMtages. In
-the-possession of property,'knowlege,
and a good Government, 'fre to give
‘vhat'direction they •please t their la
bour, and sharers in the legilation by
which'their perions and the'profits of'.,
their industry are to be protcted and
secured,..they will-have an evrpresent 1
conviction of the importanciof union,'
ofpeace among themselves, r d or the,
preservation of amicable rel ions vi It
us.. The interests of the Uned ates
'would also be greatly promoi y free
ing the relations between A
~, General
and. Stilt() Govern - mentsfrontivhat - has
pro'ved\a' must embariassingineunib-
ranee, by a' satisfactory adjuSnent
ca Af,
.contysting titles to lands, causlt by t
,occ - upetion of the'lndians, andi i y
. _us-'
ing the resources of the whiile^ \ ountry
Yo Ife - Tdeveloped - by the powe)Of the
State 'and General Governmens, and
improved by the enterprise of white
population'. , ,
• 'i
Intimately connected' with thi sub
ject is the obligation of the Govenrnent
to fulfil its treaty stipulations,, i!d to
protest 'the -Indians-thutrassemblertiat
their new residence fron - all inte•up-.
lions and disturbances from any hef
tribes or nations of Indians, onfrommY,,
other person or persons whatsoeve," s
and the equally solemn obligation
guard , from Indian hostility its oon
border settlements, stretching along
line of more _than one thousand miles
To enable the Government to redeen
this pledge to the Indians, and to afore.
ladequate protectkon to
_it own citizens,
will require-the continuak -presence' of
a considerable regular fdr,ca on-the film
tiers,-and the establishntetit of a chaiiil
of-Perthanent-postm--,Exaninations;of
the - country are now making, with a
view to decide on the mist--suitable
points for the erection of foqresses'and
other works of defence, thi, results ofl
which will tie prese,nted to top. by the
Secretary of War ' at an earky-day, to
geth.ier with a plan for the offectualpro
tec on Of the friendly. Indium, and the
p rm cent. defence of - the ` frontier
St tee. i
tt ri
. l
By the report of the Secretary of the
Navy, herewith communicated, it ap
pears that, unremitted exertiohs have
been made at the different Navy Yards
to carry into 'effect: all authorizeil mea
sures for the extension and empleyment
Of our navaLforte: - The launching and
preparation, of the ship of the, line
Pennsylvania, and the complete tepidris
of the ships of the . line Ohio, Delawaik
-1 and Columbus May be noticed : oo; l 2 l m ,
ing a respectable addition to thislioi
portant arm - of - our national defekey—
,Oor commerce and ,navigativCri
ceived increased aid, Mid
Our
tlu
ring the presedf, year. Our squadforki
' v., . •
WM
~~~
~,.
:a_:. .
111
iri,the Pacific and on the Br*lian sta
iibn have been.much increas e, and that
in the Mediterranean, although small,
isadequate to the present- wants of Our.
Commerce in that Bea. Additions have
been made to our squaditen on the West
India station, where the largeforce,en-.1
der Co_mmodbre Dallait ! --has been most
.aekivelir and efficienty employed in prof
teiting our cointnerce, in preventing - the
importation i of slaves, and in co-opera
brie With the officers of the Army in
carry ingsitythe war in Florida. .: „ ___.'
T e satisfactory condition of our
nava force abroad, leaves at our dispo
ial the means of conveniently providing
fora [Mine squadron; tor the—protiietion—
or commerce upon our extensive coast.
The amount of appropriations required
for such a squadron will be-found in the
general estimates -for the naval service
for the vear 11338. .
-7he naval otkcere engaged upon our
- coast - survey have- rendered important
service. to our navigation : The discov
ery of a new channel into the-harbor of
New York throughwhich-many of our
largest ships may pass without danger,
must, afford important __ commercial. ad
vantages to that harbor, and add ,v:Pcli n y
to its value as a naval •Strition. The ac
curate survey of George's-shoals off the
coast of Massachusetts, lately complet
ed, will render comparatively safe 'a
navigation, hitherto considered clanzer
.
01.18. ,
Considerable . additions have been
made to the number of captains, porn
manders,lieute_nantii,-surgeons,-and as
sistant surgeons, in the Navy. - Thebe
addition's were - rendered necessary by
the increased nu s • if vessels:
commission, to answer the exigencies
of r our growing,corrimerce.- •
_
lour attentionis respectfiitly - invited
to the various suggestionS of the Secsre
tary,-for the improvement of the naval
servi . ce. , -
- - . ._
- The-report-of-the-Post-master Gener- -
_xhibt ..
- al e tithe pfogress and co - fill - Lion - of
the mail service.--_-The operations of the•
Post Office DePartnient canstitute one
otthe -mostacti - vaelements - of - ourrna,
_tional prosperity, and it is gratifying to
observewith what -vigor they are con
&tided. ' The .mail :routes of the Uni
ted •States cove an extent of about one 1
-hundred and fov-two thousand , eig - ht- 1
‘tc.
hundred and seventKseven mile's, hay
-* been-i-trcreas a -- - out.--thirt - y—seve, ,
thousand one hti dred and three miles
_within_th_644aLtt ,_y_eirs. .. --T c he-an nue,-
mail_ tranSportati n on these' routes is
shTitil thirty-six m'llions two hundred
,44 \ ,,
and twill - lily thous d n ine
_ hundred and ,
sixty-two miles, ha ing een inereasld
about ten million thre hundred./and
fifty-nine thbusand fo ndred and
seventy-six miles within theaffi„stime peri
od. The number of post,ces has al
io been increased frotn/ten 'thousand
seven hundred.and sAteenty i .to twelve
thousand and nine,Wnine, very few of
which receive te' mails less than once
a week, and large portion of them dai-.
ly. Contr ctors and postmasters in
generatare_r.epresented as attending to
theirAtties with most enthusiastic zeal
rm./fidelity: .
The revenue of the Department,
Within the year ending on.the thirtieth
June last, was four millions 'one hun
dred and thirty seven thousand and fif
ty 'six aollars and fifty-nipe cents; and
its liabilities accruing Tlitin the same
time were three millions three huridre-d
-and eighty thousand eight hundred and'
foriy-seven dollars and, seventy-five
cents. The 'increase of 'revenue \:!ver
that. of the preceding yeah was ~-,
hundred and eight thousand one hip
dred and sixty-six dollars'. and forg
one cents. ,
• For many interesting details I ref \
you to the report of the Postmaste
.Generalovith the accompanying pape
'Your particular attention is invited t
the necessity of providing .a more la
and - convenient Wilding -for - the
comrnodation of that_Department. .
I lay before Congress copies of repor
submitted in pursuance of a call made
- me upon the heads of 'Departments, f
such suggestions as their experien
might enable them to make,• as to 'wh
further legislative provisions may be a
vantageottsly adopted to secure the fait
ful applidlition of public moneys to.
objects for which they are• appropriated
to prevent their misapplication - or embez
[ element by those-entrusted -with-the-ex
penditure of them; - and generallrto in
crease the sectirity, of the Government
against kisses In their. disbursernents. It
is-needless-to dilate on the importance. of
providing such new safeguards as are'
within the power of legislation topromote
these ends; and' Lhave little to add to the
recommendations submitted in -
panying papers. • :
--
By law the terms of service of-our most
' important collecting and disbursing offi- 1
',
"cerscin the civil 'departments are limited
to font years, and when reappointed. their I
bonds are required to be renewed. The i
safety of: the public.is.much increased 'by ji
this feature of the law, and there ,can be e,
no doubt that its application to all officers it
entrusted with the collection or disburse- v
ment 'of the public nioneY• whatever may E
be the tenure of their:offices, vould be 7
equally ;beneficial.. I therefore mom
mend, in addition -to such of the suggest
lions
presented br the heads of Depart
invents as yoti may think useful. a general
littivisien,,that all officers of the Army or
Navy, or in the Civil Department,. entrust
ed !ilk the receipt or payment - of public
money, and whoa e term of vice is either
i)
unlimited or f -a-longer time than four
years, be requir d to give ,bonds, with
good and sufficientsecuritica, at the expi
ration of every auclrperied. - ~
~
.A.-Chinge in the period of terminating
thefiseil year, from the first of October to
thc first of April ha been frequently re
commended, and hears to be desirable.
The distressing casualties in steam
boats, which have stz frequently happened
during the year, Seim to ei,ince the ne
_emity of ittatititig to "prevent ii em, by
means of - severe provisions cormected_with,-
their.iustom house papers. .This subject
was submitted to the attentionoMmgress
by-the-Secretary of the'. Treijart in his
last annual report;..iiind. - witt - be again no•
ticed at the present-sessionorith;-addit
onal details. _ It will doubtless receive that
early andireful Consideration which its
pressing I po
t ,
rtance appearp.torequire.
Your akt ntion has hOelpgitti: been fie..
quently ca rd to the.affitit.fOtthe D'uarict
of Columbt and I should rua . t;xgain'ask
it, did not their entire - -depeindence on
- Congress give,thent a - constartt=claim upon,
its notice. Separated by the : Constitution
frOiry the rest of Union, limited in ex
tent, and aided by no Legislature of its
own, it.would seem to be .e spot where =a
-
wise and' uniform" system of local govern
tmight-have been easily-adopted.
This District, however, unfortunately,
has - been left to linger behind the rest-of
the Union; its codes, civil and criminal,
are not only very defective, but full of ob
solete or inconvenient provisions; being
formed of portions of two' States, discre
pancies in the laws nreva;! 4 7 Al . °. ..
• .•• *II ourerent
na o.
.... ul toe territory, small as it is;. and
although it waslielected as the-seat of the .
General Govprnment, the site of its public
edifices; the depository of its archives,
and the residence of officers entrusted
with large amounts of public., property,
and the mane :ement of- niblic business
'yet it has never been - subjeC.ted to, or re
ceived, that special and epthprehensive
gislation width theie circiiinstances
liarly derriand. lam well \ aware of the
Various subjects of greater magnitude and
immediate interest that press theinselves
on the consideration of Congress; but I
believe there is nor one oat' appeals more:
directly. to its justice, than a liberal, and—
even generous, ateeitior, __to_the interests
'of the. DisirtelifCOlurnbia,and a thorough-
revision of its local 'government. •
• M. VAN BUREN.
WASHINGTON, DeC. • 5 l 1837.
EA_TH..OF_GOV.ERN_OIVX.EI%I
By an - article in the . National Weill
genter, and a - short., notice in / the-leiter •
- of — turr — Washirigto'n — Correspendent
which are the only'accoufits that have
reaches ti.of this melaneholyevent,we
learn that JOSEPH -)(ENT,- one. of our -
senators in Congress, and a man whom
Maryland has delighted to honor-who
has been tried in various positions o f
'higtr-pubh,c4ustrand,aprovveditirrself
able and faithful in all, is , now no more.
'2V-stt;cld elf . csitialrilia`iTdifilveif tliq
Sto of - one of her mosVminent citi-
A‘ns, a true , supperter of fe'r beitinter
'eats and honor, and society of a merrier
berg whose amiable qualities and - high .
character fitted-him to adorn all its
walks. The, following is from the
National Intelliencer-of this morning:
With a saddened spirit we have sat
down to announce to our readers this
news, which reached us when' this pa
per was 'nearly ready for the elpress, of
the . death of_Dr.,.IOSEPH_KENT, the
beloved and respected SstrAroa of the
United States from the State of MART
LAND,_w_ho_w_as_killed yesterday, ntorti
ing bZa
,fall from his horSe, as he was
riding ovrthis farm, or in the neighbor
hood of tt: Of the particulars of this
fatal accident; the cause of so lamenta
ble a bereavement, we know no more
than we have stated, as derived from a
person: who came to this city express
from Rosemount, the residence of the
- deeetised, (about - 1,2 miles clStant)=Ye
terday"afternoon. We have not the
heart. if time allowed us, now to portray
to our readers, in fitting terms the
pulilic and - private virtues whichendeati:. -
ed Governor Kent {so usually called
from his having formerly filled the
office of Governor of his State) to all
who knew him. Of all the world, none
of his friends—scarcely excepting his
wife and his children—can have more'
just reason to mourn over his deith
than the People of this City, and intong
themi - who -- have-never-found-in-him
disinterested, fast, and faithful, friend.
4 - Stranger in these Parte.—A.e.
cording to the Taunton Whig they
have a Mississippi roarer in thatibeace
full village. ' The description which.
.he gcritture gives of himself,' is' this: -
- -- "l!n very like a whale, with a little
lhadeolthe big. elephant—and , a light
Inch of the wild catamount; Pnra real
itastropke.ra small - creation,7,-Mount.,
esu vino at thetop, with red hot lava
wring out the - crater, and renting nit ,
ns; my eyes are'two bl t furnaces—.
rs red - hot - melt wen,, and every . ,
,4 in my head a granite liillar, my
are. 'Virginia piantatiOnslegs,
\,.
Ch' railroads of whideborie, fists,
y- mountains andwins, Whig liber
t les, with cast steel : springs. • Ev
tep Utake is an earthquake, every
i,
lh &breath isa tornado; 64,---dis
-1 °els Dupant'il best, and goes , off
flash; when. I blasts there' I be
u thing left but. a hole thres feet in
i ference and no' end' to the depth:
g is a wildcat, with :hoop snake'
i—my team a tandem '
of a 'sea
ka, with rattle snake reine, four
lions for body'guarCand I ad... , -;
d retreat like a hurricaiaeM . '
roal
van
tionl
suit
in N
York
prise
she-o
eiiinpal
EMI
T I SEVtRE.—A high ruins
t, Washirigtim, since the 4re
teriained otthe late election
'ork; remarked that "gem' ,
gone , "You
`replied-stir
d the (other, 'I thought '
adeAniitrition had parted