. - .. ~ . , . . - . . . . .. . . ' .• , .. . , ..• • • .. - : , '- • . ''''.- ' , .:F"...74-.. . . r , ....!:- . “---,--. -- . , . . . . . A ,;;-.' ' _=_ - ---7. . -', . ..-:-_-- - -__ L-, • . ."---a-4. ... . . ~ • , ,- ... '.'' Vill•--.-...-4:Nt.' 4 . • ..''''"; - 4 s''''' .. .' ' . . . __,..,=. „ -- - ' - -.-- .___. -- V -- .-=----- -.:,-.-":':-.7.=,0 .1 -. . .-- -_-=:. 1 - : ; --- --'•-=!- --',. _ _ . ------- -_ • , ;_'---_-- -- _ - ----,4 =--.-____.„ , a A • ' • ' ' , ....„,1_ :! . .:-Zi' .4'1:::' :'! ' : 1'...' : , :1,; ... .,, 11 : - iii;: .4'4 :::; 4: ,..../ 1 ••••: . ,: trf -s-1 ,,. , i . - c -,...„... ... __ W • v ••• - . ~ s ____,,..,. :____ . , 6 ---- „. -, - it. s .vy c- ;!..s.-.. -.. t0...y.t. ~ & . ...__,- ___4....____S ---___ 1.-._,. . . -_; `-„•_''-_4„ - . a. - --_ • ~• —__-_ ..-.• ,A - ; W--___-_-_- -A_---:-_.. -M I A____._ .. ~.1, ';;. I r i 4 . * , ::• i : m 7,. .. - . .. , A1..; e k ,;.;a.'t.,,r.%„4,- .-•-. .- ' 1 A , .,,F•,2.,,...--,...1-...-:,.;4 . 7; 6-. '!% z , ' -.;.-.: :4 - .•4 lai -c,kXr.4.L,4iea.,.-,..-.-t,...,4-,-'c-,.• _--, -.- - - . _-,= ... _ . •••. -_=.--- _ _.• a. -•.-m__-- - . _.__.,• _____ _-.._.,_„.__-__--__,= _ _ , ',''_''-__-'--_—'___—=,-„__-__--.- ._- .A _--. - --''---'=--••' ._ ...-- ._ - - _- --• ------__. ,2,_W. . - .. ~ . . • - . .„, • . . . . . . _ , . rit tt atur t , politifo; Duoints,s itith ,entrnt fliturniation. BEA.TT V, Proprietor. PreSweat's iviessdge. Fellow-Citizens .9f . the Senate and of the House of Representatives The interest with which the people of the 'lteptiblic anticipate the assembling of Con gress, and the fulfillment, on that occasion, of the duty imposed upon a new President, is one oftthe best evidences of the capaci ty to realize the hopes of ,the founders of •a political system, at once 'complex and sym metrical. While the different branches 01 the government are, to a certain extent, in dependent of each other, the duties of all, alike, have direct reference to the source of Power. Fortunately, under this system, no man is so high, and none so humble, in the s of 'public station, as to escape from the scrutiny, or to be exempt from the responsibility, which all official functions imply. Upon the justice and intelligence of the masses, in a government thus organized, is the' sole reliance of the confederacy, and the • only security fur honest and earnest devo tion to its interests against the usurpations and encroachments of power on the one hand, and the assaults of personal ambition en the other. The interest, of which I have spoken, is inseparable from an inquiring, self-govern ing community, but stimulated, doubtless, at the present time, by the unsettled condi tion of our relations with several foreign powers;' by the new obligations resulting from a sudden extension of the o field of en terprise ; by the spirit with which that field has been ente?cd, and the amazing energy with which S its resources for meeting the demands of humanity have been develop- ed. Although desease, assuming atone time the characteristics of a wide-spread and devastating pestilence, has left it's sad tra ces upon some portions of our country, we have still the most abundant cause for rev erent thankfulness to God for an accumu lation of signal mercies showered upon us as a nation. It- is well that a conscious ness of rapid advancement and ihereasing strength be habitually_ associated with an abiding sense of dependence upon Him who holds in his hands the destiny of men and -of nations. Recognizing the wisdom • of the broad principles of absolute religious toleration proclaimed in our fundamental lain, and re joicing in the benign infhienee which it has exerted upon our social and political con dition', I should shrink 'from a clear duty, did I fail, to express my deepest conviction; that we can place no secure reliance upon any apparent progress, if it be not sustained by national integrity, resting upon thi great truths affirmed and illusttated by di vine revelation. In the midst 'of our sot-. row for the afflicted and suffering, it ha: beericonsoling to see how promptly discs ter made true neighbors of districts and cities separated widely from each "other, and cheering to watch the strength •of that common bond of brotherhood, which unites' all hearts, in all parts of this Union, when danger threatens froth abroad, or calamity pimends over us at home. Ott diplomatic relations with foreign Towers have undergone no essential change since the adjournment of the last Congress. With some of them, questions of a-distutb ing character aro still pending, .but there' arc good reasons to'believe that these may all be amicably adjusted. For some years past; Great Britain has so construed the first article of the convention of the 20th of April, 1818, in, regard to the fisheries of the north-eastern coast, as to exclude our citizens 'from some of the fish ing grounds, to which they freely resorted . for nearly a quarter of a century subsequent to the date -of that treaty. The United States have never acquiesced in this con struction, but have always claimed for their fishermen all the rights which they had so long enjoyed without molestation. With a View to remove all difficulties on the subject, to extend the rights of our fishertnempe yond the limits fixed by the convention of 1818, and to regulate trade between the United States and the British North Amer ican Provinces, a negMiation has been opened, with a fair prOspect of a favorable result. To protect our fishermen in the enjoyment of their rights, and prevent col lision between them and British fishermen, I deemed it expedient to station a nava& force in that quarter during the fishint season. Embirrassing questions have also arisen between the two governments in regard to Central America. Great Britain has pro-, posed to settle them by au amicable 'ar rangement, and our minister at London is instructed to enter into negotiations on that :subject.' ' A. commission for adjusting the claim's of our citizens against Great Britain, and those of British subjects against tho, lUnited States, organized under the convention of the Bth of February last, is now sitting in London for the transaction of business. j It is in many respects desirable that the boundary line between the' United States and the British provinces in the north-west, as designated in the convention of the 15th of 'Juno, 1846; and especially , that part which separates the Territory of Washing ton from-the British posiesions ou the north, ' should be -- tr teed and marked.' I therfore present the subject to your notice. With Franco our relations continue on the most friendly, footing. The extensive • commerce between the United States and that country might, it is.conceived, bo re leased from some unnecessary restrictions, to the mutual adVantage of both parties.— With a view to this object, some progress has been made- in negotiating .a treaty of commerce and navigation. • Independently of our valuable trade with Spain, we have important political relations with her, growing out 'of our neighborhood to the Islands of Cuba, and Porto Rict.- 7 - I am happy to announce, that since the: last Oongress no attempts' have been made by unauthorized expeditions within the United States, against either of those•colonies.—' • Should any. movement be manifested within onr limits, all the nieans at my••• command , mill be:vigorously 'Aortal to repress . ' it.— Several annoying occurrences have taken place at Havana, or in the vicinity of the island of Cuba,' between our, citizens and the Spaniskautherities. •• • , • , • Considering the proximity of that island , to our shores—lying, as it does, in • the track ot Arad° between some of.our.princi pal Cities—and„ the suspicieusl.vigilance. with which foreign intercourse, particularly that with the United States,•is there guard. , ad, a repetition,,of such occurrences may, well be apprehended. •,As,,ne; diplomatic:: "intercourse is alloWed between',our. consul at - Havanna and, the. Captain Genornl Citba; ready exPlanatiens' cannot :be mado, or prompt: rodiess afforded,' Where injury has resillted.. l All 'complaintOullto part of; our Citi'elis,"uhdor thy present arrangement, • must be, in the first place, pieSented to,tbis .glivet'lnnent, tei,Spaimr7„ , again refers it' to her - Waal anthOrilles •in,Cuba for investigation and' postpones; an „anawer'tili she: kis Ifeard ' irbin. these aVioe- . . With:l To 'avoid th'cie . Irritalng" and ' vOxri;., ;tioun , delays, a proposition, has.,bcon' Mad& ftcrprolifile , tor'h.dtrect apPost for' redresii!to . sthe.;Oaptain General' by•Onrocinsul, in bo- Omit'. °Cour injured follow-citizens.' llith ,erto the government of Spain .kiLS.declined' ,to.onter into any suck arrange - Mont::: This' r oom() on ITI!'PtI4.O.B deeply. regretted; for ,xvithodampe arrangement of this kind, the, ~good:siderstanding between, the two coup-. triga i nmy be ON posnd to nocasifmal,intoryupi ig °o. r PAir, Olfilatq at 1 4044 , 38 , 1104tritetp(14 .to, renew ;11m.,propesition, and to press it „ngain : u.ppn,the consideration of her Catho- Ulc MOQOPS*'Government. ;F41%804141 years Spain• has bean calling THERE ARE TWO THINGS, SAITH FORD BACON, WHICH MAKE A NATION GREAT, AND. PROSPEROUSA FERTILE SOIL AND BUSY WORKSHOPS,—TO WHICH LET ME ADD, KNOWLEDGE AND FREEDOM.—Biaho,I Hall. the attention of this Government to a claim for losses by some of her subjects, in the case of the schooner Andstad." This claim is believed to rest on the obligations imposed by our existing treaty with that country. Its justice was admitted, in our diplomatic correspondence with the Span ish Government, as early as March, 1847; and one of mY predecessors, in his annual message of that year, recommended that provision-should be made for its payment. In January last it was again submitted to Congress by the Executive. It has receiv ed a favorable consideration by committees of both branches, but as yet there•has been no final action upon it. I conceive that good fitith reqUires its prompt adjustment, and I present it to your early and litvorable consideration. Martin Koszta, a Hungarian by birth, came to this country in 1850, and declared • his intention, in due form of law to become a citizen of the United States. After re maining here nearly two years, ho visited Turkey. While aL Smyrna, ho was forcibly seized, taken on board an Austrian btig of war, then lying in the harbor of that place, and there confined in irons, with the avow ed design to take him into the dominions of Austria. Our consul at Smyrna and legation at Constantinople interposed for his release, but their efforts were ineffec tual. While thus imprisoned, Commander Ingraham, with the United States ship of war St. Louis, arrived at Smyrna, and, af ter inquiring into the circmnstances of the case, came to the conclusion that Koszta was entitled to the protection of this Gov ernment; and took energetic and prompt measures for his, release; Under an ar rangement between the agents of the Uni ted States and of Austria, hp was transfer red to the custody of the French consul , general, at Smyrna, there to remain until he should be disposed of by the mutual agreement of the consuls of the respective governments at that place. Pursuant to that agreement he has been released, and is now on his way to the United States. Tho Emperor of Austria has made . the conduct of our officers who took part in this transaction a suldect of grave comr plaint. Regarding Koszta as still his sub ject, and claiming a right to seize him with in theJimits_of the Xurkish Empire, he has demanded of this government its consent to the surrender of the prisoner, a disavow al of the acts of its agents, and satisfaction for the alleged outrage. After a careful consideration of the case, I came to the conclusion that Koszta was seized without legal authority at Smyrna; that he was wrongfully detained on board of the Aus trian brig of war ; that, at the time of his seizure, he was clothed with the nationality of the United States; and that the acts of our officers, under the circumstances of the case, were justifiable, and their conduct has been fully approved by me, and a com e pliance with the several demands of the Emperor of Austria has been declined. For a more full account .of this transac tion and my views in regard to it, Lreler to the correspondence between the chargb d'affaires of Austria and the Secretary of State, which is herewith ,transmitted. The principles and policy therein maintained on the part of the United States, will, • when ever a proper occasion occurs, be applied and enforced. The condition of China, at this time, ren ders it probable that some important chan ges will occur in that vast empire, which will lead to a more unrestricted intercourse with it. The commissioner to that country, who has been recently appointed, is instruc ted to avail himself of all occasions to open and extend our commercial' relations, not only with the empire Of China, but with other Asiatic nations. In 136`L, antexpedition was sent to Japan, under the. command 9f Commodore Perry, for the purpose of opening commercial in tercourse : with that island. Intelligence has been received of his arrival there, and of his having made known to the Emperor of Japan the' object of hit; visit; but it is not yet ascertained how Sir the Emperor will be disposed to abandon his restrictive policy, and open that populous 'country to n commercial intercourse witli - the Uni ted States. ItAtlas been my earnest desire to main tain friendly intercourse with the govern ments upon this continent, and to aid them in preserving good understanding among themselves. With Mexico, a dispute has arisen as to the true boundary line between , our territory of Now Mexico and the Mexi can .State of Chihuahua. A , former com missioner of the United Status , employed. in running that line pursuant to the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, made a serious mis take in determining the initial point in the Rio Grande; but, inasmuch as his decision was clearly a departure from the - directions for tracing the boundary containbd in that treaty, and was not concurred in by, the surveyor appointed on the part of the Uni ted Stades, whose concurrence was, feces . - sary to give validity to that decision, this government is not concluded thereby; but that of Mexico takes a difibrent view of the subject. There are also other questions of consid erable magnitude pending between the two republics. Our minister in Mexico has ample instructions toadjust them. Nego tiations have been opened, but sufficient progress has not been made therein to ena ble me to speak of the probable result. -- Impressed , with the importance of main taining amicable relations - with that repub lic, and of yielding with liberality to all her just claims, it is reasonable to expect that an arrangement mutually satisfactory to both countries 'may be concluded, and a lasting friendship between them confirmed add perpetuated., , • Comitoss having provided for a full'nus slop, to the. Status of Central , America, a minister wits sent thither in July, last. %As y e t ho has had time to visit only one of ,these States, '(Nicaragua,) where ho was ireceiVed in tho most friendly manner. It is hoped that his presence and good offices will haVe a benign effect' in competing the 'dissensions which prevail among them, and in establishing still more intimate and frienilly'reltdiens between theM respective and between - each of them and the Uni ted'States.• Considering the.vast regions of this' con, tinent"tind' the number of States, which would 'be Made accessible by the free havi gatiOn of the river Amazdn, particular dt tention,, heti .bi3on'given to this aubject. Brazil, through: whose • territories it passes', into, the ocean, has hitheato persistalliva,L pulley so restrictive,. in regard to the nao , of this river, as ,tri "obstruct, and nearly • ex- , elude„fereign:,qonutitircial Intercourse . with , the States which lie upon its tributaries and UpPor,ibranclies.-.:.,0ur minister •la ' that qountry is instructed to obtain a relaxation of that pqijoy, and to use his efforts to in: duce the Brazilian government to , open-to commoriases.under .proper. safeguards; this' •gr9nt,ateral highway. for international, trade, &weird .of the , South American' States aro, dooply interested in this - attempt 'EMenres the froq navigation of - the Arne , rea,senable to expect their.do o eratiOn-in measure. ; . • , , ,Aa the advantages of, free connaoroialin terebuyse,"anicMg nation's are batter ,under stOed;: more liberal views .are entertained lisle the common rights of all td the tree, es° of thosemeans whichnature has'provided'ibr, biternntiOnal ,Icommunica titm. To. these more liberal and onlighten lipped : thee Brazil ; w3 con, fordebbi' Polleyond i'emoVO all nrinectisiary, rdstrictions, upon the free .use of a that: 'Which' traverses 'so many States; ' and 'so tairgo4 part bf the continent. ' ram happy to inform.you that the republic of Paraguay and the Argentine confederation have yield ed to the liberal policy still 'resisted by CARLISLE; PA., WEDNESDAY, DECFMDER. 14. 1E453. Brazil, in regard to the navigable rivers within their respective territories. Trea ties; embracing this subject, among others, have been negotiated with these govern ments, which will, be submitted to the Sen ate at the present session. Anew branch of commerce, important to the agricultural interest of the United States, has, within a few years past, been opened with Peru. Notwithstanding the inexhaustible deposites of guano upon the island's of that country, considerable diffi culties aro experienced in obtaining the requisite,supply. Measures have been ta ken to remove these difficulties, and to se cure a more abundant importation of the article. Unfortamittely, there has been a serious collision between our citizens, who have resorted to the Chincha islands for it, and the Peruvian authorities stationed there. Redress for the outrages, committed by the latter, was promptly demanded by our min ister at Lima. This. subject is now under consideration,- and there is reason to believe that Peru is digposed to offer adequate indemnity to Hui aggrieved parties. Wo are thus not only at peace -with all foreign countries, but in regard to political affairs aro exempt front any cause of serious disquietude in our domestic relations. The controversies which have agitated the country -heretofore are passing away with the causes which produced , them, and the passions which they had eyakened; or, it any trace of them remai s, it may be reasonably hoped that it will only be per ceived in the zealous rivalry of all good citizens-to testily their respect for the rights of the States, their devotion to the Union, and their common determination that each one of the s States, its institutions, its welfare .and its domestic peace Shall be held alike secure under the sacred aegis of the consti tution. This new league of amity and of mutual confldenco, and support, into which the people of the republic have entered, happi ly affords inducement and opportunity for' the adoption of a more comprehensive anti unembarassed line of policy and action, 'as to the great material interests of the coun try, whether regarded in themselves or in connection with the powers of the civilized world. The United Statcs have continued gradu ally and steadily to expand, through acqui sitions of territory, which, how much suei er some of them may have been questioned, are now nuiv,,erually seen and admitted to have, been wise in policy, jlist in character, And, with it, of the human race, in freedom, in prosperity and in liappipess. The thir teen States have grown to' be thirty-one, with relations reaching to Europe on the one side, and on the other to the distant realms of Asia. I am deeply sensible of the immense re sponsibility which the present magnitude of the republic, and the diversity and multi plicity of its interests, devolves upon me; the alleviation of which, so far as relates to the immediate condudt of the public busi- - ness is, first in my reliance on the. wisdom and patriotiaiii of the two Houses of Con gress ; add secondly in the directions affor— ded me by the principles of the public poli ty, affirmed by our fathers of the epoch of 1798, sanctioned by long experience, and, consecrated anew by the overwhelming voice of the people of the United'States. .: Recurring to these principles, 'which - eon-, stitute the organic basis of union, we •'per ceive that, vast as are thefunctions and the duties of the federal goVernment, vested in, or entrusted to, its three great departments, the legislative, executive, and judicial, yet the, substantive power, •the popular force, and the large capacities for social and ma terial development, exist in the respective States, which, all being of themselves well constituted republics, as they proceeded, so they alone are capable of maintaining Mid perpetuating the American Union. The Federal Government has its appro priate line of action in the specific and lim ited powers conferred on it' by the Consti tution, chiefly as to those • things in \s•hidti the States have a common interest in their relations to one another, and to foreign governments; while the great mass of inter ests which belong to cultivated men, the ordinary business of life, the springs of in dustry, all the diversified personal and do mestic affairs of society-, rest securely upon the general reserved powers of the people of the several States. There is the effec tive democracy of the nation, and there the vital essence of its being and its greatness. Of the s practicol consequences which flow Nom the nature of the Federal Government, the primary ono is the duty of odminlstering with integrity and, fidelity the high trust re posed in it by the constitution, especially in the application of the public funds, as drawn by taxation from the people, sad approptia ted teSpottifio objects by Congress.. happily I have no occasion to suggest any radical chaxtgesiin the financial ptiliey of the gov ernment. Ours is almost, if not absolutely, the soli tary power of Christeadom, having a surplus revenue, drawn immediately from imposts on commerce, and therefore measured by the; spontaneous enterprise and national pros perity of the country,-with such inairect're lotion to agriculture, manufactures and the products of the earth and sea, ns to violate. no constitutional dootrin, and yet vigorously promote the general welfare. Neither ns to the sources of the public treasure, nor as to the manner of keeping and managing it does .any grays controversy now prevail, there being a general acquiescence in the wisdom of the present system. The report of the Secretly of the-Treas ury will exhibit, in detail, the state of the pkblie finances', and the condition of the va iions branches of the puhlic service admin istered by that department of the Goes' w *went. The' revenue of the country, levied almost insensibly to . .the taa•pnyere, goes on from year to year increasing ; beyond either the interest or the prospective whets of the Gov eminent. At the class of the 'fiscal year ending Tune. 1852, there remained In the treasury a bal anoe,of $14,082,186,1 The public' revenue for_; the 041,, year ending Juno .80, .1853,_ amounted to 858,031,805 from eustoms,- and. to $2,405,708 from I.ublio lands and other iniseellaneous sources, amen - riling together to $01,537,574;:whi1e the, militia expendi-, tares for the same period, exclusive of pay ments on, nceount.':of the .publio debt, am 0unted.1e.543,554,202.; ,lenving it balance of $84,485,447 , 0f .receipts above expenditures. ThM,.faet, of Inoreasing.surplus' in the treatery, y liming, -.the subject , of'' anxio u s oonsideratien at a' . very early period of 'my .adluildetraiinit, mid the path' ()Panty, In're-' 'gam 4 ; 4 Beerned.:to tiny-obvious and clear, Jiaralaly,:. ,first, to apply. iheiurplus iii*mine :to the discharge of,:the public ,debt, so far 9 49 .9 1 d judiciously:be ilone;linttancand- , 'ly, t devise means for the gradual reduction oft itrovenue to thasiandard'iif the pbbllc U,logUna,i, o2l .. • '., : :,.. ~ ~: : .-, , ~. , ! ~. •; ~ ~ . ':•. • 'o,:' thesoohjects the. &et has boon :in'the ~ eourse,of accomplishment,. in a mannefmad . bi a degree higbly satisfactory:, ,The Mt:Merit , ‘Uf illuißublic.debt, prall.ohnises,:was: beam t 4th ,Ateroli, 18513,,590i1:00,037 ; 'payments en neeount, o'oolol4w° been made, since that Periad,,to the amount of $12;703,820, , leliv ring uppaid,,amtin the continuous course, of liquid, the sum 0f,556,480,7,08.'- '• • . ', ; Them payMente, although made at , the t i pinrk' t . prioa,ol , the respective • classes' of llt,eolt Imo been elfeete,d readily, and to the Artie ti, Advantage of, the. treasury, and 'hive at same time proved' oflignal 'utility in the nine, Iloy, two Inoidootatty..fororaa to the money market and to the industrial and commercial pursuits of the country. 7La second of the above-mentioned. ob jects, that of the reduction 'of the tariff, is ui great importance, and thy plait su,:gesteu by the Secretary 'of the Treasury, which is to reduce the duties on certain articles, and to add to the free list . many articles now taxed, and especially snob as enter into man= ufaotnres, end aro not largely, or at all, pro duced in the country, is commanded to your candid and careful consideration. You will 'find in the report of the Secre tary of the Treasury, also, abundant proof of, the entire adequacy of. the present fiscal system to meet all the requirements of the public service, and that, while properly ad ministered, it operates to the advantage of the community in ordinary business rela tiers. . • I respectfully ask your attention to sundry suggestions of improvements in the settle ment of accounts, especially as regards the large sums of outstanding arrears due to the government, and of other reforms in the ad ministrative action ofhis.dePartment, which are indicated by ,the Secretary; as also to the progress made in. the construction 0 1 marine hospitals, custom-houses, and of a new mint in California and assay office in the city of New-York, heretofore provideddor by Congress ; 'mlaise to the eminently success • ful progress of the Coast Survey; and of the Light-House board. Among the objects meriting your attention will be important recommendations from 'the Secretaries of War and Nnvy. -I am .fully satisfied that the navy of the United States is not in a condition of strength and efficien cy commensurate wiTh the, magnitude of our commercial and, other interests I nnd com mend to your 'especial attention the sug gestions on this subject made by the Secre tary of the Navy. ' I.respectfully submit that the army, which, under our system, must always bo regarded with the highest interest, as a nucleus around which the volunteer force.) of the nation gather in the hour of danger, requires aug mentation, 9r modification, to adapt it to the present extended limitsand frontier relations of the country,' and the condition of the Indian tribes in the interior, of the continent; • the necessity of, which will appear in the conimunidations _of the Secretaries-- of-War and the Interior. . • In the administration' of Post-Office 'De - - _partroent„for the_fiecal year ending...lune 30; 1853, the gross expenditure was $7,982,756; and the gross receipts, doting the same pe riod, $5,942,734; showing that the current revenue foiled - to meet theaurrent-expense. of the department by the sum of $2,042,821 The causes which, under the , present poste, system and laws, led inevitably to•this result ere fully explained by the report of the Posts master General; ono great cause tieing the enormous rates the department has boon compelled to pay for mail service rendered by railroad companies. The exhibit in the report of the Postmast er General of the income and expenditures • by mail steamers will, be found peculiarly interesting, and of a character to demand the immediate action of Congress. - ; Numerous and flagrant Itauds upon the Pension Bureau have been lieought td - light within the last year, and, ineome instances, merited punishments' intlictini; but, unfor tunately, in others guilty patios have °soap . ad, not through• - the.;want •tif sufficient evi ' deuce te.warranta,eoiiiiendb, bat in cones - queue° of the provisions of ;imitation in the existing laws. ' - Filial the - nature of these claims, the re moteness of the tribunals to piss upon them, and the mode in which the proof is, of neces sity, furnished, temptations to; :crime have been greatly stimulatecl_by_the obvious dif ficulties of detection. Tito defects in the law upon this subject are eo apparent, and so 'fatal to the ends of justice, that your early action relating to it is most desirable. :During the last fiscal year, 9,819,411 acres of the public lands have been surveyed, and 10,863,891 acres brought -into market.— Within the same period, the sales by public purchase' and private entry amounted to' 1,- 083,495 acres; located under military boun ty land warrants, 6,142,860 acres; located undo other certificates; 9,427 Pares; ceded to -the State as swamp lands, 16,684,253 acres ; selected for• railroad' and other ob jects, under acts of Congress 1,427,457 acres. The total amount of land disposed of within the fiscal year, 25,848.992 acres; which is an increase in quantity sold; and located under land warrants and grants, of 12,281,818 acres' over the fiscal year imene diately preceding. The quantity of land sold during the second and third quarters of 1852, was 334,451 acres . The amount re ceived therefor was $952,687.- Tho quanti ty sold the second and third quarters of the year 1853, was 1,609,919 acres; and the amount received therefor, $2,226,876. 'The whole number of land warrants issued . under existing laws, prior to 80th Septeinber last, was two honored 'and sixty-six thous and and forty-two; of which there were outstanding, at that dote, eixty-eixthousand nine !Modred and forty-seven. The quanti ty of hind required to satisfy these outstand ing warrants, is four million seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand one hundred and twentyacreer • , Warrants have been issued to 30th of Sep-, teMber last, under - the •not. - 11.th February, 1847, calling for tivlve million eight hundred ,and seventy-pine thousand' two hundred and eighty acres, under acts of September 28, 1850, and March ,22, 1852, callini for twelve' million five hundred ntiil fivedhousand three hundred and sixty acres ; making a total of twenty •five million three hundred and-eighty four thousand , six hundred and forty acres. It is believed that experience. has verified the wisdom and justice of the present sys tem with regard to the public domain, in most essential particulars. 'You will perceive; from the report of the Secretary of the Interior, that opinione,which have often been expressed in relation to the • operation of the land System; tie notheing a • source of revenue to iho'Federal treasury,' wpre erroneous.- The ,net, profits from 'the sale of the' public lands to June-80, 1863,- amounted to the `sum of fifty-three million trio htihdred and eighty-Ulna thousand four hundred and:sixty-five &Unit. • i reoommend • the extension , of the land system over the Territories of Utah rind Now Mexicy, With such triadificatiena as their per • culieritienmay iequire. , ••• Regarding , 'our public doMaite es !chiefly • , , valuable to provide homes for the industrious and enterprising, I am not prepared ,to re coinmend any. essential elinnge in the -land , . system, except modifleatione - in favor of . ,the actual settler, and in extension of the pre 7 emption.principle., in :oexiain cases; for, ,reasons, and on.gputids which will bp fully ,develtiped'in' the reports to .be laid before you. . • Congress, reinventing 'the proprietors of the territorial'domain, ond charged especial.- :ly with Pewee 'to dispose , ofrerritory, belong-, ' ing 'to 'the - United 'States;'lute; for a long ,• Course of years, beginning with the ndrninia , *mien Mr.:4.elfeirson, exeroleed' the pow ... et to construe!, roadsiwithin thelarritories; andOtheire'areim Marty and . obvioue distinot• • ions betireei thieeleisoise of Power and that of ihnkingroadaysithlti UM 'States, that the formerhas noyer,beemconsldered.sulijeet to' • .• :such' objections Its .upply„to tholatter, -and • ~.•sobli 'May new be considerMl the settled mt .:- strtiotion of the power of the Federal Gov . ; eminent upon the subject. , • Nurnerous,npplicationo have been, and no ' doubetvill " continuo: to be, made for; grants of .•lanti; in sant 'the oonstruation It is not believed to beitivithlirthelitetit and' meaning or the constitution, that thn power to dispose of the public domain, should be used other than , might be expected from a prudent proprietor, and, therefore,, that ; t rants uflands to aid iu the construction of roads should be restricted to cases, where it could he for the interest of a proprietor, un der like circumstances, thus to contribute to :he construction of th'ese works. For the practical operation of such grants thus far, in advancing the interests of the States in which the works are located, and at the same time the substantial interests of all re the other States, by enhancing the value and I promoting the rapid Sale of the public do - 1 main, I refer you to the report of the Secre tary of the Interior. A careful examination, hdwever, will show that this experience is the result of a just discrimination, and will be far from affording encouragement to a reckless or indiscriminate extension of the principle. I oornmend to your favorable considera-. ° tiou the'men of genius of our country, who, by their inventions and discoveries in science and art, have contributed largely to the im provements of the age ' without, in many instances, securing for themselves anything like an adequate reward. For many inter-' esting details upon this subject, I refer you to the appropriate reports, and especially urge upon your early attention the apparent ly slight, but really important, modifications f . of existing lewd therein suggested. The liberal spilit...oich has so long mark ed the action of Congiiss in relation to the District of Columbia will, I have no doubt, continue to bo manifested. The erection of an asylum for the insane of the District of Columbia, and of the army and navy of the United States, has been somewhat retar led,. by thegreat demand for materials and labor during the past summer; but full preparations for the reception of pa tietits, before the return of another winter, is anticipated; and there is the best reason to believe, from the plan and - Ctonlemplated arrangements which have been devised, with the exierienee furnished within .thelast few years in relation to the nature and treatment of the disease, that it will prove an asylum indeed to this most helfiless and afflicted class of sufferers, and stand as a noble mon ument of wisdom and mercy. __Under the acts of Congress of. August 1852, and of March 3, 1853, designed to se cure for the cities of Washington and George town an abundant supply of good and whole some water, it became my duty to examine the report and plans of the engineer who,had charge of the surveys under the not first named. The best, if not the only plan culated to o secure permanently the Object; sought was that which contemplates taking the water from the Great Falls of the Pato , mao, and consequently, I gave it my ap proval. For the progress and present condition of this important work, and for its demands, so far as appropriations are.cencerned, 1 refer you to the report of the Secretary of War.- The present judicial system of the, United States has now been in operation for so long a period of time, and has. in its general the ory and touch of its details, become so fam iliar to the country, and acqdired so entirely the public confidence, that if modified in any respect, it should be only in those particulars which may adapt it to the increased extent, population, and legal business of the United States. , . In - :this' the,?el a tion, ' - orgnixation Of 'the courts is nonr.confessedly inadequate' thei duties to bo performed by them; in cense' quench of which the States of Florida, Wis consin, lowa, Texas-and California, and dis tricts of other States; are in effect excluded from the full benefits of the general systofo, by the functions_of the circuit-court being, devolved on the district judges in all of those States or parts of States, The spirit of the constitution and a duo regard to justice require that all the "States of the Union should be placed on the same footing in regard to the judicial tribu nals. I therefore commend to your conside ration this important subject, which, in my judgment, demands the speedy action of Con gress, I will present to-you, If deemed de sirable, a plah, which I am prepared to rec ommend fur the enlargment and modification of the present judicial system. The act of Congress establishing the Smith sonian Institution provided that the Presi dent of the United States, and other persons theiein designated should constitute an "es tablishment by that name, and that the mem bers should hold stated and special meetings for the supervision of the affairs of that in stitution. The organization not having, taken place, it seemed to me proper that it should be ef fected without delay. This has been done; and'an occasion was thereby presented for I . insp cling the condition of the 'lnstitution, and appreciating its sucoesssfizl progress thu far, and its high promise of great and general usefulness. I have omitted to ask your favorable con sideration for the estimates of works of a local character in twenty-seven of the thirty one States,:arnoundng to ono million seven hundred and fifty-four thousand five hund red dollars, because independently of the grounds which have so often been urged against the amilloation s of the federal revenue, • for s works of this character, inequality with Consequent injustice is.inherent in the nature of the proposition, and because the plan has proved ontirely•inadequato to the ticconiplish ment of the objects sought. The subject of internal improvements, claiming alike the interests andgood will of ill, has, nevertheless, been the basis of much political discussion, and has stood as a deep graven lino' sf division between theatatesmen of eminent ability and patriotism. . The rule of stria construction of.all powers delegated by the States to the general goVernment has arrayed isself, from time to time, against the rapid psogress of expenditures from the na tional treasury on the works of. n local char- aster Within the States. • Meinorable as nn epoch• in -the history of tide subject is the message of President Jacksoh, of the 27th of I May, 1830, which met thq system of intermit improvements in its comparative infancy; but so rapid had been its growth, that the projeeted appropri ations in that year, for works of this charac ter, had risen to the alarming amount of more than one hundred millions of dollars. .In that message the .President admitted the difficulty of bringing back the operations of the government to the construction of the Constitution set up in 1708, and marked it an an admonitory proof of the necessity of guar ding that instrument with sleepless vigilance against the authority of precedents, which had net the 'eanetion of its roost plainly de fined powers. , :clur government exists under a written cempabt betweeen sovreign States, uniting for specific objects, and with specific grants to their general agent. If, then, in the prog rose of its administration, there , have been departures from, the terms and intentof the oompact;_it is, and will ever be, proper to refer back to the fixed standard•whlch our fathers left us, .and to make a stern effort to• conform ,our action • • . ..It would soom,tlutt 'the foot otia principle having , been resisted fromthe , first by many • of the wisest and most , patriotio men of :the reptiblic, mul a policy 'having provoked ooti 4 slant ertife, without arrivlng.at a cotiolusiom Which can ke regarded las satisfactoryaolts most earnest adveoates, , should ,suggest the inquiry whether.. Were may , not . ho •ft , plan likely to bp crowned by, happier. resells. • ' • Without perceiving any: sound distinction, ' or. intending' to, astiert any prinalpleao po:sed to Improvements needed for the pro tection of internal commerce, which does not equally apply to impovements upon the sea 'board for the protection of foreign commerce, I submit to you, whether it may not bo safe. iy anticipated that, if the policy were ono, settled against appropriations by the general government for local improvements for the benefit of commerce, localities requiring ex penditures would not, by modes and means clearly legitimate and proper, raise-the fund necessary for such constructions as the safe ty or other interests of their commerce might require. If that can ho regarded as a system, which, in the experience of more than thirty years, has at no time so dommanded the public judgment as to give it the character of a set tled policy, which, though it has produced some works of conceded importance, has been atterided.with an expenditure quite dispro portionate to their value,--and has resulted in squandering large sums upon objects Which have answered no valuable piirpose,—the interests of all the States require it to be abandoned, unless hopes may be indulged for he future which find no warrant in the past. Willi an anxiona desire for. the_coinpletion of the winks which are regarded by all good citizens with sincere interest, I'have deemed it my duty to ask at your hands g deliberate reconsideration of the question, with a hope i, that, animated by a desire to promote the permanent and substantial interests of .the country, your wisdom may prpve equal to the task of devising and maturing a plan, which, applied to this subject,may promise something betterl.han constant strile, the suspension of the powers of local enterprise, the exciting of vain hopes, and the disappointment of slier' idled expectations. In expending the appropriations Made by the last Congress, several cases Imo arisen in relation to works for the improvement of harbors' ' which involve questions as to the right of soil and jurisdiction, and have threat. oned conflict between the authority' of the State and general governments. The right to construct a brealt•water, jetty, or dam, would seem, necessarily, to carry with it the power to protect and preserve such construe. tions. This can only be effectually r o dono ,by having jurisdiction' over the soil., But no clause of the constitution is found, on which to rest the claim alba United States to cur. ciao jurisdictiod,over the soil 'of a State, ex— cept that conferred by the eigth section of the brat article of the constitution: It is, then, submitted, whether, in all cuscs,..where.conz etructions aro to be erected by the general government, the right of soil should not at first be obtained, and legislative..provision bo made. to cover all sash cases, For the progress made in the construction of roads within the tOtritories, as provided for in the appropriations of the last Congress, I refer you. to the riport of tho scorotary hf Wan. There is one subject of a domestic nature, which, from its intrinsic.importancc, and the many interesting questions of future. piility which it involves, cannot fail.to receive your early attention. 1. allude to - the means of communication, by which different parts of the wide "expanse of our country aro to bo placed in closer connection for purposes both of defence and commercial intercourse, and more especially such as appertain to the com munication of those groat divisions of the Union, which lie on the opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains. That the government had not been unmind• fel of this heretofore irrapparentlrrim the aid it has -afforded,. through , . a ppropriatione'Tor mail facilitimand other , purpories. But the general subject will now present itself under aspects-more imposing and more purely na tional, by reason of the surveys ordered by Congress, and now in the process of complo. _Lion, for comMunication_hy.tailway across the continent, and wholly within the limits of the United States. The power to declare war, In raiso•and sup. port armies, to provide and maintain a navy, and to call forth the militia to execute the lawn, suppress insurrections, and repel in• casinos, was conferred upon Congress, as means to provide for the common defence, and to protect a territory, and a population now widespread and vastly multiplied. As inci— deintal to and indispensable for the exercise of this power, it must sometimes be necessary to construct military roads and protect liar. bars of refuge. To appropriatiuns by Con gross for such objects, no sound objection can be raised. Happily for our country, its peace fill policy and rapidly increasing population impose - upon us no urgent necessity for pre• paration, and leave but low trackless deserts between assailable points and a patriotic people over ready and generally able to pto• teet them. Thies necessary links, the enter prise and energy of our people, aro steadily and boldly struggling to supply. All experi ence affirm° that, wherever private °Markin will avail, it is most wise for the general' governmeritt o leave to Ilia and individual watchfulness. the location and cxoeution of all menus of communication. . • The surveys before alluded to were designed to ascertain the most practical and economical route for a railroad from the river Mississippi to the'Pacific ocean: Piirties are now in (be field making explora tions,Where previous ox. aminations had not suppied sufficient data, and where (hero was the best reason to hope the object sought might bo found. The means and time being both !ignited, it Is not to be expected that all the accurate knowledge do. aired will be obtained, but it is hopediliat much and important information will be added to the Block previously possessed, and that partial, if not full reports of the toirveYs ordered; will be received in time for transmis. elan to the two Houses of Congress, on or before the let Monday in,, February next, as required by, the act .91 appropriation. The magnitude of the enterprise contemplated has aroused, and will doubtless continuo to excite a very general interest throughout the coun. try. In its political, its commercial, and its military bearings, it lido varied, great and increasing Maims to consideration. The heavy expense, the great delay, and, at times, fiitality attending travel by either of ths.istb mus routes, have demonstrated the advantage which would result from inter-territorial communication by such safe and rapid means es a railroad would supply. These diflculties, which hove boon encoun. lured in a period of peace, would be magnified end still.Turther increneod in, trine of war.—: But whilst:llm embarrinrionts already en: countered, and others under new contingences to be anticipated, may servo' strikingly to exhibit the Importance ofsueli a,work, neither these, nor All considerations combined can have an appreciable video, When weighed against.the obligations strictly Ao.adhere to the constitution.and faithfully to execute the powers it confers. Within this limit and to the extant of the interest of the government involved, it would scam both exliedient and proper, Will/ economies! and practicable route shall be found, to aid, by, all constitutional means, in the construction of a reutdOvhich will unite by' speedy transit, the populations of the Pacific and Atfentie Stites.' To guard against misconception, it-eliould be remarked that; yithinigh lime power Wow.' Bonet or aid in:the construction of a road witltinAlte:lirnite or a' territory' id not °Mbar: reined by that quoation of jurisdiction which Would visit within the limlte:•of a State, it is nevertheless held to ti o ,of doubtful potver 'And mete dotibtful 'propritifjOlieri with. in the' limits of. a territory frir this general i r ovoiiimont., to undertake tog ndMitiiater the Alfa iri of a railroad; a canal, ocedlier. eonetrbotions, and, therefore, that its Minna°. (Inn with a work of this Ammeter ,ehould ha incidental rather than prititary. 'T will only. adds 'prpoorit, that fully approiduting the magnitipo of the subject, and sulioitous that the Atlantic end Paelticialtorea`of the ropublit3 may be bound together by inseperable ties of common interest as well as of common fealty and attachment' to limo Union, I shall be dis• posed', so far hs my own action, is concerned, to follow, the lights of the constitution, es ex, VOL. LILY. NO 12 pounded and illustrated by those who , s optn ions nod expositions constitute the standard of my political faith in regard to the powers of the federal government. It is, I trust, not necessary to say, that.np grandeur of enter prise and no present &gent inducement pro mising y opular favor,will land me to disregard those lights,or to depart from that path, winch experience has proved to be safe, and which is now radiant with the glow of prosperity • and legitimate constitutional progress. Wo can afford to want, but we cannot a hfford to overlook the' ark of our security. It is no part of my purpoSe to give promi nence to any subject which may properly be regarded as set at rest by the deliberate judg ment of the people. .But whilet•the present is bright with promise, and the future full of demand and inducement for the exercise of active intelligence, the p6t can never be without useful lessons of admonition and in— struction. If its dengue serve not as beacons, they will evidently fail to fulfil the object of a wise design. When the crave shall have cloned over all who are now endeavoring to meat the obligations of duty, the year..llBso will be recurred to as, a period fillerr&vith anxious apprehension. - A successful war has just torminatnd. Peace brought with it a vast augmentation of territory. Disturbing roes. lions arose, bearing upon the domestic Meth. tutions of one portion of the confederacy, and involving the constitutional rights of the States. But notwithstanding differences of opinion and sentiment, which then existed in relation to details and specific provisions, the acqeieseence of distinguished citizens, whose devotion bailie Union can never be doubted, has given renewed vigor to our institutions, and restored a sense of repose and security to the tiOblic mind throughout the 'confederacy. Tliat this repose is to suffer no shook 'Je— ling me official term, if I have power to avert it, thOse who placed me here may be assured. The wisdom of men who knew what Indepen dence cost—who Mid put all at stake upon the issue of the revolutionary struggle—dis— posed of the subject to- which I refer, in the only may consistent with the union of thane States, and with the march of power and pros. parity which has made us what we are. It is a,significant fact, that from the adoption of the constitution until the officers and soldiers of the revolution had passed to their graves, or, through the-infirmities ofagebnd.wounds, hod ceased to participate aotiVt i .".; in affairs, there was not merely a quiet acqui— escence in, bat a prompt vindication of, the constitutional rights of the Stales. The-reserved powers were scrupttiously re. spectOd. No statesman put forth the narrow views of cauists to justify inference and agi. lotion, but the spirit of the compact was re— garded as snored in the eye of honor, and indispensable for the great experiment of civil liberty, which, environed by inherent difEcul ties, was yet borno forward in apparent weak aces by n power superior to all pbanieles.— Them is no condemnation which the voice-or freedom will not pronoun - elf - upon ns; should wo prove faithless to, this groat trust. While men inhabiting different parte of this vast continent can no more be expected to hold the same opinions, or entertain the same sen timents, than every variety , of olimate;or soil can be e x pected to furnish the seine ugricul— tural products, they can unite in a common object and sustain common principles essso— Ainl to the maintenance' of that ,objeol. The gallent'motfof the South and the North could stand together during the struggle of the Revolution . ; they could stand together in a more trying period which succeeded'the clan gor of arms: As there united valor was adequate to all the trials of - the camp.and dangers of the field, so their united wisdom proved equal to the greater task of founding, upon a deep and broad basis, institutions, acjah it has bran our privilege to enjoy, and will ever bo our most sacred duty to sustain. It is but the feeble expression of a faith strong and univer sal, to say that their sons, whose blood min— gled so,ollen upon the same field, during the war of 1812, and who have more recently borne in triumph the flag of the country- upon a foreign soil, will never permit alienation of feeling to awaken tho power of their-united efforts, nor internal dissentient' to paralyze the great arm of freedom, uplifted for the vindication of self government. I have thus briefly presented such sugges tions as seem to mo especially worthy of yotir consideration. In providing for the present, you can hardly fail to avail yourselves of the light, which the experience of the past caste upon the future. The growth of our population has now brought us, in the destined career of our na tional history, to a point at which il.well bey hooves us to expand our vision over the vial prospective. , The successive decennial returns of the census since the adoption of the constitution have revealed a law of steady progressive de velopment, which may be stated, in general terms, as a duplication every quarter century. Curried forward from the (Tint already reach ed, for only a short period of'time as applica ble to the,exietence of a nation, this law of progress, if uocheeked, will bring us to al most incredibleresults.- A large allowance for a diminished propor tional effect of emigration would not very ins. terially . reduce the estimate, while the increaa. ad average duration of human life, known to have already resulted from the scientific and hygienic improvements fur the pest fifty years will tend to keep up through the next fifty, or perhaps hundred, the same ratio of growth, which has been thud:revealed in our peat pro gress, and to the influence of these causes may be admit) the influx Of laboring, classes from • eastern Asia •to the Pacific aide of our posses. alone, logelher with the probuble.aceeseion of the populations alreasly existing in other parts of our hemisphere, which ,within the period in question, will feel,with yearly inereasmg force, the. natural attractionef eo vast, powerful, and prosperous a confederation of self..govording republics, and seek the privilege of being ad. Milted within its safe and happy bosom, transferring' with themselvee, by a peaceful and healthy proms of incorporation, spacious regions of virgin aiid exhuberant soil, which are destined to swarm with the feat growing and fast-:spreading triillions Of our race. These considerations seem hilly to justify' tho prestamption that, .the, law of .population above stated wiffeeninue to act ',with .undi— mintalied effect, through at least the next half centUry,.and that thousands of, persons who have already prayed at maturity, and-are now exorcising, that rights of *corner), will oloso their eyes on the spectacle 'of more than one hundred millions of population embriaced with in the majestic proportions of-the American Alnlon.. It le not, merely as pn interesting . tope ofepeeulation that I present these views fur your: conaideration. • They have importune practical beuiings,upcin 'ell the petition! duties we are called upon .to perform.. Heretofore our eysternef government has worked onwlint. may be termed a miniature scale; in cowed .eon witla the development, which it must is- Sumo, within , a future so near''-at hand, as ,to be beyond the, present of the.ex• listing gun eraiion.... - It is evident that S'ionfederation so vast and so varied, hoth,ip. numbers and 'in territorial extent, in Itabite,nntl in interests, could only he kept in national. cohesion by, the stricteat 'fidelity to the - prineiplee raffle constitution, as ' understood by. thnsie who leNer adhered to the most restrieteftvonatruction of the •pewors granted by the people and the States.,,,:liiter, proted and applied according to these Kind, pled, the treat 'opertta. 'adapts • itself ,will , Imelthy oboe and :freedom. to - ati tension of that benign system of federative • solflovernment, of which it is our glorious, end, I trust, immortal charter. Let us, then, with redoubled vigilance, be on our guard against yielding to the teepintion of the eic.. • Concluded on four* page.
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