PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Fellow citizens of the Senate
and of the House of Representatives
I congratulate you and our common con
stituency upon the favorable auspices under
which you meet for your first session. Onr
country is at peace with all the world. The
agitation which, for a time threatened
to disturb the fraternal relations which make
us one people, is fast subsiding; and a year
of gesteralyrosperity and health has crown
ed the nation with unusual blessings. None
can lo* beck to the dangers which are pass
ed, or fbrward to the bright prospect before
us, - Wltout feeling a thrill of gratification, at
the fal4B lime that he must be impressed
with a grateful sense of our profound obliga
tions to a.beneficent Providence, whose pa
ternalcare is so manifest in the happiness of
this highly-favored land.
Since the close of the last Congress, certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident in the
United States, who were more or less con
cerned in the previous invasion of Cuba, in
stead of being discouraged by its failure,
have again abused the hospitality of this
country, by making it the scene of the equip
ment of another military expedition against
that possession of her Catholic majesty, in
which they were countenanced, aided and
joined by citizens of the United States. On
receiving intelligence that such designs were
entertained, I lost no Limo in issuing such in
structions to the proper officers of the Uni
ted States as seemed to be called for by the
occasion. By the proclamation, a copy of
which is herewith submitted, I also warned
those who might be in danger of being invei
gled into this scheme of its unlawful charac
ter, and of the penalties which they would
incur. For some time there was reason to
hope that these measures had sufficed to pre
vent any such attempt. This hope, howev
er, proved to be delusive. Very early in the
morniu,g of the third of August, a steamer
called the Pamper° departed from New Or
leans for Cuba, having on board upwards of
four hundred armed men, with evident inten
tions to make war upon the authorities of the
island. This expedition was aet on foot in
palpable violation of the laws of the United
States. Its leader was a Spaniard, and sever
al of the chief officers, and some others enga
ged in it, were foreigners. The persons
composing it, however, were mostly citizens
of the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and proba
bly before it was orgonized, a slight insurrec
tionary movement, which appears to have
been soon suppressed, had taken place in the
eastern quarter of Cuba. The importance of
this movement was unfortunately so much
exaggerated in the accounts of it published
in this country, that thew: , adventurers seem
to have been led to believe that the Creole
population of the island riot only desired to
throw off the authority of the mother coun
try, but had resolved upon that step, and
had begun a well-concerted enterprise for ef
fecting it. The persons engaged in the ex
pedition were generally young and ill-in
formed. The steamer in which they embark
ed left New Orleans stealthily and without al
clearance. After touching at Key West,
she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and, on
the night between the 11th and 12th of
August, landed the persons on board at
Playtas, within about twenty leagues of
Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to, and
took possession of, an inland village, six
leagues distant, leaving others to follow in
charge of the baggage, as soon as the means
of transportation could be obtained. The
latter, having taken up their line of march to
connect themselves with the main body, and
having proceeded about four leagues into
the country were attacked on the morning
of the 13th by a body of Spanish troops, and
a bloody conflict ensued; after which they
retreated to the place of disembarcation,
where about fifty of them obtained beats and
re-embarked therein. They were, however,
intercepted among the keys near the shore
by a Spanish steamer cruising on the coast,
captured and carried to Havana, and, after be
ing examined before a military court, were
sentenced to be publicly executed, and the
sentence was carried into effect on the 16th
of August.
On receiving information of what had oc
curred, Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was
instructed to proceed in the steam-frigate
Saranac to Havana, and inquire into the char
ges against the persons executed, the circum
stances under which they were taken, and
whatsoever referred to their trial and sen
tence. Copies of the instructions from the
Department of State to him, and of his let
ters to that Department, are herewith sub
mitted.
According to the record of the examina
tion, the prisoners all admitted the offences
charged against them, of being hostile inva
ders of the island. At the time of their trial
and execution the main body oh the invaders
was still in the field, making war upon the
Spanish authorities and Spanish subjects.—
After the lapse of someday's, being overcome
by the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the
24th of August; Lopez, their leader, was
captured some days after, and executed on
Ist of September. Many of his remaining
followers were killed, or died of hunger and
fatigue, and the rest were made prisoners,—
Of these, none appear to have been tried or
executed. Several of them were pardoned
upon application of their friends and others,
and the rest, about one hundred and sixty in
number, were sent to Spain. Of the final
disposition made of these we have no official
information.
Such is the melancholy result of this ille
gal and ill-fated expedition. Thus, thought
less young men have been induced, by false
and fraudulent representations, to violate the
law of their country, through rash and un
founded expectations of assisting to accom
plish political revolutions in other States, and
have lost their lives in the undertaking.—.
Too severe a judgement can hardly be passed,
by the indignant sense of the community,
upon those who, being better informed them
selves, have yet led away the ardor of youth
and an ill-directed love of political liberty.—
The correspondence between this Govern
ment
and that of Spain relating to this trans
action is herewith communicated.
Although these offenders against the laws
have forfeited the protection of their country,
yet the Government may, so far as is consist
ent with its obligations to other countries,
and its fixed purpose to maintain and enforce
the laws, entertain sympathy for their unof
fending families and friends, as well as a
feeling of compassion for themselves. Ac
cordingly no proper effort has been spared,
and none will be spared, to procure the re
lease of such citizens of the United States,
engaged in this unlawful enterprise, as are
now in confinement in Spain; but it is to be
hoped that such interposition with the gov
ernment of that country may trot be consid-
eyed as affording any ground of expectation
that the Government of the Unitt;cl States
will : hereafter, feel itself under any obliga
tion of duty to intercede for the liberation or
.
pardon of such persons as are flagrant offen
ders ag ainst the law of nations and the laws
of the United States. These laws must be
executed. If we desire to maintain our re-
spectability among the nations of the earth,
it behoves us to enforce steadily and sternly
the neutrality acts passed by Congress, and
to follow, as far as may be, the violation of
those acts with condign punishment.
But what gives a peculiar criminality to
this invasion of Cuba is, that under the lead
of Spanish subjects and with the aid of citi
zens of the United States. it had its origin,
with many, in motives of cupidity. Money
was advanced by individuals, probably in
considerable amounts, to purchase Cuban
bonds, as they have been called, issued by
Lopez, sold, doubtless, at a very large dis
count and for the payment of which the pub-
lic lands and public property of Cuba, of
whatever kind, and the fiscal resources of
the people and government of that island,
from what ever source to be derived, were
pledged, as well as the good faith of the gov
ernment expected to be established. All
these means of payment, it is evident, were
only to be obtained by a process of bloodshed,
war, and revolution. None will deny that
those who set on foot military expeditions
I against foreign States by means like these
are far more culpable than the ignorant anti
the necessitous whom they induce to go forth
as the ostensible parties in the proceeding.—
These originators of the invasion of Cuba
seem to have determined, with coolness and
system, upon an undertaking which should
disgrace their country, violate its laws, and
put to hazard the lives of ill-informed and
deluded men. You will consider whether
further legislation be necessary to prevent
the perpetration of such offences in future.
No individuals have a right to hazard the
peace of the country or to violate its laws
upon vague notions of altering or reforming
governments in other States. This principle
is not only reasonable in itself, and in accor
dance with public law, but is engrafted into
the codes of other nations as well as our own.
But while such are the sentiments of this
Government, it may be added that every in
dependent nation must be presumed to be
able to defend its possessions against unau
thorized individuals banded together to at-
tack them. The Government of the United
States, at all times since its establishment,
has abstained and has sought to restrain the
citizens of the country, from entering into
controversies between other powers, and to
observe all the duties of neutrality. At an
early period of the Government, in the ad
ministration of Washington, several laws
were passed for this purpose. The main
provisions of these laws were re-enacted by
the act of April, 1818, by which, amongst
other things, it was declared that if any per
son shall, within the territory or jurisdiction
of the United States, begin, or set on foot, or
provide, or prepare the means for any milita
ry expedition or enterprise to be carried on
from thence against the territory or dominion
of any foreign prince or State, or of any col
ony, district, or people with whom the Uni
ted States are at peace, every person so of
feru:ing shall be deemed guilty of a high mis
demeanor, and shall be fined, not exceeding
three thousand dollars, and imprisoned not
more than three years; and this law has been
executed and enfOrced;to the full extent of
the power of the Government, from that day
to this.
In proclaiming and adhering to the doc
trine of neutrality and non-intervention, the
United States have not followed the lead of
other civilized nations; they have taken the
lead themselves, and have been followed by
others. This was admitted by one of the
most eminent of modern British statesmen,
who said in Parliament, while a minister o_
the crown, “that, if he wished for a guide in
a system of neutrality, he should take that
laid down by America in the ds of Wash
ington and the secretaryship of Jefferson ;"
and we see, in fact, that the act of Congress
of 1818 was followed, the succeeding year,
by an act of the Parliament of England, sub
stantially the same in its general provisions.
Up to that time there had been no similar
law in England,. except certain highly penal
statutes passed in the reign of George 11,
prohibiting English subjects from enlisting
in foreign service, the avowed object of which
statutes was, that foreign armies, raised for
the purpose of restoring the house of Stuart
to the throne, should not be strengthened by
recruits from England herself.
All must see that difficulties may arise in
carrying the laws referred to into execution
in a country now having three or four thou
sand•miles of seacoast, with an infinite num
ber of ports and harbors and small inlets,
from some of which unlawful expeditions
may suddenly set forth, without the knowl
edge
of Government, against the possessions
of foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling
alliances with none, has long been a maxim
with us. Our true mission is not to propa
gate our opinions, or impose upon other
countries our form of government, by arti
fice or force; but to teach by example, and
show by our success, moderation and justice,
the blessings of all self-government, and the
advantages of free institutions. Let every
people choose for itself, and make and alter
its political institutions to suit its own con
dition and convenience. But, while we
avow and maintain this neutral policy our
selves, we are anxious to see the same for
bearance on the part of other nations, whose
forms of government are different from our
own. The deep interest which we feel in
the spread of liberal principles and the es
tablishment of free governments. / and the
sympathy with which we witness every
struggle against oppression, forbid that we
should be indifferent to a case in which the
strong arm of a foreign power is invoked to
stifle public sentiment and repress the spirit
of freedom in any country.
The governments of Great Britain and
France have issued orders to their naval
commanders on the West India station to
prevent by force, if necessary, the landing of
adventurers from any nation on the Island of
Cuba with hostile intent. The copy of a
memorandum of a conversation on this sub
ject between the Charged Affaires of her
Britannic Majesty and the Acting Secretary
of State, and of a subsequent note of the for
mer to the Department of State, are herewith
submitted, together with a copy of a note of
the Acting Secretary of State to the Minister
of the French republic, and of the reply of
the latter, on the same subject. These pa
pers will acquaint you with the grounds of
this interposition of the two leading commer
cial powers of Europe, and with the appre
hensions, which this Government could not
fail to entertain, that such interposition, if
carried into effect, might lead to abuses in
derogation of the maritime rights of the
l United States are founded on a firm, secure,
and well-defined basis; they stand upon the
ground of National Independence and public
law, and will be maintained in all their full
and just extent.
The principle which this Government has
heretofore solemnly announced it still adheres
to, and will maintain under all circumstances
and at all hazards. That principle is, that
ir. every regularly documented merchant ves
sel, the crew who navigate it, and those on
board of it, will find their protection in the
flag which is over them. No American ship
can be allowed to be visited or searched for
the purpose pf ascertaining tine character of
individuals on board, nor can there be allow
ed any watch by the vessels of any foreign
nation over American vessels on the coasts
of the United State or the seas adjacent there
to. It will be seen by the last communica
tion from the British Charge d'Affaires to the
Department of State, that he is authorized to
assure the Secretary of State that every care
will be taken that ) in executing the preven
tive measures against the expeditions, which
the United States Government itself has de
nounced as not being entitled to the proton.
lion of any government, no interference shall
take place with the lawful commerce of any
nation.
In addition to the correspondence on this
subject, herewith submitted, official informa
tion has been received at the Department of
State, of assurances by the French govern
ment that, in the orders given to the French
naval forces, they were expressly instructed,
in any operations they might engage in, to
respect the flag of the United States wher
ever it might appear, and to commit no act
of hostility upon any vessel or armament un
der its protection.
Ministers and consuls of foreign nations
are the means and agents of communication
between us and those nations, and it is of the
utmost importance that, while residing in
country, they should feel a perfect security
so long as they faithfully discharge their re
spective duties and are guilty of no violation
of our laws. This is the admitted law of
nations, and no country has a deeper interest
in maintaining it than the United States.—
Our commerce spreads over every sea and
visits every clime, and our ministers and
consuls are appointed to protect the interests
of that commerce, as well as to guard the
peace of the country and maintain the honor
of its flag. But how can they discharge
these duties unless they Ile themselves pro
tected; and, if protected, it must be by the
laws of the country in which they reside.—
And what is clue to our own public function
aries residing in foreign nations is exactly the
measure of what is due to the functionaries of
other governments residing here. As in
war, the bearers of flags of truce are saored,
or else wars would be interminable, so in
peace, embassadors, public ministers, and
consuls, charged with friendly national inter
course, are objects of especial respect and
protection, each according to the rights be
longing to his rank and station. In view of
these important principles, it is with deep
mortification and regret I announce to you
that, during the excitement growing out of
the executions at Havana, the office of her
Catholic majesty's consul at New Orleans
was assailed by a mob, his property destroy
ed, the Spanish flag found in the office carri
ed offend torn in pieces, and he himself in
duced to flee for his personal safety, which
he supposed to be in danger. On receiving
intelligence of these events, I forthwith di
rected attorney of the United States rai
ding at New Orleans to inquire into the facts
and the extent of the pecuniary . loss sustained
by the consul, with the intention of laying
them before you, that you might make pro
vision for such indemnity to him as a just
regard for the honor of the nation and the
respect which is due to a friendly power
might, in your judgement, seem to require.
The correspondence upon this subject be
tween the Secretary of State and her Catho
lic majesty's minister plenipotentiary is here
with transmitted.
The occurrence at Now Orleans has led
me to give my attention to the state of our
laws in regard to foreign embassadors, min
isters, and consuls. I think the legislation
of the country is deficient in not providing
sufficiently either fer the protection
or the punishment of consuls. I there
fore recommend the subject to the con
sideration of Congress.
Your attention is again invited to the ques
tion of reciprocal trade between the United
States and Canada and other British posses
sions near our frontier. Overtures for a con
vention upon this subject have been received
from her Britannic Majesty's Minister Pleni
potentiary, but it seems to be in many re
spects preferable that the matter should be
regarded by reciprocal legislation. Docu
ments are laid before you showing the terms
which the British government is willing to
offer, and the measures which it may adopt,
if some arrangement upon this subject shall
not be made.
From the accompanying copy of a note
from the British Legation at Washington,
and the reply of the Department of State
thereto, !it will appear that her Britannic
Majesty's government is desirous that a part
of the boundary line between Oregon and
the British Possessions should be authorita
tively marked out, and that an intention was
expressed to apply to Congress for an appro
priation to defray the expense thereof on the
part of the United States. Your attention to
this subject is accordingly invited, and a pro
per appropriation recommended.
A convention for the adjustment of claims
of citizens of the United States against Por
tugal has been concluded, and the ratifica
tions have been exchanged. The first instal
ment of the amount to be paid by Portugal
fell due on the 30th of September last, and
has been paid.
The President of the French Republic, ac
cording to the provisions of the convention,
has been selected as arbiter in the case of the
General Armstrong; and has signified that he
accepts the trust and the high satheaction he
feels in acting as the common friend of two
nations, with France is united by sen
timents of sincere and lasting amity.
The Turkish government has expressed its
thanks for the kind reception given to the
Sultan's agent, Amin Bey, on the occasion of
his recent visit to the United States On the
28th of February last a despatch was addres
sed by the Secretary of State to Mr, Marsh,
the American Minister at Constantinople,
instructing him to ask of the Turkist govern
ment permission for the Hungarians, then im
prisoned within the dominions of flu/Sublime
Porte, to remove to this country. On the 3d
of March last both Houses of Congress pass
ed a resolution requesting the President to
authorise the employment of a pubic vessel
to convey to this country Louis IComutti and
his associates in captivity.
The instruction above referred to was com
plied with, and the Turkish government hav
ing released Governor Kossuth acid his cona-
panions from prison, on the 10th of Septem
ber last they embarked on board of the Uni
ted States steam-frigate Mississippi, which
was selected to carry into effect the resolu
tion of Congress, Governor Kossuth left the
Mississippi at Gibralter, for the purpose of
making a visit to England, and may short
ly be expected in New York. By commu
nications to the Department of State he has
expressed his grateful acknowledgements
for the interposition of this Government in
behalf of himself and his associates. This
country has been justly regarded as a safe
asylum for those whom political events have
exiled from their own homes in Europe; and
it is recommended to Congress to consider in
what manner Governor Kossuth and his
' companions, brought hither by its authority,
shall be received and treated.
It is earnestly to be hoped that the differen
ces which have for some time past been pen
ding between the government of the French
republic and that of the Sandwich Islands,
may be peaceably and durably adjusted, so as
to secure the independence of those islands.
Long before the events which have of late
imparted so much importance to the posses
sions of the United States on the Pacific, we
acknowledge the independence of the Hawai
ian government. This government was first
in taking that step, and several of the leading
powers of Europe immediately followed.—
We were influenced in this measure by the
existing and prospective importance of the
islands as a place of refuge and refreshment
for our vessels engaged in the whale fishery,
and by the consideration that they lie in the
course of the great trade which must, at no
distant day, be carried on between the west
ern coast of North America and Eastern Asia.
We were also influenced by a desire that
those islands should not pass under the con
trol of any other great maratime State, but
should remain in an independent condition,
and so be accessible and useful to the' com
merce of all nations. I need not say that the
importance of these considerations has been
greatly enhanced by the sudden and vast de
velopement which the interests of the United
States have attained in Falifornia and Ore
gon; and the policy heretofore adopted in re
gard to those islands will be steadily pur
ged.
It is gratifying not only to those who con
sider the commercial interests of nations, but
also to all who favor the progress of knowl
edge and the diffusion of religion, to see a
community emerge from a savage state and
attain such a degree of civilization in those
distant seas.
It is much to be deplored that the internal
tranquility of the Mexican republic should
again be seriously 'disturbed; for, since the
peace between that republic and the United
States it had enjoyed such comparative repose
that the most favorable anticipations for the
future might, with a degree of confidence,
have been indulged. These, however, have
been thwarted by the recent outbreak in the
State of Tamaulipas, on the right bank of the
Rio Bravo. Having received information
that persons from thii United States had ta.
ken part in the insurrection, and apprehend
ing that their example might be followed by
others, I caused orders to be issued for the
purpose of preventing any hostile expeditions
against Mexico from being set on foot in
violation of the laws of the United States.—
I likewise issued a proclamation upon the
subject, a copy of which is herewith laid be
fore you. This appeared to be rendered im
perative by the obligations of treaties and the
general duties of good neighborhood.
In my last annual message I informed Con
gress that the citizens of the United States
had under taken the connexion of the two
oceans by means of a railroad across the Isth
mus of Tehuantepec, under a grant of the
Mexican government to a citizen of that re
public; and that this enterprize would proba
bly be prosecuted with energy whenever
Mexico should consent to such stipulations
with the government of the United States as
should impart a feeling of security to those
who could invest their property in the en
terprise.
A convention between the two govern
ments for the accomplishment of that end
has been ratified by . this Government, and
only awaits the decision of the Congress and
the Executive of that republic.
Some unexpected difficulties and delays
have arisen in the ratification of that conven
tion by Mexico, but it is to be presumed that
her decision will be governed by just and en
lightened views, as well of the general im
portance of the object, as of her own interests
and obligations.
In negotiating upon this important subject,
this Government has had in view one, and
only one, object. That object has been, and
is, the construction or attainment of a pas
sage from ocean to ocean, the shortest and
the best for travellers and merchandise, and
equally open to all the world. It has sought
to obtain no territorial acquisition, nor any
advantages peculiar to itself ; and it would
see, fflith the greatest regret, that Mexico
should oppose any obstacle to the accom
plishment of an enterprise which promises
so much convenience to the whole commer
cial world, and such eminent advantages to
Mexico herself. Impressed with these sen
timents and these convictions, the Govern
ment will continue to exert all proper efforts
to bring about the necessary arrangement
with the republic of Mexico for the speedy
completion of the work.
For some months past the republic of Nic
aragua has been the theatre of one of those
civil convulsions, from which the cause of
free institutions, and the general prosperity
and social progress of the States of Central
America, have so often and so severely suffer
ed. Until quiet shall have been restored,
and a government apparently stable shall
have been organized, no advance can pru
dently be made in disposing of the questions
pending between the two countries.
lam happy to announce that an inter
oceanic communication from the mouth of
the St. John to the Pacific has been so far
accomplished as that passengers have actual
ly traversed it and merchandise has been
transported over it; and when the canal shall
have been completed, according to the origi
nal plan, the means of communication will
be further improved.
It is understood that a considerable part of
the railroad across the Isthmus of Panama
has been completed, and that the mail and
passengers will in future be conveyed thereon
Whichever of the several routes between
the two oceans may ultimately prove most
eligible for travellers to and from — the differ
ent States on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexi
co and our coast on the Pacific, there is little
reason to doubt that all of them will be use
ful to the public, and will liberally reward
that, individual enterprise, by which alone
they have been or are expected to be carried
into effect.
Peace has been concluded between the con
tending parties in the bland of St. Domingo,
and it is hoped upon a durable basis. Such
is the extent of our commercial relations with
that island, that the United States cannot fail
to feel a strong interest in its tranquillity.
The office of Commissioner to China remains
unfilled; several persons have been appoint
ed, and the place has been offered to others,
all of whom have declined its acceptance, on
the ground of the inadequacy of the compen-.
cation. The annual allowance by law is six
thousand dollars, and there is no provision
for any outfit. I earnestly recommend the!
consideration of this subject to Congress.—
Our commerce with China is highly impor
tant, and is becoming more and more so, in
consequence of the increasing intercourse be
tween our ports on the Pacific coast and Eas
tern Asia. China is understood to be a coun
try in which living is very expensive, and I
know of no reason why the American Com
missioner sent thither should not be placed,
in regard to compensation, on an equal foot
ing with ministers who represent this coun
try at the courts of Europe.
By reference to the Report of the Secretary
of the Treasury, it will be seen that the ag
gregate receipts for the last fiscal year
amounted to $52,312,979 87; which, with.
the balance in the Treasury on the Ist July,
1850, gave, as the available means for the
year, the sum of $58,917,524 36.
The total expenditures for the same period
were $48,005,878 68.
The total imports for the year ending 30th
June, 1851, were $215,725,995
Of which there were in specie, 9,967,901
The exports for the same period
were $217,517,130
Of which there were of
domestic,products $178,546,555
Foreign goods re- _
exported,
Specie,
9.738,695
29,231,880
. .
$217,517,130
Since the let of December last the pay
ments in cash on account of the public debt,
exclusive of interest, have amounted to $7,-
501,456 56; which, however, includes the
turn of $3,242,400 paid under the 12th article
of the treaty with Mexico, and the further
turn of $2,591,213 45, being the amount of
awards to American citizens under the late
treaty with Mexico, for which the issue of
stock was authorized, but which was paid in
cash from the Treasury.
The public debt on the 20th ultimo, exclu
sive of the stock authorized to be issued to
Texas by the act of 9th September, 1850, was
$62,560,395 26.
The receipts for the next fiscal year are es
timated at $51,800,000, which, with the pro
bable unappropriated balance in the Treasu
ry, on the 30th June next, will give, as the
probable available means for that year, the
sum of $63,258,743 09.
It has been deemed proper, in view of the
large expenditures consequent upon the ac
quisition of territory from Mexico, that the
estimates for the next fiscal year should be
laid before Congress in such mariner as to
distinguish the expenditures so required
from the otherwise ordinary demands upon
the Treasury.
The total enpenditures for the next fiscal
year are estimated at 842,892,299 19, of
which there is required for the ordinary pur
poses of the Government, other than those
consequent upon the acquisition of our new
Territories, and deducting the payments on
account of the public debt, the sum of $33,
343,198 08; and for the purposes connected
directly or indirectly with those Territories,
and in the fulfilment of the obligations of the
Government, contracted in consequence of
their acquisition, the sum of $9,549,101 11.
If the views of the Secretary of the Trea
sury in reference to the expenditures requir
ed for these Territories shall be met by cor
responding action on the part of Congress,
and appropriations made in accordance there
with, there will be an estimated unappropri
ated balance in the Treasury on the 30th
June, 1853, of $20,366,413 90, wherewith
to meet that portion of the public debt due on
the first July following, amounting to $6,-
237,931 35, as well as any appropriations
which may be made beyond the estimates.
In thus referring to the estimated expendi-
tures on account of our newly-acquired Ter
ritories, I may express the hope that Con
gress will concur with me in the desire that
a liberal coarse of policy may be pursued to
wards them, and that every obligation, ex
press or implied, entered into in consequence
of their acquisition, shall be fulfilled by the
most liberal appropriations for that purpose.
• The values of our demestic exports for the
last fiscal year, as compared with those of
the previous year, exhibit an increase of
543,646,322. At first view this condition
of our trade with foreign nations would
seem to present the most flattering hopes of
its future prosperity. An examination of
the details of our exports, however, will
show that the incresed value of our exports for
the last fiscal year is to be in the high price
of cotton which prevailed during the first
half of that year, which price has since de
clined about one-half.
Thoyalue of our exports of breadstuffs and
provisions, which it was supposed the incen
tive of a low tariff and large importations
from abroad would have greatly augmented,
has fallen from $68,701,921, in 1847, to
$26,051,373 in 1850, and to $21,948,653 in
1851, with a strong probability, amounting
almost to a certainty, of a still further reduc
tion in the current year.
The aggregate values of rice exported du
ring the last fiscal year, as compared with
the previous year, also exhibit a decrease
amounting to $460.917, which, with a de
cline in the values of the exports of tobacco
for the same period, make an aggregate de
crease in these two articles' of $1,156,751.
The policy which dictated a low rate of
duties on foreign merchandise, it was thought
by those who promoted and established it,
would tend to benefit the farming population
of this country, by increasing the demand
and raising the price of agricultural products
in foreign markets.
The foregoing facts, however, seem to
show incontestibly that no such result has
followed the adoption of this policy. On the
contrary, notwithstanding the repeal of the
restrictive corn laws in England, the foreign
demand for the products of the American far
mer has steadily declined, since the short
crops and consequent famine in a portion of
Europe have been happily replaced by full
crops and comparative abundance of food.
It will be seen, by recurring to the coin-
mercial statistics for the past year, that the
value of our domestic exports has been in
creased in the single item of raw cotton by
$40,000,000 over the value of that export for
the year preceding. This is not due to any
increased general demand for that artiole,but
to the short crop of the preceding year, which
created art increased demand,and an augmen
ted price for the crop of last year. Should the
cotton crop now going forward to market be
only equal in quantity to that of the year pre
ceding, and be sold at the present prices, then
there would be a falling off in the value of
our exports for the present fiscal year of at
least $40,000,000, compared with the amount
exported for the year ending 30th June, 1851.
The production of gold in California for
the past year seems to promise a large sup
ply of that metal from that quarter for some
time to come. • This large annual increase of
the currency of the world must be attended
with its usual results. These have been al
ready partially disclosed in the enhancement
of prices and a rising 'spirit of speculation
and adventure, tending to overttiding, as
well at home as abroad. Unless settle salu
tary check shall be given to these tendencies ;
it is to be feared that importations of foreign
goods beyond a healthy demand in this coun
try will lead to a sudden drain of the pre
cious metals from us, bringing with it, as
it has done in former times, the most disas
trous consequences to the business and capi
tal of the American people.
The exports of specie . to liquidate our for-,
eign debt during the past fiscal year have.
been $24,263,979 over the amount of specie
imported. The exports of specie during the
first quarter of the present fiscal year havs
been $14,651,827. • Should specie continue
to be exported at this late for the remaining
three quarters of this year, it will drain
from our metallic currency during the year
ending 30th June, 1852, the enormous
amount of $58,607,308.
In the present prosperous condition of the
national finances, it will become the duty of
Congress to consider the beat mode of paying
off the public debt. If the present and anti
cipated surplus in the Treasury should not
be absorbed by appropriations 0. ,
an extraor
dinary character, this surplus should be em
ployed in such way, and under such restric
tions, as Congress may enact, in extinguish
ing the outstanding debt of the nation.
By reference to the act of Congress appro
ved 9th September, 1850, it will be seen that,
in consideration of certain concessions by the
State of Texas, it is provided that the "Uni
' ted States shall pay to the State of Texas
the sum of ten millions of dollars, in a stock
bearing five per cent. interest, and redeema
' ble at the end of fourteen years, the interest
' payable half yearly, at the Treasury of the
United States."
In the same section of the law it is further
provided "that no more than five millions of
• said stock shall be issued until the creditors
of the State holding bonds and °the': certifi
cates of stock of Texas, for which duties on
imports were specially pledged, shall first
file at the Treasury of the United States re
-
leases of all claims - against the United States,
for or on account of said bonds or certifi
cates, in such form as shall be prescribed
by the Secretary of the Treasury, and ap
proved by the President of the United
States."
The form of release thus provided for has
been prescribed by the Secretary of the Trea
sury, and approved. It has been published
in all the leading newspapers in the comrner
cial cities of the United States, and all per
sons holding claims of the kind specified in
the foregoing proviso were required to file
their releases (in the form thus prescribed) in
the Treasury of the United States, on or be
fore the Ist day of October, 1851. Although
this publication has been continued from the
25th day of March, 1851, yet up to the Ist
of October last comparatively few releases
had been filed by the creditors of Texas.
The authorities of the State of Texas,
at the request of the Secretary of the
Treasury, have furnished a schedule of
the public debt of that State created pri
or to her admission into the Union, with
a copy of the laws under which each
class was contracted.
I have, from the documents furnished
by the State of Texas, determined the
classes of claims which in my judgement
fall within the provisions of the act of
Congress of the 9th of September, 1850.
On being officially informed of the ac
ceptance by Texas of the propositions con
tained in the act referred to, I caused the
stock to be prepared, and the five millions
which arc to be issued unconditionally,
bearing an interest of five per cent. from
the Ist day of January, 1851, have been
for some time ready to be delivered to the
State of Texas. The authorities of Texas,
up to the present time,'have not authori
zed any one to receive this stock, and it
remains in the Treasury Department, sub
ject to the order of Texas.
The releases, required by law to be de
posited in the Treasury, no havingt been
filed there, the remaining five millions
have not been issued. This last amount
of the stock will be withheld from Texas
until the conditions upon which it is to be
delivered shall be complied with by the
creditors of that State, unless Congress
shall otherwise direct by a modification of
the law.
In my last annual message, to which 1
respectfully refer, I stated briefly the
reasons which induced me to recommend a
modification of the present tariff, by con
verting the ad valorem in to a specific du
ty, wherever the article imported was of
such a character as to permit it, and that
such a discrimination should be made, in
favor of the industrial pursuits of our
own country, as to encourage home pro
duction without excluding foreign com
petition.
The numerous frauds which continue to
be practised upon the revenue, by false
invoices and undervaluations, constitute an
unanswerable reason for adopting specific
instead of ad valorem duties in all eases
where the nature of the commodity does
not forbid it. A striking illustration of
those frauds will be exhibited in the Re
port of the Secretary of the Treasury,
showing the custom-house valuation of ar
ticles imported under a former law subject
to specific duties,when there was no induce
ment to undervaluation, and the custom
house valuations of the same articles, un
der the present system of ad valorem du
ties, so greatly reduced as to leave no
I doubt of the existence of the most flagrant
abuses under the existing laws. This
practical evasion of tho present law, com
bined with the languishing condition of
some of the great int - Orests of the country,
caused by over importations and conse
quent depressed prices, and with thq fail
ure in obtaining a foreign market for our
increasing surplus of breadstuffs and pro
visions, has induced me again to recom•
mend a modifcariou of the existing tariff.