BY J. A. HALL.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and Rouse of
Representatives :
The brief space which has elapsed since
the close of your last session has been mark
ed tic no extraordinary political event. The
quadrennial election of Chief Magistrate has
passed off with less than usual excitement.
However individuals and parties may have
been disappointed in the result, it is never
theless a subje6t of national Congratulation
that the choice has been effected by die in
dependent suffrages of a free people, un
disturbed by these influences which in other
countries have too often affected the purity of
popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an All-mer
ciful Providence, not only for staying the pes
tilence which in different forms has desola
ted some of our cities, but for crowning the
labors of the husbandman with an abundant
harvest, and the nation generally with the
blessings of peace and prosperity.
Within a few weeks the public mind has
been depply affected by the death of Daniel
Webster, filling at his decease the office of
Secretary of State. His associates in the
Executive government have sincerely sym
pathized with his family and the public gen
etally on this mournful occasion. His com
manding talents, his great political and pro
fessional eminence, his well-tried patriotism,
and his long and faithful services, in the
most important public trusts, have caused his
death to be lamented throughout the country,
and have earned for him a lusting place to
our history.
In the course of the last summer considera
ble anxiety was caused for a short time by an
official intimation from the goverment of
Great Britain that orders had been given for
the protection of the fisheries upon the coasts
of the British provinces in North America
against the alleged encroachment of the fish
ing vessels of the United States and France.
The shortness of this notice and the season
of the year scented to make it a matter of ur
gent importuner , . It was at first apprehended
that an increased naval force had been order
ed to the fishing grounds to carry into effect
the British interpretation of those provisions
in the convention of 1818, in reference to the
true intent of which the two governments dif
fer. It was soon discovered that such was
not the design of Great Britain, and satisfac
tory explanations of the real objects of the
measure have been given both here and in
London.
The unadjusted difference, however, be
tween the two ' novcrments as to the inter
pretation of the first article of the convert
non of 1818 is still a matter of importance.
American fishing vessels within nine or ten
years have been excluded from waters to
which they had free access for twenty-five
years after the negotiation of the treaty. In
1815 this exclusion was relaxed so far as con
cerns the bay of ninth., but the just and lib
eral intention of the home government, in
compliance with what we think the true
construction of the convention, to open all
the other outer bays to our fishermen, was
abandoned in conserptence of the opposition
of the colonies. Notwithstanding this, the
United States have, since the Bay of Fundy
was re-upend to our fishermen ir. 1845, pur
sued the most liberal course tawards the colo
nial fishing, interests. By the revenue law
of 1846, the duties on colonial fish entering
our ports were very greatly reduced, and by
the warehousing act it is allowed to be en
tered in bond without payment of duty. In
this way colonial fish has acquired the mo
nopoly of tire export trade in our market, and
is entering to some extent into the home con
sumption. These facts were among those
which increased the sensibility of our fishing
interest, at themovement in question.
These circumstances and the incidents
above alluded to have led me to think the
moment favorable fora reconsideration of the
entire subject of the fisheries on the coasts
of the British provinces, with a view to place
them upon a more liberal footing of recipe.
cal privilege. A willingness to meet ns
some arrangement of this kind is understood
to exist, on the part of Great Britain, with a
deaite on her part to include in one compre
hensive settlement, as well this subject as
the commercial intercourse between the
United States and the British provinces. I
have thought that whatever arrangements
may be made on these two subjects, it is ex
pedient that they should bit embraced in
separate conventions. The illness and death
of the late Secretary of State prevented the
commencement of the contemplated negotia
tion. pains have been taken to collect the
information required for the (lentils of such
all arrangement. The subject is attended
with considerable difficulty. If it is found
practicable to come to an agreement mutual
ly acceptable to the two parties, conventions
may be concluded in the course of the pres
ent winter. The mune] of Congress over
all the provisions of such an arrangement, af
fecting the revenue, will of course be reser
ved. _ _
The affairs of Cuba formed a prominent
topic in my last annual message. They re
main in an uneasy condition, and a feeling of
alarm and irritation on the part of the Cuba
authorities appears to exist. This feeling
has interfered with the regular commercial
intercource between the United States and
the island, and led to some nets of which we
have a light to complain. But the Captain
General of Cuba is clothed with no power to
treat with foreign governments, nor is he in
any degree under the control of the Spanish
Minister at Washington. Any communica
tion which he may hold with an agent of a
foreign power is informal and matter of
codrtesy. Anxious. to put an end to the ex
isting indOnveniences. (which seemed to rest
on a misconception,) I directed the newly.
tippoinied Minister to Mexico to visit Havana,
on his way to Vera Cruz. He was respect
fully received by the Captain General, who
conferred with him freely on the recent oc
currences; but no permanent arrangement
was effected.
In the mean time the v-fustil of the Cap-
nntinobon
HUNTINGDON, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1852.
lain General to allow passengers and the
mail to be landed in certain cases, for a rea
son which does not furnish in the opinion of
this Government even a good presumptive
ground fur such a prohibition, has been made
the subject of a serious remonstrance at Mad
rid; and I have no reason to doubt that due
respect will be paid by the government of
Her Catholic Majesty to the representations
which our Minister has been instructed to
make on the subject.
It is but justice to the Captain General to
add, that his conduct toward the steamers
employed to carry the mall of the United
States to Havana has, with the excePii'oni
above alluded to, been marked with • kind
ness and liberality, and indicates no general
purpose of interfering with the commercial
correspondence and intercourse between the
island and this country.
Early in the present year official notes
were received from the Ministers of France
and England, inviting the Government of
the United States to become a party with
Great Britain and France to a tripartite
Convention,in virtue of which the three pow
ers should severally and collectively dis
claim, now and for the future, all intention
to obtain possession of the Island of Cuba,
and should bind themselves to discounten
ance all attempts to that effect on the part
of any power or individual whatever. This
invitation has been respectfully declined, for
reasons which it would occupy too much
space in this communication to state in de
tnil, but which led me to think that the pro
posed measure would be a doubtful constitu
tionality, impolitic, and unavailing. I have,
however, in common with several of my
predecessors, directed the Ministers of France
and England to be assured the United States
entertain no designs against Cuba; but that,
on the contrary, I should regard its incorpora
lion into the Union at the present time as
fraught with serious peril.
Were this island comparatively destitute of
inhabitants, or occupied by a kindred race, I
should regard it, if voluntarily . ceded by
Spain as a most desirable acquisition. But,
under existing circumstances, I should look
upon its incorporation into our Union as a
I very hazardoes measure. It would bring in
' to the Confederacy a population of a different
national stock, speaking a different language,
Land not likely to harmonize with the other
members. It would probably affect in a pre-
Sudicial manner the industrial interests of the
outh; and it might I evive those conflicts of
opinion between the different sections of the
country, which lately shook the Uninn to its
centre, and which have been so happily com
promised.
The rejection by the Mexican Congress of
the Conventiou which had been concluded
between that Republic and the United States,
fur the protection of a transit way across the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec and of the. interests
of those citizens of the United States %Om had
become proprietors of the rights which Mexi
co had conferred ott one of her own citizens
in regard to that transit, has thrown a seri
ous obstacle in the way of the attainment of
a vet y desirable national object. lam still
willin' to hope that the differences on the
subject which exist or may hereafter arise,
between the governments, will be amicably
adjusted. This subject, however, has al
ready engaged the attention of the Senate of
the United States, and requires no further
comment in this communication.
The settlement of the question respecting
the port of San Juan de Nicaragua, and of the
controversy between the republics of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua in regard to their bound
aries, was considered nulispensible to the
commencement of the ship canal between
the two oceans, which was the subject of the
Convention between the United States and
Great Britain of the 19th April, 1850. Ac
cordingly a proposition for the same purposes
addressed to the same governments in that
(patter, and to the Mosquito Indians, was
agreed to in April last by the Secretary of
State and the Ministor of her Britanic Ma
jesty. Besides the wish to aid in reconcil
tog tine difference of the two republics, I en
gaged in the negotiation from a desire to
place the great work of a ship canal between
the two oceans under one jurisdiction, and to
establish the important port of Sap Juan de
Nicaragua tinder the government of a civili
zed power. The proposition in question
was assented to by Costa Rica and the Mos
quito Indians. It has not proved equally ac
ceptable to Nicaragua, but it is to be hoped
that the further negotiations on the subject
which are in train will be carried on in that
spirit of conciliation and compromise which
ought always to prevail on such an occasion,
and that they will lead to a satisfactory result.
I have the satisfaction to inform you that
the executive goveinment of Venezuela has
acknowledged some claims of citizens of the
United States, which have for many years
past been urged by our charge d'affaires at
Caraccas. It is hoped that the same sense
of justice will actuate the Congress of that
Republic in providing the means for their
payment.
The recent revolution in Buenos Ayres and
the confederate States having opened the
prospect of an improved state of things in
that quarter, the governments of Great Bri
tain and Fiance determined to negotiate
with the Chief of the new confederacy . for
the free acer . .ss of their commerce to their el
tensive countries, watered by the tributaries'
of the La Plata; and they give a friendly no
tice of this purpose to the United States, that
we might, if we thought proper, pursue the
'same course. In compliance with this invi
tation our Minister at Rio Janeiro, and our
charge d'affaires at Buenos Ayres have been
fully authorized to conclude treaties with
the newly-organized Confederation, or the
States composing it. The delays which
have taken place in the form Lion of the new
government have as yet prevented the exe
cution of those instructions; but there is eve
ry reason to hope that these vast countries
will be eventually opened to our commerce.
A treaty of commerce tuts been concluded
between the United States and the Oriental
Repubit of tiregosy, which will be laid be.
fore the Senate. Should this Convention go
into operation it will open to the commercial
enterprise of our citizens a country of great
extent and unsurpassed in natural resources,
but from which foreign nations have hitherto
been almost wholly excluded.
Tne correspondence of the late Secretary
of State with he Peruvian charge d'affaires
relative to the Lobos Islands, was communi
cated t 6 f ongresi towards the clore of the
last session. Since that time, on further in
vestigation of the subject, the doubts which
had been entertained of the title of Peru to
those islands have been removed; and I have
deemed it just that the temporary wrong
which had been unintentionally done her,
from want of information, should be repaired
by an unreserved acknowledgment of her
sovereignty.
I have the satisfaction to inform you that
the course pursued by Peru has been credita
ble to the liberality of her government. Be
fore it was known by her that her title would
be acknowledged at Washington, tier Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs had autnorized our
charge d'affaires at Lima to announce to the
American vessels which hail gone to the Lo
bos for guano, that the Peruvian Government
was willing to freight them on its own ac
count. This intention has been carried into
effect by the Peruvian Minister here, by an
arrangement which is believed to be advanta
geous to the parties in interest.
Our settleMents on the shores of the Pacific
have already given a great extension, and in
some respects a new direction, to our com
merce in that ocean. A direct and rapidly
increasing intercourse has sprung up with
Eastern Asia. The waters of the Northern
Pacific, even into the Arctic sea,
have of
late years been frequented by our whalemen.
The application of steam to the general par'
poses of navigation is becoming daily more
common, and makes it desirable to obtain
fuel and other necessary supplies at conveni
ent points on the route between Asia and
our Pacific shores. Our unfortunate emm
trymen who from time to time suffer ship
wreck on the coasts of the eastern seas are
entitled to protection. Besides these speci
fic objects, the general prosperity of our
State on the Pacific requires that an attempt
should be made to open the opposite regions
of Asia to a mutually beneficial intercourse.
It is obvious that this attempt could be made
by no power to so great advantage as by the
United States, whose constitutional system
excludes every idea of distant colonial de
pendencies. I have accordingly been led to
order an appropriate naval force to Japan, un
der the command of a discreet and intelligent
officer of the highest rank known to our ser
vice. He is instructed to endeavor to ob
tain hem the government of Out' country
some relaxation of the inhospitable and anti
' social system which it has pursued for'about
two centuries. He has been directed partic
ularly to remonstrate in the strongest lan
guage against the cruel treatment to which
our shipwrecked mariners have often been
subjected, and to insist that they shall be
treated with humanity. He is instructed
however at the same time to give that govern
, merit the amplest assurances that the objects
of the United States are such and such only
'as I have indicated, and that the expedition
is friendly and peaceful. Notwithstanding
the jealousy with which the governments of
Eastern Asia regard all overtures from for
eigners. I am not without hopes of a benefi
ced result of the expedition. Should it be
crowned with success, the advantages will
not tie confined to the United States, but, as
in the ease of China, will be equally enjoyed
by all the other rnaiitime powers. I have
much satisfaction in stating that in all the
steps preparatory to this expedition the Gov
ernment of the United States has been mate
rially aided by the good offices of the King
of the Netherlands, the only European pow
er having any commercial relations with Ja
pan.
In passing from this survey of our foreign
relations, I invite the attention of Congress
to the condition of that department of the
Government to which this brunch of the pub
lic business is entrusted. Our intercourse
with foreign powers has of late years greatly
increased, both in consequence of our own
growth and the introduction of many new
States into the family of nations. In this
way the Department of State has become
overburdened. It has, by the recent estab
ment of the Department of the Interior, been
relieved of some portion of the domestic bu
siness. If the residue of the business
of that kind, such as the distribution
of Congressional documents '
the keeping,
publishing and distribution of the laws of the
United States, the execution of the copyright
law, the subject of reprieves and pardons,
and some other subjects relating to interior
administration, should be transferred from
the Department of State, it would unques
tionably be for the benefit of the public ser
vice. I would also suggest that the build
ing appropriated to the State Departinent is
not fire proof; that there is reason to think
there are defects in its construction, and that
the archives of the Government hi charge
of the Department, with the precious collec
tions of the manuscript papers of Washing.
ton, Jefferson, Hamilton, Nldison, and Mon
' roe, are exposed to destruction by fire. A
similar remark tnay he made of the buildings
appropriated to the War and Navy Depart
lments.
The condition of the Treasury is exhibited
in the annual report from that Department.
The cash receipts into the Treasury for the
fiscal year ending the 30th June last, exclu
sive of trust funds, were forty-sine
'seven hundred and twenty-eight thousand
three hundred and eighty-six dollars and
eighty-nine cents, (49.728,386 89,) and the
expenditures for the same period, likewise
exclusive of trust funds, were forty-six mil
lions seven thensand eight hundred and nine
ty-Six dollars and twenty cents, ($46,007,-
896 20;) of which nine millions four • hun
dred Ma fifty-five thousand eight hundred
and fifteen dollars and eighty-three cents,
(99,455.815 83) was on account of the prin
cipal and interest of ths public debt, inclu.
'ding the last instalment of the indemnity to
Mexico, under the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, leaving a balance of $14,632,136 37
in the Treasury on the first day of July lust.
Since this latter period, further purchases of
the principal of the public debt have been
made to the extent of two millions four hun
dred and fifty-six thousand ft e hundred and
forty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents,
($2,456,547 49,) and the surplus in the
Treasury will continue to be applied to that
object, whenever the stock can be procured
within the limits, as to price, authorized by
The-value of foreign mechandise imported
during the hest fiscal year was two hurefieff
and seven millions two hundred and forty
thousand one hundred and one dollars,
($207,240 101 ;) and the value of domestic
productions exported was one hundred and
forty-nine millions eight hundred and sixty
one thousand nine hundred and eleven dol
lars, ($149,861,911;) besides seventeen mil
lions two hundred end four thousand and
twenty-six dollars (17, 204, 026) of foreign
merchandise exported; making the aggre
gate of the entire exports one hundred and
sixty-seven millions sixty-five thousand nine
hundred and thirty-seven dollars, ($167,065,.
937 :) exclusive of the above there Was ex
pelled forty-two millions five hundred and
seven thousami two hundred arid eighty-five
dollays (42,507,285) in specie; and import
ed frfen foreign ports five millions two hun
dredfold sixty two thousand six hundred and
forty-three dollars, ($5,262,643.)
In my first eternal message to congress I
called your attention to what seemed to me
some defects in the present tariff; and re
commended such modifications as in my
judgement were best adapted to remedy its
evils and promote the prosperity of the coun
try. Nothing has since secured to change
my views on this important question.
Without repeating the arguments contain
ed hi eny former message,in favor of discrimi
nating, protective duties, I deem it my duty
to call yew attention to one or two other
eonsidereetious affecting this subject. The
tipt is, the effect of large importations of for.
eign goods upon our currency. Most of the
gold ref Calikernia, as fast as it is cointd,
finds its way directly to Europe ire payment
for goods purchased. lie t lee seemed place, as
our mantelacturing establishments are broken
down by competition with foreigners,
the capital invested in them is lost, thou
sands of honest awl industrious citizens are
thrown out of employment, and the farmer
to that extent is deprived of it home market
for the sale of his surplus produce. Ili the
third place, tire destruction of our menthe
toms leaves the foreigner without competi
tion in our market, turd he consequently
raises the price of the article sent here for
sale, as is now seen in the increased cost of
iron imported from England. The prosperity
and wealth ref every nation must depend up
-011 its productive industry. The farmer is
stimulated to exertion by finding a ready mar
ket for his surplus products, and benefitted
by being able to exchange them, without loss
of time or expense of transportation, for the
manufactures which his comfort or conveni
ence requires. This is always done to the
best adventage where a portion of the com
munity iu which he lives is engaged in other
pursuits. But most manufactures require an
amount of capital and a practical skill which
cannot be commanded, unless they be pro
tected for a time from ruinous competition
from abroad. Hence the necessity of lay
ing those duties epee imported goods which
the Constitetien anthorizes, for revenue : in
such a manner as to Protect and encourage
the labor of our own citizens. Duties how
ever should not be fixed at a rate so high as
to exclude the foreign article, but should be
so graduated its to enable the domestic man
ufactures fairly to compete with the foreign
er in our own markets, and by this competi
tion to reduce the price of the manufactured
larticle to the consumer to the lowest rate at
which it can be produced. This policy
would place the mechanic ley the side of the
farmer, create a mutual interchange of their
respective commodities, and thus stimulate
the industry of the Whole country, arid ren
der us independent of foreign nations for the
supplies required by the habits or necessi
ties of the people.
Another question, wholly independent of
protection, presents itself, mid that is, wheth
er the dUties levied should be upon the value
of the articles at the place of shipment, or,
where it is practicable, a specific duty, gradu
ated according to quantity, as ascertained by
weight or measure. All our duties are at
present ad valorem. A certain per centilge
Is levied on the price of the goods at the port
of shipment in a foreign country. Must
conarneicial nations have found it indispensi
ble, for the purpose of preventing fraud and
perjury, to make the duties specific whenever
the article is of such a uniform value in
I weight ter measure as to justify such a chili:
Le g islation should never encourage dishon
esty or cruise.. It is imposible that the revs
rue officers at tiie port where the goods are
'entered and the duties paid shoold kno.v
with certainty what they cost iu the foreign
,country. Yet the law requires that they
should levy the duty accenting to such cost.
'They are thetefore compelled to resort to
very unsatisfactory evidence to ascertain
what that cost was. They take the in
voice of the importer, attested by his
oath, as the best evidence of which the na
ture of the case admits. But every one
must see that the ihvoiee may be fahrleatetti
and the oath by which it is supported false, by
I relistei of whwh the dishonest importer pays
a part only of the duties wield' are paid by
the holiest one, and thus indirectly receives
from the treasury of the United States a re
ward for his fraud and perjury. The reports
of the Secretary of the Treasury heretofore
made on the subject show coeclusively that
these frauds have been practiced to a great
extent. The tendency is to destroy that
high mane character fur which our mer
chants have long been distingnislied; to de
fraud the Govertinieut of its revenue; to break
down the henest Importer by a dishonest
-00 41 , 1
e ti ". 7 )
rtat9
competition , anti, filially, to transfer the bu
siness of importation to foreign and ir
responsible agents, to the glee detriment of
our own citizens. I therefore again most
earnestly recommend the adoption of specific
duties, wherever it is practicable, or a home
valuation, to prevent these frauds.
I would also again call your attention to
the fact that the present tariff in some cases
imposes a higher duty upon the raw materlt
al imported than upon the article manufaetu.
red from it, the coneecilience of which is that
the duty operates to the encouragement of
the foreigner anti the discouragement of our
own citizens.
For full and detailed information in re
gard to the general conditon of our Indian
affairs, I respectfully refer you to the rellort
of the Secretary of the Interior and the ac
companying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper to
ratify the treaties which had been nevi ;
ated with the tribes of Indians in California
and Oregon, our relations with them have
been left in a very unsatisfactory condition.
In otjier parts of our territory particular di..
tricts of country have been set apart for the ex.
elusive occupation of the Indians, and their
right to the lands within those limits has been
- acknowledged and respected. But in Collier.
nia and Oregon there has been no recognition
by the Government of the exclusive right of the
Indians to any part of the country. They are
therciore niece tenants at sufferance, and liable
to be driven from place to place, at the pleasure
of the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected pro
posed to remedy this evil by allotting to the dif
tbrent tribes districts of country snituble to their
habits of life, and sufficient for their support.—
This provision, more than any other, it is be
lieved, led to their rejection; and as no substitute
tbr it has been adopted by Congress, it has not
been deemed advisublb to attempt to enter into
new treaties of a permanent character, although
no effort has been spared by temporary arrange
ments to preserve friendly relations with them.
It it be the desire of Congress to remove them
from the country altogether, or to assign to
them particular districts more remote from the
settlements of the whites, it will be proper to set
apart by law the territory which they arc 'to
occupy, and to provide the means necessary for
removing them to it. Justice alike to our own
citizens end to the Indians requires the prompt
action 01 . 0:tigress on this subject.
The amendments proposed by the Senate, to
the treaties which were negotiated with the
Sioux Indians of Minnesota, have been submit.
ted to the tribes who w, re yartres to them;and
have received their assent. A large tract of
valuable territory has thus been opened for set.
Clement and cultivation, and all danger of colli
sion with these powerful and warelike bands has
been happily removed.
• _ . _
.
The of the remnant of the tribe of
Seminole Indians from Florida has long been a
cherished object of the Government, and it is
one to which my tettention has been steadily
directed. Admodishcd by past experience of
the difficulty and cost of the attempt to remove
them by military force, resort has been had to
conciliatory measures. By the invitation of
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs several of .
the principal chiefs recently visited Washington,
and whilst here acknowledged in writing the
obligation of their tribe to remove with the least
possible deluy. Late advices from the special
agent of the Government represent that they
adhere to their promise, and that a council of
their people has been called to make their pre.
lintituiry arrangements. A general emigration
may therefore be expected at . early day.
The report from the General Land Mee
shows increased activity in its operations. The
survey of the northern bout.dary of lowa has
been completed with unexampled despatch.—
Within the lust year 9,522,053 acres of public
latid have been surveyed, and 8,032,463 acres
brought hits market.
In the lust fiscal year thcro
were sold 1,553,071 acres.
Located with bountYlatid
warrants,' 3,201,314
Located with other eertificates,lls,662
Making a total of 4,870,067 "
In addition there were—
Reported under swamp land
grunts, 5,219,188 "
For internal Improvements,
railroads, &e., 3,025,920 ..
Making an aggregate of 13,115,175 "
Being In ina:us c c; in the amount of lands sold
and located owl( r lund warrants of 569,220
acres over the previous year.
. .
- -
The whole 'amount 'thus sold, located under
land warrants, reported under swamp land
grants,•and selected for internal improvements,
exceeds that of the previous year by 3,342,372
acres; and the sales would, without doubt, have
been much larger, but for the extensive reser
vations for railroads in Missouri, Mississippi and
Alabama.
For the quarter ending 30th September, 18.52,
them were sold 243,255 acres,
l.ocated with bounty land war. _ _
rants, 1,3e7,116 ..
Located with other certificates, 15,619 ..
Reported under swamp land
et.te,
Making an aggregate for the
quarter of
4,181,251
- - -
Much the larger portion of the labor of or.
ranging and classifying the returns of the last
census has been finished, end it will now devolve
upon Congress to make the necessary provision
tor the publication of the results in such form as
shall be deemed bust. The apportionment of
representation, on the basis of the new census,
has been made by the Secretary of the Interior
in conformity with the provisions of law rela.
Ling to that subject, and the recent elections
hove been made m accordance with it.
I commend to your favorable regard the sug
gestion contained in the report of the Secretary
of the Interior that provision be made by law
or the publication and distribution, periodical
ly, of an analytical digest of all the patents
which have been, or may hereafter be, grunted
for useful inventions and discoveries, with such
descriptions and illustrations as may be itemise.
ry to present an intelligible view of their nature
and operation. The cost of ouch publication
could easily be defrayed out of the patent lund,
and I am persuaded that it could be applied to
no object inert accept..ble to inventors and ben.
eficial to the public at large.
Am appropriation of $lOO,OOO having been
made at the lest ?anion (he the purchars of
VOL. 17, NO. 50.
suitable site, and for the erection, furnishing.
and fitting up of an Asylum for the Insane of
the Dietrict of Columbia, and of the Army and
Navy of the United States, the proper measures
have been adopted to carry this beneficent per
pose into effect.
By the lust advices from the Mexican Boun
dary Comminion it appears that the survey of
the river Gila, from its confluence with the Co.
lorado to its supposed intersection with the was.
tern line of New Mexico, has been completed.
The surge?' of the Rio Grande has also been fin.
ished from the point agreed on by the Commis
sioners as "the point where it strikes the sou.
thern boundary of New Mexioo" to a point one
hundied and thirty.five mile. below Eagle Pam,
which is about two.thirds of the distance along
the course of the river to its mouth.
The appropriation which was made at the last
session of Congress for the continuation of the
survey is subject to the following proviso:
"Prodded, That no part of this appropriation
shall be used or expended until it shall be made
satlefactorily to appear to the President of the
United State. that the. southern boundary of
New Mexico is not eitabliiffied by the connote.
'loner and surveyor of the United States farther
north of the town called "Paso" than the same
La laid down in Disturnell‘a maP; which is added
to the treaty." • ,
My attention was drawn to this subject by a
raport from the Depurtmen, of the Interior,
which reviewed all the thcts of the case, End
submitted for my decision the question whether,
under existing cireunist.mce, any part of the ap.
propriation could he law; ully used or expended
for the further prosecution of the work. After
a careful consideration of the subject, I came t
the conclusion that it could not, and so informed .
the head of that Department. Orders were in,
mediately issued by hint to the commission.
er and surveyor to make no further requiem
tions on the Department, as they could not be
paid; and to discontinue all operations on the
southern line of New Ma nic,. But as the Dc.
partment had no exact information as to the
amount of provisions and money which remain.
ed unexpended in the hands of the commissioner
and surveyor, it was lett discretionary with them
to continue the survey down the Rio Grande as
far as the means i at their disposal would enable
them, or at once to disband the Commission.
A special messenger has since arrived front the
officer in charge of the survey on the river, with
information that the funds subject to his control
were exhausted, and that the officers and others
employod in the service were destitute alike of
the mans of prosecuting the work and of re.
turning to their homes.
The object of the proviso was cloahos.. to ar
rest the curt., •f tin) southern and western li ne ,
of New Mexico,in regard to which different opin
ions have been expressed; for it is hardly to bo
supposed shot there could be any objection to
that part of the line which extends along the,
OUPInel of the Rio Grande. Bat the terms of
the law are so broad no to forbid the use of Any,
part of the money for the prosecution of th - e work,
or even, for the payment, to the officers and a
gents, a the arrearsges of pay which are justly
duq to them. .
r innitstly in7.l.telonr prompt attention to this
subject, anti recommend a modification of tho
terms of the proviso so as to enable the Depart
ment to use as much of the apropriation as will
he necessary to discharge the existing obligations
of the Government, and to complete the survey
of the Rio Grande to its mouth. ,
It will also be proper to make farther proAsion
by law fir the fulfilment of our treaty with Nex-.
icofor running and marking the residue cf the
boundary line between the two countries.
Permit me to invite your particular attention
to the interests of the Distret of Columbia, which
are confided by the Constitution to your peculiar
care.
Among the measures which seem to me of the
greatest importance to its prosperity are the in-,
trodnetinns of a copious supply of water into the
city of Washington, and the constructions of suit
able bridges across the Potomac to replace
those which were destro y ed by high water in the
early part of the present year.
At the last session of C ongress en apropriation
was made to defray the cost of the surveys neces
sary fur the determining the best means of sword
ing an unfailing supply of good end wholesome
water. Some progress has been made in the
survey, and as soon as, it is completed the result
will he laid before you.
Further appropriations will also be necessary
for grading and paving the streets and avenues,
and. enclosing and embellishing the public
grounds within the city of Washington.
I commend all these objects, together with the
charitable institutions of the District, to your
favorable regard
Every eftbrt has been made to protect our
frontier, and that of the adjoining Mexican
States, trots the incursions of the Indian tribes.
Of about 11,000, men of which the army is com
posed, nearly 8,000 are employed in the defence
of the newly-acquired territory (including Tex
as,) and of emigrants proceeding thereto. lam
grathied to say that these efforts have been' nun
sually successful. With the exceptions of some
partial outbreaks in California and Oregon, and
occasional depredations on a portion of the Rio
Grande, owing, it is believed, to the disturbed
state of that border region, the inroads of the
Indians have been effectually restrained.
Experience has shown, however, that whenev
er the two races are brought into contact, colli
sions will inevitable occur. To prevent these col
lisions the United states have generally set apart
portions of their territer_v for the exclusive occu
pation of the Indian tribes. A difficulty omits,
however, in the application of this policy to Tex
as. By the terms of the compact by which that
State wits admitted into the Union, she retained
the ownership of all tint vacant lands within her
limits. The government of that State, it is un
derstood, has assigned no portion of her territo
ry to the Indians; but as flirt us her settlements
advance lays it off into counties, awl proceeffs to
survey anti sell it. This policy mnnifestly tend.,
not only to Mann and irritate the Indians, but to
compel them to resort to plunder for suhsisttnce.
It also deprives this Govetninent of that influ
ence and control over them without which no du
rable peace can ever exist between them and the
whites. I trust, therefore, ti at a due regard for
her own interests, apart fro, considerations of
humanity and justice, will induce that State to
assign a small portion of her vast domain for the
provisional occupancy of the smell remnants of
tribes within her borders. subject of course to her
ownership and eventual jurisdiction:' If ebb
should tail so do this, the fulfilment of our treaty
etipulations with Mexico, and our duty to the In
dians themselecti, will, it is feared, become a sub
ject of salons embarrasmenrs to the Govern
ment.. It is hoped, however, that a timely and
just provision by Texas may avert this evil.
No appropriations for Mrtitleation were made
at the last two reesions of Congress. The cause
2,48.5,233 ••