1 DENOTED TO LITERARY, COMMERCIAL, AG!GENERAL AND LOCAL INTELLIGENCE*
VOLUME I. * LANCASTER; C. II, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY MORNINU, OEOEMRER1-5,mi NUJCBER15.
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? . ?
fdiTtrii Mrlfs.
RESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Ft Mow vilizrllt ol //< ' & II ate.
ami if the J Ion** of A'< y./> >(' )'<
The brief space which has elapsed si net
the close of your last session has been
marked bv no extraordinary Do'iiical ?.
vent. The quadrouuial election of Chie
Magistrate has passed ort* with h.ss thai
the usual excitement. How ever imlivid
uals and parties may have been disuppoiu
ted in the result, it is nevertheless :i sub
ject of national congratulation that tin
choice lias be/ .1 ett'octed by the indc|Msn
dent suffrages of a free people, undisturlxH
/ by those inllucnces which in other conn
V tries have too often nffcclcd the purity o
W' p..)niiiir elections.
R Our grateful thanks are due to an All
jp merciful l'mvidence, not only for staying
the pestilence which in ditfereiit forum ha
r desolated tome of our cities, but fur crown
I itijc the labors of the husbandman with at
i abundant harvest, and the nation goner
ally with the blessings ?f peace ami pros
peritv.
Within a few weeks the public mint
has been deeply atVected by the death o
Daniel Webster, filling at his decease tin
office of Secretary of State. His associate
in the Executive government have sincere
ly sympathized with his family ami tin
public generally ou this mournful occa
sion. llit commanding talents, his grca
political and professional eminence, hi
welltried patriotism, and his long am
faithful services, in the most imnortani
public trusts, have caused his death to Is
lamented througoul the country, and linv<
earned for hiin a lasting place in our his
Aory.
In tho course of Clio last summer .uoii
Sk siuorabic attjriety ?a? e*nsed<UjgsMBr
time, by an official i.&fflhJ'''
M government of Gre^^dJj^^BS^Mn r
Kid been uiv|g^a^te rwqSwMrtjf Fl.
pni
% vinc^|^wMB^^mt1|^Mfl^un?t the a!
'he nulling vessel
< f7 11 and France. Tin
, > short oBIBth is notice and tho season n
J */ the yaar, seemed to mako it a matter o
(f urgent importance. It was at first apnre
i\ he tided that an increased naval force ha<
been ordered to tho fishing grounds (<
carry into effect tho British i.iU?rpretatiof
of those provisions in tho convention o
1 1818, iu reference to the true infant o
winch the two government* differ. It wu
soon disarwred tliat such walnut the dc
sign of Great Britain, an I sathfictory ox
planatfon* of the real objects yi tho rneas
rJ uro havo been given both ' licro and h
t London. /
Tho unadjusted difference, however, be
twovn the two governments as to the In
J tcrpiotat'ou of the Brut af ncie or the con
' > **^'"0 of 1818 in ttilLA in alter of tmjaor
U I tence. American fyfiiopp vessel* withii
|l tiine ft ton year* h:yW boon excluded fron
I* water* to which tl^y had free accos* fo
twenty fir# year*A?r the negotiation o
the treaty ? In $45 this exclusion ww
WmI relate*! io far yconcern* the Bay of Fnn
?lv, but the h^t and !il?ora! intention o
p the ftwne jm^rnnnmt, in compliance wit!
what art t!/?* (? troe construction o
tho convention, to open all the other outer
. bays to our fishermen, was abandoned, in
consequence of the opposition of the colonies.
Notwithstanding this, the United
States have, since the Hay of Kundy was
reopened to our fishermen in 1845, pursued
the most liberal course toward the
colonial fishing interests. Hy the revenue
law of 18 40. the duties on colonial fish entering
our ports were very greatly reduced,
and bv the warehousing act, it is allowed
to be entered in bond without payment
of duty. In this way colonial fish
* has acquired the monopoly of the export
f trade in our market, and is entering to
f some extent into the home consumption.
e These facts wore among those which increased
the sensibility of our fishing interest,
at the movement in question.
These circumstances and tho incidents
f above alluded to have led me to think the
u moment favorable for a reconsideration of
the entire subject of tho fishoricj on the
' coats of the British province^ with a view
1 to placo them upon a more liberal footing
1 of reciprocal privilege. A willingness to
1 meet us in some arrangement of this kind
is understood to exist, on tho nnrt
( Britain, with a desire on her part to include
in one comprehensive settlement ns
well this subject as the commercial interi"
course between the United States and the
I British provinces. 1 have thought that
whatever arrangements may ho made
on these two subjects, it is expedient that
they .should he embraced in separato conventions.
The illness and death of the
late Secretary of State prevented the commencement
of the contemplated negotiation.
Pains have been taken to collect
the information required for tin details of
* j bucIi an arrangement. The subject is nt'
tended with considerable difficulty. If it
> is found practicable to come to an agreement
mutually acceptable to the two pni
tics, convention' may be concluded in the
1 course of the present winter. Tlio control
of Congress over nil the provisions of
* such an arrangement, affecting the revenue
will of course he reserved.
' The affair* of (Juha formed a prominent
topic in my last annual message. They
remain in an uneasy condition, and a feeling
of alarm and irritation on the part of
the (Julian authorities appears to exi-t.
This feeling has interferrod with the regu
lar commercial intercourse hctwecn the
United State and the Island, and led to
some acts of which we have a right to
complain. Hut the Captain (ienural of
Cuba is clothed with no power to treat
with foreign governments, nor is he in
any degree under tlm control of the Spanish
Minister at Washington. Any communication
which ho may lio'd v li an
agent <if a foreign power is iut
matter of court* Anxious '
nd to tho exi-t- ; ineoiivcniciif-. (wb a
I SOr iUed t<> : o"U,e uceptmn,) I di'
rected the rmwiv appoint. 1 Miii.slei t'?
i . - ii ... ' ?
W'.u Cruz, U a i rt . .
1 by tlt?> Captain <*.*neril, who confenvd
with him freely <>n the Karonl *rr?-in
' hut no permanent arrangement was ofVeet<
d.
In tho mean time, the refusal of the
Captain General to allow passenger* am]
" tin* mail to lie landed in cortaiu eases, for
3 a reason which does not furnish in tho
" opinion of this Government even a good
' presumptive ground lor such a prohibition
* has been made the subject of a serious
! reinoustraneo at Madrid; and I have no
reason to doubt that duo respect will be
" paid by tho government of Her Catholic
* Mejesty to the representations which our
* Minister has been instructed to make on
* tlte subject.
1 It is but justice to tho Captain General
" to add, that his conduct toward the stoa"
mcrs employed to carry tho mails of fho
I'nitcd States to Havana has? with the
1 exceptions nl>ovo alluded to, been marked
' with kindness and liberality, and indicates
13 no general purpose of interfering with the
s commercial correspondence and intcr"
course between the island and this conn
e irv.
( Karty in tli?* present year ollieial not**
_ were received f" m tho Ministers of Franco
I and Kngland, inviting the Government of
^ the United States to become a party with
, Groat ltritain and France to a tripartite
j Convention, in virtue of which the three
jM>\ver? should severally and collectively
disclaim, now and for tin: future, ail intention
to obtain jtossession of the Island of
f Cuba, nnd should bind themselves to dis8
countenance all attempt} to that efleot on
8 the part of any power or individual whatever.?This
invitation has been respectfully
declined, for rear on s which it would
occupy too much space in this communication
to state in detail, but which led me
B to think tiiat the proposed measure would
f l>e of doubtful constitu.ionality, impolitic,
ami unavailing. I have, however, in com^
inon with several of uty predecessors, diI
reeled the Ministers of France aim Kng)
land to l>e Assured that the United 8UU*
, entertain no designs against Cuba; but
C that, on Uie contrary, 1 should regard its
f incorporation into the Union ut the proai
ent time as fraught with serious peril.
Were this island comparatively desti.
tute of inhabitants, or occupied by a kin.
drod race, I should regard it, if voluntnrij
ly cceded by Spain, as h most desirable
acquisition. Hut, under existing circttin
stances, 1 should look upon its incorpora
- iion into our L> niou a? n very nwarrons
- measure. It would bring into the C<?ofed
cracv a population of i? different national
i stock, speaking a different language, and
i not likely to harmonize with tlio othor
r inciuhers. It would probably offoctin a pre4
judicial manner the industrial interests of
i tlic Houtli; aud it might revive thoae eon
flkiU of opinion between the different secf
tions of th? country, which lately ahook
i the Union to ita ccntm, ami which have
f bc?n to happily compromised.
j Tho rejection by tho Mexican Congress
j of the Convention which bad been conclu!
ded bctweon that Uepulic and the United
, States, for the protection of a transit way
across tho Isthmus of Tclutaniepcc and of
the interests of those citizens of the United
States who had become proprietors of the
right* which Moxieo had conferred on one 1
of her own citizens in regard to the transit, i
lias thrown a serious obstacle in the way ;
| of tho nttai incut of a very desirable na- ;
tiounl object. I am still willing to hope |
that tho ditferences on that subject wbicli
exist, or which may hereafter arise, he- !
tween the governments, will be amicably ,
adjusted.?This subject, however, has nl- j
j ready engaged tho attention of the Senate j
I of tho United States, and requires no furtli- I
j or comment in this communication.
Tho settlement of the question respect- j
ing the port of San Juan do Nicaragua,,
and of the controversy between tho repub- j
lies of Costa liiea ami Nicaragua in regard
to their boundaries, was considered indispensable
to th? commencement of the
ship canal between the two oceans, which
was the subject of the Convention between
tho United States and Great Britain uf
the 19lh April, I80O. Accordingly a
proposition for the nine purpose addressed
to the two governments in that quarter,
and to the Mosquito Indians, was
agreed to in April last by the Secretary
of State and the Minister of her Btitnnic
Majesty. Besides the wish to aid in reconciling
the differences of the two republics,
1 engaged in the negotiation from a |
desire to place the great work of a ship j
1 canal between the two oceans under one
I jurisdiction, and to establish the important i
' port of Sau )u.tii do Nicaragua under the !
j government of a civilized power. The j
1 proposition in question was assented to by <
I t'osla Kica and the Mosquito Indians. It
has not proved equally acceptable to Ki- j
caragua, but it is to be hoped that the j
further negotiations on tho subject which j
arc in train will Im carried on in that spit- 1
it of conciliation and compromise which :
ought always to prevail on sucii occasions :
and that they will lead to a satisfactory <
result.
I have the satisfaction to iuforiu you
that the executive government of Venezuela
has acknowledge some claims of i
citizens of the United States, which have
for many years post been urged hy our
charged a Ik tires at CJuraccas. It is hoj>cd
that the same sense of justice will actuate
the Congress of the Republic in providing
the means for their payment.
Tho recent revolution b. lt>i -nos Ay res
and the confederated States having oj^ned
the prospect of an improved state of
' things in that quarter, the governments ot
'! ;eat Britain and France determined to
; -'iii.ur Willi I rif* i'UU'I UM" ?|i:w vjii- |
I i u-v lor the free access of their c<>iui
in r >: to the extensive countries watered
i ait iriv S of th I .a I 'lata, am!
j t! \ g ?v ii friimlly hot icq ofthis purposn
to ,!.< 1 nited States, that >yu might r
j thought proper pursue tho8aino coii'sc ;
j in coinpliamv with this invitation, our
miuisU-r at liio Janeiro ando1"' charge d I
affairs at ltueuos Ay res have been fully
authorized to conclude treatfo* with the
newly organized Confed'rati?n? or the
States composing it. The delays which j
have taken place in the formation ot the ;
new government have as yet prevented j
the execution ?t those instructions; hut j
there is ?very reason to hope that these '
i vast countries will bo eventually opened
I to our commerce.
| A treaty of commerce has been conclul
icd between tbe l uitod States and the
< Oriental lo-public of I ruguav, which will
he laid before tho S< mOe. Should this
Convention go into ofitkltion, it will open
to the commercial eijpi Jb&ofour citizens
a country of great eWnl and unsurpassed
in natural resources, but from which fori
eign nations havo hitherto been almost
! wholly excluded.
i Tho corres|M>ndeiic? of tho late Secreta|
ry of State with tlio i'eruvian charge d'affaires
relative to the I/olvos Islands was
j communicated to Congress toward the
close of tho la.it session. Since that time,
j on further investigation of the subject, the
doubts which had been entertained of tbe
j titlo of l'orii to those inlands have Won
! removed: ami I have deemed it iu>t ilmt
the temporary wrong which hud been unintentionally
<k>ne her, from want of information,
should bo repaired by an unre.
served acknowledgment of her sovereign
l>'I
have the satisfaction to inform you
that tho course punned by Peru has been
creditable to tlio liberality of her government.
Ifeforu it was known by her that
her title would bo acknowledged at Washington,
her Minister of Foreign Affairs
had authorized our charge d1 affaires to
Lina to announce to tho American vessels
which hnd gone to tho I/ol?os for guano,
that tho Peruvian government was willing
to freight them on its own account. This
intention has been carried into effect by 1
tbo Peruvian Minister here, by an arrangement
which is believed to be advantageous
to the parties in interest.
Our settlements on the shores of tho
Pacific have already given a great extension,
and in some respects a new direction,
to our commerce in that x'ean. A direct
and rapidly increasing intercourse has
sprung up with Eastern Asia. The waters
of the Northern Pacific, even into the
Arctic sea, lmvo of late years been frenucnted
bv our whalemen. Tlio Annlle*
>, < v '
tion of steam to the general purposes of
navigation is becoming daily inori common,
and make* it desirable to obtain
fuel and other necessary supplies at convenient
points on tho route between Asia
and our Pacific shores. Our unfortunate
countrymen who from time to time suiter
shipwreck on the coasts of the eastern
seas nre entitled to protection. Besides
these specific objects, ihe general prosperf
ty of our States on the 1'acitic re/pifres
that au attempt should be made to open
the opposite regions of Asia to a mutually
b enolicial intercourse. It is obvious
that this attempt could be made by no
(lower to so great advantage as by the
J11 itod States, whoso constitutional system
excludes every idea of distant colonial
dependencies. i
1 have accordingly been led to order an
appropriate naval force to Japan, under
the command of a discreet and intelligent
otlicer oftho hijhest rank known to our i
service. He is instructed to endeavor to
obtain from the government of that country
some relaxation of the inhospitable i
and anti-social system which it has pur.-u- i
ed for about two centuries, lie has been i
directed particularly to remonstrate in the
strongest language against the cruel treat- <
uicut u> ? nu n unr suipwrecKeu manners
have often been subjected, hud to insist
that they shall be treated with humanity.
He is instructed however at bio same time i
to give that government the amplest as- surauco
that the object* of the Unitcd
States are such and such only as I have .
indicated, and that the expedition is friend- '
ly and peaceful. Notwithstanding the
jealousy with which the governments of '
Eastern Asia regard all overtures from I
foreigners: I am not without hopes of a
beneficial result of the expedition. Should i
it be crowned with success, the advau- i
tages will not bo conliued to the United l
States, but, as in the case oi China, will i
be equally enjoyed by all tint o.hcr lnari- i
time powers. L iiavo much tfUisfactiou in
stating that in all the steps preparatory ]
to this expedition the Government of the ;
United States has been materially aided
bv the good offices of the King of the i
Netherlands, the only European power ]
having any commercial relations with Japan.
q <
In passing from the survey of our for- I
eign relations. I invito the attention of i
Congress to the condition of that depart- <
meat of the Government to which this I
branch of the public l>u>ini'?8 is entrusted. I
Our intercourse with foreign powers has i
of late years greatly iiterciupd, both in |
consequence of our own growth mid the <
introduction of many new Suites intofaiui i
ly of nations. In this way) the Depart- i
ment of State has become (overburdened, j
(thus, by the Interior, hecti relieved of
some portion of the domcstib business. If i
tin- ivsiduo of the business ?f that kind, <
such as tlie distribution of foougressionai i
documciils, the keeping, p lhlisiiing and i
distribution of the laws qf the United i
?l?? > or lIn1 JK..-i i
tin- subject of reprieve* md pardons," and
some other subi- > ; to interior ,
administration. .d l>e a red from
the Depart im of '' . %!? . votild un(lUcttiouaU'
' fo ho public
wnice. I would nisi that the
building appiopri t vd i- ;!u State Department
is not fir- j r<> f" that there is
i (son to think ti: 10 are >' '.-ct hi itscontetion,
and that, t o urchiv* of the
vcrtiinenl in chargeot tin. Department,
with the precious collection^ ot tin nianusoript
papers of Washington, .htl'craon,
Hamilton, Madison, and Monroe, arc exposed
to destruction hy fire. A similar
remark may be made of the buildings
appropriated to the War atul Navy Departments
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,
exclusive of trust funds, were forty-nine
millions seven hundred and twenty-eight
thousand three hundred and eighty-six
dollars and eighty-nine ccnt*,( $49,728,
380,89,) and the expenditures for the
same peraxl, likewise exclusive of trust
funds, were dbrty-six millions seven thousand
eight hundred and ninety-six dollars
and twenty cents, ($10,007,800 20,) of
which nine millions four hundred and fifty tlvo
thousand eight hundred and fifteen
dollars and eighty-three cets ($0,455,815
| 83) was on account for the principal and
and interest of tho public debt, including
| the hist instalment of tho indoflrinit\ to
I Mexico, under the treaty of Guaudaloupo
i liul ilgo, leaving ii balance of 14,03'.',
135 37 in the Treasury on tlio first day
of July last. Since this latter i?eriod,
further purchases of tho principal of the
public debt havo becu made to the extent
of two millions four hundred and fifty six
thousand live hundred and forty seven
dollars and forty-nino Cent, (^2?450,547
40t) and the surplus in the Treasury will
continue to bo applied to that object,
whenever the stock can bo procured w ithin
tho limits, as to price, authorized by
law.
Tho value of foreign merchandise imported
during tho Inst fiscal year was two
hundred and seven millions two hundred
and fcyty thousand one hundred and one
dollars, ( '207,240,101;) and the valuo of
domestic productions exported was ono
hundred and forty nine millions ci^ht
hundred aud sixty ono tliousnnd nine
hundred and eleven dollars, ( 149,861,
911) besides seventeen millions t?o hundred
and four thousand twenty-six dollars
( 1,204,0*20) of foreign merchandise exports
one hundred and sixty-seven iWIIIions
sixty-five thousand nine hundred and
thirty-seven dollars, ( 167,065,938;) exelusis'o
of tho above there was exported
forty-two millions five hundred and seven
thousand and two hundred and eighty
nve dollars (*4ti,507,'iH5) in specie; and
imported from foreign ports live millions
two hundred and sixty two thousand six
hundred and forty-three dollars,(n/>,292,
043.)
In my first nnual message to Congrats
I called yoyr attention to what seemed to
me aonio defects in the nresent tarilf, and
recomended suoh modification* as in my
judgment were best adopted t-> 1
country. Nothing litis since oeeurc-d to
change my views on this important tpicstiou.
Without repeating the avguinvljh Con*
tuincd in my former message, in tavgr'of
discriminating prot -etivo duties, L doetn
it my duty to call your attention to one <>r
two other considerations affecting this
subject. The first is the effect of largeimportations
of torcigh goods upon our
currency. Most of the gold from California,
tis fast as it is coined, finds its way
directly to Europe in payment for goods
purchased. In the second place, as our
manufacturing establishments are broken
down by competition with foreigners, the
capital invested in them is lost, thousands
of honest and industrious citizens are
thrown out of employment, and the fanner
to that extent is deprived of a home
market for tho sale of his surplus produce.
In the third place, the destruction of our
manufactures leaves the foreigner w ithout
competition in our market, and lie consequently
raises the price of the article sent.
litre tor sale, as is now seen in the increased
cost of iron imported from England.
Iho prosperity and wealth of every nation
must depend upon its productive industry,
l'lio farmer is stimulated to exertion by
finding a ready market for his surplus
products, and benefitted by being able to
exchange them, without lose of time or
expense of transportation, for the manufactures
which his comfort or convenience
requires. This is always done to the best
advantage where a portion of the community
in which he lives is engaged in
pursuits. Hut ino-.t manufactures require
an amount of capital and a practical skill
which cannot be commanded, unless they
be protected for a time from ruinous competition
from abroad, Hence the necessity
of laying those duties upon imported
goods which the Constitution authorizes
for revenue, in such a maimer as to protect
and encourage the lahor of our own
citizens. Duties however should not bo
fixed at a rate so high as to exclude the
foreign article, but should be so graduated
as to enable the domestic manufacturer
fairly to compete with the foreigner in
eur own markets, and by this compos ition
to reduce the price of the manufactured
article to the consumer to the lowest rate
at which it can lie produced. This policy
would place the mechanic by the side of
the fanner, create a mutual interchange
of their respective commodities, and aits
stimulate the industry ot the whole country,
and render us independent of foreign
nations for the supplies required by the
i.f.t'ti ? or necessities ot tlio people.
Another question, wholly hole;
of protection, presents itself ai d ;1.
whether the duties levied
mo value ul Hi :ii i at the p
shipment,or, whore it is practicable, :
specific duty, : :ato<l arecnr- >-. to
quantity,as a-- i a j..*d by weight < .
urc. All our duti< are at present tw < < >ran.
A certain percentage is le\i< .. oil
the price of the goods at t!io port of shipnietit
in a foreign country. Most cominort
ial nations have found it indispensable,
for the purpose of preventing fraud
and perjury, to make the duties specific
whenever the article is of such a uniform
valuo in weight or measure as to justify
such a duty. Legislation should never i n
courage dishonesty or crime. It is inq>osiblo
that the revenue officers at the port
w here the goods are entered and the duties
paid should know with certainty what
they cost in a foreign country. Vet the
law requires that they should levy the
duty according to such cost.?They are
therefore compelled t<> resort to very unsatisfactory
evidence to ascertain what
that cost was. They lake the invoice ol
the importer, attested by his oath, as tin
l est evidenco of which the nature of the
case admits. Hut every one must see that
the invoico may be fabricated, and the
onlli be* which If w uinnnrt...! I..
- -J .""I"" "
rea o i <>f which the dishonest ni porter pays
u part only of the duties which are paid
hy the honest one, and thus indircc ly receives
l'roni tho treasury o'tho I nitcd
State a reward for his fraud and perjury.
The reports of the Secretary of the Tr? a
sury heretofore made on tlu^ subject show
conclusively that these frauds have been
practiced to a great extent. Tho tendency
is to destroy that high moral character
for which onr merchants have long been
distinguished; to defraud the (Government
of its revenue; to break down d. \ honest
importer hy a dishonest competition; and,
finally, to transfer tho business of importation
to foreign and irrespon ihle agents,
to the great detriment of our own citizens.
I therefore again most earnestly recommend
the adoption of specific duties,
wherever it is practicable, or a homo
valuation, to prevent these frauds.
I would also again call your attention
to the fact that tho present tariff in some
cases imposes a higher duty upon the
raw material im|K>rted than upon tho article
manufactured from it, the consequence
of which is that ths duty operates t?>
the encouragement of the foreigners and
the discouragement of our own citizens.
For full and detailed information in
regard to tho general condition of our
Indian Attain, l respectfully refer yon to
tli.) report of tlio Secretary of tlio Interior
nnd tlio accompanying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper
to rntify the t.catie* which hail been negotiated
with the tribes of Indians in California
and Oregon, our relations with
them h?70 been left in a very unsatisfactory
condition.
In otlicT parts of our territory particular
districts of country have !?een ?et apart
for the exclave occupation of the
Indians, and their right to the lands within
those limits has been acknowledged
and respected. But in California and
Orecronjhero has Ikcu no recognition by
1he exclusive right of
Ifllpf
! ?
I the 11. linns to any part of tin* country.?
They are therefore mere tenants at sutlerance,
ami liable t?? be driven from jilace to
place, at the pleasure of the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected
*' proposed to runedy this evil by alloting to
the diil'crent tribes districts of country suitnble
to their habits of life, and suliieient
for their support. This provision, more
than any other, it is believed, led to their
| rejection; and a no substitute for it hus
: been adopted by t'ongrcss, it has not been
, deemed advisable to attimpt to enter into
i new treaties of a permanent character, al
though no efl'ort been spared by tcm-1
pornry arrangements to preserve friendly
, relations witli them.
If it to the desire of Congress to re!
move tin in from the country altogether,
| or to assign to them particular districts
i more remote from the settlements of the
i whites, it will he proper to set apart by
i law the territory which they arc to occupy,
anil to provide the means necessary for
removing them to it. Justice alike to our
; own citizens and to the Indians requires
i the prompt atiou of Congress on this subject.
The amendments proposed bv the Senate,
to the treaties which were negotiated
with the Sioux Indians of Minnesota, have
been submitted to the tribes who wore
parties to them, and liavo received their
assent. Alarge tract of valuable territory
has thus been opened for settlement
and cultivation, and all danger of collision
with these powerful and warlike bands
lias been happily removed.
The removal of the rcmnnt of the tribe
of Seminole Indians from Florida has
long been a cherished object of the <iovornment,
and it is one to which my attention
has been steadily directed. Admon,
ished by past experience of the diiliculty
| and cost of the attempt to remove them
j by military force, resort has been had to
conciliatory measures. l?v the invitation
<f the Comhri.-sioner of Indian A flairs
j several of the principal chiefs recently
\ i ited W ashington, and whiUt Levo we|
knowlcdgcd in writing the obligation of j
1 their tribe to remove with the least possi-J
' bin deliiv- l.Mle ml vices from flu- sneei.'d I
agent of the Government represent that
they adhere t<? their promise, and that n
council of tlieir people lias boon called to
make tlieir preliminary arrangements. A
general emigration may therefore he confidently
expected at an early day.
The report from the General Land OlVice
shows increased activity in its operations.
't'h- survey of the northern boundary
of Iowa has f>een completed with un!
<-\anij ! despatch. Wiihin the last year
9,52 . a< res el |>nl>lit: land 1 ve been
survey.,!, :.od H,032,403 acres brought in!
o market.
I .i the last li .-al year there
were soi l. 1,053,071 acres.
Located with ' uuty land
warrants, 3,201,314 "
j Located with other
certificates, 110,082 44
I Making a total of 4,870,006 44
In addition, there were?
{ Reported under swamp land
grants, 5,210,188 44
Lor internal improvements,
Kail Roads, ikgjg*3,025,920 44
: Making an aggr ofljbl 15,1 75 44
living an i-icreiita. Til the amount of
; lands sold and lotftfcd under land war'
rants of 509,220 acres over the previous
t ] year.
The whole amount thus sold, located
j under land warrants, reported under
f swamp land grants, and selected for inter>
mil improvements, exceeds that of the
* previous year by 3,342,372 acres; ami the
sab s would, without doubt, have been
much larger but for the extensive reservations
for rail roads in Missouri, Mississippi,
i . and Alabama.
For the quarter ending 30th September,
1852, there were sold 243,255 acres.
! Located w ith bounty -land
warrants, 1,387,110 44
I Located with other
certificates, 15,040 44
Reported under swamp
land grants, 2,485,233 44
Making an aggregate for
tlio nunrter of 4,1 HI,253 "
Much the larger portion of the labor of
arranging and classifying the returns of
the last census has been finished, and it
will now dfvulvo upon Congress to make
the necessary provision for the publication
of the results in such form as shall be
deemed best. The apportionment of representation,
on the basis of tlio new
census, has been made by the Secretary of
the Interior in conformity with the provisions
of law relating to that subject, and
the recent elections have been made in accordance
with it.
T i c n? i iLa
i romiiH'iui iujunrin>urnuiv rrgiini uiu
suggestion contained in tlio report of tlie
Secretary of the Inferior tlmt provision be
mitdo by law for the publication nn<l distribution,
periodically, of nil analytical digest
of all the patents which have been,
or may hereafter bo, granted for useful inventions
and discoveries, with such descriptions
and illustrations as may ho necessary
to present an intelligible view of
their naturo and operation. The cor.t of
such publication could easily bo defrayed
out of the patent fund, and I am persuaded
that it could bo applied to no object
more acceptable to inventors and beneficial
to the public at large.
An appropriation of $100,000 having
been made at the last session for the purchaso
of a suitable site, and for the erection,
furnishing, and fitting up of an Ayslum
for the Insane of tijo District of Columbia,
and of the Army and Navy of the
f United States, the proper measures have
been adopted to carry this beneficent putpose
into effect.
15y the latest advices frohi tbe Mexican
boundary Commission it appears that the
survey of the river Gila, from its confluence
with the Colorado to its supjtoscd intersection
with the western line of New
Mexico, has been completed. The survey
of the liio Grande litis also been finished
from the point agreed on by the Com in is
sioners as "the point where it strikes tin
southern boundary of New Mexico'' to n
j?oint one hundred alul thirty-five miles
below Kngle Paw, wliieli is al out twothirds
of the distance along the course of
the river to its month.
The appropriation which was made at
the last session ? f Congress for the continuation
of the seivoy is subject to the following
)?to\ iso:
* "J'roritht/y That no part of this appropriation
shall lie used or expended until
it shall be made satisfactorily to appear to
the President of the United States that
the southern boundary of Nc\v Mexico is
not established by the commissioner and
surveyor of the United States farther
north of the town called "Paso" than the
same is laid down in DisturticlPs map,
which i.i added to the treaty."
My attention w as drawn to this subject
by a report from the Department of the
Interior, which reviewed all the facts of
the case, aticl submitted for my decision
the question whether, under existing circumstances,
any part of the appropriation
could be lawfully used or expended for the
further prosecution of the work. After a
careful consideration of the subject, I came
to the conclusion that it could not, and so*
informed the head of that Department.?
< >; <leis were immediately issued by him
to the commission* rand surveyor to make
no further requisitions on the Department,
as they could not he paid; and to discontinue
all operations on the southern line of
New Mexico, llut as the Department
had no exact information as
of provisions and jnunay wWfnremaiiied
oiU-X' in tltc hands of the com mis
sioncr ami surveyor, it was lolt discretionary
with them o continue the survey clown
tlio ltio frrnndo as far as the means at
their disposal would enable thein, or at
onec to disband the Commission. A speeial
messenger has since arrived from the
ofliccr in charge of the survey on the river,
with information that the funds subject to
his control were exhausted, nnd tint the
officers and others employed in the service
were destitute alike of the means of prosecuting
'die work and of returning to their
homes.
Tlic object of .lie proviso was doubtless
to arrest the survey of the southern and
western lines of New Mexico, in regard to
which ditVeront opinions have been cxpv.
sscd", for it is hardly to be supposed
there could beany objection t< that
par. of the line which extends along the
hannol of the llio (J ramie. But the
t- : f the law are so broad as to forbid
tie n-e of any part of the money for the
prosecution of the work, or even for the
payment, to the ollicors and agents, of the
arrearages of pay which are justly due to
thorn.
i earnestly invite your prompt attention
to this subject,and recommend a moditieatian
of the terms of the proviso so as to
enable the Department to use as much of
the appropriation as will be necessary to
discharge the existing obligations of the
(ioveriimeiit. and to coinulcte tho survev
of tlie lvio Grande to its moutli.
It will also he proper to make further
provision by law (bribe fulfilment of our
treaty with Mexico for running and marking
tiie residue of the boundary lino between
tbc two countries.
Permit me to invito your particular attention
to the interests of tbo District of
Columbia, wbicb aie confided by tbo Constitution
to your peculiar care.
Among the measures wbicb soemtomo
of tbe greatest importance to its prosperity,
are the introduction of a copious supply
of water into tbc city of Washington,
and tbe construction of suitable bridges
across tbe 1'otomac, to replace those which
woro destroyed b\ high water in the early
part of tbe present year.
At tbo last session of Congress an appropriation
was made to defray the cost
of tbo surveys necessary for determing
tbe l>est means of affording an unfailing
supply of good and wholesome water.
Some progress has Wen made in tbo survey,
and as soon as it is completed tbo
result will be laid before you.
Further appropriations will also l>e necessary
for grading and paving the slioc-ts
and avenues, ami embellishing the public
grounds within the city of Washingtion.
I commend all these odjcctfl, together
with the charitable, institutions of thoDis
trier, to your favorable regard.
Every effort lias been made to protect
our frontier, and that of tlio adjoining
Mexican States, from the incursions of
the Indian tribes. Of about 11,000 men
of which the army is composed, nearly
8,000 are employed in the defence of tho
newly acquired territory, (includingTexas'!
and of emigrants proceeding thereto, i
ain gratified to say that these efforts have
been unnsnnllv successful. With the exception
of some partial outbreaks in California
and Oregon, and occasional depredations
on a portiou of the Hio Craftdc,
"" 'n" ? !? tutllavAit i/i tliA dutiifWI state
of that bonier region, tlio inroads of the
Indians have been effectually restrained.
** Experience ban shown, liowover, that
whenever the two races ar brought Into
contract, collisions will inevitably occur.
I To prevent these collisions the United
States have generally set apart portions
of their territory for tno exclusive occupation
of the Tndiaa tribes. A difficulty occurs
howovcr, in the application of this policy
to Texas. By the terms of the compact
1 >7 which thrt State was admitted