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"We will cling to the pillars of the temple of our liberties, PIERRE F. LABORDE, Editor. W. IDURJSE, Publsher. and if it must fall we will perish amidst the ruins." VOLIUME IV. M dgfii Cov 11ae .C. unr % ISN.49 M EMlSAGE. Fellow Citesens of the Senate & I. of Rcprsen. I regret that I cannot On1 1t4 occasion congrailate you that the past year has been one of unalloyed prosperity. The rvage< of the fire and disease h-sve pain fully afflicted otherwise flourishing portions of our country, & serious einharrassments yet derange the trade of many ofouir cities. But,nol withstanding these ad verse cirenin stances. that general prosperity which has been heretofore so bonntifully bestowed tipon us by the Author of all good, still continues to call for our warmest grat itude. Especially have we reason to re joice in the exuberant harvests which inve lavishly recontoensed welt directed indus try, and given ti it that sure reward which is vainly sought in visionary speenatitions. I cannot inderd view without peculiar sat isfaction. the evidences anrorded by the past season of the benefits that spring from the steady devotion of the husbaudman to his honorable pursuit. No means of in- I dividual comfort is more certain, nnd no mource of national prosperity is so sure. Nothing @an conpensate a people for a dependence upon others for the bread they cat: and that cheerful abundance on which the happiness of every one so much de-I pends. is to be looked for nowhere iih so sure reliance as in the industry of the agriculturist and the bounties Of the earth. With froreign countries, our relations ex hibit the same favorable aspect which was 1 presented in my last annual message, and alord rontinued proof of the wisdom of the pacific.ju,;t, and torhearing policy adop ted 1y the first Administration of the Fed eral Government, and pursued by its sne cessors. The extraordinary powers ve led in me by an act of Congress, for the i defence of the country in an emiergency, considered so far probable as to require i that the Executive should possess ample means to meet it. have not been exerted. They have, th -refore, been attetded with no other resul than to increase, tby the confidence thus reposed in me, my ob ligations to maintain, with religious ex actness, the cardinal principles %that go vern our intercourse with other nations. Happily, in our pending questions with Great Britian, out of which this tnusual grant of authority arose, nothing has oc curred to require its exertion: and -s it is about to return to the Le.-islature. I trust 4 that no future necessitv nmy call for its 4 exercise by them, oritselelegation to anoth er de-partment of the Government. For-the settlemen of our North Fas- I tern botindury. tlie proposition promised by Great Britsin for a commisito of , x pioration and survey, la% been received, and a counter pIjct. inriuding also a provision for the certain and final ndjiust nent (if the linits in di.-pute. is now b-fore the Britisia Government for its considera tion. A just regard to the delicate state 4 of this question, and a proper respect ror f the natural impatience of the State of r Maine, not less than a conviction that the negotiation has b.een already protracted r longer itan is prudent on the part of either t Government htave led me to believe that th- I present favorable mtottient should on no r necount be sulTered to pas without pit ting the question forever at test. I feel r confident that the Government of her t Britannic Majesty will taike thesame view c of itis subject. a I anm persuadedl it is I governted by desires eqiually itrono and t sincere for the amicable termination ofthe t controversy. To the intrinsic diffenilties of questions of houndary lines, especially those describ- t ed in regions uniccupieI. nn rit p:trtially known, is to be added in our country the r Cnbarrassiment necessarily arrising out of t our Constittition, by w hich the tieneral 1 Government is made the organ of negocia- j ting, and decidinig upon the particularm in-. terests of the States on whose frontiers these lines are to lie traced. To avoid another controversy itn which a State Government might rightfully claim to 12 have her wishes consnlted, previously to tbe conclusion of courenttional arrange- I tmerts concerning hter rights of jieriletion or territory, I have thotitht it necesarym io call the attention of thme Governmnent of Great Britatin to another portion oif sitr conatermoinfus dosmitnitn, ot " hieh the dli vision still rettainb to beC adjusted. I refer to the line from thbe entrance of Lake Smu- I perioir to the most northwestern point of the Lake of the W~oodts, <tiptulaitins for the settlement of which are to be fesnmd in1 the seventh article of the treaty of Ghet The commuissiotners appointed unader thati article byv the two Govertinents having dlif-I feredI in'theiropitnioss madse setparate re prts, accordhing to its stipulatints, tupomn the points of disagreenment, aind these sdif ferences are nowy to he stuminteud to the arbitrationi of sonic frietndly sovetreign or I State. The diaputed points should he lI settled, anid the line designated. bemfosre the '' Territorial Governmnent. of which it is sine of te bioundiaries, takes its plaice in the 1 Unioin as a Statec, andI I relyv uipotn 'Ib' cor- I dial cooperation of th.e British Govern- i mient no elfect thbat uligect. There is every reason .to be'lievp that dlistmranices like those which late ly agitated the nleighbowriat2 Briti-lh Pro vinces will not again prove the sources of border contentions, sir interlpose obsta els to the continnatnce of t hat goods unde standling which is is the mutunl interest sir Great Britain and the Utuimed States to preserve and maintaitn. Within the Provitnces themselves tran quility is restored, an'1t nu frontier tht misgtiide1 sympathy in favor of whmat ws presutmed to tie a gene'ral elTsort itn behlf of popular rights, and which in some in stances mmisled a few of our mtore inexpe ..,cc ciizn5. le ansubir into-, ention ill conviction stronely opposed to all iO ternedling with the internal affairs of our nei-lhbors. The people of the U. States reel, as it is hoped they always will, a warm solicitude for the success of al! who ,re sincerely endeavoring Io impr.ove the political conditiou of inankind. The gen 'rous feeling they cherish towards niost listant nations: and it was natural, there ore, that it should be awakened with more han common warmth in behalf of their mmttniediate neighbors. But it does not be ong to their character, as a conmitumity. o seek the gratification of those feelings in ets % hich violate their duty as citizens, -ndanItger the peace ortheir country, and end to bring ufpon it 'he stain if a violated nith towards forei21n nations. If. zealous o confer benefits on others. they appear 'or a momeut to lose sight of the pertna tent oh!igations imposed upon them as -itizens, they are sedlotn long misled. Frot all the information I receive, con irmed to some extent by personal obser ation, I am satisfied that noone can hope o en-trage in such enterprises without en ounterii pnhtic inliganation. in addition o the severest penalties of the law. Recent information also leaads me to iope that the enigrants frotn her Majes v's Provinces, who have sought reftuge iitthin our bouttdaries. are disposed to he !ome peaceable residents, and to abstain rom attempts to endantger the peace of htat country which has alrded thetm an sylum. On a review of the occurrences mn both sides of the line, it is satisfactory o reflect that in altost every complaint gatinst otr country, the offence may be raced to emigratnts from the Provinces vho have sought refuge here. In the few t-tatces in which they were aided by citi ens of the U. States, the acts of these utasguided taen were nat only in direct ontravention of the laws and well known vishes of their own Government, btt tnet vith the decided disapprobation of the Jited States. I regret to state the appearance of a dif brent spirit among her Majesty's subjects a the Canadas. The sentiments of hos ility to our people anal institutions which tave been so freqnently expressed there, nd te disregarl of our rights which have een manifested on some occasions, have am sorry to say, been applauded and et ,ouraced by itle people, and even by some of the subordiimnte local authorities, of the rovinces. The chief officers in Canada ritnutely have not entertained the same eelinag. ntd have p-obahly prevented ex :es-es that nipet have been fatal :o the waree' othe Iwo cotttntries. I look forwad anxiously to a period vben all the transactionas which have ;rown oat of this coudition of our aifflairs, ind which have been made the subjects at complaint, anal remonstrance by the two invertnetts respectively. shall lie fully xantined, and the proper satisfaction giv n where it is due fron either side. Not hittg has occurred to disturb the har noiny of our intercourse with Austria, Bel :iti, Denmoark France. Naples,Portugal, 'raissia, R.sia, or Sweden. The inter ial state of Spain has sensibly improve.l. 11l a well groundel hope exists that the eturn of peace will restore to the people of hat country their former prosperity, and niable the Government to fdlfil all its ob gationtts at imte tand abroad. The Gov rnment of Portugal, I have the satisfac tant to state, has piaid in full the eleventh nl last instalment due to our citizens for lie claitis embraced in the settlement Iitde with it on the third of Uarch, 1837. 1 lay before you treaties of commerce egeotiated with the Kings of Sardinia anal l* the Netherland, the ratifications of hich have been exchanged sitte the ad urnment of Congress. The liberal prin iples of these treaties will recommend hem to your apprentation. That with ',rintia is the first treaty of cotmmterce rtmeda by that kingdlom and it will. 1 trust, aswer tihe expectationus af ithe present aovrigeo, by aiing the dleveloapettentt ofl lie resaources ofi his counatry. ad staila ing the enetea prise ofi his people. That at nh the NethIerlandls happily te'rtminat'es a lotng existinag suabject tof dispute, atal re tnoves tromt aoaur feuteure caommeraial inter -eoarse aell nyp trehentsion aof embiairrassmenet. 'he Kiitng af thte Netlherltads has also. im 'ur.the r illustratiott aof his :baracter for jus ice, atnd aof htis deseire teo remov'e every -ase aef adissatisfaatin. taeainacmpensat icat for ant American vessel captured in l800 by a Frenah privatteer, anal carried ntoe Cureco, where the paroceedls were ap ireapriatta ed t lie use ofC the colainy then. mda foir a shocrt timae after, unader the dotmin Ott oat [Hollandta. The death of the l'ate Sultan has prodn-. .ed no alteraimn int oeur relatitnia with Tl'ur eyv. Our ntewly appoiniteet Mitnister Res datnt hias rentchedl Caons tntinoplle, atnd I inrve received atssurattces freomt the present inuter a aet eobligaitiones oif otur treats, and lhaie of frientdship, will hae feilflleet by tierself itt the same spirit that actuated his lleestriouts father. I regret to lie ob~ligead to inform yoaa that. tocontvetntion fir tthe settlemetnt if the daims of aour citizens titeat M~exico has et bueen ratifead lby the Gaovernmeatnt oaf that oautry. The first coanventtion firmed for tat purpose was not ptresetntedl lay the President eef Mexico for the approbtattion of s 'otngress fraomt a heelief that the king aof Prussia, the arbitrator itn case of ahsagree mtent itt the jatint caommteission tat be appaoin ed biy tho Unaitedh States antd Mexico, would not cientent to take upon htimnelfi th:tt friendly atilice. A bhouagh ntot etntirely tisfiedl with the coutre ptursued hast Mext en. I felt no hiesitationt in ra"eivittg in thie most conciliaitory spirit the explanation afrcdm. nndel,so eerfully ennmted to a tiew .-onventtion, in order to arrange the payments proposed to be made to our citi zens, in a manner which, while equally just to them, was deemed less oneruus and inconvenient to the Mexican Government. Relying confidently upon the intentions of that Government, ir. Ellis was directed to repair to Mexico, and diplomatic inter conrse has been resumed betwen the two countries. The new conventionf has. he informs us, been recently submitted by the President of that Republic to ir Congress, under cire n mstances which promise a spee dy ratifi-ainn; a result which I cannot allow myvself to doubt. instructions have been given to the Commissioner or the United States under our Convention with itexas, for the demar cation of the line which separates us from that Republic. The commissioners of both Governments met in New Orleans in Augtust last. The joint commission was organized, and adjourned to convene at the same place on the twelfh, of October. It is presumed to be now in the performance of its duties. The new Government of Texas hae shot% u its desire to ultivate friendly rela tions with us, by prompt reparation for injuries complained of in the cases of two ves'.sels of the U. S. Wilh Central America, a convention has been concluded for lie renewal of its former treafy with the United States. This was not ratified before the departure of our late Charge d'Affaires from that country, and the copy of it brought by him was not received before the adjournment of the Senate at thefast session. In the mean while, the period limited for the ex change of ratifications having expired, I deemed it expedient, in consequence of the death ofthe.Charge d'AfTaires, tosend a special agent to Central America, to close the affairs of our mission there, and to arrange with the Government an exten sion of the time for the exchange of ratifi cations. The commission created by the States which formerly composed the'Republic of Columbia, for adjusting the claims against the Government, has by a very unexpect ed construction of the treaty under which it aets, decided that no provision was made for those claims of citizens of the United States which arose from captures by Co lumbian privateers, and were adjudged a Fainst the claimants in the judicial tribn nals. This decision will compel the U. States to apply to the several governments formerly united for redress. With all tese-New Grenada, Venezuela and Ecuador, a perfectly good understanding exists. Our treaty with Venezuela is faith fully carried into executlion, and that e!Ouistry in the enjoyment of tranquility, is radually advancing in prnsperity. under 'he guidance of its present distinguished President, Gen. Paez. With Ecuador, a liberal commercial convention has lately been concluded, which will be transmitted to the Senate at an early day. With the great American Empire of Brazil, our relations continue unchanged. s dues our friendly iniercourse with the other governmcents of South America the Argentine Republic and the Republics f Uraguay, ChiliPeriz and ilolivid. The lissolution of the Peru-Bolivian Confeder ation may occasion some temporary incon venience to nur citizens in that qutarter,but the obligations on the new Governments which have aiisen out of that Confedera Lion to observe its treaty stipulations, will no doulot he soon mderstnod, and it is presumed that no inlispcosition will exist to fulfil those which it contracted with the United States. rhe financial operations of the govern ment during the present year have. I ,m happy to say, been very successfuil. The difficulties under which the Treasury De partmtenthcas Ia bore,fromnanow n dlefeets in thc exi~ting lawse relative to the safe keepi ig of the pubelic moneys, agnravated by the stuspension of specie paymtents by sev erael of the banks holding peublic deposites, or inidebed to pulicw oliiteas for ncores r ceived itn patymtent of public dices, have beent surmounted to a very gracifying ex tent. The large current expenditures have been puually met, and the faith of the Gozeverniment, in all ics pecucciary concerms, has been scruplulouslyt mi taine-d. The nin-teen mnillions of TreasuryNotes authorized by the act oflConcgress of 18.17, and the moadifications thereof, with the view ti the indulgence of mcerchants on thceir dutty boends, and 01 the deposite bunks itn the payment of public moneys held by them, have been eo puuctutally re deemne'd as to leave less titan the original tea millions out standing at amy otne titme, and the whole amnoumi uinredeetmed now falls short of three mailliotns- Of these the chief portion is not due till next year, andl the whale wvonlh have beetn aclreadv extina guished could the Treascury have ~re:dized the payments dlue to it by the banks. If. those due from chemt durintg the next year ,hIall he puner uaally made, and if Cniczres shlol keelp the appropriationcs within the 'stimcatec, there is every reason to believe that all the outstaciding Treascury notes can he redeemed arid the ordinary expen ses defrayed, withcout imposing on the people aney addiuionial buirdlen, either of loans or increase.l taxes. To avoid this, andl to keep the expen diures wvithinc reasoinable bounds, it is a duty, second only in importanuce to the preservatioen of our natiotnaleharacter,atcd the protection elf our: ciizens in t'heir civil and political rights. The creation, in time of pence. oif a debt likely tel be comco permanent. is an evil for whcich there is no equivalcnt. The rap)idity with wbicb mrnyn of thc Stts are annarentl. ai-proaching to this condition, admonishes ns of our own duties, in a manner too im pressive to be disregarded. One not the least important, is to keep the Federal Government always in a condition to dis charge,with ease & vigor, its highest func tions, should their exercise be required by any sudden conjuncture of public affairs a condition to which we are always ex posed, and which may occur when it is least expected. Tothisend, it isindispen sable that its finar.ees should be untram meled, and its resources, as far as practi cable, uninconmhered. No circumstance could present grenter obstacles to the ac complishment of these vitally important objects,than the creation of an onerous na tional debt Our own experience and also that of other nations, have demnonstrated the unavoidable and fearful rapidity with which a public debt is increased, when the Government has once surrendered itselrto the ruinous practice of supplying its sup posed necessities by new loans. The struggle. therefore, to be successful must be made at the threshold. To make our efibrts efective, severe economy is neces sary. This is the surest provision for the national welfare; and it is, at the same time, the best preservative of the principles on which our institutions rest. Sitnplici ty and economy in the affairsof state have never failed to chasten and invigorate Re publican principles, while these have been as surely subverted by national prodigali ty under whatever spcious pretexts it may have been introduced or fostered. These considerations cannot he lost up on a people who have never been inatten tive to the elect of their policy upon the inqtitutons they have created for them selves; but at the present moment their force is augmented by the necessity which a decreasing revenue must impose. The check lately given to importation of arti cles subject to duties, the derangements in the operations of internal trade, and especially the reduction gradually taking place in our tariff of duties, all tend mate rially to lessen our receipts; indeed it is probable that the diminution resulting from the last cause alone, will not fall short of five millions of dollars in the year 1842, as the final reduction of all duties to twenty per cent. then takes effect. The whole revenue then accruing from the customs, and from the sales of public lands, if not more, will undoubtedly he wanted to de fray the necessary ex penses of the Govern ment under the most prudet administra tion or its affairs. These are cirrumstan ces that impose the necessity orri!id econ ormy, aid efluire its prompt and constant exercise, With the Legislatute rest the power and duty ofso adjusting the public expenditure as to promote this end. By the provisions of lie Conststution, it is only in consequence of appropriations made by law. that money can be drawn from the Treasury; no instance has orcurred since the establishment of the Government in n bich the Executive, though a component part of the Legislative power. has inter posed an objection to an appropriation bill on the sole grond or its extravagance. Ilii dttty in this respect has been consider ed ulfiled by requesting such appropria. tions only as the ptuhlic service may be reasonably expected to require. In the present earnest direction of lhe public mind towards this subject, both the Executive and the Legislature have evidence or the strict respontsibility to which they will be held; and while I atn conscious of my own anxious elorts to perform with fidelity ihis portion of my .ptldic functions, it is a satisfaction to me to be able to count on a cordial co-operation from you. At the time i entered upon my present duties our ordinarv disbursements-with out includitig those on aecoinut of the ptub hie debt, the post oiftce, and the trust funds in charge of the Governietnt--had been largely increased by appropriat ions for the remtoval of the Indians, for repelling In dian hostilities, and for other less urgent expenses which grew otut of an overflow intg treasttry. I ndependen t of the redemp tion of the public debt and trusts, the gros expenditures of seventeen or eighteen mil lions itt 1834 and .1835 had, hv these cans es,swelled tohtwentv-nine millions in 1836; and the appropriations for 1q37, mnade previously to the fourth of. March, caused the expetnditures to rise to thte very large amount of thirty.-three millioni. We wei-e etnabled' dturing the year 18'38, notwith staniditng the continuance of our Indian emibarrassmenits,. somew hat to reduce this amnount; and that for the present year, 1839, will not itt all probability exceed twveuty-six tmillions--or six millions less than it was last year. With a determing tion so far ne depends tin me to continue this reduetion. I have directed the estimates fur 1840 to be subjected to the severest seruitiny. andl to 1,e limited to the absolute requirements of the pubtic service. They will be tiound less than the expeBnditures of 1839 by over five millions of dollars. 'The precautionasry measures which will he reconmentded by the Secretary of the Tlretsury, to prnteet r~titrrlly the public credit tiuder the flunctuations and contin gentes to wvhich ouir receip~ts and expen dituges are exposttd. and especially in a comitmetrcial crisis like the present,are com mended to your early atmerntion. On a tormer occasion your attention was invited to variotne considerationis itt support of a prf'eemptionl lasv in behalf of the set tIers on the public lands; and also of a law graduating the prices forsuch lands as had long~ been in the market utnsold, in conse quence of thteir inferior qtuality. The exe cution of the act which passed on the first snhject, has been attended wvith the happi est consequences, in quieting titles, and se ,,riem improvemnts to tho industrious; and it has also, to a very gratifying ex tent. been exempt from the frauds wbieb were practised under previous pre-emp iion laws. It has, at the same time, as was anticipated, contributed liberally du ring the present year to the receipts of the Treasury. The passage of a graduation law, with the guards before recommendedwould also I am persuaded, add condsiderably to the revenue for several years, and prove in other respects just and hanefiltaL Your early consideration of the subject is, therefore, once more earnestly re quested. The present condition of the defencesof our principal seaports and navy yards, as represented by the accompanying reports of the Secretary of War. calls for the early and serious attention of Congress; and, as connecting itself intimately with this sub jert, I cannot recommend too strongly to your consideration the plan submitted by that officer for the organization of the mili r of the United States. In conformity with theexpressed wishes of Congress, an attempt was made in the spring to terminate the Florida war by negotiation. It is to be regretted that these humane intentions should have been frus trated, and that the etfort to bring these un happy difficulties to'a satisfactory conelu sion should have failed. But, after entering into solemn engagements with the Com manding General, the Indians, without any provacation, recommenced their acts of treachery and murder. The renewal of hostilities in that Territory renders it necessary that I should recommend to your favorable consideration the plan which will be submitted to you by the Secretary of War, in order to enable that department 1 to conduct them to a successful issue. Having had an opportunity of persotr ally inspecting a portion of the troops du ring the last summer, it gives me pleasure 4 to bear testimony to the success of the ef- i fort to improve their discipline, by keeping them toget her in as large bodies as the na ture of our service will permit. I recom tnend therefote, that commodious and per- I mtanent barracks be constructed at the 1 several posts designated by the Secretary of I war. Notevithstanding the high state of i their discipline and excellent police, ihe 4 evils resulting to the service from their i deficiency (ifcompany officers, were very apparent, and I recommend that the stalff officers be permanently separated from the line. The nayy has been usefully and hou orably employed in protecting the rights and property of our citizens, wherever the condition of atlairs seemed to require its 1 presence. With theexception of one in st;.nce, where an outrage, accompanied by murder, was committed on a vessel of the United States while engaged in a law- i ful commerce, nothing is known to have i occurred to impede or molest the enterprise of our citizens on that element where it I is so signally displayed. On learning this i daring act of piracy, Commodore Reed i proceeded immediately to the spot, and I receiving no sati-faction, either in the sur render of the murderers or th.- restoration i of the plundered property, iuflicted severe i and merited chastisement on the barba- i rians. It will he seen by the report of the Sec- 1 retary of the Navy respecting the disposi- I ti.n of our ships of war. that it has been deemed necessary to station a competent I force on the coast of Africa, to prevent a ! fraiduleht use of our flag by foreigners. Recent experience has shown that the i provisions in our existing laws which re late to the sale and transfer of American. I vessels while abroad, are extremely defec i tive. Advantage has been taken of these I defects to give to vessels belonging to i foreigners, and navigating the ocean, an I apparent A merican ownership. This char acter has been so well stimulated as to afford them comparative security in pros ecuting the slave trade, a traffic enmph ati-f cally denonnced in our statutes, regarded i with abhorrence by our citizens, and of whieb the effectual suppression is no wvhere more sincerely desired thana in the< 17. States. These c'ircumstances make it proper to recommend to your early atten tion a careful revision of these laws, so that, without impeding the freedom atnd lacilities of our natvigattion, or impairing aI branch of our industry connected with it, the inteerity and honor of our fiae may bei careflIly preservedi, information derived form our Consul at Havana, showing the necessim y of this, was communicated to a comtnittee of the Senate near the elbee of< the last session, but too late, as it appeared to be acted upon. It will he brought to your notice by the proper department, with additional communications fromnother sources. The extent of post roads* covered by mail service on the Grst of July last, was about 133.999 miles and the rate of annu al transportation upon them 34,4968y8 miles. The number of post offices ont that day was t welve thousand seven hundred and eighty, and on the thirtieth ultimo, thir'een thousand and twenty eight. . The revenue of the Post Office De-i partmaent for the year endinL with the 30th of June last, was four million four kn dred and seventy-six thousand six hun dred and thirty-eight dollars-exhibiting an itncrease over the proceeding year of two hundred anud forty-one thousand fie hundred and sixty dollars. The engage ments and liabilities of the Departmenti for the same period are four million six hundred and taventy four thousand one hundred andl seventeen dollars. The excess of liabilities over the: re venue for the last two years has beenniet o' ir fhnb stzrninu whick anmd nrevinna4 accumulated. The cash on hand on theI thirtieth ultimo, was about $206,701 59. and the current income of the Department varies very little front ihe rate of current expenditures. Mostof these -vice suspen ded last year has been restored, and most of the new routes esiablished by the act of 7th July, 1838, has been set in operation at an annual cost of 3436.963. Nothwith stand the pecuniary difficulties of tlbe coun try, the revenue of the Department ap. pears to be hierenkAg; and unless it shall he seriously checked by the recent suspen sion of payment by so many of the banks, it will be able not only to maintain the present mail service, but in a short time to extend it. It is gratifying to witness the promptitude and fidelity with which the agents l thi; Department in general per form their public duties. Som1'e diflicubies have arisen in relation to contracts for the transportation-ofthe mails by railroad and steam boat companies. Is appears that the maxiun of compensation provided by Congress for the transportation of the mails upon railroads, is not sufficient to induce sonie of the companies to convey them at ouch houra as aue required for the accommodation of the public. It is one of the most important duties of the General Government to provide and maintain for [he use of the people of the States the best practicable mail establishment. To ar rive at that end it is indispensable that the Post Office Department shall be enabled to control the hours at which the mails shall be carried over railroads, as it now Ines over all other roads. Should serious nisconveniences arise from the inadeqoney )f the compensation now provided by law, r from unreasonable dettmandsi by any of he rail road companies, the subjects i' of iuch general importance as to require the eminpt attention of Congress. In relation to -team bna; lines, the most ficient remedy is obvious, and has been iuggested by the Po-master General. rhe W ar and Na vy Departments ilready )mploy steumti boals in their service, and alihough it is by no means desirable that be Governments should undertake the ran,piirtation of passengers or freight as a lusiness, there can lie no reasonable objee ion to running boats, temporarily, when tver it may be necessary to put down at* empts at extortion, to he discontinued as toon as reasonable contracts can be oh. tained. The suggestions of the Postmaster Ceu. eral relative to the inadequacy of the Is gal allowance to witnesses in cases of prosecutions for mail depredations, merit )ourserious consideration. The safety of the mails requires that such prosecutions ihall be efficient, and justice to the citizen whose time is required to lie given to the iublic, demtands not only that his expenses dhall he paid. but hat he shall receive a reasonable compensation, The Report.srom the War, Navy and PostOffice Departments will acrompany the communication, and from his Treasu& -y Department will be presented to Con. grees in a few days. Fot various details in respect to the mat ers in charge ofthese department, I would efer you to thioe important documtenta, satisfied that your will find in them many raluable suagestions, which will be found well desetving the attention of the Legis. ature. From a report made in December of ast year by the Secretary of State, to the. senate. showing the trial documents of ?ach of the Circuit Courts. and the number )f miles each judge has to travel in the ierformance of his duties, a great inequali. y appears in the amount of Inhor assigned - o each judge. The number of terms to )e held in each of the courts composing he ninth circuit, the distances between the places at which they sit, and fro. hence to the seat of Government, are rep esented to he such as to retnder itimpos. ible for the juidge of that circuit to per. orm, in a manner corresponding with the mbhlic exigencies. hsis term sand circ~uit du-. ies. A revision, therefore, of the present srrantgemtent ofl the circuits s.eems to be alled for, and is recomanencded to your iotiee. I think it proper to call your attentiom :0 the power assumed b~y Territorial Le. zislatuses to authorize the issue of bonde >y corporate companies on the guarantee af the Territcry. Congress passed a lawe n 1836. providing that nto act of a Territo -ial Legislature incorporating banks should inve the force of law until approved by .ongress, hutt acts of a very exceptionable :haracter previously passed by theLegisla-. :ure of Florida, were suffered to remain in..: bree, by virtue of which bonds may be is nued to a very large amount by those in situtions, upon the faith of the Territory. A resolution intending to be .a joint: na-e tassed the Senate at the s'ame.-ession, ax-. ressing the sense of Congress that the: aws in questton ought Dot mo-be permitted o remain in force unless amended in many naterial respects. but it failed in the llouseof Representatives for want of time, and the desired amendments have not been made. The intetrests involved are of great mnportance, and the st.h'ject deserves yaur ryand careful attentiosn, Te continued.agitation of the question -elative to the best mode of keeping and lisburuing the public money, still injuri ausly affects she business of the country. rhe suspension of specie payments in1i837, rendered the use of she deposite banks, as-. prescribed by the act of 1835, a soureqa rttler of embarrassment thamn tsid, and of necessity placed the cutdy of most of thbe public money aflerwards collected in charge of the .public officers. The new securities forirs-safety, which this required womarinlpal cato- of no conveningey