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VOLUME 3. CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA DECEMBER 10,1852. *; NUMBER 99.
PRESIDENT'S ITIESSAtJJC.
Fellow citizens of the Senate
and of the House of Representatives :
The brief space which lias elapsed since the
close of your last session lias been marked by no
extraordinary political event. The quadrennial
election of Chief Magistrate lias pitssed off with
less thau the usual excitement. However iudi\iduals
and parties may have been disappointed
iu the result, it is nevertheless a subject of na
tional congratulation that the choice has been effected
by the independent suffrages of a freepeo
pie, undisturbed by those influences which in
other countries have too often affected the purity
of popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to au Ail-iuerciful
Pro\ideuce, not only for staying the pestilence
which iu different forms has desolated some of
our cities, but for crowning the labors of the husbuaduian
with an abundant harvest, and the nation
generally with the blessings of peace and
prosperity.
Within a few weeks the public mind has bee n
deeply affected by the death of Daniel Webster,
fillinor at his decease the office ol Secretary of State.
His associates in the Executive government have
sincerely sympatliized with his family and the
public generally on this mournful occasion. Ilis
commanding taleuts, his great political and professional
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 lasting place in our history.
In the course of the last summer considerable
anxiety was caused for a short time by au official
intimation from the government 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 encroachmeuts
of the fishing vessel of the Uuited
States aud France. The shortuess of this notice
and the season of the year seemed to make it a
matter of urgent importance. It was at first apprehended
that an increased naval force had been
ordered tn fi?liincr orrnnnds tr> <virrv info ef
feet the British interpretation of those provisions
in the convention of 1818, in reference to the
truo intent of which the two governments differ.
It was soon discovered that such was not the dcbign
of Great Britain, and satisfactory explanations
of the real objects of the measure have been
given both here and in London.
The uuadjusted difference, however, between
the two governments as to the interpretation of
the first article of the conventioa of 1S18 is still
a matter of importance. American fishing vessefe
within nine or ten years have been excluded
from waters to which they had free access for
twenty live years alter the negotiation oi the
treaty. In 1845 this exclusion was relaxed so
far as concerns the Bay of Fundy, but the just
and liberal intention of the llome government,
in compliance with what we think the true con
struction of the 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 Bay of Fundy was reopened to our fishermen
in 1845, pursued the most liberal coure
toward the colonial 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 entered
in bond without payment of duty. In this
way colonial fish has acquired the monopoly of
the export trade in our market, and is eutering
to some extent into the home consumption.?
These facts were among those which increased,
the sensibility of our fishing interest, at the rnovc\
ment in qcstion.
I These circumstances and the incidents above
[ alluded to have led me to think the moment fa
vorabJe for a 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 reciprocal privilege. A willingness
to meet us in some arrangement of this kind
is understood to exist, on the part of Great Britain,
with a desire on her part to include in one
- comprehensive 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 expedient that they should
be embraced in separate conventions. The illness
ar.d death of the late Secretary of State
prevented the commencement of the contemplated
negotiation. Paius have been taken to collect
the information required for the details of
such au arrangement. The subject is attended
with considerable difficulty. If it is found practicable
to come to an agreement mutually acceptable
to the two parties, conventions may be concluded
in the course of the present winter. The
control of Congress over all the provisions of
such an arrangement, affecting the revenue, will
of course be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed a prominent topic
in my last annual message. They remain in an
ni'Msv rendition, and a feelin<? of alarm and ir
U"V""V * "" 7 o ~
ritation on the ]>art of the Cuban authorities appears
to exist. This feeling has interfered with
the regular commercial intercourse between the
United States and the island, and led to some
acts of which we have a right to complain. But
the Captain General of Cuba is clothed with no
power to treat witn foreign governments, nor is
- he in any degree under the control of the Spanish
Minister at Washington. Any communication
which he may hold with an agent of a
foreign power is informal and matter of courtesy.
Anxious to put an end to the existing invonveniencee,
(which seemed to rest 011 a misconception,)
I directed the newly-appointed Minister to
Mexico to visit Havana, on his way to Vera Cruz,
lie was respectfully received by the Captain
General, who conferred with him freely on the
recent occurrences; but 110 permanent arrange(
ment was effected.
Win the mean time, the refusal of the Captain
w General to allow passengers and the mail to bo I
f landed in certain cases, for a reason which docs |
not furnish in the opinion of this Government t
even a good presumptive ground for such a pro- c
hibition, has been made the subject of a serious i
remonstrance at Madrid ; and I have no reason ?
to doubt that due respect will be paid by the e
government of Iler Catholic Majesty to the representations
which our Minister lias been instruc- ?
ted to make on the subject. t
It is but justice to the Captain General to add, j
that bis conduct toward the steamers employed t
to carry the mails of the United States to Ila- t
vana has, v ith the exceptions above alluded to, t
been marked with kindness and liberality, and i
indicates no general purpose of interfering with \
the commercial correspondence and intercourse f
between the island and this country. j t
Early in the present year official notes were , c
received from the Ministers of France and England,
inviting the Government of the United ' c
States to become a party with Great Britain and t
France to a tripartite Convention, in virtue of 1
which the three powers should severally and col- c
lectively disclaim, now and for the future, all in- i
tctuiou to obtain possession of the Island of Cu- I
ba, and should bind themselves to discountc- 1
nance all attempts to that effect on the part of \
any power or individual whatever. This invita- i
tion has been respectfully declined, for reasons c
which ;t would occupy too much space in this a
communication to state in detail, but which led ?
me to think that the proposed measure would
be of doubtful constitutionality, impolitic, and 1;
unavailing. I have, however, in common with s
several of my predecessors, directed the Ministers ii
of France and England to lie assured that the ii
n?.,;nc? rs,. rl
u iiilcu utaiw cijiaji tain iiv uvoi^no u^uiucw vu
ba; but that, on the contrary, 1 should regard 1
its incorporation into the Union at the present o
time as fraught with serious peril. g
Were this island comparatively destitute of u
inhabitants, or occupied by a kindred race, I fi
should regard it, if voluntarily ceded by Spain, p
as a most desirable acquisition. Uut, under ex- s
isting circumstances, 1 should look upon its in- t:
corporation into our Union as a very hazardous t
measure. It would bring into the Confederacy s
a population of a different national stock, spea- o
king a different language, and not likely to liar- t<
monize with the other members. It would pro- g
bably affect in a prejudicial manner the industrial I
interests of the South; and it might revive n
those conflicts of opinion between the different t<
sections of the country, which lately shook the e
Union to its centre, and which have been so happily
compromised. p
The rejection by the Mexican Congress of the ?
Convention which had been concluded between h
that Republic and the United States, for the pro S|
tectioli of a transit way across the Isthmus of n
Tehuantepec and of the interests of those citi- Jj
ac.is of the U11 licit fumes who had become pro- p
p-ietors of the rights which Mexico had confer- d
red on one of her own citizens in regard to that e;
transit, has thrown a serious obstacle in the way o
of the attainment of a very desirable national u
' , i .b.i it. ,i:r
object, l am stui wining 10 nope ui.-ii, ui? un- v
ferences on the subject which exist, or which t
may hereafter arise, between the governments, p
will be amicably adjusted.?This subject, howov ?
or, has already engaged the attention of the t
Senate of the United States, and requires no fi
further comment in this communication. tl
The settlement of the question respecting the o
port of San Juan do Nicaragua, and of the con- o
troversy between the republics of Costa Rica and it
Nic iragua in regard to their boundaries, was n
considered indispensable to the commencement tl
rvf ft.ft ekin luifw/anri tllO t \\'C\ n^OHIW wllipfl f]
was the subject of the Convention between the fi
United States and Great Britain of the 19th r
April, 1850. Accordingly a propositio i for the t<
san e purpose addressed to the two governments o
in that quarter, and to the Mosquito Indians, E
was agreed to in April last by the Secretary of v
State and the Minister of her Britanic Majesty.
Besides the wish to aid in reconciling the differ- j.
ences of the two republics, I engaged in the ne- c
gotiation Iroin a desire to place the great work
of a ship canal between the two oceans under t
one jurisdiction, and to establish the important j,
port of San Juan de Nicaragua under the gov- s
eminent of a civilized power. The proposition t
in question was assented to by Costa llica and ^
the Mosquito Indians. It has not proved equal- p
lv acceptable to Nicaragua, but it is to be hoped j
that the further negotiations on the subject which ^
arc in train will be carried on in that spirit of \,
conciliation and compromise which ought always j.
to prevail on such occasions, and that they will j
Iz-.o/l EA o cntlcfaMnPV rncitlf A
jv;avi iv/ <? o<?vi?7u?vvvij ^
I have the satisfaction to inform you that the t
executive government of Venezuela has acknowl- a
edged some claims of citizens of the United States i
which have for many years past been urged by f
our charge d'affaires at Caraccas. It is hoped t
that the same i-ense of justice will actuate the I
Congress of the Republic in providing the means a
for their payment. I
The recent revolution in Ruenos Ayrcs and i
the confederated States having opened the pros- >
pect of an improved state of tilings in that quar- I
tor, the governments of Great Britain and France 1
determined to negotiate with the chief of the 1
new Confederacy for the free access of their com- f
inorcc to the extensive countries watered by the I
tributaries of the La Plata, and they gave a
fnondlv notice of this nurnose to the United 1
" ,w,,v*v " i - i
States, that we might if we thought proper pursue
the same course. In compliance with this f
invitation, our minister at Rio Janeiro and our c
charge d'affaires at Buenos Ay res have been ful- (
]y authorized to conclude treaties with the newly i
organized Confederation, or the States compos- (
ing it. The delays which have taken place in s
the formation of the new government have as \
yet prevented the execution of those instructions; (
but there is every reason to hope that these vast (
countries will be eventually opened to our com- 1
merce. *
A treaty of commerce lias been concluded be- 4
tween the United States and the Oriental Re- i
public ofUruguay, which will Ik; laid before the s
Senate. Should I his Convention go into opera- t
ion, it will open to the commercial enterprise of o
>ur citizens a country of great extent and unsur- d
lassed in natural resources, but from which for- t
sign nations have hitherto been almost wholly I
ixcluded. f
The correspondence of the late Secretary of *>
state with the Peruvian charge d'affaires relative 4
o the Lobos Islands was communicated to Con- \
jress toward the close of the last session. Since c
hat time, on further investigation of the subject, a
he doubts which had been entertained of the tile
of Peru to those islands have been removed ; t
tnd I have deemed it just that the temporary s
vrong which had been unintentionally done her, c
rom want of information, should be repaired by a
in unreserved acknowledgment of her sover- \
_ ..... 1
I have the satisfaction to inform you that the b
:ourse pursued by l'eru lias been creditable to c
lie liberality of her government. Before it was i
mown by her that her title would be acknowl- 1
dged at Washington, her Minister of Foreign t
flairs had authorized our charge d'affaires to r
^iina to announce to the American vessels which t
lad gone to the Lobos for guano, that the Peru- t
ian government was willing to freight them on f
ts own account. This intention has been carri- d
d into effect by the Peruvian Minister here, by s
m arrangement which is believed to be advanta- li
;cous to the parties in interest. L
Our settlements on the shores of the Pacific
lave already given a great extension, and in |(
oinc respects a new direction, to our commerce j
n that ocean. A direct and rapidly increasing s
ri?op/>Aiir<o fins enmnrr nn with Pnst^rn Asia.
?lie waters of the Northern Pacific, even into the p
Arctic sea, have of late years been frequented by 0
>ur whalemen. The application of steam to the q
;cneral purposes of navigation is becoming daily
iiore common, and makes it desirable to obtain
uel and other necessary supplies at convenient p
ioints on the route between A>ia and the Pacific y
hores. Our unfortunate countrymen who from ^
imc to time sutler shipwreck on the coasts of p
he eastern seas a^e entitled to protection. Be- y
ides these specific objects, the general prosperity 0
f our States on the Tacific requires that an at- n
empt should l?c made to open the opposite re- a
;ions of Asia to a mutually beneficial intercourse. ,j
L is obvious that this attempt could be made by j|
o power to so great advantage as by the Uni- j,
ed States, whose constitutional system excludes ,,
very idea of distant colonial dependencies. 0
I have accordingly been led to order an ap I
ropriate naval force to Japan, under the coin- f;
land of a discreet and intelligent officer of the ii
ighest rank known to onr service. He is in- \
tructed to endeavor to obtain from the govern- s<
lent of that country some relaxation of the in- I'
osnitalile ariil anll-snrij! ^
ursued for about two centuries, lie has been ti
irected particularly to remonstrate in the strong fi
it language against the cruel treatment to which a
ur shipwrecked mariners have often been sub- v
ctcd, and to insist that they shall be treated f<
ritli humanity. lie is instructed however at v
he same time to give that government the am- L
lest assurance that the objects of the United t
States are such and such only as I have indica- 1
cd, and that the expedition is friendly and peace- c
ill. Notwithstanding the jealousy with which n
lie governments of Eastern Asia regarded all r
vcrturcs from foreigners, I am not without hopes r
f a beneficial result of the expedition. Should y
, be crowned with success, the advantages will e
ot be confined to the UuiteJ States, but, as in c
lie case of Chinq, will be equally enjoyed by all 1:
he other maritine powers. I have much satis- t
iction in staling that in all the steps prcparato- ?
y 10 this expedition the Government of the Uni- r
?d States has been materially aided by the good c
Rices of the King of the Netherlands, the only r
iuropenn power having any commercial relations t
rith Japan. t
In i inssing from the survey of our foreign re-itions,
I invite the attention of Congress to the 11
ondition of that department of the Government 1
o which this branch of the public business is en- 1
? * 4 < ! ihIAMAAIIIOA hi, r>-kWAt(Vn r\AWOKJ I]
I UMUU. * 'UI IIILCI^UUIOU Willi lUICI^U j'uuuo
ias of late years greatly increased, both in con- 11
equcnce of our own growth and the introducion
of many new States into the family of na- t
ions. In this way the Department of State lias ci
>ecome overburdened. It has, by the recent es- t
ablishmctit of the Department of the Interior, t
ieen relieved of some portion of the domestic q
msincss. If the residue of the business of that J
:ind, such as the distribution of Congressional t
locumcnts, the keeping, publishing and distribuion
of the laws of the IJ nited States, the cxecu- t
ion of the copyright law, the subject of reprieves d
md pardons, and some other subjects relating to a
nterior administration, should be transferred e
rom the Department of State, it would unques- t
ionably be for the benefit of the public service, t
would also suggest that the building appropri- I
ited to the State Department is not fire proof; j
mi. thorn is reason tn think there are defects ill \
ts construction, and that the archives of the Go- i
eminent in charge of the Department, with the t
irecious collections of the manuscript papers of Washington,
Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and r
\Ionroe, are exposed to destruction by tire. A c
irailar remark may be made of the buildings ap- t
iropriated to the War and Navy Departments. \
The condition of the Treasury is exhibited in c
,he annual report from that Department. f
The cash receipts into the Treasury for the r
iscal year ending the 30th June last, exclusive 1
>f trust funds, were forty-nine millions seven hun- '
1 red and twentv-eirrht thousand three hundred '
ind eighty-six dollars and eighty-nine cents, '
?40,728,380,89) and tlio expenditures for the c
iame period, likewise exclusive of trust funds, s
vere forty-six millions seven thousand eight hun- I
Ircd and ninety-six dollars and twenty cents, (
$40,007,896,20,) of which nine millions four 1
lundrcd and fifty-five thousand eiglit hundred ^
ind fifteen dollars and eighty-three cents ($9,- 1
155,815,83) was on account for the principal and f
riterest of the public debt, including the last in- 1
tallment of the indemnity b> Mexico, under the *
rcaty of Ouadaloiipe Jlidalgo, leaving a balance '
if $14,032,135,37 in the Treasury on the first
lay of July hist. Since this latter period, furher
purchases of the principal of the public debt
lave been -made to the extent of two millions
our hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred
ind forty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents, (?2,150,547,49,)
and the surplus in the Treasury
vill continue to be applied to that object, when:\er
the slock can be procured within the limits,
us to pi ice, authorized by law.
The value of foreign merchandise imported
i : *i.? i n i * i i.. .1 i
iumiijj int* msi nscai year was iwo nunurca ana
even millions two hundred and forty thousand
me hundred and one dollars, ($207,240,101;)
ind the value of domestic productions ex|)orted
vas one hundred and forty nine millions eight
lundred and sixty one thousand nine hundred
tnd eleven doliars, ($149,801,911;) besides sevmtcen
millions two hundred and four thousand
ind twenty-six dollars ($17,204,02G) of foreign,
nerchandise exported; making the aggregate of
he entire exports one hundred and sixty-seven
nilliotis sixty-five thousand nine hundred and
hirty seven dollars, (108,005,937;) exclusive of
he above there was exported forty-two millions
ive hundred and seven thousand and two hun
[red and eighty-five dollars (?42,407,285) in
pecie; and imported from foreign ports five railions
two hundred and sixty-two thousand six
mndred and forty-three dollars, ( 5,262,043.)
In my first annual message to Congress I cal?d
your attention to what seemed to me some
lefects in the present tariff, and recommended
uch modifications as in my judgement were best
daptcd to remedy its evils and promote the
rosperity of the country. Nothing has since
ccurred to change my views on this important
uestion.
Without repeating the arguments contained
1 my former message, in favor of discriminating
rotective duties, I deem it my duty to call it
our attention to some considerations affecting
his subject. The first is the effect of large im
ortations ot toreigns goods upon our currency,
lost of tlie gold from California, as fast as it is
oined, tinds its way directly to Europe in paylent
for goods purchased. In the second place
s our manufacturing establishments are broken
own by competition with foreigners, the capital
uvested in them is lost, thousands of honest and
idustrious citizens aro thrown out of employicnt,
and the farmer to that extent is deprived
f a home market for the sale of his produce.?
n the third place <he destruction of our manuicturcs
leaves the foreigner without competition
a our market, and he consequently raises the
>rice of the article sent here for sale, as is now
ron in the increased cost of iron imported from
aiglaud. The prosperity and wealth of ever}:
ivn .ritr-v Or-prttrl lipOtl ItS prOOUeilVO llltlUSry.
The farmer is stimulated to exertion by
nding a ready market for his surplus products,
ncl l\r>npfittr>fl liv hoi nor Jihln to pvehnnnro t.hpm
> ithout lass of time or expense of transportation
jr tlie manufactures whichjiis comfort an 1 conenience
requires. This is always done to the
est advantage where a portion of thecommuniy
in which he lives is engaged in other pursuits.
Jut most manufactures require an amount of
apital and a practical skill which cannot be commanded
uuloss they be protected for a time from
uinous competition frcm abroad. Hence the
icccssity of laying those duties upon imported
;oods which the Constitution authorizes for rcvnue,
in such a manner as to protect and cnouratre
the labor of our own citizens. Duties
lowevcr should not be fixed at a rate so high as
o exclude the foreign article, but should be so
jradtiated as to enable the domestic manufaetuer
fairly to compete with the foreigner in our
iwn own markets, and by this competition to
edueo the price of the manufactured article to
he consumer to the lowest rate at which it can
>e produced. This policy would place the mehanic
by the side of the fainter,create a mutual
nterchange of their respective commodities, and
hus stimulate the industry of the whole counry
and render us independent of the foreign
lations for the supplies required by the habits or
icceasities of the people.
Another question, wholly independent of pro
cction, presents Jtselt ana tii.il is wnctncr me
lutics levied should l>e upon the \ alue of the ariele
at the place of shipment or where it is pracicable
a specific duty graduated according to
[iiantity as ascertained by weight or measure.?
Vll our duties arc at present <td volurcm. A coram
per centage is levied on the price of the
;oods at the port of shipment in a foreign counry.
Most commercial nations have found it inlispensable,
for the purpose of preventing fraud
,nd perjury to make the duties specific whenevr
the article is of such a uniform value in weight
ir measure as to justify such a duty. Legislaion
should never encourage dishonesty or crime,
t is impossible that the revenue officers at the
>ort where the goods are entered and the duties
mid should know with certainly what they cost
11 a foreign country. Yet the law requires that
hey should levy the duty according to such cost.
?'They arc therefore compelled to resort to vey
unsatisfactory evidence to ascertain what that
:ost was. They take the invoice of the imporer,
attested hy his oath, as the best evidence of
vhich the nature of the ease admits. Hat every
>ne must see that the invoice may be fabricated,
md the oath by which it is supported false, by
cason of which the dishonest importer pays a
mrt only of the duties which are paid by the
lonest one, and thus indirectly receives from the
rensury of the United States a reward for his
rand and neriurv. The reports of the Secretary
>f the Treasury heretofore made on this subjecthow
conclusively that these frauds have been
practiced to a great extent. The tendency is to
lestroy that high moral character for which our
nerchants have long been distinguished ; to dcraud
the Government of its revenue; to break
lown the honest importer by a dishonest compeition
; and, finally, to transfer the business of
mportation to foreign and irresponsible agents,
o the great detriment of our own citizens. 1
herelbre again most earnestly recommend the
adoption of specific duties, wherever it is practiI
cable, or a home valuation, to>j>re\cnt these
frauds.
I would also again call your attention to the
fact that the present tariff in sonje cases imposes
a higher duty upon the raw material imported
than upon the article manufactured from it, the
consequence of which is that the duty operates
to the discouragement of our own citizens.
For full and detailed information in regard to
the general coudition of our Indian affairs, I respectfully
refer you to the report of the Secretary
of the Interior and the accompanying documents.
* * * *
The report from the General Land Office shows
increased activity in its operations. The survey
of the northern boundary of Iowa has been completed
with unexampled despatch. Within the
last, vnnr 0 n99 oorrxa r%f lor*/l
v J - ? VJVMJWV "VI vw VI J/UVHV IU1IU ua>^7
been surveyed, and 8,032,468 acres brought into
market. '
Iu the last fiscal year there were sold. 1,553,071 acres.
Located with bounty land warrants, 3,201,314 "
Located with other certificates, 115 582 "
Making a total of 4,870,067 "
In addition, there were?
Reported under swamp land grants, 5,219,188 "
For internal improvements, rail
roads, 4c. 3,025,920 "
Making an aggregato of 13,115,175 "
Being an increase in the amount of lands sold
and located under land 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 reservations
for rail roads in Missouri, Mississippi, and Alabama.
For the quaite: ending 30th September, 1852, there
were sold 243,255 acres.
Located with bounty land warrants, 1,387,116 "
Located with other certificates, 15,649 "
Reported under swamp land grants, 2,4S5,233 "
Making an aggregate for the quarter
of 4,131,253 i
* * * J * *
Every effort has been made to protect our frontier,
and that of the adjoining Mexican States,
from the incursions of the Indian tribes. Of
about 11,000 men of which the army is compo1
1 ^ 1 1 * iL . 1
sen, nearly e,uuu are employed m me aeience
of the newly acquired territory, (including Texas,)
and of emigrants proceeding thereto. I am
gratified to say that these efforts have been unusually
successful. California and Oregon, and
occasional depredations on a^portion^jof the.Rio _
state of that border region, the inroads of the
Indians have been effectually restrained.
Experience has shown, however, that whenever
the two races are brought into contact, collisions|will
inevitably occur. To prevent these
collisions the United States have generally set
apart portions of their territory for the exclusive
occupation of the Indian tribes. A difficulty
occurs however, in the application of this policy
to Texas. By the terms of the compact by
which that State was admitted into the Union,
she retained the ownership of all the vacant
lands within her limits. The government of
that State, it is understood, has assigned no por
tion ofher territory to the Indians; but as fast
as her settlements advance lays it off into counties,
and proceeds to survey and sell it. Tb's
policy manifestly tends, not only to alarm and
irritate the Indians, but to compel them to resort
to plunder for subsistence.
It also deprives this Government of that influence
and control over them without which no
durable peace can ever exist between them,and
the whites. I trust, therefore, that a due regard
for-her own interests, apart from considerations
of huinan'ty and justice, w ill induce that State to
assign a small portion ofher vast domain for the
provisional occupancy of the small remnants of
tribes within her borders, subject of course to her
ownership and eventual jurisdiction. If sho
should fail to do this, the fulfilment of our treaty
stipulations with Mexico, and our duty to the
Indians themselves, will, it is feared, become a
subject of serious embarrassment to the Government.
It is hoped, however, that a timely and
just provision bv Texas may avert this evil.
No'appropriations for fortifications were made
at the two last sessions of Congress. The causoof
this omission is, probably, to bo found in agrowing
belief that the system of fortificatious
adopted in 1816, and heretofore acted, on, requires
revision.
The subject certainly deserves full and'caretui
investigation; but it should not be delayed longer
than can be avoided. In the meantime
there are certain works which have boon commenced?some
of them nearly completed?designed
to protect our principal seaports from
Boston to New Orleans, and a few other important
points. In nigard to the ueoessity for these
works, it is believed that little difference of opinion
exists among Military men. I therefore recommend
that the appropriations uecessaiy to.
prosecute them bo made.
I invite your attention to the remarks on thfe
suhiuct. and on othcis connected with bis Oe
o / . partraent,
contained in the accompanying report
of the Secretary of War.
Measures have been taken to carry into effect
the law of the last session, making provision for
[ the improvement of certain rivera and harbors,
and it is believed thnt the arrangements made
for that purpose will combine efficicnoy with
economy.
Owing chiefly to the advanced season when
the act was passed, little has yet been done in
regard to many of the works beyond making the
necessary preparations, With respect to a few
of the improvements, the sums already appropriated
will suffice to completo them, but most
of them will require additional appropriations. I
trust that these appropriations will be made, and
that this wise and beneficent policy, so auspiciously
resumed, will be continued. Great earn