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JOHN W.O'BRinX editor.
LOUDON:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1S52.
SJ John A. Pattox, Esq., of Kingston, is
fully authorised to act as Agcut for this paper
A. G. Carden, and James S. Bonham, are
also authorisod to act as agents.
XST" Gen. Wm.j Brazelton, is oar authoriz
ed Agent at New-Market, Tennessee.
EgU Sau'l M. Johxstox, Esq., is our author
ized Ageut at Midway, Tennessee.
Xotict. We have been sending copies of this
paper to the subscribers of the "Sox of Tem
perance," the publication of which we com
menced at Knoxville, and discontinued before
the year expired to establish the Locdon Free
Press. We have nearly closed out that en
gagement, and it now devolves upon those who
desire to continue as subscribers to the Free
Press to send on their names, which we hope
the most of them will do.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
.-. We received the Message of President Fill
more, through the Postmaster at Dalton, on
Tuesday the 6th, being the day upon which it
was submited to Congress, and we hereby ten
der our thanks for the same.
In reading this Message we felt a secret pride
that wc were an humble admirer of the great
and good man who wrote it. The same correct
sense of propriety so pre-eminently characteris
tic of Mr. Fillmore, in all his public acts, may
be traced into every line. It is short and com
prehensive upon every point, Whether we
view it as a literary production where skill in
language is the end aimed at; or, as a State pa
per, carefully adjusting the checks and balances
of diversified powers and antagonistic interests;
we doubt whether a more perfect specimen can
be produced. It would do honor to the heart and
head of any of the great names belonging to
our history.
Mr. Fillmore has lived down mnch political
vituperation and suspicion. He has been as
sailed at every point, and nothing but the wis
dom of his acts has sustained him. And now,
although the great party that placed him in
power,' is overwhelmed in defeat, none of the
blame attaches to his name he is to-day,
stronger than his party. His patriotic devotion
to his country, has won the esteem and affec
tion of the people, without distinction of parties.
E. T. & Va. Railroad. We are pleased to
witness the manifestations of continued zeal of
the people of upper E. Tenn., in behalf of this
vastly important enterprise. The Animal Meet
ing of the Stockholders met in Greeneville on
Thursday 25th ult, the fullest published proceed
ings we have seen, is a letter to the Knoxville
Register, from which we learn that the conven
tion was organised by the appointment of Gen.
Wm. Brazeltox, of New Market, as President,
and Messrs. A. G. Graham and Jas. Bbittox,
Jr., as Secretaries. The reports of the Presi
dent, &c, exhibiting the affairs of the company
in a flourishing condition graduation, masonry
on bridges, Ac, steadily progressing, were read
and adopted. The whole line is under contract
save 15 miles between Knoxville and Strawberry
Plains, which we are pleased to see advertised
for proposals, and propositions have already
been made. The Directory have acted wisely
in determining to leave no part of the Road un
provided for, and while they do well to prepare
the heavy grade along the line if capital is
flush, they should concentrate their stronger ef
forts at that end promising the earliest connec
tioneither at Knoxville or the Virginia line.
There can be no doubt that the earliest con
nection may be made with the E. Tenn. &, Ga.
Railroad, and the Directors should, therefore,
commence at Knoxville, and complete it, so that
the Cars may commence running, if it be only
for a few miles and extended as fast as the
work can possibly be carried forward. The wis
dom of this policy will be manifest when the
company begin to lay down the Iron along the
line, and experience the inconvenience and ex
pense of re-shipping the immense amount of
heavy Iron necessary to lay the track. It re
quires an immense amount of money to build
a Railroad, and the sooner the road may be
made to pay something the better for all con
cerned. The old Board of Directors were continued by
re-election for the ensuing year, and endorsed
by the unanimous thanks of the convention for
the able and faithful discharge of the responsi
ble duties devolving upon them during the past
yeae. The Board is as follows:
Dr. Sam'l B. Ccxxixgham, President.
Wm. G. Gammox, Sect. & Treas.
Sam'l Rhea, Robt. P. Rhea,
Alfred W. Tatlor, A. E. Jackson,
Wm. P. Reeve,
J. C. MlTCHEL,
J. McGavghet,
Jacob Kleiter,
Wm. II. Moffet,
Wm. Hocstox.
Jas. F. Brotles,
JOS. nEXDERSOX,
Jos. SnAxxox,
0. Boaz,
Mr. Tilghman, Chief Engineer, has resigned
his position, and the Board will procure an En
gineer immediately, so that the progress of the
Road will not be prejudiced.
We cannot well refrain from expressing our
patriotic pride in beholding the success of this
great enterprise. We are well acquainted with
the men who laid their shoulders to th wheel
and pushed it forward, and still continue at the
sacrifice of individual interests, to sustain it
with their best energies. Not the least con
spicuous and meritorious among these, we name
the gentlemanly President of the Company,
withoutdisparagingthe claims of others. While
the Road is in the hands that have and still con
trol it, we feel satisfied that it will soon be com
pleted. See the Card of P. D. Gates, General
Commercial Agent, New York. We became
acquainted with Mr. Gates, last Spring, in New
York, and found him to be a perfect gentleman,
posscssingfine business and social qualifications.
Having been but recently engaged in the Mer
cantile business in East Tennessee, he is well
acquainted with this market, and consequently
prepared to give full satisfaction in the transac
tion of any business that may be confided to
bis care.
President's Message,
Fellow citizens of the Senate
and of tlit House of Representatives:
The brief space which has elapsed since the
close of your last session has been marked by
no extraordinary political event. The quadren
nial election of Chief Magistrate has passed off
with less than the usual excitement. However
individuals and .parties may have been disap
pointed in t result, it is nevertheless a subject
of national con 0ulation that tb choice has been
effected by thfcfindependent suffrages of a free
people, undisturbed by those influences which
in other countries have too often affected the pu
rity of popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an All-merci
ful Providence, not only for staying the pesti
lence .which in different ' forms has desolated
some of our cities, but for crowning the labors of
the husbandman with an abundant harvest, and
the nation generally with an abundant harvest,
and the nation generally with the blessings of
peace and prosperity.
DEATH OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
Within a few weeks the public mind has been
deeply affected by the death of Daniel Webster,
filling at his decease the office of Secretary of
State. His associates in the Executive govern
ment have sincerely smpathized with his fami
ly and the public generally on this mournful oc
casion. His commanding talents, his great polit
ical and professional eminence, his well-tried pa
triotism, 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.
fisheries.
In the course of the last summev considerable
anxiety was caused for a short time by an 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 prov
inces in North Ameriea against the alleged en
croachments of the fishing vessels of the U. S.
and France. The shortness of this notice and
the season of the year seemed to make it a mat
ter of urgent importance. It was first appre
hended that an increased naval force had been
ordered to the fishing grounds to cany into ef
fect the British interruption of those provisions
in the convention of 1818, in reference to the
true intent of-which the two governments differ.
It was soon discovered that such was not the de
sign of Great Britain, and satisfactory explana
tions of the measure have been given both here
and in London.
The unadjusted difference, however, between
the two governments as to the interpretation of
the first article of the convention of 1818 is still
a matter of importance. American fishing ves
sels within nine or ten years have been excluded
from waters to which they had free access for
twenty -five years after the negotiation of the
treaty. In 1845 this exclusion was relaxed so
far as concerns the Bay of Fundy, but the just
and liberal intention of the Home 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 re-opened to our
fishermen in 1845, pursued the most liberal
course toward the colonial fishing interests. By
the revenue law of 1846, the duties on colonial
fish entering our potts were very greatly redu
ced, 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 monop
oly of the export trade in our market, and is en
tering to some extent into the home consump
tion. These facts were among those which in
creased the sensibilitv of our fishing interest, at
the movement in question.
The circumstances and the incidents above al
luded to have led me to think the moment favor
able for a reconsideration of the entire subject
of the fisheries on the coasts of the British prov
inces, with a view to place them upon a more
liberal footing of reciprocal privilege. A wil
lingness 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 sub
ject as the commercial intercourse between the
United States and the British provinces. I
have thought that whatever arrangement may
be made on these two subjects, it is expedient
that they should be embraced in separate con
ventions. The illness and death of the late Sec
retary of State prevented the commencement of
the contemplated negotiation. Pains have been
taken to collect the information required for the
details of such an arrangement. The subject
is attended with considerable difficulty. It it is
found practicable to come to an agreement mu
tually acceptable to the two parties, conventions
may be concluded in the course of the present
winter. The control of Cougress over all the
provisions of such an arrangement, affecting the
revenue, will of course be reserved.
CTBAX AFFAIRS.
The affairs of Cuba formed a prominent topic
in may last annual message. They remain in
an uneasy condition, and a feeling of alarm and
irritation on the part of the Cuban authorities
appears to exist The 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 rirbt to complain.
But the Captain General of Cuba is clothed j
with no power to treat with foreign governments,
nor is he in any degree under the control of the ;
Spanish Minister at Washington. Any com-:
inunication which he may hold with an agent of
a foreigu power is informal and a matter of
courtesy. Anxious to put an end to the existing
inconveniences, (which seemed to rest on a mis
conception,) I directed the newly appointed
Minister to Mexico to visit Havana, on his way
to Vera Cruz, He was respectfully received by
the Captain General, who conferred with him
freely on the recent occurrences; but no perma
nent arrangement was effected
In the mean time, the refusal of the Captain
General to allow passengers and the mail to be
landed in certain cases, for a reason which docs
not furnish in the opinion of this Government
even a good presumptive ground for such a pro
hibition, has been made the subject of a seri
ous remonstrance at Madrid: and I have no rea
son to doubt that due respect will be paid by
the government of Her Catholic Majesty to the
representations which our Minister has been in
structed to make on the subject.
It is but justice to the Captain General to add,
that his conduct toward the steamers employed
to carry the mails of the United States to Ha
vana has, with the exceptions above alluded to,
been marked with kindness and liberality, and
indicates no general purpose of interfering with
the commercial correspondence and intercourse
between the island and this country.
Early in the present year official notes were
received from the Ministers of France and Eng
land, inviting the Government of the U. S. to
become a party with Great Britain and France
to a tripartite Convention, in virtue of which the
three powers should severally and collectively
disclaim, now and for the future, all intention to
obtain possession of the Island of Cuba, and
should bind themselves to discountenance all at
tempts to that effect on the part of any power
or individual whatever. This invitation has
been respectfully declined, for reasons which it
would occupy too much space in this communi
cation to state in detail, but which led me to
thiuk that the proposed measure would be of
doubtful constitutionality, impolitic, and una
vailing. I have, however, in common with sev
eral of my predecessors, directed the Ministers
of France and England to be assured that the
United States entertain no designs against Cu
ba; but that, on the contrary, I should regard
its incorporation into the Union at' the present
time as fraught with serious peril.
Were this Island comparatively destitute of
inhabitants, or occupied by a kindred race, I
should regard it, if voluntarily ceded by Spain,
as a most desirable acquisition. But, under ex
isting circumstances, I should look upon its in
corporation into our Union as a very hazardous
measure. It would bring into the Confederacy
a population of a different national stock, speak
ing a different language, and not likely to har
monize with the other members. It would prob
ably affect in a prejudicial manner the industri
al interests of the South; and it might revive
those conflicts of opinion between the different
sections of the country, which lately shook the
Union to its centre, and which have been so
happily compromised.
TEHUANTEPEC AND NIAGARA DIFFICULTIES.
The rejection of the Mexican Congress of the
Convention which had been concluded between
that Republic and the United States," for the
protection of a transit way across the Isthmus of
Tchuantepec and of the interests of those citi
zens of the United States who had become pro
prietors of the rights which Mexico had confer
red on one of her own citizens in regard to that
transit, has thrown a serious obsticlo in the way
of the attainment of a very desirable national
object. I am willing to hope that the differen
ces on the subject which exist, or may hereafter
arise, between the governments, will be amica
bly adjusted
The subject, however, has already
engaged the attention of the Senate of the Uni
ted States, and requires no further comment in
this communication.
The settlement of the qucstiou respecting the
port of San Juan de Nicaragua, and the contro
versy between the republics of Costa Rica and
Nicarauga in regard to their boundaries, was
considered indispensable to the commencement
of ihe ship canal between the two oceans, which
),- ....KVnt ( ii.. rv,.,,...:
United States and Great Britain of the 19th of
April, 1850. Accordingly a proposition for the '
purpose addressed to the two governments in j
that quarter, and to the Mosquito Indians, was ;
agreed to in April last
State and the Minister ot
by the Secretary of
her Lntancic Majesty.
Besides the wish to aid in reconeilir'' the differ
ences of the two republics, I engaged in the ne
gotiation from a desire to place the great work
of a ship canal between the two oceans under
one jurisdiction, and to establish the important
port of San Juan de Nicaragua under the gov
ernment of civilized power. The proposition
in question was assented to by Costa Riea
and the Mosquito Indians. It has not proved
equally acceptable to Nicaragua, but it is to be
hoped that the further negotiations on the sub
ject which are in train will be carried on in that
spirit of conciliation and compromise which
ought always to prevail on such occasions, and
that they will lead to a satisfactory result
RELATIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA.
I have the satisfaction to inform you that ex
ecutive government of Venezuela has aknowl
ged some claims of the citizens of the United
States, which have for many years past been
urged by our charge d'affaires at Caraccas. . It
is hoped that the same sense of justice will ac
tuate the Congress of that Republic in providing
the means for their payment
The recent revolution in Buenos Ayres and the
confederated States having opened the prospect
of an improved state of things in that quarter,
the governments of Great Britain and France
determined to negotiate with the chief of the
new Confederacy for the free access of their
commerce to the extensive countries watered
by their tributaries of the La Plata; and they
rave a friendly notice of this purpose to the
United States, that we mirht if we
thought
proper pursue the same course. In compliance
with this invitation, our minister at Rio Janeiro
and our charge d'affaires at Buenos Ayres have
been fully authorized to conclude treaties with
the newly-organized Confederation, or the
States composing it. The delays which have
taken place in the formation of the new govern
ment have as yet prevented the execution of
those instructions; but there is every reason to
hope that these vast countries will eventually
be opened to our commerce.
A treaty of commerce has been concluded be
tween the United States and the Oriental Re
public of Uruguay, which will be laid before
the Senate. Should this Convention go into
operation, it will open to the commercial enter
prise of our citizens a country of great extent
and unsurpassed by natural resources, but from
which foreign nations have hitherto been almost
wholly excluded.
The correspondence of the hite Secretary of
State with the Peruvian charge d'affaires rela
tive to the Lobos Islands was communicated to
Congress toward the dose of the last session.
Since that time, on further investigation of the
subject, the doubts which had been entertained
of the title of Peru to those islands have been
removed; and I have deemed it just that the
temporary wrong hich had been unintention
ally done her, from want of information, should
be repaired by an unreserved acknowledgment
of her sovereignty.
I have the satisfaction to inform yon that the
course pursued by Peru has been creditable to
the liberality of her government. Before it was
known by her that her title would be acknowl
edged at" Washington, her Minister of Foreign
Affairs had authorized our charge d'affaires at
Lima to anounce to the American vessels which
had gone to the Lobos for guano, that the Pe
ruvian Government was willing to freight them
on its own account. This iutention has been
carried into effect by the Peruvian Minister here,
by an arrangement which is believed to be ad
vantageous to the parties in interest
COMMERCE ON TnE PACIFIC.
, Our settlement on the shores of the Facific
have already given a great extension, and in
some respects a new direction, to our commerce
in that ocean. A direct and rapidly-increasing
intercouse has sprung up with Eastern Asia. The
waters of the Northern Pacific, even into the
Arctic sea, have of late years been frequented
by our whalemen. The application of steam to
the general purposes of navigation is becoming
daily more common, and make3 it desirable to
obtain fuel and other necessary supplies at con
venient points on the route between Asia and
our Pacific shores. Our unfortunate country
men who from time to time suffer shipwreck on
the coasts of the eastern seas are entitled to
protection. Besides these specific objects, the
general prosperity of our States on the Pacific
requires that an attempt should be made to open
the opposite regions of Asia to a mutually ben
eficial intercourse. . It is obvious that this at
tempt could be made by no power to so great ad
vantage as by the United States, whose constitu-
tional system excludes every idea of distant co
lonial dependencies. I have accordingly been
led to order an appropriate naval force to J apan
under the command of a discreet and intelligent
officer of the highest rank known to our ser
vice. He is instructed to endeavor to obtain
from the government of that country some re
laxation of the inhospitable and anti social sys
tem which it has pursued for about two centu
ries. He has been directed particularly to re
monstrate in the strongest language against the
cruel treatment to which our shipwrecked mari
ners have often been subjected, and to insist
that they shall be treated with humanity. He is
instructed however at the same time to give that
government the amplest assurances that the
objects of the United States are such and sach
only as I have indicated, and that the expedi
tion is friendly and peaceful. Notwithstanding
the jealously with which the governments of
Eastern Asia regard all overtures from foreign
ers, I am not without hopes of a beneficial re
sult of the expedition. Should it be crowned
with success, the advantages will not be confin
ed to the United States, but, as in the case of
China, will be equallv enjoved by all the other
maritime powers. I have much satisfaction in
stating that in all the steps preparatory to this
expedition the Government of the United
States had heen materially aided by the good
offices of the King of the Netherlands, the ouly
European power having any4 commercial rela
tions with Japan.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
In passing from this survey of our foreign re
lations, I invite the attention of Congress to the
condition of that department of the - Govern
ment to which this branch of the public busi
ness is entrusted. Our intercourse with fiireign
powers has of late years greatly increased, both
in consequence of our own growth and the in
troduction of many new States into the family
of nations. In this way the Department of
State has become overburdened. It has, by the
recent establishment of the. Department of the
Interior, been relieved of some portion of the
domestic business. If the residue of the busi
ness of that kind, such as the distribution of
Congressional documents, the keeping, publish
ing and distribution of the laws of the United
States, the execution of the copyright law, the
subject of reprieves and pardons, and some oth
er subjects relating to interior administration,
should be transferred from the Department of
State, it would unquestionably be for the benefit
of the public service. I would also suggest
that the building appropriated to the State De
partment is not fire-proof; that there is reason
1 to think there are defects in its construction,
and that the archives of the Government in
charge of the Department, with the precious
collections of the manuscript papers of Wash
ington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Mon
roe, are exposed to destruction by fire, A sim
ilar remark may be made of the buildings ap
propriated to the War and Navy Departments.
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY.
The condition of the Treasury for the fiscal
' ' ?"
0tli ot June last, exclusive of
trust funds, were forty-nine millions seven hun
dred and eighty-six dollars and eighty-nine cts.
($49,728,386,89,) and the expenditures for the
, r.:A i:i-.:. .,.io,-.. c r..,i
wcre 'forty-six millions seven thousand ci-ht
, an(i n:nctv.s;x donar3 and twcntv
($46,007,890 20;) of which nine millions four
nui.dred and fifty-five thousand eight hun
dred and fifteen dollars and eighty-three cents
(9,455,815 83) was on account of the principal
and intersts of the public debt, including the
last installment of the indemnity of Mexico, un
der the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, leaving a
balance of $14,632,136 37 in the Treasury on
i the first day of July last. Since this latter pc
! riod, further purchases of the principal of the
I public debt have been made to the extent of two
millions four hundred and fifty-six thousand five
hundred and forty-seven dollars and forty-nine
cents 2.45;,5 17 49, and the surplus in the
Treasury will continue to be applied to that ob
ject, whenever the stock can be procured with
in the limits, as to price, authorized by law.
The value of foreign merchandise imported
during the fiscal year was two hundred and sev
en millions two hundred and forty thousand
one hundred and one dollars, ($207,240,101;)
and the value of domestic productions exported
was one hundred and forty-nine millions eight
hundred and sixty-ore thousand nine hundred
ar.d eleven dollars, (149,801,911:) besides sev
enteen millions two hundred and and four thou
sand and twenty-six dollars ($17,204,026) of
foreign merchandize exported; making the ag
gregate of the entire exports one hundred and
sixty-seven millions sixty-five thousand nine
hundred and thirty-seven dollars.($167,065,937;)
exclusive of the above there was exported forty-two
millions five hundred and seven thousand
two hundred and eijhty-five dollars ($42,507.r
285) in specie; and imported from foreign ports
hve millions two hundred and sixty-two thousand
six hundred and forty-three dollars,($5,462,643.)
THE TARIFF.
In my first annual message to Congress I
called your attention to what seemed to me some
defects in the present tariff, and recommended
such modifications as in rnv judgment wc-ro best
adapted to remedy its evils and promote the
prosperity of the country. Nothing has since
occurred to change my views on this important
question.
Without repeating the arguments contained in
my former message, in favor of discriminating,
protective duties, I deem it my duty to call your
attention to one or two other considerations af
fecting this subject The first is, the effect of
large importations of foreign goods upon our
currency. Most of the gold of California, is fast
as it is coined, finds its way directly to Europe
in payments for goods purchased. In the sec
ond place, as our manufacturing establishments'
are broken down by competition with foreigners,
the cr.pital invested in them is lost,thousands of
honest and industrious citizens are thrown out
of employment, and the farmer to that extent is
deprived of a home market for the sale of his
surplus produce. In the third place, the destruc
tion of our manufactures leaves the foreigner
without ccmpction in our market, and he conse
quently raises the price of the article sent here
for sale, a3 is now seen in the increased cost of
iron imported from England. The prosperity
and wealth of every nation must depend upon
its productive industry. The farmer is stimula
ted to exertion by finding a ready market for
his surpulus products, and benefitted by being
able to exchange them, without loss of time or
expense of transportation, for the manufactures
which Ins 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 other pursuits. But most manufac
tures require an amount of capital and a prac
tical skill which cannot be commanded, unless
they be protected for a time from ruinous com
petition from abroad. Hence the necessity of
laying those duties upon imported goods which
the Constitution authorizes for revenue, in such
a manner as to protect ar.d encourage the labor
of our own citizens. Duties however, should not
be fixed at a rate so high as to exclude the for
eign article, but should be so graduated as to
enable the domestic manufacturer fairly to com
pete with the foreigner in our own markets, and
by this competion to reduce the price of the
manufactured article to the consumer to the
lowest rate at which it can be produced. This
policy would place the mechanic by the side of
the farmer, create a mutual interchange of their
respective commodities, and thus stimulate the
industry of the whole country, and render us
independent of foreign nations for the supplies
required by the habits or necessities of the peo
ple. Another question, wholly independent of pro
tection", presents itself, and that is, whether the
duties levied should be upou the value of the
article at the place of shipment, or, where it is
practicable, the specific duty, graduated accord
ing to quantity, as ascertained by weight or
measure. All our duties are at present ad va
lorem. A certain per centage is levied on the
price of the goods at the port of shipment in a
foreign country. Most commercial nations have
found it indispensable, for the purpose of pre
venting fraud and perjury, to make the duties
specific whenever the article is of such a uniform
value in weight or measure as to justify such a
duty. Legislation should never encourage dis
honesty or crime. It is impossible that the rev
enue officer where the goods are entered
and the duties paid should know with certainty
what they cost in the foreign country. Yet the
law requires that they should levy the duty ac
cording to such cost. They are therefore com
pelled to resort to very unsatisfactory evidence
to ascertain what that cost was. They take the
invoice of the importer, astested by his oath, as
the best evidence of which the nature of the
case admits. But every one must see that the
invoice may be fabricated, and the oath by
which it is supported false, by reason of which
the dishonest importer pays a part only of the
duties which are paid by the honest one, and
thus indirectly receives from the treasury of the
United States a reward for his fraud and perju
ry. The report of the Secretary of the' Treasu
ry heretofore made on this subject show conclu
sively that these frauds have been practiced to a
great extent, The tendency is to destroy that
high moral character for which our merchants
have long been distinguisded; to defraud the
Government of its revenue; to break down the
honest importer by a dishonest competition and,
finally, to transfer the business of importation to
foreign and irresponsible 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 home valuation, to prevent these frauds.
I would also again call your attention to the
fact that the present tariff in some cases imposes
a higher duty upon the raw material imported
than upon the article manufactured from it, the
consequence of which is that the duty operated
to the encouragement of the foreigner and the
discouragmcnt of our own citizens.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
For full and detailed information in regard to
our Indian affairs, I respectfully refer you to the
report of the Secretary of the Interior and the
accompanjing documents.
The Senate not having thought proper to rati
fy the treaties which had been negotiated with
the tribes of Indians in California and Oregon,
our relations with them have been left in a very
unsatisfactory condition.
In other pahs of our territory particular dis
tricts of our country have been set apart for the
exclusive occupation of the Indians, and their
right to the lauds within those limits has been
acknowledged and respected. But in California
and Oregon there has been no recognition by
the Government of the exclusive right of the In
dians to any part of the country. They are
therefore mere tenants at sufferance, and liable
to be driven from place to place, at the pleasure
of the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected pro
posed to remedy this evil by allotting to the dif-
i ferent tribes districts of country suitable to their
j different habits of life, and sufficient for their
; support. This provision, more than any other,
; it is believed, led to their rejection; and as no
substitute for it has been adopted by . Congress,
j it has not been deemed advisable to attempt to
j enter into new treaties of a permanent charac
j tcr, although no effort has been spared by tem
I porary arrangements to preserve friendly rela- j
tions with them. j
If it bo the desire of Congress to remove them 1
from the country altogether, or to assign to them j
I particular districts more remote from the settle
ments of the whites, it will be proper to seta
part by law the territory which they are to occu-
i py, and to provide the means necessary for re-
iiiuwng lueui iuiu justice aiise to our own
citizens and to the Indians require prompt ac
tion on this subject
The amendments proposed by the Senate, to
the treaties which were negotiated with the Si
oux Indians of Minessota, have been submitted
to the tribes who were parties to them, and have
received their assenf. A large tract of valua
ble territory has thus been opened for settlement
and cultivation, and all danger of collision with
these powerful aud warlike bands has been hap-
pily removed. The removal of the remnant of:
the tribe of Seminole Indians from Florida has
long been a cherished object of the Government
and it is one to which my attention has been
steadily directed. Admonished by past experi
ence of the difficulty and cost of the attempt to
remove them by military force, resort has been
had to concilatory measures. By the invitation
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs several of
the principal Chiefs recently visited Washington,
and whilst here acknowledged in writing the
obligation of their tribe to remove with the least
possible delay. Late advices from the special
agent of the Government represent that they
adhere to their promise, and that a council of
their people has been called to make their pre
liminary arrangements. A general emigration
may therefore be confidently- e.-cpected at an
early day.
rCBLIC LAND.'.
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 year 9,522, 953 acres of public
land have been sun eyed, and 8,032,463 acres
brought into market
In the last fiscal year there wcre
sold I ,ooo,0 1 1 acres
Located with bounty land warrants 3,201,314
Located with other certificates... 115,685
u
u
Making a total of...... 4,870,077 "
In addition, there were
Reported under swampland grants521 9,188 "
For Interual Improvements, rail
roads, ic 3,025,920 "
Making an aggregate of. 13,115,1?5 "
Being an increase in the amount of laiids sold
and located under land warrants of 579,520 acres
over the previous year.
The whole amount thus sold, located under
laud warrants, reported under swampland 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 quarter ending 30 September, 1852,
there wcre sold 243,255 acres
T nl..-;il.kM.ntlonn-orrort!l 1ST MR "
Located with other certificates... 15,649
Reported under swampland grants2 IS 1,233
u
u
Makingan aggregate for theqr. of4,131,253 "
CENSUS.
Much the larger portion of arranging and clas
sifying the returns of the last census has been fin
ished, and it will now devolve 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 i
tlie basis of the 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 accor
dance with it
PATENTS.
I commend to your favorable regard the sug
gestion contained in the report of the Secretary
of the Interior that provision be made by law
- j
lor the publication anauistnmuion, periodically,
ot an analytical digest oiau me paie.ua men j
naveieen, or may nereaiter oe, nreu ior ,
nsetul inventions anu discoveries, wnn &ueu
scriptions and illustrations a3 may be necessary
to present an intelligible view of their nature
and operation. The cost of such publication
could easily be defrayed out of the patent fund,
and I am persuaded that it could be applied to
no object more acceptable to inventors and ben
eficial to the public at large.
INSANE ASTLUJf
An appropriation of $100,000 having been
made at the last session for the purchase ofa
suitable site, for the erection, furnishing, aud
fittinnrof an Asylum for the insane of the District j
of Columbia, and of the Army and ISavy of the
United States, the proper measures have been
adopted to carry thi3 beneficent purpose into ef
fect. MEXICAN BOUNDARY.
By the latest advices from the Mexican Boun
dary Commission it appears that the survey of
the river Gila, from its confluence with the Col
orado to its supposed intersection with the wes
tern line of New Mexico, has been completed.
The survey of the Rio Grande has also been fin
ished from the point agreed on by the Commis
sioners as "the point where it strikes the south
ern boundary of New Mexico'' to a point one
hundred and thirty five miles below Eagle Pass,
which is about two thirds of the distance along
the course of the river to its mouth.
The appropriation which; was made at the
last session Of CougrfS3 for the continuation of
the survey is subject to the following proviso:
"Irorided, That no part of the appropriation
shall be used or expended until it shall be made
satisfactorily to appear to the President of the
United States that the southern boundary of New
Mexico is not established by the Commissioner
and Surveyor of the Uuited States farther north
of the town called Taso' than the same is laid
down in Disturnell's map, which is added to the
treaty." .
My attention was drawn to this subject by a
report from the Depatment of the Interior, which
reviewed all the facts of the case, and submitted
for my decision the question whether, under ex
isting circumstances, any part of the appropria
tion could be lawfully used or expended for the
further prosecution of the work. After a care
ful consideration of the subject, I came to the
conclusion it could not, and so informed the
head of that Department. Orders were immedi
ately issued by him to the commissioner and sur
veyor to make no further requisitions on the
Department, as they could not be paid; and to
discontinue all operations on the southern line of
New Mexico. But as the Department had no
exact information as to the amount of provisions
and money which remained unexpended in the
hands of the commissioner and surveyor, it was
left discretionary with then, to continue the survey
down the Rio GraLde a3 far as the means attheir
commaud would enable them, or at once to dis
band the commission. A special messenger has
since arrived from the officer in charge of the
survey on the river, with information that the
funds subject to his control were exhausted, and
that the officers andotherseniployedintheservice
wcre destitute alike of the means of prosecuting
the work and of retiring to their homes.
The object of the proviso was doubtless to ar
rest the survey of the southern and western line3
of New Mexico, in regard to which different o
pinions are expressed; for it is hardly to be sup
posed that there cotild be any objections to that
part of the line which extends along the Rio
Grande. But the tcrm3 of the law are so
broad as to forbid the use of any part of the mon
ey for the prosecution of the work, or even for
the payment, to the officers and agent.?, of the ar
rearages of pay which are justly due to them.
I earnestly invite your prompt attention to
this subject, and recommend a modification of
the terms of the proviso so as to enable the De
partment to use f 3 much of the appropriation as
will be necessary to discharge the existing obli
gations of the Government and to complete the
survey of the Rio Grande to its mouth.
It will also be proper to make further provis
ions by law fur the fulfilment of our treaty with
Mexico for running and marking the residue of
the boundary line between the two countries.
DISTRICT OF COI.CMEIA.
Permit me to invite your particular at
tention to the interests of the District of Colum
bia, which arc confided by the Constitution to
your particular care.
Among the measures which seem to me of tae
greatest importance to its prosperity arc the in
troduction of a copious supply of water into the
city of Washington, and the construction of
suitable bridges across the Potomac to replace
! those which wcre destroyed by hi.sh. water in
the early part of the present year.
At the last session of Congress aa appropria
tion was made to defray the cost of the surveys
necessary for determining the best means of
affording an unfailing supply of good and whole
some water. Some progress has been made in
the survey, and as soon jis it is completed the
result will be laid before you. m
Further appropriations will also be necessary
for grading and paving the streets and avenues,
and enclosing and embellishing the public
grounds within the city of Washington.
I commend all these object, together with
the charitable institutions of the District, to
your favorable regard.
MEXICAN FRONTIER INDIANS. - "
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 com
posed nearly 8000 arc employed in the defence
of the newly acquired territory, (including
Texas) and of emigrant3 proceeding thereto.
I am gratified to say that these efforts have Wen
unusually successful, with the exception of some
partial outbreaks in California and Oregon, and
occasionally depredations on a portion of the Rio
Grande, owing it is believed, to the disturbed
state of that border region, the inroads of the
Indians have been effectually restrained.
Experience ha3 shown, however, that whene
ver the two races are brought into contact, col
lisions 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 poli
cy to Texas. By the terms of the compact by
which that State was admitted into the Union,
she retained the ownership of all the lands with
in her limits. The Government of that State,
it is understood, has assigned no portion of her
territory to the Indians: but as fast as her scttle-
i ments advance, lays it off into counties, and
j proceeds to sell it. This policy manifestly
tends, not only to alarm and irritate the Indians,
but to compell them to resort to plunder for sub
sistence. It also deprives this Government of that in'
fluencc and control over them which no durable
peace can ever exist between them and the
whites. I trust, therefore, that a due regard for
her own iuterest, apart from considerations of
humanity and justice, will induce that State to
assign a small portion of her. vast domain ft r
the provisional occupancy of the small remnants
of tribes within her borders, subject of course
to her ownership and eventual jurisdiction. If
she should fail to do this, the fulfilment of our
treaty stipulations with Mexico, and our duty to
tne inaiaiisinemseives, win, it is tearcd, become
a subject of serious embarrassment to the Gov-
ernmcnt It is hoped, however, that a timely
and just provision by Texas may avert this evil.
FORTIFICAT.ONS.
No appropriations for fortifications were made
at the two last sessions of Congress. The cause
of this omission is, probably, to be found in &
growing belief that the system of fortifications
adopted in 1846, and heretofore acted on, re
uiiicj ivnaiuii
quires revision.
The subj-ect certaimV deserTes full anJ carcfuI
investigation; but it should not be delayed lor.
gcr than Mn-be avoIded. In the meantime there
are certain works which have been commenced
some of them nearly completed designed to
protect our principal seaports from Boston to
New Orleans, and a few other important points.
In regard to the necessity for these works, it is
believed that little difference of opinion exist
among military men. I therefore recommend
I that appropriations necassary to prosecute them
be made.
I invite your attention to the remarks on this
subject, and on others connected with his De
partment, contained in the accompanying re
port of the Secretary of War.
RIVERS AND HARBOnS.
Measures have been taken to carry into effect
the law of ihe last session making provision for
the improvement of certain rivers and harbors,
and it is believed that the arrangements made
for that purpose will combine efficiency with e
conomy. Owing chiefly to the advanced season
when the act wa3 passed, little has yet been
done in regard to many of the works bevond
making the necessary preparations. With re
spect to a few of the improvements, the sums al
ready appropriated will suffice to complete them
but most of them will require additional appro
priations. I trust that these appropriations w'dl
