Qcostihuxd from fourth pack.)
wards of four hundred miles; of ihc coast of Up
per California, on the Pacific, of nine hundred and
seventy miles; and of Oregon, including the Straits
of Fuca, of six hundred and fifty miles; making
the whole extent of seaeoast on the Pacific one
thou rand six hundred Si twenty miles, and the whole
extent on both the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico
two thousand and twenty miles. The IciomIi of
the coast on the Atlantic from the northern'limits
of the United States, around the Capes of Florida
to the Sabine, on the eastern boundary of Texas,
is estimated to be three thousand one himdrad miles;
so that the addition ot seacost, including Oregon,
is very nearly two-thirds as great as all we pos
sessed before ; and excluding Oregon, is an addi
tion of one thousand three hundred and seventy
miles; being nearly equal to one-half of the extent
of coast which wo jwssessed before these acquisi
tions. We have now three great maritime fronts
— in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pa- I
eific—making in the whole an extent of seacost ex- i
cccding five thousand miles. 'This is the extent
of tho seacost of tho United Stales, not including ,
bays, sounds, and small irregularities of tho main
shore, and of the sea islands. If these ho included,
the length of the shore line of coast, as estimated
by the superintendent of the coast survey, in his re
port, would bo thirty three thousand and sixty
three miles.
It would bo difficult to calculate the value of
these immense additions to our territorial posscs
pioih. 'Texas, lying contiguous to the western
boundary of Louisiana, embracing within its limits
a part of the navigable tributary waters of the Mis
sissippi and an extensive seacost, could not loiur
have Tcmiined in the hands of a foreign Power
without endangering the peaceef our southwestern
frontier. Her products in tho vicinity of the tribu
taries of the Mississippi must have sought a market
through these streams, running into ami through our
territory, and tho danger of irritation and collision of
interests between Texas as a fireign Slate ami our
selves would have been imminent, whilo the em
barrassments in the commercial intercourse between
them most have lieen constant ami unavoidable_
J lad I ex as fallen into the hands or under the in
<1 notice and control of a strong maritime or military
foreign Power, as she might have done, these dan
gers would have been still greater. 'They have
boon avoided by her voluntary and peaceful annex
ation to thu United States. Texas, from her posi
tion, was a natural and almost indispensable part of
our territories. Fortunately she lias lieen restored
to mu country, anil now constitutes one of the
Males of our confederacy, “upon an eqaal fooliim
with the original Stales.” The salubrity of c’i
mate, the fertility of soil, peculiarly adapted to the
production of some of our most valual>le*stap!e com
modities,and her commercial advantages must soon
make her one of our most populous States.
New Mexico, though situated in the interior and
without a seaeoast, is known to contain much fertile
land, to abound in rich mines of the precious metals,
and to lie capable of sustaining a large population.
From its jiosilion, it is the intermediate and con
necting territory between our settlements and our
possessions in Texas and those on the Paeifie coast.
Upper California, irrespective ef the vast mine
ral wealth recently developed there, holds at this
day, in point of value and importance to the rest of
the Union, the same relation that Louisiana did,
when that fine territory was acquired from France
forty -five years ago. Intending nearly ten degrees
of latitude along the Pacific, am! embracing the on
ly safe and commodious harbors on that coast for
many hundred miles, with a temperate climate,
and an extensive interior of fertile lands, it is
scarcely possible to estimate its wealth until it shall
bo brought under the government of our laws, and
its resources fully developed. From its position,
it iniut command the rich commerce of China, of
Asia, of tlm islands of the Pacilie, of Western
Mexico, of Central America, tho South American
States, and ot the Russian possessions bordering on
that ocean. A great emporium will doubt less speed
ily arise on the Californian coast, which maybe
destined to rival in importance New Orleans iisclf.
The depot ef the vast commerce which must exist
on the Pacific will probably be at some point on the
bay of San Francisco, and will occupy the same
relation to the whole western const of that ocean,
as New Orleans - ; i the valley of the Missis
sippi and t.-.e gull of Mexico. To this depot our
numerous wh ile ships will resort w ith their car
goes, u, trade,refit, and obtain supplies. This of it
t.. If will largely contribute to build up a city, which
would soon become the centre of a great and rapid- !
ly increasing commerce. Situated on a safe liar- '
hor, sufficiently capacious for all the navies as well \
ns the marine of the world, and convenient to ex
cellent timber for ship building, owned by the U
nited Males, it must become our great western na
val depot.
It was known that mines of the precious metals
existed to a considerable extent in California at the
time of its acquisition. Recent discoveries render it
probable t bat these mines are more extensive Sc valua
ble than was anticipated. The accounts of the abund
ance of gold in thal’Territory arc ofsuch an extraordi
nary charnel er us would scarcely c nuniand belief,
were they not corroborated by the authentic reports
of officers in the public service, who have visited
the mineral district, and derived the facts which
they detail Irom personal observation. Reluctant
to credi. the reports in general circulation as to the
quantity of gold, the officer commanding onr forces
in California visited the mineral district in .Inly
last, for tho purpose of obtaining accurate informa
tion on the subject. llis report to the War De
partment of the result of his examination, and the
facts obtained on Ihc spot, is herewith laid before
Congress. When lie visited the country, them
were about four thousand persons engaged in collect
• ,n*» gold. 'There is every reason to believe that
the number of persons so employed has since been
augmented. The explorations already made war
. rant the belief that the supply is very large, and
that gold is found at various places in an extensive
district of country.
Information received from officers of the navy
and other sources, though not so full and minute,
confirm the accounts of the commander of our mili
tary force in California. It appears,also,from these
reports that mines of quicksilver arc found in the
vicinity of the gold region. One of them is now
lieing worked, and is believed to be among tlie most
productive in the world.
'The effects produced by the discovery of these
rich mineral deposites, and tho success which has
attended the labors of those who have resorted to
them, have produced a surprising change in the
state of affairs in California. Labor commands a
most rxhorhitant price, and all other pursuits but
that of searching tbr the precious metals arc aban
doned. Nearly the whole of the male population
of the country have gone to the gold district. Ships
arriving on the coast are deserted by their crews,
and thoir voyages suspended for want of sailors.—
Our cammnndiiig officer there entertains apprehen
sions that soldiers cannot be kept in the public ser
vice with );', a largo increase of pay. Desertions
in his command have become frequent, and he re
commends that those who shall withstand the
strong temptation, and remain faithful, should be
rewarded.
This abundance of gold, and llic all-engrossing
pursuit of it, have already caused in California an
unprecedented rise in the price of the ncccssaricsof
life.
That we tnav the more speedily and fully avail
ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of these mines,
if. is deemed of vast importance that a branch of the
mint of the United States be authorized to lm cs
tablished. at your pre-cot session, in California.—
Among other signal advantages which would result
from such -0 establishment would be that of rais
ing’the gold to its par value in that Territory. A
branch mini of the United States at the great com
mercial depot on tho west const, would convert into
our own coin not only the gold derived from nor own
rich mines, but also tho bullion and specie which
our commerce may bring from the whole west coast
of Central r.nd South America. The west coast of
Americ.' and the sdjacent^nterior embrace the rich
est and be4 mines of Mexico, New Grcncda, Con
tral America, Chili, and Peru. Tho bullion and
speeio drawn from these countries, and especially
from those of Western Mexico and Peru, to an a
mount in value of many millions of dollars, arc now !
annually diverted and carried by the ships of Great
Britain to her own ports, to be recoined or used t* !
sustain her national liank, ami thus contribute to ,
increase her ability to command so much of the
commerce of tbs world. If a branch mint be cs- |
tablishcd at the great commercial point upon that -
coast, a vast amount of hullion and s|H‘cio would
•low thither to be recoined, and pass thence to N.
Orleans, New York, »nd other Atlantic cities.—
I In* amount of our constitutional currency at home
would be greatly increased, while its circulation a
broad would bo promoted. It is well known to our I
merchants trading to China and the wist coast of A- [
merico. that great inconvenience and loss are expc- ,
rienced from the fact that our coins arc not current
at their par value in those countries.
The Towers of Rurope, far removed from the
west coast of America by tbe Atlantic ocean which
intervenes, and by a tedious and dangerous naviga
tion around llso southern cape of the continent of
America, can never successfully compete with the
United Stales in the rich and extensive commerce
which is opened to us at so much less cost by the |
acquisition of California.
'The vast impurlancc and commercial advantages 1
of California have heretofore remained undeveloped |
by tho Government of the country of which it con- j
j stunted a part. Now that this line province is a
part of our country, all tho States of the Union,]
; some more immediately and directly than others, j
I ;>re deeply interested in the speedy development of
its wealth and resources. No section of our coon- j
try is more interested, or will he more benefitted, j
than the commercial, navigating, and manufactur
ing interests ol the Raslorn States. Our planting •
| ami farming interests in every part of tho Union
; will bo greatly benefitted by it. As our commerce 1
, and navigation are enlarged and extended, our ox
|Hirts ol agricultural products and of manufactures i
will be increased, and in the new markets thus o- j
j pened t hoy cannot fail to command remunerating,
, and profitable prices.
i he acquisition of California and New Mexico,
the settlement of tho Oregon boundary, and the nn
i iicxation of Texas, extending to the Rio Grande,
ate results which, combined, arc ol" greater rouse- j
i <|uencc, and will add more to the strength and ,
wealth of the nation, than any which have prece- j
•led thorn since the adoption of the constitution. j
l’ut to effect these great results, not only Cali- J
fbruia, hut New Mexico, must bo brought under
j *h© control of regularly organized Governments.— I
The existing condition of California, and of that I
| I a ri ol New Mexico ly ing west of the Kin Grande, j
j and without the limits of Texas, imperiously do
I maud that Congress should, at its present session, j
: organize territorial governments over them,
i Upon the exchange of ratifications of the treaty j
! of peace with Mexico on the thirtieth of May last, 1
I l)*e temporary governments which had been eslab
| fished over New Mexico and California by our mil
i itary and naval caniinaudcrs, by virtue of the rights
i ol war, ce..scd to derive any obligatory force from
; that source of authority, ami having been ceded to
, 'ho United States, all government and control over
them under the aulhotiiy of Mexico had ceased to
! exist. Impressed with the necessity of establishing
territorial governments over them, 1 recommended !
the subject to the favorable consideration of Con
gress in my message communicating tlie ratified
treaty of peace, on the sixth of July last, and in
voked their action at that session. Congress ad
journed without making any provision for their go
| vernment. The inhabitants, by the transfer of their
i country, had become entitled to the benefits of our
j laws and constitution, and yet were left without
any regularly organized government. Since that
; time the very limited power possessed by the Rx
eculive has been exercised to preserve and protect |
them from the inevitable consequences of a state of j
anarchy. The only government which remained :
was iliat established by the military authority dur
ing the war. Regarding this to lie a r/c fac\o go- j
vernment, and that by the presumed consent of the i
inhabitants it might be continued temporarily, they j
were advised to conform and submit to it for the :
short intervening period before Congress would a j
gain assemble and could legislate on the subject. ]
Tho views entertained by tho Rxucutivc on this 1
j point are contained in a communication of the See
relary of State, dated the seventh of October last, ,
i which was forwarded for publication to California j
. and New Mexico, a copy of which is herewith !
! transmitted.
The small military force of tho rrgular army, i
which was serving within the limits of the acquir- j
cd territories at the close of the war, was retained I
in them, and additional forces have been ordered [
there for the protection of the inhabitants, and to
preserve and secure the rights and interests of the ■
| United States.
I No revenue has been or could be collected at the
I jxirts in California, because Congress failed to au
thorize the establishment of custom-houses, or the
appointment of officers for that purpose.
Tho Secretary of the Treasury, by a circular let
ter addressed to collectors of the customs, on the
J seventh day of October last, a copy of which is
herewith transmitted, exercised all the power with
i which he was invested by law.
In pursuance of the act of the fourteenth of Au
| gust last, extending the benefit of our post office
i laws to the people of California, tho Tostmaster
j General has appointed two agents, who have pru
! eroded, the one to California and the other to Ore
; gon, with authority to make the necessary arrange- j
moots for carrying its provision into effect.
The monthly line of mail steamers from Tnnamn !
to Astoria has been required to “stop and deliver j
and take mails at San Diego. Monterey, and San '
! Francisco.” 'These mail steamers, connected by !
j t’.e isthmus of Panama with the line of mail steam* !
ers on ihe Atlantic, between New York and (’ha- |
gres, will establish a regular mail communication :
with California.
It is onr solemn duty to provide, with the least
practicable delay, for New Mexico and California !
regularly organised territorial governments. The
causes of the failure to do this at the last session of
Congress arc well known and deeply to be regret
j led. With the opening prospects of increased
prosperity and national greatness which the acqui
sition of these rich and extensive territorial posses- |
■ sions all'ords, how irrational it would be to forego or
to reject these advantages, by tho agitation of a do- !
mcstic question which is coeval with the existence
of our Government itself, and to endanger, by in- j
ternal strifes, geographical divisions, and heated j
contests for political power, or for any other cause,'
the harmony of the glorious Union of our confede- ]
! rated States; that Union which binds us together I
as one people, and which for sixty years has been 1
our shield and protection against every danger.— 1
In the eye^of the world and of posterity, how tri
vial and insignificant will he all our internal divi
, sions and struggles compared with tho preservation j
of this Union ol the States in all its vigor and with
all its countless blessings! No patriot would foment !
and excite geographical and sectional divisions.—
No lover of his country would deliberately calcu
late tint value of the Union. Future generations
would look in amazement upon the folly of such
a course. Other nations at the present day would
look npon.it with astonishment; and such of them -
as desire to maintain and perpetuate thrones and !
monarchical or ariatoerntieal principles, will view j
it with exaltation and delight, because in it they
; will see the elements of faction, which they hope
must ultimately overturn our system. Ours is the '
great example of a prosperous and free self govern
ed republic, commanding the admiration and the I
imitation of all the lovers of freedom throughout,
the world. How solemn, therefore, is the duty,
how impressive the call npon us and upon all parts
of our country, to cultivate a patriotic spirit of har- !
mony. of good fellowship, of compromise and mu- !
tual concession, in the administration of the inrom
parable system of government formed by our fathers
in the midst of almost insuperable difficulties, and 1
transmitted to us, with the injunction that we should
enjoy its blessings and hand it down unimpaired to
those wiio may come after ns!
In view of the high and responsible duties which
we owe to ourselves and to mankind, I trust you
may be able, at your present session, to approach
tbe adjustment of the only domestic question which
seriously threatens, or probably ever can threaten.
to disturb tho harmony and successful o]<eration of
our system.
The immensely valuable posscssKms of New
Mexico and California arc already inhabited by a
considerable Imputation. Attracted by their great
fertility, their mineral wealth, their commercial ad- 1
vantages, and the salubrity of the climate emigrants
from the older States, in great numbers, are alrea
dy preparing to seek new homes in these inviting !
regions.
Shall the dissimilarity of the domestic institu
tions in the different Slates prevent us from provi
ding for them suitable governments? 'I hose insti
tutions existed at the adoption of the constitution,
but the obstacles which they interposed were over
come by that spirit of compromise which is row in- :
voked. In a conflict of opinions <»r of interests,retd
or imaginary, N't ween different sections of our
country, neither can justly demand all which it
might desire to obtain. Each, in the true spirit of
our institutions, should concede somethin- to the
other. ° j
Our gallant forces in the Mexican war, by whose
patriotism and unparallclled deeds of arms we ob- !
tained these possessions as an indemnity forour just ‘
demands against Mexico, were cuin|M>scd ofeitzens
who belonged to no one State or section of our IT- ;
nion. 1 hey were men from slave-holding and non- :
staveholding States, from tho North and the South, |
ttorn the East and the West. They were all com- |
panions-in arms and fellow citizens of the same j
common country, engaged in the samo common
cause. hen |>ro6ccuting that war, they were ;
brethren and friends, and shared alike with each 1
other common toils, dangers, and sufferings. Now, i
when their work is ended, when |>eace is restored, ■
and they return again to their homes, put off the
habiliments ot war, take tlioir places in society, |
and resume their pursuits in civil life, surely a spi
rit of harmony and concession, and of equal regard \
for tho rights of all, and of all scclionsof tho Union
ought to prevail in providing governments for the
acquired territories—the fruits of their common ser
vice. The whole people of the United States and
of every Stale contributed to defray the expenses of
that war, and it would not be just for any ono section i
to exclude another from all participation in the ac :
quired territory. This would not be in consonance j
with the just system of government which the fra- ,
titers of the constitution adopted.
I'he question is believed to lie rather abstract 1
than practical, whether slavery ever can or would I
exist in any |>ortiou of (he acquired territory, even ;
il it were left to the option of the slaveholding '
States themselves. From the nature of the climate '
and productions, in much the larger portion of il, it j
is certain it could never exist, and in the remaind- •
er the probabilities are it would not. But, howev- !
er this may be, the question, involving as it does a
principle of equality of rights of the separate and I
several States as equal copartners in the confedera
cy, should not lie disregarded.
In organising governments over these territories
no duty imposed on Congress by the constitution 1
requires that they should legislate on the subject of
slavery, while their power to do so is not only se- |
riously questioned, but denied by many of the sound
est expounders of that instrument. Whether Con
gress shall legislate or not, the people of the ae- !
quired territories, when assembled in convention to
form State constitutions, will possess tho solo and
exclusive power to determine for themselves
whether slavery Bliall or shall not exist within
their limits. If Congress shall abstain from inter
fering with the question, the people of these terri
tories will lie loft free to adjust it as they may think
proper, when they apply for admission as States in
to tin; Union. No enactment of Congress could re
strain the people of any of the sovereign States of
the Union, old or new, north or south,slaveholding
or non slaveholding, from determining the character
of their own domestic institutions as they may deem i
wise and proper. Any and all the States possess
ibis right, and Congress cannot deprive them of it. j
The people of Georgia might, if they chose, so alter ,
their constitution as to aliolish slavery within its liin- j
its, and the people of Vermont might so alter their
constitution as to admit slavery within its limits._!
Both Stales would possess the right, though,as all ;
know, it is not probable that cither would exert it.
It is fortunate for the peace and harmony of the i
Union that this question is in its nature temporary, 1
and can only continue for the brief period which '
will intervene before California and New Mexico
may be admitted as Slates into the Union. From!
the tide of population now flowing into them il is '
highly probable that tiiis will soon occur.
Considering the several Slatrs and the citizens j
of the several Slates as equals, and entitled to equal !
rights under the constitution, if this were an origi- j
nal question it might well be insisted on that the
principle of non-interference is the true doctrine, i
and that Congress could not, in the absence of any !
express grant of power, interfere with their relative i
rights. Upon a great emergency, however, and
under menacing dangers to the Union, the Mis
souri compromise line in respect to slavery was a
dopted. The same line was extended further west j
in the acquisition of Texas. After an acquiescence ,
of nearly thirty years in the principle of compro- '
mise recognised and established by these acts, and
to avoid the danger to the Union which might fol
low if it were now disregarded, I have heretofore
expressed the opinion that that lino of compromise
should be extended on the parallel of thirty-six de
grees thirty minutes from the western boundary of
1 exas, vvliere it now terminates, to the Pacific o
! cean. I his is the middle ground of compromise
: l|pon wliich the different sections of the Union may
meet as \hey have heretofore met, if this be done,1
it is confidently believed a targe majority of the
people of every section of the country, 'however
widely their abstract opinions on the subject of slav- 1
ery may differ, would cheerfully and patriotically
acquiesce in it, and peace and harmony would again
fill our borders.
I 1 lie restriction north of the line was only yield- :
l ed to in the case of Missouri and Texas upon a
I principle o( compromise, made necessary for the !
| sake ot preserving the harmony, and possibly the j
! existence of tiie Union.
I It was upon these considerations that, at tlieclosc
| of your last session, I gave my sanction to the prin- |
| cip'e ot the Missouri compromise line, by approv j
| i»g and signing the bill to establish “the territorial
government of Oregon.” From a sincere desire to !
; preserve the harmony of the Union, and in defe
rence for the acts of my predecessors, I felt con- j
strained to yield my aoquiosence to the extent to i
which they had gone in compromising this delicate j
and dangerous question. But if Congress shall now
reverse the decision by which the Missouri compro- ;
mise effected, and shall propose to extend the re- !
Hlriction over the whole territory, south as well as |
north of the parallel of thirty-six degrees thirty ini- '
miles, it will cease to lie a compromise, and must !
be regarded as an original question.
It Congress, instead of oliserving the course of non
interference, leaving the adoption of their own do
mestic institutions to the people who may inhabit
these territories : or if, instead of extending the
Missouri compromise line to the Pacific, shall pre
fer to submit the legal and constitutional questions
which may arise to the decision of the judicial
tribunals, as was proposed in a bill which pass
ed the Senate at your last session, an adjust
ment may be effected in this inode. If the whole
subject lie referred to the judiciary, all parts of the
I inion should cheerfully acquiesce in the final dcci- |
cision of the tribunal created by the constitution for j
the settlement of all questions which may arise nn- j
drr the constitution, treaties, and laws of the Uni- ;
ted Stales.
Congress is earnestly invoked, f>r the sake of the
Union, its harmony, and our continued prosperity
as a nation, to adjust at its present session this, the
only dangerous question which lies in onr path—if
nut in some one of the merles suggested, in some o
theT which may be satisfactory.
In anticipation of’the establishment of regular go
vernments over the acquired Territories, a joint
commission of officers of the army and navy has
I>oon ordered to proceed to the roast of California
and Oregon, for the purpose of making recon noi
toner* and a report as to the proper sites for the e
rection of fortifications or other defensive works on
land, and of suitable situations fin naval stations.—
The information which may lie expected from a
scientific and skillful examination of the whole fare
of the roast will be eminently useful to Congress,
when they come to consider the propriety of mak
ing appropriations for these great national objects.
Proper defences on land will lie necessary for the
security and protection of our possessions; and the
establishment of navy yards, and a dock for the re
pair and construction of vessels, will lie tiujxtriaiii
alike to our navy and commercial marine. With
out such establishments, every vessel, whether of
tho navy or of the merchant service, requiring re
pair, must, at great expense, come round Cape I |<>rn
to one ol our Atlantic yardsfer that purjiese. With
such establishments, vessels, it is believed, may be
built or repaired as cheaply in California as upon
the Atlantic coast. They would give employment
to many of our enterprising shipbuilders anil me
chanics, and greatly facilitate and enlarge our com
merce in the Pacific.
As it is ascertained that mines of gold, silver,
copper, ami quicksilver exist in Now Mexico and
California, and that nearly all the lands where they
are found belong to the 1 Ini ted IStates, it is deemed
important to the public interests that provision he
made for a geological ami miiieralogical examina
tion of tlicso regions. Measures should lie adopted
to preservo the mineral lands, esjiecially such as
contain the precious metals, for tho use £j. States •
or, if brought into market, to separate them from’
the farming lands, and disposed'them insucli man
ner as to secure a large return of money to the
Treasury, and at the same time lead to the devel
opment of their wealth by individual proprietors
and purchasers. To this, it will be necessary to
provide for an immediate survey and location of the
lots. !i Congress should deem it proper to dis|iose
of the mineral lands, they should be sold in small
quantities, and at a fixed minimum price.
I recommend that surveyor generals’ offices be
authorised to be established in New Mexico and
California, and provision made fur surveying and
bringing the public lands into market nt the 'earli
est practicable period. In disposing of these lauds,
1 recommend that the light of pre cmplioii he se
cured, and liberal grants made, to the early emi
grants who have settled or may settle upon them.
II will Ik; important to extend our revenue laws
over these Territories, and especially over Califor
nia, at an early period. There is already a consid
erable commerce with California ; and until ports
of entry shall be established and collectors appoint
ed, no revenue can be received.
If these and other nee»*ssary and proper measures
be adopted for tho development of the wealth and
resources ofNew Mexico and California,and regu
lar territorial governments be established over them,
such will probably be the rapid enlargement of our
commerce and navigation, and such the addition to
tht national wealth, that the present generation may
live to witness the controlling commercial and mo
netary power of the world transferred from London
and other European emporiums to the city of New
York.
The apprehensions which were entertained by
some of our statesmen, in the earlier periods of tho
Government, that our system was incapable of ope
rating with sufficient energy and successovcr large
ly extended territorial limits, and that, if this were
attempted, il would fall to pieces by its own weak
ness, have been dissipated by our experience. 1’y
the division of {lower between tho States and the
Federal Government, the latter is found to operate
with as much energy in iho extremes as in the cen
tre. It is efficient in the remotest of the thirty
States which now compose the Union as it was in j
the thirteen Slates which formed our constitution.
Indeed, it may well be doubted whether, if our pre
sent population had been confined within the limits
of the original thirteen States, the tendencies to
centralization and consolidation would not have been
such as to have encroached upon the essential re
served rights of the Slates, and thus to have made
the Federal Government a widely different ono
practically from what it is in theory, and was in- |
tended to lie by its framers. So lar from entertain- i
iug apprehensions of the safety of our system by j
the extension of our territory, the belief is confident
ly entertained that each new State gives strength
and an additional guaranty for the preservation of j
the Union itself.
In pursuance of the provisions of the thirteenth i
article of ilie treaty of peace, friendship, limits, and
settlement, with the Republic of Mexico, and of the j
act ol July tho twenty-ninth, 1848, claims of our
citizens which had been “already liquidated and dc- I
cided against the Mexican republic,” amounting, !
with the interest thereon, to two million twenty- j
three thousand eight hundred and thirty-two dol
lars and fifty-one cents, have lieen liquidated and
paid. There remain to be paid of these claims sov- :
enty-four thousand one hundred and ninety-two :
dollars and twenty-six cents.
Congress at its last session having made no pro
vision for executing tho fifteenth article of the trea
ty, »>y which the United States assume to make
satisfaction for the“unliquidated claims” ofour cit
izens against Mexico, to “an amount not exceeding
three and a quarter million of dollars,” the subject
is again recommended to your favorable considera
tion.
The oxchangijof ratifications of the treaty with
Mexico took place on the thirtieth of May, 1848.
Within one year after that time tho commissioner
and surveyor which each Government stipulates to
appoint, are required to meet “at tho port of San
Diego, and proceed to run and mark the. said honn
dary of its whole course to the mouth of the Rio
Bravo del Norte.” It will bo seer, from this provi
sion that the period within which a commissioner
and surveyor of the respective governments are to
meet at San Diego will expire on the thirtieth of,
May, 184(J. Congress, at tha close of its last ses- i
sion, made an appropriation* (or ‘“the expenses of
running and marking the boundary line.” between
the two countries, hut did not fix the amount of
salary which should he paid to the commissioner
and svrveyor to lie appointed on the part of the U
niteti Stales. It is desirable that the amumt of
compensation which they shall receive should Ik;
prescribed by law, and not left, as at present, to
Kxecutive discretion.”
Measures were adopted at the earliest practica
ble period to organize the “territorial government
of Oregon,” as authorized by the act of the four
teenth of August last. The governor and marshal
ol Iho Territory, accompanied by a small military
escort, left the frontier of Missouri in September
last, and took the southern route by the way of
Santa Fe and the river Gila, to California, with
the intention of proceeding ihence in one of our
vessels of war to their destination. The governor
was fully advised of the great importance of his
early arrival in the country, and it is confidently
believed he may reach Oregon in the latter part of
the present month, or early in the next. The o
ther officers of the Territory have proceeded by sea.
In the month of May last I communicated in
formation to Congress that an Indian war had bro
ken out in Oregon, and recommended that author
ity be given to raise an adequate number of volun
teers to proceed without delay to the assistance of
our fellow-citizens in that Territory. Tho author
ity to raise such a force not having been granted l>v
Congress, as soon as I heir services could be dis
pensed with in Mexico, orders were issued to the
regiment of mounted rillemen to proceed to Jeffer
son Barracks, in Missouri, and to prepare to march
to Oregon as soon as the necessary provision could
Ik* made. 8hortly before il was ready to march, it
was arrested by the provision of the act passed by
(.(ingress on the last day of the last session, which
directed that all the non commissioned officers, mu
sicians and privates of that regiment, who had
been in service in Mexico, should upon their appli
cation, Is* entitled to lie discharged. The effect of
this provision was to disband the rink and file of
the regiment ;and before their places could be fill
ed by recruits, tbe season bail so far advanced that
it was impracticable for it to proceed unlii the open
ing of tbe next spring.
In the month of Octoiler Inst, the nrcompnnyijifr
communication was received from tbe Governor of
the temporary government of Oregon, giving in
fon(nation of the continuance of the Indian disturb
ances, anal of tbe destitution and defenceless con
dition of the inhabitants. Orders rrrre immediate
ly transmited to the commander of otir squadron in
the Pacific to dispatch to their assistance a part of
the naval forces on that station, to furnish them
with arms and ammunition, and to continue to
I give them such aid and protection as the navy
' could a (lord until the army could reach the coun
try.
It is the policy of humanity, and one which
has always been pursued ;>y the United States, to
cultivate the good will ol the aboriginal iriltcs of
this continent, and to restrain them from making
war, and indulging in excesses, by mild means
rather than by force. That this could have been
done with the trilx s in Oregon, bad that Territory
been brought under the government of our laws at
an earlier |>criud, and bad suitable measures been
adopted by Congress, such as now exist in our in
tercourse with the oilier Indian tribes within our
; limits, cannot be doubted. Indeed, the immediate
and only cause of tire existing hostility of thu In
dians of Oregon is represenloo to have been the
lung delay of the United Slates in making to them
! some trilling compensation, in such articles as they
wanted, for the country now occupied by our rmi
' grants, which the Indians claimed, and over which
they formerly roamed. This compensation bad
been promised to them by the teinponuy govern
j meet established in Oregon, but its fulfilment had
I been postponed from time to time, for nearly two
years, whilst those who made it bad been auxiotis
! !y waiting for Congress to establish a territorial
' government over the country. The Indians be
came at length distrustful of their good faith, and
sought redress by plunder and massacre, which
finally led to the present difficulties. A few
thousand dollars in suitable presents, as a compen
sation for the country which bad been taken jms
; session of by our citizens, would have satisfied the
Indians and have prevented the war. A small a
mount properly distributed, it is confidently be
: lieved, would soon restore quiet. In this Indian
: war our fellow-citizens of Oregon have been com
pelled to take the field in their own defence, have
performed valuable military services, and been suh
jeeted to expenses which have fallen heavily upon
| them. Justice demands that provision should be
made by Congress to compensate them for their
services, sml to refund to them the necessary ex
j pc uses which they have incurred.
I repeat the recommendation heretofore made to
| Congress that provision be made for the appoint
ment ol a suitable number of Indian agents to reside
among the tribes of Oregon, and that a small on
be appropriated to enable these agents to cultivate
j friendly relations with them. If this be done, the
presence of a small military force wiil he all that is
necessary to keep them in check and preserve peace.
I recommend that similar provision lie made as
regards the tribes inhabiting northern Texas, New
Mexico, California, and the extensive region lying
, between our settlements in Missouri and these pos
sessions, as the most effective means of preserving
: peace upon our borders, and within the recently ac
quired territories.
'1 lie Secretary of the Treasury will present in j
his annual report a highly satisfactory statement of
the condition of the finances.
i lie imports lor the fiscal year ending on the j
thirtieth of June last were of the value of one hun
dred ami fifty-four million nine hundred and seven
ty-seven thousand eight hundred and seventy six j
dollars; ot which the amount exported was twen
ty-one million one hundred and twenty-eight thou- !
sand and ten dollars, leaving one hundred and thii- '
ty-three million eight hundred and forty-nine thou- j
sand eight hundred and sixty six dollars in the |
country for domestic use.
J lie value of the exports for the same period was
one hundred and fifty-four million thirty-two thou
sand one hundred aiid^liirty-onc dollars, consisting |
ol domestic productions amounting to one hundred i
and thirty-two million nine hundred and four thou j
sand one hundred and twenty-one dollars, and twen- !
ty-one million one hundred and twenty-eight thou
sand and ten dollars of foreign articles.
J he receipts into the Treasury for the same pe
riod, exclusive of loans, amounted to thirty-live
million four hundred and thirty-six thousand seven
hundred and fifty dollars and fifty-nine cents; of
which there was derived from customs thirty-one
million seven hundred and fifty-seven thousand and
seventy dollars and ninety-six cents ; from sales of
public lauds, three million tlncc hundred and twen
ty-eight thousand six hundred and forty-two dol
lars and fifty-six cents ; and from miscellaneous and
incidental sources, three hundred and fifty-one thou
sand and thirty-seven dollars and sev< n cents.
It will be perceived lliar the revenue from cus
toms Ibr the last fiscal year exceeded by seven hun
dred and fifty seven thousand and seventy dollars
and ninety-six cents, the estimate of the Secretary
of the Treasury in his last annual report; and that
the aggregate receipts during the same period from
customs, lands, and miscellaneous sources also ex
ceeded the estimate by the sum of five hundred and
thirty-six thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars
and liMy-nine cents—•-indicating, however, a very
near approach in the estimate to the actual result.
The expenditures during the fiscal year ending
on the thirtieth of June last, including those for the
war, and exclusive of pay met.Is of principal and in
terest for (he public debt, were forty-two million
eight hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred
and seventy dollars and three cents.
It is estimated that the receipts into tlie Treasu
ry for the fiscal year ending on the 30th of June,
1840, including the balance in the Treasury on the
first ol July last, will amount to the sum of fifty
seven million forty-eight thousand nine hundred and
sixty-nine dollars and ninety cents; of which thir
ty-two millions of dollars, it is estimated, will be
derived from customs; three millions of dollars from
the sales of tlie public lands ; ami one million two
hundred thousand dollars from miscellaneous and
incidental sources,, including the premium upon the j
loan, and the amount paid and to bo paid into the
J reasury on account of military contributions in
i Mexico, and the sales of arms and vesseles and o- :
ther piitdie properly rendered unnecessary for the use
of the Government by the termination of the war; !
and twenty million six hundred and ninety-five
thousand four hundred and thirty five dollars and
thirty' cents trom loans already negotiated, incltt- I
! I reasury notes lunded, which, together with
the balance in the J reasury on the first of July
last, make the stun estimated.
I he expenditures lor the same period, including
the necessary payment on account of the principal
and interest of the public debt, and the principal
and interest of the first instalment due to Mexico on
the thirtieth ot May next, ami other expenditures
growing out of the war, to he paid during the pre
sent year, w ill amount, including the reimbursement
ul 1 reasury notes, to the sum of fifty-four million
I oner hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred
ami seventy live dollars and six cents; leaving an
estimated balance in the Treasury on the first of
• July, 1849, of two million eight hundred ami fifiy
three thousand six hundred and niuety-fonr dollars
! and eighty-four cents.
Tim Secretary of the Treasury w ill present, as
required by law, the estimate of the receipts and
expenditures for the next fiscal year. The expen
ditures as estimated for that year are thirty-three
million two hundred and thirteen thousand one hun
dred and fifty-two dollars and seventy-three cents,
including three million seven hundred and ninety
nine thousand one hundred and two dollars and
eighteen cents for the interest on the j ublic debt,
i ami three millions five hundred and f.riy thousand
dollars for the principal and interest due to Mexico
on the 30th of May, 1850; leaving the sum of
twenty-five millions eigh hundred and seventy-four
thousand and fifty dollars and thirty-five rents;
; which, it is believed, w ill be ample for the ordinary
; peace expenditures.
; The operations of the tariff act of 1840 have been
such during i|K. past year as fully to meet the pub
lic expectation, and to confirm the opinion hereto
tore expressed of the wisdom of fire change in our
revenue system which was effected by it. The re
ceipts under it into the Treasury for the first fiscal
year after its enactment exceeded by the sum of
live millions forty-four thousand four hundred and
three dollars ami nine cents the amount collected
during the last fisenl year tinder the tariff act of
1842, ending the 30th of June. I84f>. The total
I revenue realized from the commencement of its op
1 '"ration, on the 1st of December, I84(r, until the
close ef the last quarter, on the 30th of September
last, lying twenty-two months, was fifty-six mil
lions si\ hundred and fifty-four thousand five htin
dred and sixiv three dollars and seventy-nine cents
' —being a ninoh larger sum than %vaa ever befbi*
received fruin duties during any equal period under
tli® taritr acts of 1824, 1828, 1832, and 1842 —
Whilst by the repeal of highly protective and pro
hibitory duties tho revenue lias been increased U»e
taxes on the people have been diminished. They
have been relieved from the heavy amounts with
which they were burdened under former laws in
tho form of increased j rices or bounties paid to favor
ed classes and pursuits.
The predictions which were made, that the ta
rifl act of 18-10 would reduco the amount of revenue
below that collected under the act I845L and would
prostrate the business and destroy the proeiierity of
the country, have not been verified. With an in
creased and increasing revenue, the finances are in
a highly flourishing condition. Agriculture, com
merer, and navigation are prosperous; the prices of
manufactured fabrics, & of otbor products, are much
. less injuriously a fleeted than was-to hare been an
ticipated, from the unprecedented revulsions, which
during tbe Iasi and the present year, have over
whelmed the industry and paralyzed the credit and
commerce of so many great and enlightened nations
of Europe.
Severe commercial revulsions abroad have al
ways heretofore operated to depress, and often toaf
' feet disastrously, almost every branch of American
| industry. The temporary depression of a portion of
; our manufacturing interests is the effect of foreign
' causes, and is far less severe than has prevailed on
| all former similar occasions.
It is believed that, looking to the great aggregate
of all our interests, the whole country was never
more prosperous than at the present period, and ne
ver mure rapidly advancing in wealth and popula
tion. Neither the foreign war in which we have
been involved, nor tbe loans which have absorbed
so large a portion of our capital, nor the commercial
revulsion in Great Britain in 1817, nor the paraly
sis of credit and commerce throughout Europe in
1818, have affected injuriously to any considerable
extent any of the great interests of the country, or
arrested our onward march to greatness, wealth
j and power.
Had the disturbances in Europe not occurred,
our commerce would undoubtedly have lieen still
more extended, and would have added slill more to
the national wealth and public prosperity. But,
notwithstanding these disturbances, tbe operations
ol tho revenue system established by the tariff act
of 1810 have been so generally beneficial to the Go
vernment and the business of the country, that no
change in its provisions is demanded hy a wise pub
j lie policy, and none is recommended.
lhe operations of tlie constitutional treasury es
tablished by the act ol" the 0th of August, 1840, in
the receipt, custody, and disbursement of the pub
! money, have continued to be successful. Un
dor ibis system the public finances have been rar-A
i r’e,l through a foreign war, involving the necessity
of loans and extraordinary expenditures, nnd requir
I ing distant transfers and disbursements, without etn
j barrasment, and no loss has occurred of any of tho
I public money deposited under its provisions.—■
| \\ hlist it has proved to be sale and useful to the
j Government, its effects have been most beneficial
upon the business of the country. It has londid
j powerfully to secure an exemption from that infla
tion and fluctuation of the pajier currency, so inju
I rious to domestic industry, and rendering so uncer
tain the rewards of labor, and it is believed has
largely contributed to preserve the whole country
; ,rom a serious commercial revulsion, such as often
j occurred under lhe bank depositc system. In the
year I&47 there was a revulsion in the business of
Great Britain of great cxter.t and intensity', which
was followed by failures in that kingdom unprece
dented in number and amount of losses. This is
believed to be tho first instance when such disas
trous bankruptcies, occurring in a country with
which we have such extensive commerce, produced
little or no injurious effect upon our trade or curren
cy. We remained but little affected in our money
market, and our business and industry were still
prosperous and progressive.
During the present year, nearly the whole conti
nent ol Europe has been convulsed by civil war and
revolutions, attended by numerous bankruptcies, by
an unprecedented fall in their public securities, and
an almost nniversa. paralysis of commerce and in
dustry ; and yet, although our trade nnd the prices
of our products must have been somewhat unfavor
ably affected by these causes, we have escaped a
revulsion, our money maikct is comparatively easy,
and public and private credit have advanced and
improved.
It is confidently believed that we have been sav
ed from their effect by the salutary operation of tho
constitutional treasury. It is certain that if the
twenty-four millions of specie imported into the
country during the fiscal year emling on the thirti
eth of June, 1847, had gone into the banks, as to a
great extent it must have done, it would, in the ab
sence of this system, havo been made the basis of
augmented bank paper issues, probably to an amount
; not less than sixty or seventy millions of dollars,
producing, as an inevitable consequence of an in
flated currency, extravagant prices for a time, and
wild speculation, which must have been followed,
on the reflux *.o Europe, the succeeding year, of so
much of that specie, by the prostration of the busi
ness of the country, tho suspension of the banks,
and most extensive bankruptcies. Occurring, as
ibis would have done, at a period when the country
was engaged in foreign war, when considerable loans
of specie were required for distant disbursements,
and when the banks, the fiscal agents of the Gov
ernment, and the de[>ositorics of its money, were
suspended, the public credit must have sunk, and
many millions of dollars, as was the case during tho
war of 1812, must have been sacrificed in discounts
upon loans, and upon lhe depreciated paper curren
cy which the Government would have been com
pelled io use.
Under the operations of tbe constitutional treasu
ry, not a dollar lias been lost by the depreciation of
theciirrenoy. The loans required to prosecute the war
with Mexico were negotiated by the Secretary of
the Treasury above par, realizing a large premium
, to the Government. The restraining effect of tho
i system upon the tendencies to excessive paper is
sues by banks has saved the. Government from hea
vy losses, and thousands of our business men from
bankruptcy ami ruin. The wisdom of the system
lias been tested hy the experience of the last two
years; and it is the dictate of sound policy that it
should remain undisturbed. The modifications in
some of the details of this measure, involving unno
of its essential principles, heretofore recommended,
are again presented lor your favorable considera
| lion.
In my message of the sixth of July last, trans
i milting to Congress the ratified treaty of pears
with Mexico, 1 recommended the adoption of men
1 sures for the speedy payment of the public bebt.<—
la reiterating (bat recommendation, 1 refer yon to
the considerations presented in that message in its
support. The public debt, including tfiat autho
rized to be negotiated in pursuance of existing laws,
and including 'Treasury notes, amounted at that
time to sixty five million seven hundred and seven
ty-eight thousand four hundred and fifty dollars and
forty-one cents.
Funded stock of the United States, amounting
to about halfa million of dollars, lias been purchas
ed, as authorized by law, since that period, and thw
public debt has thus been reduced ; the details of
which will be presented in the annual report of tho
Secretary of the Treasury.
The estimates of expenditures for the next fisenf
year, submitted by the, Secrctatrv of tho Treasury/
it is believed will be ample for nil necessary purpo
ses. If tbe appropriations made by Congress shall
not exceed the amount estimated, the means in the
I i/ asury will he sufficient to defray all the expen
scs ol the Government, to pay off the next instal
ment of three millions of dollars to Mexico, which
will fall due on the thirtieth of May next, and still1
a considerable surplus will remain, which shofthtbo
applied to the further purchase of the public stock
and reduction of the debt. .Should enlarged appro
priations lie made, the necessary consequence will
be to postpmc the payment of the debt'. Though
our debt, as compared with that of most other na
lions, is small, it is our true jx.licy, and in harmon*?
j with the genius of our institutions, that wc should
present to the world the rare spectacle of a great;
republic, possessing vast resources and wealth.