MOORE’S RUEtAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAE AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
President's Message. 
Fellow Citizens of the Senate 
and of the House of Representatives: 
Being suddenly called, in the midst of the last 
session of Congress, by a painful dispensation of 
D.vine Providence,to theresponsiblestation which 
I now hold, I contented myself with such com 
munications to the Legislature as the exigency of 
the moment seemed to require. The country was 
shrouded in mourning for the loss of its venerated 
Chief Magistrate, and all hearts were penetrated 
with grief. Neither the time nor the occasion ap¬ 
peared to require or to justify, on my part, any 
general expression of political opinions, or any an¬ 
nouncement of the principles which would govern 
me in the discharge cf the duties to the perform¬ 
ance of which 1 had been so unexpectedly called. 
1 trust, therefore, that it may not be deemed inap¬ 
propriate, if I avail mvself of this opportunity of 
the re-assembling of Congress, to make known 
my sentiments, in a general manner, in regard to 
the policy which ought to be pursued by the Gov¬ 
ernment, both in its intercourse with foreign na¬ 
tions, and in its management and administration 
of internal affairs. 
Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, 
are equal and independent, possessing certain 
rights, and owing certain duties to each other, 
arising from their necessary and unavoidable re¬ 
lations; which rights and duties there is no com¬ 
mon human. authority to protect and enforce.— 
Still, they are rights and duties, binding i'l mor¬ 
als, in conscience, and in honor, although there is 
no tribunal to which an injured party can appeal 
but the disinterested judgment of mankind, and 
ultimately the arbitrament of the sword. 
Among the acknowledged rights of nations is- 
that, which each possesses of establishing that 
form of government which it may deem most 
conducive to the happiness and prosperity of its 
own citizens; of changing that form, as circum¬ 
stances may require; and of managing its inter¬ 
nal affairs according to its own will. The people 
of the United States claim this right for them 
selves, and they readily concede it to others.— 
Hence it becomes an imperative duty not to in¬ 
terfere in the government or internal policy ol 
other nations; and, although we may sympathize 
with the unfortunate or the oppressed everywhere, 
in heir struggles for freedom, our principles for¬ 
bid ns from taking any part in such foreign con¬ 
tests. 
We make no wars to promote or to prevent 
successions to thrones; to maintain any theory ol 
a balance of power: or to suppress the actual gov¬ 
ernment which any country chooses to establish 
for itself, Weinsligate no revolutions, nor suf¬ 
fer any hostile military expeditions to be fitted out 
in the United States to invade the territory or 
provinces of a friendly nation. The great law of 
morality ought to have a national, as well as a 
personal and individual, application. 
We should act towards other nations as we 
wish them to act towards us; and justice and con¬ 
science should form the rule of conduct between 
governments, instead of more power, 8'*lf-inter- 
est, or the desire of aggrand zement. To main¬ 
tain a strict ncutrelity in foreign wars, to cultivate 
friendly relations, to reciprocate every noble and 
generous act, and to perform punctually and scru¬ 
pulously every treaty obligation—these are the du 
lies which we owe to other States, and by the 
performance of which we best entitle ourselves 
to like treatment from them; or if that, in any 
case, be refused, we can enforce our own rights 
with justice and clear conscience. 
In our domestic policy, the Constitution will be 
my guide; and in questions of doubt, 1 shall look 
for its interpretation to the judicial decisions of that 
tribunal, which was established to expound it.and 
to the usage of the Government,sanctioned by the 
acquiescence of the country. I regard all its pro¬ 
visions as equally binding. In all its parts it is the 
will of the people, expressed by the n ost solemn 
form, and the constituted authorities, are buf a- 
genls to carry that will into effect. Every power 
which it has granted is to be exercised for the pub¬ 
lic good; but no pretence of utility, no honnst con¬ 
viction, even, of what might be expedient, can 
justify the assumption of any power not granted, 
riie powers conferred upon the Government and 
their distribution to the several departments, are 
ns clearly expressed in that sacred instrument ns 
’the imperfection of human language will allow; 
and 1 deem it my first duly.not lo question its wis¬ 
dom, add to its provisions, evade its requirements 
or nullify its commands. 
Upon you, follow-citizens, ns the repreeenta- 
tives of the Slates and the people, is wisely de¬ 
volved the legislative power. 1 shall comply with 
my duty, in laying before you, from time to lime 
any information calculated to enable you to dis¬ 
charge your high and responsible trust, for the 
benefit.of our common constituents. 
My opinions will be frankly expressed upon the lead 
ingsubjeclsof legislation; and if. wliicli I do not antlct- 
p.’iie, any act should pass the two Houses of Congress 
which siiouid appear 10 me uiiconstiiniionnl, or an eii- 
croachmeni on the just powers of other departments, or 
with provisions hastily adopted, and likely to produce 
consequences injurious and unforseen, I should not 
snri'iK fioiii the duty of r turning It to you, and with iny 
r* a ons, tor your further consideration. Beyond the due 
performance of these constitutional obligaiions, botli my 
respect lor the legislature and my sense of propriety will 
restrain me from any .-itteiiipi to coitrol or ii.fluence 
your proceedings. With you is the power, the honor, 
and the responsibility of the legislation of the country. 
The Governmentof the United States is a limited Go¬ 
vernment. 11is conlincii 10 the exercise of powers ex¬ 
pressly granted, and such o hers as may be necessary for 
carrying tnose powers in o rfR-ct; and it is at all times an 
espuci.ll duty to guard, gaihst any infringement on the 
j ist rights of the States. Over the i bj->cts aud subjects 
iiurusied to Congiens its legislative authority is supreme. 
But here that authority ceases, and every citizen who 
truly loves theCons'iiution, and desires the continuance 
of it existence and its blessings, will re olulely and firm¬ 
ly resist any interference iuthose donifsiic affairs, which 
the Constitution has clearly and unequivocahy left to the 
exclus.ve authli'irit) of theiStates. 
And every such citizen will also deprecate use¬ 
less irritation among the several members of the 
Union, and all reproach add recrimination tend¬ 
ing lo alienate one portion of the country from 
another. The beauty of our system of Gavern- 
inont consists, and its safety and durability must 
consist, in avoiding mutual collisions, and en¬ 
croachments, and in the regular separate action 
of all, while each is revolving in its own distinct 
orbit. 
The Constitution has made it the duty of the 
President to take care that the laws be laithfully 
executed! In a Government like ours, in which 
all laws are passed by a majority of the Represen¬ 
tatives of the people, and these representatives 
are chosen for such short periods, that any injuri¬ 
ous or obnoxious law can very soon be repealed, 
it would appear unlikely that any great numbers 
should be found ready to resist the execution of 
the laws. But it must be borne in mind that the 
country is extensive, that there may be local inte¬ 
rests or prejudices rendering a law odious in one 
part, which is not so in another, aiid.that the 
thoughtless and inconsiderate, misled by their 
passions or their imaginations, may be induced 
madly to resist such 1 aws as they disapprove. 
Such persons should recollect that, without law, 
there can be no real practical liberty; that, when 
law is trampeled underfoot, tyranny rules, wheth¬ 
er it appears in the form of a military despotism or 
of popular violence. The law is the only sure 
protection of the weak, and the only efficieat res¬ 
traint upon the strong. When impartially and 
faithfully administered, none is beneath its pro¬ 
tection, and none above its control. You, gentle¬ 
men, and the country may be assured, that, to 
the utmost of my ability, and to the extent of the 
power vested in me, I shal at all times, and in all 
places, take care that the laws bo faithfully exe¬ 
cuted. In the discharge of this duty, solemnly 
imposed upon mo by the Constitution, and by my 
oath of office, I shall shrink from no responsibility, 
and shall endeavor to meet events as they may 
arise, with firmness, as well as with prudence and 
discretion. 
Tne .ippoinv’ng power is one of the most delicate with 
which the Exi cutive is iiurustad. I regard it as a sacred 
trust, to beexeicised w.th the sole view ofadvancing the 
prosperity and happiness of the p^rople. It shall be my 
effort to eleva'e the standard of official employment, by 
selectine for places of niporfince individuals fitted for 
ilia posts to which they are assigned, by lhair known in¬ 
tegrity, talents, and viriues. I n so extensive a country, 
withsogreat a pnpulaiion, and where few persons ap¬ 
pointed to office can be known to the appoiiiiina power, 
mistakes will o niictimes unavoidably happen, and unfor¬ 
tunate appoinimeiils be made, noiwijhstanding the great¬ 
est cae. In such cases, the power of removal niav be 
properly ex'Tcised; ami nsgitci or inaife isancein office 
will be uo m re-toleraled in indviiduals appointed bymj- 
self than in those appointed by others. 
I am happy in being able to say that no unfa¬ 
vorable change in our foreign relations has taken 
place since the message at the opening of the last 
session of Congress. Wa are at peace with all 
nations, and we enjoy, in an eminent degree, the 
blessings of that peacs, in a prosperous & grow¬ 
ing commerce, and in all the forms of amicable 
uatioaal intercourse. The unexampled growth 
of the country, the present amount of its popula¬ 
tion, and its ample means of self-protection, as¬ 
sure for it the respect of all nations; while it is 
trusted that its character for justice, and a regurd 
to the rights of other States, will cause that re¬ 
spect to be rear i y and ch' erfully paid. 
A convention was negotiated between the Uni¬ 
ted States and Great Britain in April last, for fa- 
cilitaiing and protecting the construction of a ship 
canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and 
(or other purposes. This instrument has since 
been ratified by the contracting parties, the ex¬ 
change of ratifications has been effected, and pro¬ 
clamation thereof has been duly made. 
In addition to the stipulations contained in this 
convention, two other objects remain to be accom¬ 
plished between the contracting powers. 
First, the designation and establishment of a 
free port at each end of the canal. 
Second, an agreement fixing the distance from 
the shore wHHin which belligerent maritime ope¬ 
rations shall not be carried on. On these points 
there is little doubt that the two governments will 
come to au understanding. 
The company of citizens of the United States 
who have acquired from the State of Nicaragua 
the privilege of constructing a ship canal between 
the two oceans, through the territory of that state, 
have made progress in their preliminary arrange¬ 
ments. The treaty between the United Stales 
and Great Britain, of the 19lh of April lasLabove 
referred to, being now in operation, it is to be 
hoped that the guaranties which it offers will be 
I sufficient to secure the completion of the work 
with all practicab'e expedition It is obvious that 
this result would be indefinitely postponed, if any 
other than peaceful measures, for the purpose of 
harmonizing conflicting claims to territory in that 
quarter, should be adopted. It will consequently 
be my endeavor to cause any further negotiations 
on the part of this Government, which may bo 
requisite for this purpose, to be so conducted as to 
bring them to a speedy and successful close. 
Some unavoidable delay has occurred, arising 
from distance and the difficulty of intercourse be- | 
tween this Government and that of Nicaragua, j 
but, as intelligence has just been received of the 
appointment of an Envoy Extraordinary and Min¬ 
ister Plenipotentiary of that Government to reside ! 
at Washington, whose arrival may soon be ex¬ 
pected, it is hoped that no farther impediments 
will be experienced ii» the prompt transaction of 
business between the two Governments. j 
Citizens of the United States have undertaken the 
connexion of the two oceans by means of a radroad 
acroes the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under grants 
of the Mexican Government to a citizen of that Re¬ 
public. Ills understood that a thorough survey of the 
courte ol the rommunicalion is in preparation, and 
there is every reason to expect that it will be prosecu¬ 
ted with characieriatic energy, especially wlicn that 
Government shall have coiibeiitcd to sucli stipulations 
with the Government of the United States as may be 
necessary to impart a feeling of security to those, who 
it.ay embark their property in the enterprise. Negotia¬ 
tions are pending for the accomplisi mtui of that object, 
and a hope is confidently entertained that, when the 
Government of Mexico shall become duly sensible of 
the advantages which that country cannot fail to derive 
Irointhe work, and learn that the Governmentof the 
United States desires that the right of sovereignty of 
Mexico in the isthmus shall remain unimpaired, the sti¬ 
pulations referred to will be agreed to with alacrity. 
By the last advices from Mexico it would ap¬ 
pear, however, that the Government entertains 
strong objections to some of the stipulations which 
the parlies concerned in the project of the railroad 
deem necessary for their protection and security. 
Further consideration, it is to be hoped, or some i 
modification of terms, may yet reconcile the dif¬ 
ferences existing between the two Governments 
in this respect. 
Fresh instructions have recently been given to 
the Minister of the United Slates in Mexico, who 
is prosecuting the subject with promptitude and 
ability 
Although the negotliations with Portugal, for 
the payment of claims of the United States a- 
gainst that Government, nave not yet resulted in 
a formal treaty, yet a proposition made by the 
Government of Portugal for the final adjustment 
and payment of those clairns, has recently been 
accepted ori the part of the U. States. It gives 
me pleasure to say that Mr. Clay, to whom the 
negotiation had been entrusted, discharged the 
duties of his appointment with ability and dis¬ 
cretion, acting always within the instructions of 
his Government. 
It is expected that a regular convention will be 
immediately negotiated for carrying the agree¬ 
ment between the two Governments into effect. 
The commissioner appointed nnder the act of 
Congress for carrying into effect the convention ' 
with Brazil, of the 27ih of January, 1849, has 
entered upon the performance of the duties im¬ 
posed upon him by that act. It is hoped that 
those duties may be completed within the tifne 
which it prescribes. The documents, however, 
which the Imperial Government, by the third ar¬ 
ticle of the convention, stipulates to furnish to the 
Government of the United States, have not yet 
been received. As it is presumed that those doc¬ 
uments will bo essential for the correct disposition 
of the claims, it may become necessary for Con¬ 
gress to extend the period limited for the duration 
of the commission. The snm stipulated by the 
4ih article of the convention to be paid to this 
Government, has been received. 
The collection in the ports of the United States 
of discriminating duties upon the vessels of Chi¬ 
li and their cargoes has been suspended, pursuant 
to the provisions of the act of Congress ofthe24ih 
of May, 1828. It is to be hoped that this meas¬ 
ure will impart a fresh impulse to the commeece 
between the two countries, which, of late, and 
especially since our acquieiiion of California, has, 
to the mutual advan{age of the partt'es, been 
much augmented. 
Peruvian guano has become so desirable an ar¬ 
ticle to the agricultural interest of the United 
States, that it is the duty of the Government to 
employ all the means properly in its power for the 
purpose of causing that article.to be imported into 
the country at a reasonable price. Nothing wil' 
bo omitted on my part towards accomplishing this 
desirable end. I am pursuaded that in removing 
any restraint on this traffic, the Peruvian gover- 
ment will promote its own best interest, while it 
will afford a proof of friendly disposition towards 
this country, which will be duly appreciated. 
The treaty between the United States and His 
Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, which 
has recently been made public, will it is believed, 
have a beneficial effect upon the relations between 
the two countries. 
The relations between those parts of the Island 
of St. Domingo, which were formerly colonies of 
Spain and France, respectively, are still in an un 
settled condition. The proximity of that island 
to the United States, and the delicate questions 
involved in the existing controversy there, render 
it desirable that it should be permanently and 
speedily adjusted. The interest of humanity and 
of general commerce also demand this, and, as 
intimations of the same sentiment have been re¬ 
ceived from other Governments, it is hoped that 
some plan may soon be devised to effect the ob¬ 
ject in a manner likely to give general satisfaction 
The Government of the United States will not 
fail, by the exercise of all proper friendly offices, 
to do all in its power to put an end to the destruc¬ 
tive war which has raged between the different 
parts of the island, and to secure to them both the 
benefits of peace and commerce. 
I refer you to the report of the Secretarj* of the 
Treasury for a detailed statement of the finances. 
The total receipts into th-> Treasury,for the year 
ending 3()th of Juno last, wore forty-seven million 
four hundred and twenty-one thousand seven hun¬ 
dred and forty-eight dollars and ninety cents, 
($47,421,748 90.) 
The total expenditu-es during the same period 
were forty-three million two thousand one hun¬ 
dred and sixty-eight dollars and ninety cents, 
(4.3.002,168 90.) 
The public debt has been reduced, since the 
last annual report from the Treasury Department, 
four hundred and ninety-five thousand two hun¬ 
dred and seventy-six dollars and seventy-nine 
cents, ($495,276 79.) 
By the 19ili section of the act of the 28th January, 1817 
the proceeds of the sales of public lauds were pledged for 
the interest and principal of the public debt. The great 
amount of those lands subsequently granted by Congre.ss 
lor military bounties, will, it is believed, very ne.irly sup¬ 
ply the public demand for several years to come, and but 
little reliance can. therefore, be placed on th.it hitherto 
fruitful source of revenue. 
Aside from the permanent annual expenditures, which 
havei ecessarily largely increased, a portion of the pub¬ 
lic debt, amounting to eightinill on seventy-five thousand 
nine hundred and eighty-six r’ollars and fifty-nine cents, 
('88,075,986 59) must be provided for within the next two 
fiscil years. It is incst desirable that these accruing de¬ 
mands should be met without resoi ting to new loans. 
All experience has demonstrated the wisdom 
and policy of raising a large portion of revenue 
for the support of Government from duties on 
goods imported. The power lo lay these duties 
is unquestiouable, and its chief object, of course, 
is to replenish the treasury. But if in doing this, 
an incidental advantage may be gained by en¬ 
couraging the industry of our own citizens, it is 
our duty to avail ourselves of that advantage. 
A duty laid upon an article which cannot be 
produced in the country—such as tea or coffee— 
adds to the cost of the article, and is chiefly or 
wholly paid by the consumer. But a duty laid 
upon an article which may be produced here, 
stimulates the skill and industry of our own coun¬ 
try te produce the same article, which is brought 
into the niaiket in competition with the. foreign 
article, and the importer is thus compelled to re¬ 
duce his price to that at which the domestic arti¬ 
cle can be sold, thereby throwing a part of the 
duty upon the producer ol the foreign article. 
The coniinuatice of this process creates skill, 
and invites the capital which finally enable us to 
produce the article much cheaper than it could 
have been procured from abroad, thereby benefit¬ 
ing both the producer and the consumer at home. 
The consequence of this is, that the artisan, and 
agriculturist, are brought together, each aftbrdiug 
a ready market for the produce of the other, the 
whole country becomes prosperous; and the abil¬ 
ity to produce every necessary of life renders us 
independent in war as well as in peace. 
A high tariff can never be permanent. It Will 
cause dissatisfaction and will be changed. It ex¬ 
cludes competition,and thereby invites the invest¬ 
ment of capital in manufactures to such e.vcess that 
when changed it brings distress, bankruptcy and 
ruin upon all who have been misled by its faithless 
protection. What the manufacturer wants, is 
uniformity and permanency, that he may feel a 
confidence that he is not to be ruined by sudden 
changes. But to make a tariff uniform and per¬ 
manent, it is not only necessary that the law 
should not be altered, but that the duty should 
not fluctuate. 
To effect this, all duties should be specifie, 
wherever the nature of the article is such as to ad¬ 
mit of it. Ad valorem duties fluctuate with the 
price, and offer strong temptations to fraud and 
perjury. Specific duties, on the contrary, are 
equal and uniform in all ports, aun at all times, 
and offer a strong inducement to the importer to 
bring the best article, as he pays no more duty 
upon that, than upon one of inferior quality. I 
therefore strongly recommeud a modificatioa of 
the present tarifi, which has prostrated some of our 
most important and necessary manufactures, and 
that specific duties be imposed sufficient to raise 
the requisite revenue, making such discrimination 
in favor of the industrial pursuits of our own coun¬ 
try, as to encourage home production, without ex¬ 
cluding foreign competition. It is also important 
that an unfortunate provision in the present tariff, 
which imposes a much higher duty upon the raw 
material that enters into our manufactures than 
upon-the manufactured article, should be reme¬ 
died. 
The papers accompanying the report of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, will disclose frauds 
attempted upon the revenue, in variety and a. 
mount so great as to justify the conclusion that it 
is impossible, under any sj stein of ad valorem 
duties levied upon the foreign cost or value of the 
article, to secure an honest observance and an ef¬ 
fectual administration of the laws. The fraudu¬ 
lent devices to evade the law, which have been 
detected by the vigilance of the appraisers, leave 
no room to doubt that similar impositions, not 
discovered, to a large amount, have been suc¬ 
cessfully practised since the e iactment of the law 
now in force. This state of things has already 
had a prejudicial influence upon these engaged ia 
foreign commerce. 
It has a leiidency to drive ihc honest trader from ihe 
business of iinpor^uig, and to throw thu impoitaul 
briucli of eiiiployineni into the hands of unscrupuluus 
and iiishonesi men, who are alike regardless of law and 
the obligations of an oath. By these means the plain in¬ 
tentions of Congress, ns expressed in the law. are daily 
defeated Every motive of policy, and duiy, therefore, 
impel me to ask the earnest attention of Congress to this 
subject. If Congress sliould d< em it unwise to make any 
importunt changes in the system of levying duties at this 
session, it will become indispensable to ihe protection of 
the revenue that such remedies, as in the judgment of 
Congress may mitigate the evils complained of, should be 
at once applied. 
As above stated, specific duties would, in my 
o,iinion, afford the most perfect remedy for this 
evil; but, if you should uot concur in this view, 
then, as a partial remedy, I beg leave respectfully 
to recommend that, instead of taking the invoice 
of the article abroad as a means of determining its 
value here, the correctness of which invoice it is 
in many cases impossible to verify, the law be so 
changed as to require a home valuation or apprai¬ 
sal, to bo regulated in such, manner as to give, m 
far as practicable, uniformity in the several ports. 
There being no mint in California! am inform¬ 
ed that the laborers in the mines are compelled to 
dispose of their gold dust at a large discount— 
This appears to me to be a heavy and unjust tax 
upon the labor of those employed in extracting 
this precious matal; and I doubt not you will be 
disposed, at the earliest period possible, to relieve 
them from it by the establishment of a mint. In 
the mean time, as an assayer’s office is estabMsh- 
ed there,I would respectfully submit for your con¬ 
sideration the propriety of auihor zing gold bullion 
which has been assayed and stamped, to be re¬ 
ceived in payment of Government dues. 
I cannot conceive that thn treasury would suffer any 
loss by such a provisior, which will at once raise bul¬ 
lion to its par value, and thereby save, (if I am rightly in¬ 
formed,) many millions of dollars to the laboiers which 
jire now paid in brokerage to .onvert this preci'ius metal 
into available funds. This discount upon their hard earn¬ 
ings is a heavy t.->x, and every effort should be made by 
the Government to relieve them from so great a burden. 
More than three-fourths-of our population are 
engaged in the cultivation of the soil. ' The com¬ 
mercial, manufacturing and navigating interests 
are all, to a great extent, dependent on the agri¬ 
cultural. It is, therefore, the most importaut in¬ 
terest of the nation, and has a just claim to the 
fostering care and protection of the Government, 
so far as they can be extended consistently with 
the provisions of the Constitution. As this can¬ 
not be done by the ordinary modes of legislation, 
I respectfully recommend the establishment of an 
Agricultural Bureau, to be charged with the duty 
of giving to this leading branch of American in¬ 
dustry the encouragement which it so well de¬ 
serves. 
In view of the immense mineral resources of our 
country, provision should also be made for the employ¬ 
ment of a competent mineralogist and chemist, who 
should qe required, under the direction of the head of 
thu bureau, to collect specimens of the various minerals 
of our country, and to ascertain, by careful analysis, 
iheir respective elements and properties, and their adtip- 
tation to useful purposes. He should also be required 
to examine and report upon the qualities of different 
soils, and the manures best ca'culated to improve tbdir 
productiveness. By publishing the results of such expe¬ 
riments, with suitable explanations, and by the collec¬ 
tion and distribution of rare seeds and plants, with in¬ 
structions as to the best system of cultivation, much 
may be done to promote this great national iiterest. 
In compliance with the act of Congress passed on the 
S3d of May, 1850, providing among other things, for taking 
tile seventh census, a superinicndent was appointed, and 
all other nieasutes adopted which were deemed necessary 
to ensure the prompt and faiiliful performance of that du¬ 
ty. The appropriaiiou already made will it is believed, 
be sufficient to deftay the whole exiiense of th^'work; but 
further legislation may be necessary in regard to the coin- 
pensaiian of some of the marshals of the Territories. It 
will also be proper to make provision by law, at an early 
day, for the publication of such abstracts of the returns 
as the public interest may require. 
The unprecedented growth of our Territories on 
the Pacific in wealth and popnlation, and the aou- 
sequent increase of their social and commercial 
relations with the Atlantic States, seem to render 
it the duty of the Government to use all its con¬ 
stitutional power to improve the means of inter¬ 
course with them. The importance ofopetiing a 
"line of communication, the best and most expe¬ 
ditious of which the nature of ths country will ad¬ 
mit," between the valley of the Mississippi and 
the Pacific, was brought to your notice bymy pre¬ 
decessor, in his annual message; and as the rea¬ 
sons which he presented in favor of the measure 
still exist in full force, 1 beg leave te call your at¬ 
tention to them, and to repeat the recommenda¬ 
tions then made by him. 
The uncertainty which exists in regard to tho 
validity of land title in California is a subject 
which demands your early consideration. Large 
bodies of laud in that State are claimed under 
grants said to have been made by authority of the 
Spanish and Mexican Government. Mauy of 
these have noi been perfected, others have been 
revoked, and some are believed to be fradulent. 
But until they have been judicially investigated, 
they will continue to retard tho settlement and 
improvement of the country. I, therefore, re- 
^pec^rully recommend that provision be made by 
law, for the appointment of commissioners to ex¬ 
amine all such claims with a view to their final 
adjustment. 
I also beg leave to call your attention to the 
propriety of extending, at an early day, oar sys¬ 
tem of laud laws, with such modifications as may 
be necessary over the State of California and the 
territories of Utah and New Mexico. The min¬ 
eral lands of California will, of course, form an 
exception to any general system which may be 
adopted. Various methods of disposing of them 
have been suggested. 1 waq at first inclined to 
favor the system of leasing, as it seemed to prom¬ 
ise the largest revenue to the Government and to 
afford the best security against monopolies; but 
further reflection, and our experience in leasing 
the lead mines and selling lands upon credit, 
have brought my mind lo the conclnsion that 
there would be great difficulty in collecting the 
rents, and that the relation of debtor and creditor, 
between the citizens and the Government, would 
be attended with many mischievous couaequen- 
ces. 
I therefore recommend that, instead of retain¬ 
ing tho mineral lands under the permanent con¬ 
trol of the Government, they be divided into small 
parcels and sold, under such restrictions, as to 
quantity and time, as will insure tho best price, 
Slid guard most effectually against combinations of 
capitalists to obtain monopolies. 
The annexation of Texas and the acquisition of 
California and Now Mexico, have given increas- 
ed*importance to our Indian relations. The vari¬ 
ous tribes brought under our jurisdiction by these 
enlargements of our boundaries, are estimated to 
embrace a population of one hundred and twen¬ 
ty-four thousand. 
Texas and New Mexico are surrounded by 
powerful tribes of Indians, who are a source of 
constant terror and annoyance to the inhabitants. 
Sepa ating into email predatory bands, and al¬ 
ways mounted, they overran the country, devas¬ 
tating farms, destroying crops, driving off whole 
herds of cattle, and occasionally murdering the 
inhabitants, or carrying them into captivity. The 
great roads leading into the country are infested 
with them, whereby traveling is rendered ex¬ 
tremely dangerous, and immigration is almostea- 
tirely arrested. 
The Mexican frontier, which, by the 11th arti¬ 
cle of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, we are 
bound to protect against the Indians within our 
border, is exposed to these incursions equally with 
onr own. The military force stationed in that 
country (although forming a large proportion of 
the army) is represented as entirely inadequate 
to our owu protection aud the fulfillment of our 
treaty stipulations with Mexico. The principal 
deficiency is in cavalry, and I recommend that 
Congress should, at as early a period as practica¬ 
ble, provide for the raising of oue or more regi¬ 
ments of mounted men. 
( Concluded on page 390.) 
