MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTU UAL AND FAMILY JOURT 
l 
which we feel in the spread of liberal prin- 
- ciples and the establishment of free govern¬ 
ments, and the sympathy with which we 
witness every struggle against oppression, 
forbid that we should be indifferent to a case 
in which the strong arm of a foreign power 
is invoked to stifle public sentiment and re¬ 
press the spirit of freedom in any country. 
ENGLISH AND FRENCH INTERFERENCE IN CUBAN 
AFFAIRS. 
The governments of Great Britain and 
France have issued orders to their naval com¬ 
manders on the West India station to pre- 
! vent by force, if neccessary, the landing of 
adventurers from any nation on the Island of 
Cuba with hostile intent. The copy of a 
memorandum of a conversation on this sub¬ 
ject between the Charge d’Affairs of her 
Britannic Majesty and the Acting Secretary 
of State and of a subsequent note of the for¬ 
mer to the Department ofState. are herewith 
submitted, together with a copy of a note of 
of the Acting Secretary of State to the Min¬ 
ister of the French republic, and of the reply 
of the latter, on the same subject. These 
vention upon this subject have been received 
from her Britannic Majesty’s Minister Plen¬ 
ipotentiary, but it seems to me in many re¬ 
spects preferable that the matter should be 
regulated by reciprocal legislation. Docu¬ 
ments are laid before you showing the terms 
which the British government is willing to 
offer, and the measures which it may adopt, 
if some arrangement up' n this subject shall 
not be made. 
From the accompanying --copy of a note 
from the British Legation at Washington 
and the reply of the Department of State 
thereto, it will appear that her Britannic 
Majesty’s Government is desirous that a part 
of the boundary line between Oregon and 
the British possessions should be authorita¬ 
tively marked out, and that an intention was 
expressed t,o apply to Congress for an appro¬ 
priation to defray the expenses thereof on 
the part of the United States. Your atten¬ 
tion to this subject is accordingly invited, 
and a proper appropriation recommended. 
PORTUGESE CLAIMS. 
A convention for the adjustment of claims 
papers will acquaint you with the grounds of of citizens of the United States against For¬ 
tius interposition of the two leading commer- tugal has been concluded, and the ratifica- 
cial powers of Europe.and with the apprehen- tions have been exchanged. The first in- 
ttus interposition of the two leading commer¬ 
cial powers of Europe.and with the apprehen¬ 
sions,which this Government could not fail to 
entertain, that such interposition,if carried in¬ 
to effect, might lead to abuses in derogation 
of the maritine rights of the United States.— 
The maritime rights of the United States are 
founded on a firm, secure, and well-defined 
basis; they stand upon the ground of Nation¬ 
al Independence and public law, and will be 
maintained in all their full and just extent. 
The principal which this Government has 
heretofore solemnly announced it still ad¬ 
heres to, and will maintain under all circum¬ 
stances and at all hazards. That principle is, 
that in every regularly documented merchant 
vessel, the crew who navigate it, and those on 
board of it, will find their protection in the 
flag which is over them. No American ship 
can be allowed to be visited or searched for 
the purpose of ascertaining the character of 
individuals on board, nor can there beallowed 
any watch by the vessels of any foreign na¬ 
tion over American vessels on the coast of the 
United States or the seas adjacent thereto.— 
It will be seen by the last communication 
from the British Oliargc d’Aflaires to the 
stalmcnt of the amount to be paid by Portu¬ 
gal fell due o*n the 30th of September last, 
and has been paid. 
The President of the French republic, ac¬ 
cording to the provisions of the convention, 
has been selected as arbitrator in the case of 
the General Armstrong; and has signified 
that he accepts the trust and the high satis¬ 
faction he feels in acting as the common 
friend of two nations, with which France is 
united by sentiments of sincire and lasting 
amity. 
AMIN BEY’S VISIT—KOSSUTH. 
The Turkish government has expressed its 
thanks for the kind reception given to the 
Sultan’s agent, Amin Bey, on the occasion of 
his recent visit to the United States. Ou the 
27 th day of February last a despatch was ad¬ 
dressed" by the Secretary of State to Mr. 
Marsh, the American Minister at Constanti¬ 
nople, instructing him to ask of the Turkish 
government permission for the Hungarians, 
then imprisoned within the dominions of the 
Sublime Porte, to remove to this country.— 
On the 3d of March last both Houses of C 011 - 
enliglitened views, as well of the general importance of 
the object, as of her own interests and obligations. 
In negotiating upon this importantsubject, tills Govern¬ 
ment has had in view one, and only one,object. That ob¬ 
ject has been, and $, the construction or attainment of a 
passage from ocean to ocean, the shortestand best for tra¬ 
velers and merchandise, and equally open to all the world. 
It lias sought to obtain no territorial acquisition, nor any 
advantages peculiar to itself: and it would see, with ti e 
greatest regret, that Mexico should oppose any obstacle to 
the accomplishment of uu enterprise which promised so 
much convenience to the whole commercial world, amt 
such eminent advantages to Mexico herself. Impressed 
witii these sentiments and these convictions, the Govci n- 
ment will continue to exert all proper efforts to bring 
about the necessary arrangements with the Republic of 
Mexico for the speedy completion of the work. 
For some months past the republic of Nicaragua has 
been the theatre of one of those civil convulsions, from 
which the cause of free institutions, and ilie general pros¬ 
perity and social progress of the States of Central Ameri¬ 
ca, have so often and so severely suffered. Until quiet shall 
have been restored, and a government apparently stable 
shal! have been organized, no advance can prudently be 
made in disposing of the questions pending between the 
two countries. 
1 am happy to announce that an inter-oceanic communi¬ 
cation from the mouth of the St. John to the Pacific has 
been so far accomplished as that passengers have actually 
traversed it and merchandise has been trauspor ed over it. i 
And when the canal shall have been completed, accord- ; 
ing to tlie original plan, the means of communication will I 
be further improved. 
It is understood that a considerable part of the railroad ; 
across the Isthmus of Panama lias been complted, and that ! 
the mail and passengers will in future be conveyed thereon, j 
Whichever of the several routes between the two oceans . 
may ultimately prove most eligible for travellers to and 
from the different States on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexi¬ 
co, and our coast oil the Pacific, there is little reason to 
doubt tliat'all of them will be useful to the public, and will 
liberally reward that individual enterprise, by which alone 
they have been or arc expected to be carried into effect. 
policy. On the contrary, notwithstanding the repeal o 
the rostrictive corn laws in England, the foreign demant 
for the products of the American farmer has steadily de 
dined, since the short crops and consequent famine in a 
portion of Europe have been liapily replaced by full crops 
and comparative abundance of food. 
It will be seen, by recurring to the commercial st,..tis 
tics for tlie past year, that the value of our domestic ex 
ports has been increased in the single item of raw cot 
ton by $40,000,000 over the value of that export for the 
year preceding. This is not due to any increased gene¬ 
ral demand for that article, but to the short crop of the 
preceding year, which created an increased demand and 
an augmented prii e for the crop of last year. Should 
the cotton crop now going forward to market be only 
equal in quantity to that of the year preceding, and be 
sold at the present prices, then there would be a falling 
offiu tho value of -mrexports forthe present fiscal year 
of at least $40 000 000, compared with the amount ex¬ 
ported for the year atiding 30Lh June, 18dl. 
Peace has been concluded between the contending par¬ 
ties in tlie Island of St. Domingo, and it is hoped upon a 
durable basis. Such is tlie extent of our commercial rela¬ 
tions with that Island, that the United States cannot fail to 
feel a strong interest in its tranquility. 
Department of State, that lie is authorized g ress p asse d a resolution requesting the 
to assure the Secretary of State that every President to authorize the employment of a 
care will be taken that, in executing the pre¬ 
ventive measures against the expeditions, 
which the United States Government itself 
has denounced as not being entitled to the 
protection of any government, no interference 
shall take place with the lawful commerce 
of any nation. 
Tn addition to the correspondence on this 
subject, herewith submitted, official informa¬ 
tion has been received at the Department of 
State, of assurances by the French govern¬ 
ment that, in the orders given to the French 
naval forces, they were expressly instructed, 
in any operations they might engage in to 
respect the flag of the United States, wliere- 
ever it might appear, and to commit no act 
of hostility upon any vessel or armament un¬ 
der its protection. 
public vessel to convey to this country Louis 
Kossuth and his associates in captivity. 
The instruction above referred to was com¬ 
plied with, and the Turkish government hav¬ 
ing released Governor Kossuth and his com¬ 
panions from prison, on the 10th of Septem¬ 
ber last they embarked on board of the Uni¬ 
ted States steam-frigate Mississippi, which 
was selected to carry into effect the resolu¬ 
tion of Congress. Governor Kossuth left 
the Mississippi at Gibraltar, for the purpose 
of making a visit to England, and may short¬ 
ly be expected in New York. By communi¬ 
cation to the Department of State he has ex¬ 
pressed his grateful acknowledgements for 
the interposition of this government in behalf 
of himself and his associates. 
This country has been justly regarded as a safe 
the outrage on the Spanish consul at new asv i um f ov those whom political events have exil- 
ori.f.ans. ed from their own homes in Europe; and it is 
Ministers and consuls of foreign nations recommended to Congress to consider in what 
are the incans and agents of communication manner Governor Kossuth and his comprnions, 
between us and those nations, and it is of brought hither by its authority, shall be received 
the utmost importance that, while residing and trcate ' 
in the country, they should feel a perfect se- sandwich islands. 
ouritv ■'O loll"* as they faithfully discharge It is earnestlyto be hoped that the differences which 
ClH l L \ • uu o J J t> have for some time past been pending between the gov- 
their respective duties and are guilty Ol HO eminent of tlie French republic and that of the Sand- 
violation of our laws. This is the admitted wich Islands, may he peaceably and durably adjusted, 
, ‘ j „„ n /L./.nnr so-as to secure thr independence of those islands. Long 
law of nations, and no country has a leeper before the events which have of late imparted so much 
interest ill maintaining it than the United importance to the possessions of the United States on 
q , Ilnr r-iimmerer* qni'Oiids over everV tlie Pacific, we acknowledged the independenoe of the 
States. Uur commerce spreads over every Hawaiian government. This Government was first in 
sea and visits every clime, and our ministers taking that s’ep, and several of the leading powers of 
ari l consuls are appointed to protect the in- Europe immediately followed. We were influenced ill 
. ** „„ — .ii „„ this measure by the existing and prospective importance 
terests of that commerce, AS well as to of the islands as a place of refuge and refreshment for 
inurd the peace of the country and maintain I>ur vessels engaged 'in the whale fishery, and by the 
u iln fl.,,. Kilt hmv ran thrv consideration that they lie in the course of the great 
the hoi.or ol its Hag. ‘Lit now C, II y trade which must, at no distant day, be carried on be- 
discharge these duties unless they be them- tween the eastern coast of North America and Eastern 
selves protected ; and, if protected, it must Asia. 
. , J. , „ h,., nmintrn in nrhich tlisv We were also influenced by a desire thatthose 
be by the laws of the country in which they shoul(J not pass unde ? the control of any 
reside. And what is due to our own pu dm ()t j ier great maritime State, but should remain in 
functionaries resi ling in foreign nations, is a n independent condition, and so be accessible 
exactly the measure of what is due to the and useful to the commerce of all nations. I need 
functionaries of other governments residing not sa y that the importance of these considera¬ 
ble. As in war, the bearers of flags of tions has been greatly enhanced by the sudden 
truce are sacred, or else wars would be so in- and vast development which the interests of the 
terminable, so in peace, embassadors, public United States have attained in California and 
ministers, and consuls, charged with friendly Oregon; and the policy heretofore adopted in re- 
| national intercourse, are objects of especial gard to those islands will be,steadily pursued. 
: respect and protection, each according to the It is gratifying not only to those who consider 
> rights belonging to his rank and station. the commeie.ial interests of nations,but also to all 
iiguvs jviu h b . . .. who favor the progress of knowledge and the dit- 
In view r of these important principles, it is f U 8 j on c f religion", to see a community emerge 
wi ll deep mortification and regret I an- f rom a savage state and attain such a degree of 
; liounce to you that, during the excitement civilization in those distant seas. 
’ growing out of the executions at Havana, the Mexican insurrection. 
( office of her Catholic majesty’s consul at It is much to be deplored that the internal 
' Now Orleans was assailed by a mob, his pro- tranquility of ihe Mexican republic should again 
: p ti y destroyed, the Spanish flag found in the be seriously disturbed; for, since the peace be- 
office earned off and torn in pieces, and he tween that republic and the United States it 
l , ,. , , ,, c , • r , had enioved such comparative repose that the 
: b .ir*l mduci'd to 1 « for his personal safety, ratici ,, at L, for tl,..future r.iight, 
> winch he supposed to be in danger. )n re with a degree of confidence, have been indulged. 
( ceivm r intelligence ol these events, a loitli- r iq iese) however, have been thwarted by the re- 
I witii directed *thS attorney of the United <*ent outbreak in the State of Tamaulipas, on the 
States residing at New Orleans to inquire in- r jght bank of the Rio Bravo, 
to the facts and the extent of the pecuniary Having received information that persons from 
loss sustained by the consul, with the inten- the u nited States had taken part in the insurrec¬ 
tion of laying them before you. that you tion, and apprehending that their example might 
m dit make provision for such indemnity to be followed by others, I caused orders to be is- 
( him as a just regard for the honor of the na- sued for the purpose of preventing any hostile 
> ti m and the respect which is due to a friendly expeditions against Mexico from being set on 
power might, in your judgement, seem to foot in violation of the laws of the U. States. I 
noire. The correspondence upon this sub- likewise issued a proclamation upon tlv- subject, 
’ l . 1 . 0 * r A. . ,, a copy of winch is herewith laid before you.— 
Lot b tween the Societal y of Sta. c and her This appeared to be rendered imperative by the 
Gatholic majesty s minister plenipotentiary obligations of treaties and the general duties of 
is herewith transmitted. good neighborhood. 
The occurrence at New Orleans has led teuuantf.pec railway. 
me to give my attention to the State of our In my last annual message I informed Congress that 
law-s in regard to foreign embassadors, min- citizens of the United States had undertaken theconnu- 
Ulw m 'ft | .a, i .1 i • ,1 ,- ion of the two oceans by means of a railroad across the 
is tors, and consuls. 1 think the legislation Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under a grant of the Mexican 
of 1 lie country is deficient in not providing government to a citizen of that republic; and that this 
rc .1 , r,,,. or enterprise would probably be prosecuted with energy 
Sufficiently eithct for the protection or pun Whenever Mexico should consent to such stipulations with 
irilkincut of consuls. I therefore recommend the Government of the United States as should impart a 
the subject to the consideration of Congress. " U ° ^ ^ ^ 
RECIPROCITY OF trade WITH CANADA. A convention between the two governments for the ac- 
-. , , .i „ * _„ complishment of that end has been ratified by this Gov- 
Your attention is again invited to tneques- ernmont, and only awaits tlie decision of the Congress and 
tion of reciprocal trade between the United the Executive of that republic. 
. , j Jv.,., ,.i 0 FtritJch r.Aocoo Some unexpected dfllculties and delays have arisen in the 
btitLs and L All id a and other mulsh po.s.ws ratification of that convention by Mexico, but it is to lie 
s.ons near our frontier. Overtures for aeon- presumed that her decision will be governed by just and 
Theofficeof Commissioner to China remains unfill¬ 
ed; several persons have been appointed, and the place 
lias been offered to others, all of whom have declined 
its acceptance, on the ground of the inadequacy of the 
compensation. The annual allowance by law is six 
thousand dollars, and there is no provision for any out¬ 
fit. I earnestly recommend the consideration of this 
subject to Congress. Uur commerce with China is high¬ 
ly important, and is becoming more and more so, in 
consequence of the increasing intercourse between our 
ports on the Pacific coast and Eastern Asia. China is 
understood to be a country iu which living is very ex¬ 
pensive, and I know of no reason why the American 
Commissioner sent thither should not be placi d, in re¬ 
gard to compensation, ou an equal footing with minis¬ 
ters who represent tlie country at the courts of Europe. 
THE REVENUE. 
By referenco to the Report of the Secretary of the 
Treasury.it will be seen that the aggregate receipts Bli¬ 
the last fiscal Year amounted to $52,312,979 87; which, 
with the balance in the Treasury on tlie 1st J uly, 1850, 
gave, as tlie available means forthe year, the sum of 
$58,917,424 30. 
The total expen fitures for tlje same period 
were $48,005,878 G8. 
The loud imports for the year ending 30th June, 
1851, were .... $215,725,995 
Of which there were in specie, - 4,967,90J 
The exports lor the same period 
were $217,517,130 
Of which there were 
of domestic products, $178,546,555 
Foreign goods re-ex¬ 
ported, - - 9,738.675 
Specie, - - . 29 231,880 
-$217,517,130 
Since tlie first of December last the payments 
in oath on account of tlie public debt, exclusive 
of interest, have amounted to $7,501,456 55; 
which, however, includes the sum of $3,242,400 
paid under the 12th article of the t eaty wi h 
M exico, and the further sum of $2,591,213 45, 
being the amount of awards to American citi¬ 
zens under the late treaiy with Mexico, for 
which the issue of stock was authorized, hilt 
which was paid in cash from the Treasury. 
The public debt on 'lie 29th ultimo, exclusive 
of the stock authorized to he issued to Texas hy 
the act of the 9th September, 1850, was $62 - 
560,395 26. 
The receipts for the next fiscal year are esti¬ 
mated at $51.800.000, which, with the probable 
unappropriated balance in the Treasury, on the 
30th June next, will give, as the probable avail 
able means for that year, the sum of $63,258,- 
743 09. 
it has been deemed proper, hi view of the 
large expenditures con eqnent upon the acquisi¬ 
tion of territory from Mexico, that the e -t mates 
for die next fiscal year should he laid before 
Congress in such manner as to distinguish the 
expenditures so required from the otherwise 
ordinary demands upon the i reasury. 
The total expenditures for the next fiscal year 
are estimated at $42,892,299 19, of which there 
is required lor the ordinary purposes of the Gov¬ 
ernment, other than these consequent upon the 
acquisition of our new Territories, and deduct¬ 
ing the payments on account ol the public debt, 
the sum of -33.343.I9S 08; and for the purpos¬ 
es connected directly or indirectly with those 
! erritories, and in the fulfilment of the obliga¬ 
tions < f the Government, contracted in conse¬ 
quence ol their acquisition, the sum of $9,549,- 
101 II. 
If the views of the Secretary of the Treasury 
in reference to the expenditures required for 
these Territories shall be met hy corresponding 
action on the part of < ongress, and appropria¬ 
tions made in accordance therewith, there will 
he an estimated unappropriated balance in the 
'Treasury on the 30tii June, 1853, of $20,360.- 
443 90, wherewith to meet that portion of the 
public debt due on the first July following, 
amounting to $5,237,931 35, as well as any ap¬ 
propriations which may be made beyond the es¬ 
timates. 
P.RODUCTION AND EXPORT OK GOLD. 
The production of gold in California for the past year 
sei ms to promise a large supply of that nu-tal from that 
quarter for s< mo time to come. This large annual in¬ 
crease of the currency of the world must be attended 
with its usual results. These have been already partial¬ 
ly disclosed in the enhancement of prices and a rising 
spirit of speculation and adventure, tending to overlra- 
i ding, as well at home as abroad. Unless some salutary 
■ check shall he given to the these tendencies, it is tn ho 
j feared that importations of foreign goods beyond a 
' healthy semand in this country will lead to a sudden 
drain of the precious metals from us, bringing with it, 
t as it has done in former times, t He most disastrous con- 
■ sequences to the business and capital of the American 
1 people. 
The exports of specie to liquidate our foreign debt 
during the past fiscal year have been $24,2fi3.979 over 
he amount of specie imported. The exports of specie 
during the first quarter of the present fiscal year have 
been $14.1)51,857. Should specie continue to be export¬ 
ed at this rate for the remaining three-quarters of this 
year, it will drain from our metalic currency during the 
year ending 30th June, 1852, the enormous amount of 
$58,097,398, 
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE SURPLUS REVENUE. 
In the present prosperous condition of tlie national 
finances, it will become the duty of Congress toconsid- 
er the best mode of paying off the public debt. Ifthe 
present and anticipated surplus in tlie Treasury should 
not be absorbed by appropi iations of an extraordinary 
character, this surplus should be employed in such way 
and under such restrictions as Congress may enact, in 
extinguishing the outstanding debt of the nation. 
THE CLAIMS OF TEXAS. 
By reference to the act of Congress approved 9th Sep¬ 
tember, 1850, it will be seen that, in consideration of 
certain concessions by tlie State of Texas, it is provided 
that the *‘ United States shall pay to tlie Slate of Texas 
thesum of ten millions of dollars, in a stock hearing 
live per cent interest, and redeemab'e at the end ol 
fourteen years, the interest pa. able halt yearly at the 
Treasury of the United States.” 
In the same section of the law it is further provided 
‘* that no more than five millions of said stock shall be 
issued until the creditors of the State holding bonds and 
other certificates ofstoikof Texas, for which duties 
on IMPORTS WERE SPECIALLY pledged, shall first file 
at the Treasury of the United States releases of all 
claims against the United Stales, for or 0:1 account of 
.aid bonds or certificates, in such fojrm as shall be pre 
scribed by the Secretary of the Trea'surv, and approved 
by the President, of the United States.” 
The form of release thus [rovided for has been pre 
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasure, and approved. 
It has been published in ail the leading newspapers in 
the commercial cities ol the United States, and all per¬ 
sons holding daims of the kind spe itied in the forego¬ 
ing proviso were required to tile their releases (in the 
form thus prescribed?) in the Treasury of tlie United 
States, on or before i tie 1st day of October, 1851. Al¬ 
though this publication has been co tinned from the 
25th day of March, 1851. yet lip to the 1st of October 
last comparatively few releases had been filed by the 
creditors of Texas. 
The auth-i it ii s of the State ot Texas, at the request 
of the Secretary-of tlie Tn asury, have furnished a 
schedule of the publiedebt of that state created prior to 
her admission into the Union, with a copy of the laws 
under which each class was contracted 
I have, from the documents furnished by the State 
of Texas, determined the classes of claims which in my 
judgment fall within the provisions of tlie act of Con¬ 
gress of the 9th of September, 1850. 
On being officially informed of the acceptance by 
Texas of the propositions contained in the art referred 
to, 1 caused the stock to he prepared, and Die live mil 
lions which are to bo issued unconditionally, bearing 
an interest of five per cent, from the 1st day of January 
ls51, have been lor some time rem y 10 be delivered to 
. the State of Texas. The authorities of Texas up to the 
present time, have not authorised any one to receive 
this stock, and it remains in the Tieasury Department, 
subject to the order of Tex-s. 
The releases, required by law to be deposited in the 
Treasury, not having been filed there, the remaining 
. five millions have not been issued. This last amount 
of tlie stock will be withheld from Texas until the con- 
I ilitions upon which ii is to be delivered shall be com- 
j plied with by tlie creditors of that State, unless Con 
1 gress shall otherwise direct by a modification of the 
I law. 
small pa 
wmmrn. Hut up( 
_ rence to the opinioi 
others familMBHf tlie subject, 1 am inclined to change 
that reoomniendauo , and to advise that they he permitt¬ 
ed to remain, as at present, a common field, open to the 
enterprise and industry of a'l our citiezns, until further 
experience shah have developed tlie l est policy ultimately 
to be adopted in regard to them. It is safer to suffer the ^ 
inconveniences that now exist, for a short period, tnan, by t 
premature legislation, to fasten on the country a system t, 
founded in error, which may place the whole subject be- . 
yond the futur-j control of Congress. y 
The agricultural lands should, however, he sur- { 
veyed ai d Drought into market with as little de- ) 
lay as p< ssihle, that the titles may become set- S 
tied, and the inhabitants stimulated to make per- ) 
manent. improve ments, and enter on the ordina- ) 
ry pursuits of life. To effect these objects it is ^ 
desirable that the necessary provision be made < 
by law for the establishment of land offices in ' 
California an cl Oregon, and for the efficient pro¬ 
secution of the surveys at an early day. 
MORMON DIFFICULTIES. 
Some difficulties have occurred in organizing . 
the Territorial governments of New Mexico and ^ 
Utah; and, when more accurate information shall t 
be obtained of the-causes, a further communica- c 
tion will be made on that subject. 
< 
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU. ( 
In my last annual communication to Congress -J 
I recommended tlie establishment of an Agricul- i 
tural Bureau, and I take this occasion again to 
invoke your favorable consideration of the sub- 
ject. 
Agriculture may justly be regarded as the 
great interest of our people. Four-fifths of our 
active population are employed in the cultivation 
of the soil, and the rapid expansion of our set¬ 
tlements over new territory is daily adding to 
the number of those engaged in that vocation.— 
Justice and sound policy, therefore, alike require 
that the. Government should use all the means 
authorized by the Constitution to promote ihe 
interests and welfare of that important class of 
our fellow-citizens. And yet it isa singular fact 
that, whilst the manufacturing and commercial 
interests lyive engaged tlie attention of Congress 
during a large portion of every session, and our 
statutes abound in provisions for their protection 
and encouragement, little has yet been done di¬ 
rectly for the advancement of agriculture. It is 
time that this reproach to our legislation should 
bo removed; and I sincerely hope that the pre¬ 
sent Congress will not close their labors without 
adopting efficient means to supply the omissions 
of those who have preceded them. 
An Agricultural Bureau, charged with the duty 
of collecting and disseminating correct informa¬ 
tion as to the best modes of cultivation, and of 
tlie most effectual means of preventing and re¬ 
storing the fertility of the soil, and of procuring 
and distributing seeds and plants and other veg¬ 
etable productions, with instructions in regard to 
the soil, climate, and treatment best adapted to 
their growth,could not fail to be, in the language 
of Washington, in his last annual message to 
Congress, a “ very cheap instrument of "immense 
national benefit.” 
BOUNTY LAND WARRANTS. 
Regarding the act of Congress approved 28th 
September, 1850, granting bounty lands to per¬ 
sons who had been engaged in the military 
service of the country, as a great measure of na¬ 
tional justice and munificence, an anxious desire 
has been felt, by the officers entrusted with its 
immediate execution, to give prompt effect to its 
provisions. All the. means within their control 
were, therefore, brought into requisition to ex¬ 
pedite the adjudication of claims, and I am grat¬ 
ified to be able to state that near one hundred 
thousand applications have been considered, and 
about seventy thousand warrants issued within 
the short space of nine months. If adequate 
provision is made by law to carry into effect the 
recommendations of the Department, it is confi¬ 
dently expected that, before the close of the 
next fiscal year, all who are entitled to the bene¬ 
fits of the act will have received their warrants. 
The Secretary of the Interior has suggested in 
his report various amendments of the laws relat¬ 
ing to pensions and bounty lands, for the purpose 
of more effectually guarding against abuses and 
frauds on the Government, to all of which I in¬ 
vite your particular attention. 
Hi 
THE TARIFF. <“ , L ” 
T , . 1 , . . , r fits of the act will have received their warrants. 
In my last annual message, to which I respectrully 7, , „ . T t - , . i • 
refer, l stated briefly the reasons which induced me lo 1 he Secretary ot the Interior has suggested in 
recommend a modification of the present tariff, by con- Ids report various amendments of the laws relat- 
verting the ad valorem into a specific uly, wherever the to pensions and bounty lands, for tlie purpose 
mCn £ of more effectually guarding against abuses and 
vor of the industrial pursuits of our own country, as to frauds on the Grovcniioont, to all or which I iu- 
encourage home production without excluding foreign vde y 0U r particular attention, 
competition. 
Tlie numerous frauds which continue to be practiced INDIANS. 
«r“ the revenue, by fals- invoices and undervaluations, } . cession8 to our Indian population 
constitute an unanswerable reason fur adopting specific b . i l 
instead of ad valorem duties in all cases where tlie na- consequent. Upon the acquisition Ol IN t J W AIvXlCO 
( lure of the rommodiiy does not foitlia it. A striking and California, and the extension of our settle- 
illustration of these frauds will be exhibited in the Re- melds j n to Utah and Oregon, have given increas- 
Dort of the Secretary of the I r-usury, showing the cus- . . . t. „,;,t 
turn house valuation of articles imported under a for- ed interest and impoitance to oui relations w.th 
mer law subject to specific duties, when th re was no in- the aboriginal race. 
duceuirnt re undervaluation, ami the enstom house No material change has taken place within the 
valuation* of the same artic es, under the present sys- j as t year, in the condition and pi’OSpect8 of the 
tern of ad valorem duties so greatly reduced as to leave f ,y,’. , ‘ 1 
uo uoubt ; \ « existence of ilie iu*»at flagrant abuses of Induui tribes who reside ill tile. JN On h- western 
the existing law. Territory and west of the Mississippi River. We 
This practical evasion of the present law. combined a re at peace with all of them; and it will be a 
with lh« languishing condition of some of lliegreatin- „ „„„ i„ l m „, t|,,i tho-o „rn 
terests of the country,caused t.y over importations and SOUlce ot pltaSlllL to you to loam that they < 
consequent depressed prices and with the failure in ob- gradually advancing in civilization and the pur- 
taining a foreign tuarkel f r our increasing surplus of .gqjtsof Social life. 
breadstuff's and provisions has indued m« again tore- A] the Mexican frontier, and in. California 
commend **- wouincittion ot . he FXMtiiiir inn It. , ® , 1 • i __ •/» 
and Oregon, there have been occasional manliest- 
public lands, , ations of unfriendly feeling, and some depreda- 
The report of the Secretary of the Interior, tions committed. 1 am satisfied, however, that 
which accompanies this communication, will they resulted more from the destitute and starv- 
preseut a condensed statement of lhe operations i n g condition of the Indians than from any set- 
of that important department of Government. tied hostility to the whites. As the settlements 
, mouitiCRlion of he existing lariff. 
PUBLIC LANDS. 
ic debt due on the first July following! I It will be seen that ihe cash salt s of the pub- of our citizens progress towards them, the game J 
unting to $5,237,931 35, as well as any nil- ! lie lands exceed those of the preceding year, and upon which they mainly re.y for subsistence is t 
iriations which may be made beyond the cs- ’ that- there is reason to anticipate a s:ill lurther driven off or destroyed, and the only alternative 
In thus referring to the estimated expenditures 1 which have been 
i increase, notwithstanding the large donations left to them is starvation or plunder. It becomes 
obligations of treaties and the general duties of 
good neighborhood. 
TEHUANTEPEC RAILWAY. 
In my last annual message I informed Congress that 
citizens of the United States iiad undertaken tlie connex¬ 
ion of tlie two oceans by means of a railroad across tlie 
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under a grant of tlie Mexican 
government to a citizen of that republic; and that, this 
enterprise would probably be prosecuted with energy 
whenever Mexico f liould consent to such stipulations with 
the Government of the United States os should impart a 
feeling of security to those who should invest their pro¬ 
perty in the enterprise. 
A convention between the two governments for the ac¬ 
complishment of that end has been ratified by this Gov¬ 
ernment, and only awaits tlie decision of the Congress and 
tlie Executive of that republic. 
Some unexpected dfllculties and delays have arisen in the 
ratification of that convention by Mexico, but it is to be 
presumed that her decision will be governed by just and 
on account of our newly-acquired ! erritories, 1 
may express the hope that ongress will Concur 
with me in the desire that a liberal course ol 
policy may he pursued towards them, and that 
every obligation, express or implied, entered in¬ 
to in consequence of their acquisition, shall h- 
fulfilled by the most liberal appropriations lor 
that purpose. 
EXPORTS. 
The values of our domestic exports for the last fiscal 
year, as compared with those of the previous year, ex¬ 
hibit an increase of $43,646,322. At first view tins con¬ 
dition of our t ratio with foreign nations would »oem to , 
present the most flattering hopes of its future prosperi¬ 
ty- An examinati ?u of the details of our exports, how¬ 
ever, will show that the increased value o our exports 
forthe last fiscal year is to be found in the high price of 
cotton which prevailed during the first half of that year, 
which price has since declined about one-hal 
The value of our exportsof breadstuff's and provisions, 
which it was supposed tue incentive of a low tariff ami 
large importations from abroad would have greatly aug¬ 
mented, has fallen from $08,701,921, n’47, to $26,051. !J3 
in 18.30, and to $21 948,6.53 in 18.51, with a strong proba¬ 
bility amounting almost to a certainty, of a still further 
reduction in the current year. 
The aggregate values of rice exported during tlie last 
fiscal year, as comp -red with the previous year, also ex¬ 
hibit it decrease amounting to $460,nl7, which, w ith a tie- j 
cline in the values of the exports of tobacco for the same 
period, make an aggregate decrease in these two arm ies 
of $1,156,751. 
The policy which dictated a low rate of duties on for- i 
eign merchandise, u was thought hy those who promoted 
and established it. would tend to lienefit the-f inning pop¬ 
ulation of this country, hy increasing ihe demand ami 
raising the price of agricultural products in foreign mar¬ 
kets. 
The following facts, however, seem to show inconiost- 
ibly that no such result has followed the adoption of this 
which have been made to many of the Suites, 
ami the liberal grants to individuals as a reward 
for military seiviecs. This fact lurnishes very 
gratifying evidence of ihe growing wealth and 
prospeiity of oui country. 
Suitable measures imve been adopted for com¬ 
mencing the survey of tin* public lands in Cali¬ 
fornia and Oregon. Surveying panics have been 
organized, and some progress has been made in 
establishing the principal base and meridian 
us to consider, in view of this condition of things, 
whether justice and humanity, as well as an en¬ 
lightened economy, do not require that, instead 
of seeking to punish thorn for their offences, 
which are the result of our own policy towards 
them, we should not provide for their immediate 
wants and encourage them to engage in agricul¬ 
ture, and to rely on their labor instead of the 
chase for the means of support. 
Various important treaties have been negotiat¬ 
or subdivisions can be made, and the general 
land sj stem extended over those remote parts of 
our territory. 
On the 3d of March last, an act was passed 
providinjf tin* the appointment <>l three commis¬ 
sioners to st-tile private land claims in Califor¬ 
nia Three persons were immediately appoint¬ 
ed, all of whom, however, tlecliued accepting 
the office, m const queuce of the inadequacy of 
the compensation. Olliers were promptly se¬ 
lected, who, for the satin* reason, also declined; 
lines. But further legislation and additional e d with different tribes during theyear.by which 
appropriations will be necessary before the prop- their title to large and valuable tracts of country 
er subdivisions can be made, and the general has been extinguished, all of which will, at the 
laud -a stem extended over those remote parts of proper time, be submitted to the Senate for rati¬ 
fication. 
boundary commission. 
The joint commission under the treaty of Gua¬ 
dalupe Hidalgo has been actively engaged in run¬ 
ning and marking the boundary line between the 
U nited States and Mexico. It, was stated, in the 
last annual report of the Secretary of the Interior, 
that the initial point on the Pacific and the point 
and it was not until late in the season that the of junction ot the Gila with the Colorado river 
seme s of suitable persons could be secured. A had been determined and the intervening line, 
mammy of the commissioners concern d, in this about one hundred and fifty miles in length, run 
city, on the lOii. of September last, whendetail- anil marked by temporary monuments. Since 
ed instructions were given to them in regard to that time a monument of marble has been erect- 
their duties. 1 heir first meeting for .he trims- ed at the initial point and permanent landmarks 
action of business will be held in San Francisco of iron have been placed at suitable distances 
on tlie 8tli dav of the present month. along the. line. 
I havetlmu!.lit it proper to refer tt< t; esefacts, not only The initial point on the Rio Gtande has also 
to exi>la?u th-- cause ot* t* o doh*y in ti ing the commission been fixed by the commissioners at latitude 32 ° 
but to call vmu* aticntion to tin- pr»|.ri-ty of increasing 22 min and at the date of the last communica- 
Ssss-as *» *«"<* *• *** *«« 
i.- uropri -ty of increasing 22 min. and at the date of the last comrnunica- 
MbiU^r^d tlie compeosa- tion the survey of the line had been made thence 
