399 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. 
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and 
of the House of Representatives: 
The interest with, which the people of the 
Republic anticipate the assembling of Congress, 
and the fulfilment, on that occasion of the du¬ 
ty imposed upon a new President, is one of the 
best evidences of their capacity to realize the 
hopes of the founders of a political system at 
once complex and symmetrical. While the dif¬ 
ferent branches of the government are, to a 
certain extent, independent of each other, th^ 
duties of all alike, have direct reference to the 
source of power. Fortunately, under this sys¬ 
tem, no man i3 so high, and none so humble, in 
the scale of public station, as to escape from 
the scrutiny, or to be exempt from the respon 
sibility, which all official functions imply. 
Upon the justice and intelligence of the mas¬ 
ses, in a government thus organized, is the sole 
reliance of the confederacy, and the only secu¬ 
rity for honest and earnest devotion to its in¬ 
terests, against the usurpation and encroach 
merits of power on pne hand, and the assaults 
of personal ambition on the other. 
The interest, of which I have spoken, is in¬ 
separable from an inquiring, self-governing com¬ 
munity, but stim Rated, doubtless, at the pres 
ent time, by the unsettled condition of our re¬ 
lations with .everal foreign powers; by the 
new obligations resulting from the sudden ex¬ 
tension of the field pf enterprise; by the spirit 
with which that field has been entered, and 
the amazing energy with which its resources 
for meeting the demands of humanity have 
been developed. 
Although disease, assuming at one time the 
characteristics of a wide spread and devastat 
ing pestilence, has left its sad traces upon some 
portions of our country, we have still the most 
abundant cause for reverent thankfulness to 
God for an accumulation of signal mercies 
showered upon us as a nation. It is well that 
a consciousness of rapid advancement and in¬ 
creasing strength be habitually associated with 
an abiding sense of dependence upon Him who 
holds in his hands the destiny of men and of 
nations. 
Recognizing the wisdom of the broad princi 
pie of absolute religious toleration proclaimed 
in our fundamental law, and rejoicing in the 
benign influence which it has exerted upon our 
social and political condition, I should shrink 
from a clear duty did I fail to express my deep¬ 
est conviction that we can place no secure reli¬ 
ance upon any apparent progress if it be not 
sustained by national integrity, resting upon 
the great truths affirmed and illustrated by di¬ 
vine revelation. In the midst of our sorrow 
for the afflicted and suffering, it has been con¬ 
soling to see how promptly disaster made true 
neighbors of cities and districts separated wide¬ 
ly from each other, and cheering to watch the 
strength of that common bond of brother .ood 
which unites all hearts in all parts of this Un¬ 
ion when danger 1 threatens from abroad, or ca¬ 
lamity impends over us at home. 
Our diplomatic relations with foreign powers 
have undergone no essential change since the 
adjournment of the last Congress. With some 
of them, questions of a disturbing character 
are still pending, but there are good reasons to 
believe that these may all be amicably ad 
justed. 
For some years past, Great Britain has so con¬ 
strued the first article of the Convention of the 
20th of April, 1818, in regard to the Fisheries 
on the North-eastern coast, as to exclude our 
citizens from some of the fishing grounds, io 
which they freely resorted for nearly a quarter 
of a century subsequent to the date of that trea¬ 
ty. The United States have never acquiesced 
in this construction, but have always claimed 
for their fishermen all the rights which they 
have so long enjoyed without molestation.— 
With a view to remove all difficulties on the 
subject—to extend the rights of our fishermen 
beyond the limits fixed by the Convetion of 
1818, and to regulate trade between the United 
States and the British North American Provin 
ces, a negociation has been opened, with a fair 
prospect of a favorable result. To protect our 
fishermen in the enjoyment of their rights, and 
prevent collision between them and British 
fishermen, I deemed it expedient to station a 
naval force in that quarter during the fishing 
season. 
‘ Embarrassing questions have also arisen be¬ 
tween the two Governments in regard to Cen¬ 
tral America. Great Britain has proposed to 
settle them by an amicable arrangement, and 
our Minister at London is instructed to enter 
into negociations on the subject. 
A Commission for adjusting the claims of our 
citizens against Great Britain, and those of Brit¬ 
ish subjects against the United States, organized 
under the Convention of February last, is now 
sitting in London for the transaction of busi¬ 
ness. 
It is in many respects desirable that the 
boundary line between the United States and 
the British Provinces in the northwest, as desig¬ 
nated in the Convention of the 15th of Jnne, 
1846, and especially that part which separates 
the territory of Washington from the British 
possessions on the north, should be traced and 
marked. I therefore present the subject to 
your notice. 
With France our relations continue on the 
usual friendly footing. The extensive commerce 
between the United Stales and that country, 
might, it is conceived, be released from some 
unnecessary restrictions, to the mutual advan¬ 
tage of both parties. With a view to this ob¬ 
ject, some progress has been made in negotia¬ 
ting a treaty of commerce and navigation. 
Independently of our valuable trade with 
Spain, we have important political relations 
with her, growing out of our neighborhood to 
.the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. I am hap¬ 
py to announce, thatsince the last Congress, no 
attempts have been made by unathorized expe¬ 
ditions within the United States, against either 
of these Colonies. Should any movement be 
manifested within our limits, all the means 
at my command will be vigorously exerted 10 
repress it. Several annoying occurrences have 
taken place at Havana, or in the vicinity of 
the island of Cuba, between our citizens and 
tiie Spanish authorities. Considering the prox¬ 
imity of that island to our shores—lying, as it 
does, in the track of trade between some of our 
principal cities—and the suspicious vigilance 
wit h which foreign intercourse,particularly that 
with the United States, is there guarded, a repe¬ 
tition of such occurrence may well be appre¬ 
hended. 
As no diplomatic intercourse is allowed be¬ 
tween our Consul at Havana and the Captain- 
General of Cuba, ready explanations cannot be 
made, or prompt redress afforded, where .injury 
has resulted. All complaint on the part of our 
citizens, under the present arrangement', must 
be, in the first place, presented to this govern¬ 
ment, and then referred to Spain. Spain again 
refers it to her local authorities in Cuba for in¬ 
vestigation, and postpones an answer till she 
has heard from those authorities. To avoid 
these irritating and vexatious delays, a proposi- 
has been made to provide for a direct appeal for 
redress to the Captain-General by our Consul, 
in behalf of the injured fellow-citizens. Hith¬ 
erto, the government of Spain lias declined to 
enter into any such arrangement. This course 
on her part is deeply regretted; for, without 
some arrangement of this kind, the good under¬ 
standing between the two countries may be ex¬ 
posed to occasional interruptions. Our Minis¬ 
ter at Madrid is instructed to renew the propo 
sition, and to press it again upon the considera¬ 
tions of her Catholic Majesty’s government. 
Fpr several years Spain has been calling the 
attention of this government to a claim for 
losses, by some of her subjects, in the case of 
the schooner Amistad. This claim is believed 
to rest on the obligations imposed by our exist¬ 
ing treaty with that country. Its justice was 
admitted, in our diplomatic correspondence 
with the Spanish governmens, as early as March, 
1847 ; and one of my predecessors, in his an¬ 
nual message of that year, recommended that 
provision should be made for its payment. In 
January last it was again submitted to Congress 
by the Executive. It has received a favorable 
consideration by committees of both branches, 
but as yet there has been no final action upon 
it. I consider that-good faith requires its 
prompt adjustment, and I present it to your 
early and favorable consideration. 
Martin Kozst.a, a Hungarian by birth, came 
to this country in 1850, and declared his inten¬ 
tion in due form of law, to become a citizen of 
the United States. After remaining here near¬ 
ly two years, he visited Turkey. While at 
Smyrna, he was forcibly seized, taken on board 
an Austrian brig of war then lying in the har¬ 
bor of that place, and there confined in irons, 
with the avowed design to take him into the 
dominions of Austria. Our Consul at Smyrna 
and Legation at Constantinople, interposed for 
his release, but their efforts were ineffectual.— 
While thus imprisoned, Commander Ingraham, 
with the United States ship of war St. Louis, 
arrived at Smyrna, and after inquiring into the 
circumstances of the case, came to the conclu¬ 
sion that Kozsta was entitled to the protection 
of this government, and took energetic and 
prompt measures for his release. Under ah ar¬ 
rangement between the agents of the United 
States and of Austria, he was transferred to 
to the custody of the French Consul-General at 
Smyrna, there to remain until he should be dis 
posed of by the mutual agreement of the Con¬ 
suls of the respective governments at that 
place. 
Pursuant to that agreement he has been re¬ 
leased and is now in the United States. The 
Emperor of Austria has made the conduct of 
our officers who took part in this transaction a 
subject of grave complaint. Regarding Koszta 
as still his subject, and claiming a right to seize 
him within the limits of the Turkish empire, he 
has demanded of this government its consent 
to the surrender of the prisoner, a disavowal 
of the acts of its agents, and satisfaction for the 
alleged outrage. After a careful consideration 
of the case, I came to the conclusion thatKosz 
ta was seized without legal authority at Smyr¬ 
na; that he was .wrongfully detained on board 
the Austrian brig of war; that, at the time of 
his seizure, he was clothed with the nationality 
of the United States; and that the acts of our 
officers, under the circumstances of the case 
were justifiable, and their conduct has been 
fully approved by me, and a compliance with 
the several demands of the Emperor of Austria 
has been declined. 
For a more full account of his transaction 
and my views in regard to it, I refer to the cor¬ 
respondence between the Charge d’Affairs of 
Austria and the Secretary of State, which is 
herewith transmitted. The principles and pol¬ 
icy, therein maintained on the part of the Unit¬ 
ed States, will, whenever a proper occasion oc¬ 
curs, be applied and euforeed. 
The condition of China, at this time, renders 
it probable that some important changes will 
occur in that vast Empire, which w ill lead to a 
more unrestricted intercourse with it. The 
Commissioner to that country,who has been re¬ 
cently appointed, is instructed to avail himself 
of all occasions to open and extend our com¬ 
mercial relations, not only with the Empire of 
China, but with other Asiatic nations. 
In 1S52, an expedition was sent to Japan un¬ 
der the command of Commodore Perry, for the 
purpose of opening commercial intercourse with 
that Island. Intelligence has been received of 
his arrival there, and of his having made known 
to the Emperor of Japan the object of his visit; 
but it is not yet ascertained how far the Empe¬ 
ror will be disposed to ab ndon his restrictive 
policy, and open that populous country to a 
commercial intercourse with the United States. 
It has been my earnest desire to maintain 
friendly intercourse with the governments up¬ 
on this continent, and to aid them in preserv¬ 
ing good understanding among themselves.— 
With Mexico a dispute has arisen as to the true 
boundary line between our territory of New 
Mexico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.— 
A former Commissioner of the United States, 
employed in running that line, pursuant to the 
treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo, made a serious 
mistake in determining the initial point on the 
Rio Grande: but, inasmuch as his decision was 
clearly a depar lire from the directions for tra 
cing the bouudary contained in that treaty, and 
was not concurred in by a surveyor appointed 
on the part of the United States, whose concur¬ 
rence was necessary to give validity to that de 
cision, this government is not concluded there¬ 
by ; but that of Mexico takes a different view 
of the subject. 
There are also other questions of considerable 
magnitude pending between the two republics. 
Our Minister in Mexico has ample instructions 
to adjust them. Negotiations have been open¬ 
ed, but sufficient progress has not been made 
therein to enable me to speak of the probable 
result. Impressed with the importance of 
maintaining amicable relations with that re¬ 
public, and yielding with liberality to all her 
just claims, it is reasonable to expect that an 
arrangement mutually satisfactory to both 
countries may be concluded, and a lasting 
friendship between them confirmed and per¬ 
petuated. 
Congress having provided for a full mission 
to the states of Central America, a minister was 
sent thither in July last. As yet he has had 
time to visit only one of these states, (Nicara¬ 
gua,) where he was received in the most friend¬ 
ly manner. It is hoped that his presence and 
good offices will have a beni?n effect in com¬ 
posing the dissensions which prevail among 
them, and in establishing still more intimate 
and friendly relations between them respect¬ 
ively, and between each of them and the Unit¬ 
ed States. 
Considering the vast regions of this continent 
and the number of States which would be made 
accessible by the free navigatiou of the river 
Amazon, particular attention has been given to 
this subject. Brazil, through whose territories 
it passes into the ocean, has hitherto persisted 
in a policy so restrictive, in regard to the use 
of this river, as to obstruct, and nearly exclude, 
foreign commercial intercourse with the states 
which lie upon its tributaries and upper branch¬ 
es. Our Minister to that country is instructed 
to obtain a relaxation of that policy, and to use 
his efforts to induce the Brazilian government 
to open to common use, under proper safe 
guards, this great natural highway for interna¬ 
tional trade. Several of the South American 
States are deeply interested in this attempt to 
secure the free navigation of the Amazon, and 
it is reasonable to expect their co-operation in 
the measure. As the advantages of free com¬ 
mercial intercourse among nations are better 
understood, more liberal views are generally 
entertained as to the common rights of all to 
the free use of those means which nature has 
provided for international communication. To 
these moral, liberal and enlightened views it is 
hoped that Brazil will conform her policy, and 
remove all unnecessary restrictions upon the 
free use of a river which traverses so many 
States and so large a part of the continent. I 
am happy to inform you that the republic of 
Paragua, and the Argentine Confederation have 
yielded to the liberal policy still resisted by 
Brazil, in regard to the navigable rivers within 
their respective territories. Treaties embracing 
this subject among others have been negociated 
with those governments, which will be submit¬ 
ted to the Senate at the present session. 
A new branch of commerce, important to the 
agricultural interests of the United States, has, 
within a few years past, been opened with 
Peru. Notwithstanding the inexhaustible de¬ 
posits of guano upon the islands of that coun¬ 
try, considerable difficulties are experienced in 
obtaining the requisite supply. Measures ave 
been taken to remove these difficulties, and to 
secure h more abundant importation of the ar¬ 
ticle. Unfortunate!}, there has been a serious 
collision between our citizens, who have resort 
ed to the Chincha Islands for it, and the Peru 
vian authorities stalioued there. Redress for 
the outrages, committed by the latter, was 
promptly demanded by our Minister at Lima. 
This subject is now under consideration, and 
there is reason to believe that Peru is disposed 
to offer adequate indemnity to the aggrieved 
parties. 
We are thus not only at peace with all foreign 
countries, but, in regard to political affairs, are 
exempt from auy cause of serious disquietude 
in our domestic relations. 
The controversies which have agitated the 
country are passing away with the causes v hich 
produced them and the passions which they 
awakened ; or, if any trace of them remains, it 
may be reasonably hoped that it will only be 
perceived in the zealous rivalry of all good 
citizens to testify their prospect for the rights 
of the states, their devotion to the Union, and 
and their common determination that ■ ach one 
of the states, its institutions, its welfare, and 
its domestic peace, shall be held abke secure 
under the sacred ajgis of the constitution. 
This new league of amity and of mutual con¬ 
fidence and support into which the people of 
the Republic have entered, happily affords in¬ 
ducements and opportunity for the adoption of 
a more comprehensive and unembarrassed line 
of policy and action, as to the great material 
interests of the country, whether regarded in 
themselves, or in connection with the powers of 
the civilized world. 
The United States have continued gradually 
and steadily to expand, through acquisitions of 
territory, which, how much soever some of them 
may have been questioned, are now universally 
seen and admitted to have been wise in policy, 
ust in character, and a great element in the 
advancement of our country, and with it, of the 
human race, in freedom, in prosperity, and in 
happiness. The thirteen states have grown to 
be thirty-one, with relations reaching to Europe 
on the one side, and on the other to the distant 
realms of Asia. 
I am deeply sensible of the immense respons¬ 
ibility which the present magnitude of the re¬ 
public, and the diversity and multiplicity of its 
interests, devolves upon me; the alleviation of 
which, so far as relates to the immediate con¬ 
duct of the public business, is, first, in my reli¬ 
ance on the wisdom and patriotism of the two 
Houses of Congress, and secondly, in the direc¬ 
tions afforded me by the principles of public 
policy, affirmed by our fathers of the epoch of 
1798, sanctioned by long experience, and conse¬ 
crated anew by the overwhelming voice of the 
people of the United States. 
Recurring to these principles, which consti 
tuie the organic basis of union, we perceive 
that, vast as the functions and duties of the fed¬ 
eral government, vested in or entrusted to is, 
three great departments, the legislative, execu¬ 
tive, and judicial, yet the substantive power, 
the popular force, and the large capacities Un¬ 
social and material development, exist in their 
respective states, which, all being of themselves 
weli constituted republics, as preceded, so they 
alone are capable of maintaining and perpetu¬ 
ating the American Union. The federal gov¬ 
ernment has its appropriate line of action in 
the specific and limited powers conferred on it 
by the constitution, chiefly as to those things 
in which the states have a common interest in 
their relations to one another, and to foreign 
governments; while the great mass of interests 
which belong to cultivated men, the ordinary 
business of life, the springs of industry, all the 
diversified personal and domestic affairs of 
society, rest securely upon the general re¬ 
served powers of the people of the sev 
eral states. There is the effective demoora 
cy of the nation, and there the vital essence of 
its being and its greatness. 
Of the practical consequences which flow 
from the nature of the federal government, the 
primary one is the duty of administering with 
integrity and fidelity the high trust reposed in 
it by the constitution, especially in the applica¬ 
tion of the pub ic funds, as drawn by taxation 
from the people, and appropriated to specific 
objects by Congress. Happily I have no occa¬ 
sion to suggest any radical changes in the finan¬ 
cial policy of the government. Ours is almost, 
if not absolutely, the solitary power of Chris¬ 
tendom having a surplus revenue, drawn im¬ 
mediately from imports on commerce, and 
therefore measured by the spontaneous enter¬ 
prise and national prosperity of the country, 
with such indirect relation to agriculture, man¬ 
ufactures, and the products of the earth and 
sea, so as to violate no constitutional doctrine, 
and yet vigorously promote the general welfare. 
Neither as to the sources of the public treasure, 
nor as to the manner of keeping and managing 
it, does any grave controversy now prevail, 
there being a general acquiescence in the wis¬ 
dom of the present system. 
The Report ot the Secretary of the Treasury 
will exhibit in detail the state of the public 
finances, and the condition of the various 
branches of the public service, administered by 
the department of the government. 
The revenue of the country, levied almost 
insensibly to the tax-payer, goes on from year 
to year, increasing beyond either the interests 
or the prospective wants of the government. 
At the close of the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1852, there remained in the Treasury a bal¬ 
ance of fourteen million, six hundred and thir¬ 
ty two thousand, one hundred and thirty-six 
dollars. The public revenue for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1853, amounted to fifty-eight 
million, nine hundred and thirty-one thousand, 
eight hundred and sixty-five dollars from cus 
toms, and to two million, fourliundred and five 
thousand, seven hundred and eight dollars from 
public lands and other miscellaneous sources, 
amounting together to sixty-one million, three 
hundred and thirty-seven thousand, five hund¬ 
red and seventy-four dollars; while the public 
expenditures for the same period, exclusive of 
payments on account of the public debt, amount¬ 
ed to forty-three million, five hundred and fifty 
fonr thousand, two hundred and sixty-two dol¬ 
lars; leaving a balance of thirty-two million, 
four hundred and twenty-five thousand, four 
hundred and forty-seven dollars of receipts 
above expenditures. 
This fact, of increasing surplus in the treasury 
became the subject of anxious consideration at 
a very early period of my administration, and 
the path of duty in regard to it seemed to me 
obvious and clear—namely ; first, to apply the 
surplus revenue to the discharge of the public 
debt, so far as it could judiciously be done; and 
secondly, to divise means for the gradual reduc¬ 
tion of the revenue to the st ndard of public 
exigencies. 
Of these objects, the first has been in the 
course of accomplishment in a manner and to 
a degree highly satisfactory. The amount of 
the public debt of all classes was, on the 4th of 
March, 1853, sixty-nine millions one hundred 
and ninety-thousand and thirty-seven dollars; 
payments on account of which have been made, 
since that period, to the amount of twelve mil¬ 
lions seven hundred and three thousand three 
hundred and twenty nine dollars—leaving un¬ 
paid, and in the continuous course of liquida¬ 
tion, the sum of fifty-six millions four hundred 
and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and 
eight dollars- These payments, although made 
at the market price of the respective classes of 
stocks, have been effected readily, and to the 
general advantage of the treasury, and have at 
the same time proved of signal utility in the 
relief they have incidental I v afforded to the 
money market and to the industrial and com¬ 
mercial pursuits of the country. 
The second of the above-mentioned objects, 
that of the tariff, is of great importance, and 
the plan suggested by the Secretary of the 
Treasury, which is to reduce the duties on cer¬ 
tain articles, and to add to the free list many 
articles now taxed, and especially such as enter 
in manufactures, and are not largely, if at all, 
produced in the country, is commended to your 
candid and careful consideration. 
You will find in the report of the Secretary 
of the Treasury, also, abundant proof of the en¬ 
tire adequacy of the present fiscal system to 
meet all the requirements of the public service, 
and that, while properly administered, it ope¬ 
rates to the advantage of the community in or¬ 
dinary business relations. 
I respectfully ask your attention to sundry 
suggestions of improvements in the settlement 
of accounts, especially as regards the large 
sums of outstanding arrears due to the govern¬ 
ment, and of other reforms in the administra¬ 
tive action of his department, which are indi 
cated by the secretary ; as also to the progress 
made in the construction of Marine Hospitals, 
Custom Houses, and of a new mint in Califor¬ 
nia, and Assay office in the city of New York, 
heretofore provided for by Congress; and also 
the eminently successful progress of the coast 
survey, and of the light house board. 
Among the objects meriting your attention will 
be important recommendations from the Secreta¬ 
ries ot War and Navy. I am fully satisfied that 
the Navy of the United States is not in a condi¬ 
tion of strength and efficiency commensurate with 
the magnitude of your commercial and other in¬ 
terests ; and commend to your especial attention 
the suggestions on this subject made by the Sec¬ 
retary of the Navy. I respectfully submit that 
the Army, which, under our system must always 
be regarded with the highest interest, as a nu¬ 
cleus around which the volunteer forces of the na¬ 
tion gather in the hour of danger, requires aug¬ 
mentation or modification, to adapt it to the 
present extended limits and frontier relations of 
the country, and the conditions of the Indian 
tribes in the interior of the continent; the neces¬ 
sity of which will appear iu the communications 
of the Secretaries of War and the Interior. 
In the administration of the Post-Office De¬ 
partment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1853, 
the gross expenditure was seven million nine hun¬ 
dred and eighty-two thousand seven hundred and 
fifty-six dollars: and the gross receipts, during 
the same period, five million nine hundred and 
forty-two thousand seven hundred and thirty-four 
dollars; showing that the current revenue failed 
to meet the current expenses of the department 
by the sum of two million forty-two thousand and 
thirty-two dollars. The causes which, under the 
present postal system and laws, led inevitably to 
this result are fully explained by the report of the 
Postmaster General; one great cause being the 
enormous rates the department has been compell¬ 
ed to pay for mail service rendered by railroad 
companies. 
The exhibit in the report of the Postmaster 
General of the income and expenditure by mail 
steamers, will be found peculiarly interesting, 
and of a character to demand the immediate ac¬ 
tion of Congress. 
Numerous and flagrant frauds upon the Pen¬ 
sion Bureau have been brought to light within 
the past year, and, in some instances, merited 
punishment inflicted; but, unfortunately, in 
others, guilty parties have escaped, not through 
the want of sufficient evidence to warrant a 
conviction, but in consequence of the provis¬ 
ions of limitation in the existing laws. 
From the nature of these claims, the remote¬ 
ness of the tribunals to pass upon them, and the 
mode in which the proof is, of necessity, fur¬ 
nished, temptations to crime have been greatly 
stimulated by the obvious difficulties of detec¬ 
tion. The defects of the law upon this subject 
are so apparent, and so fatal to the ends of jus¬ 
tice, that your early action relating to it is niost 
desirable." 
Duriug the last fiscal year, nine millions, eight 
hundred and nineteen thousand, four hundred and 
eleven acres of the public lands have been sur¬ 
veyed, and ten millions three hundred and sixty- 
three thousand, eight hundred and ninety-one 
acres brought into market. Within the same pe¬ 
riod the sales by public purchase and private en¬ 
try amounted to 1,083,495 acres; located under 
military bounty land Warrants, 6,142,360 acres; 
located under other certificates, 9,427 -acres; ceded 
to the States as swamplands, 16,684,253 acres; 
selecled for railroad and other objects, under acts 
of Congress, 1,4^7,457 acres. 
Total amount of lands disposed of within the 
fiscal year, twenty-five millions three hundred 
and forty-six thousand nine hundred and ninety - 
two acres—which is an increase in quantity sold 
and located under land warrants and grants, of 
twelve millions two hundred and thirty-one thou¬ 
sand eight hundred and eighteen acres over the 
fiscal year immediately preceding. The amount 
received therefor was six hunched and twenty- 
three thousand six hundred and eighty-seven dol¬ 
lars. The quantity sold the second and third 
quarters of the year 1853, was one million six- 
hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and 
nineteen acres; and the amount received therefor, 
two millions two hundred and twenty-six thou- 
and eight hundred and seventy-six dollars. 
The whole number of land warrants issued un¬ 
der existing laws, prior to the 30th September 
last, was two hundred and sixty-six thousand and 
forty-two ; of which there were outstanding, at 
that date, sixtv-six thousand nine hundred and 
forty-seven. The quantity of land required to 
satisfy these outstanding warrants is four millions 
seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand one 
hundred and tweuty acres. 
Warrants have been issued to 30th September 
last, under the act of 11th Febuary, 1847, calling 
for twelve millions eight hundred and seventy- 
nine thousand two hundred and eighty-six acres; 
under acts of September 28, 1850, and March 22, 
1852, calling for twelve millions five hundred and 
five thousand three hundred and sixty acres— 
making a total of twenty-five millions three hun¬ 
dred and eighty-four thousand six hundred and 
forty acres. 
It is believed that experience has verified the 
wisdom and justice of the present system, with re¬ 
gard to the public domain, in most essential par¬ 
ticulars. 
You will perceive from the report of the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior, that opinions which have olien 
been expressed in relation to the operation of the 
land system, as not being a source of revenue to 
the federal treasury were eroneous. The net 
profits from the sale of the public lands to Juno 
30, 1853, amounted to the sum of fifty-three mil¬ 
lion two hundred and eightv-nine thousand four 
hundred and sixty-five dollars. 
1 recommend the extension of the land system 
over the territories of Utah and New Mexico, with 
such modifications as their peculiarities may re¬ 
quire. 
Regarding our public domain as chiefly valua¬ 
ble to provide homes for the industrious and en¬ 
terprising, 1 am not prepared to recommend any 
essential change in the land system, except by 
modifications iu favor of the actual settler, and an 
extension of the pre-emption principle in certain 
cases, for reasons and on grounds which will be 
fully developed in tne reports to be laid before yi u. 
Congress, representing the proprietors of the 
territorial domain, and charged especially with 
power to dispose of territory belonging to the 
United States, lias, lor a long course of years, be¬ 
ginning with the administration of Mr. Jefferson, 
exercised the power to construct roads within the 
territories ; and there are many and obvious dis¬ 
tinctions between this exercise of power and that 
of making roads within the States, that the for¬ 
mer has never been considered subject to such 
objections as apply to the latter, and such may 
now be considered the settled construction of the 
power of the Federal Government on the subject. 
Numerous applications have been, and no 
doubt will continue to be made for grants for land, 
in aid of the construction of railways, it is not 
believed to be within the intent and meaning of 
the constitution, that the power to dispose of the 
public domain should be used otherwise than 
might be expected from a prudent proprietor, and, 
therefore, that grants of land to aid in the con¬ 
struction of roads should be restricted to cases 
where it would be for the interest of a proprietor, 
under like circumstances, thus to contribute to the 
construction of these works. For the practical 
operation of such grants thus far, in advancing 
the interests of the States in which the works are 
located, and at the same time the substantial in¬ 
terests of all the other States, by enhancing the 
value and promoting the rapid sale of the public 
domain, 1 refer you to the report of the Secretary 
of the Interior. A careful examination, however, 
will show that this experience is the result of a 
just determination, and will be far from affording 
encouragement to a reckless or indiscriminate ex¬ 
tension of the principle. 
I commend to your favorable consideration the 
men of genius of our country, who, by their in¬ 
ventions and discoveries in science and art, have 
contributed largely to the improvements of the 
age, without, in many instances, securing for 
themselves anything like an adequate reward.— 
For many interesting details upon this subject, I 
refer you to the appropriate reports, and especial¬ 
ly urge upon your early attention and apparently 
slight, but really important modification of exist¬ 
ing laws therein suggested. 
The liberal spirit which has so long marked the 
action of Congress in relation to the District of 
Columbia, will, 1 have no doubt, continue to be 
manifested. 
The erection of an asylum for the insane of the 
District of Columbia, and of the army and navy 
of the United States, has been somewhat retarded"; 
but full preparation for the reception of patients, 
before the return of another winter is anticipated; 
and there is the best reason to believe, from the 
plan and contemplated arrangements which have 
been devised, with the large experience furnished 
within the last few years in relation to the nature 
and treatment of the disease, that it will prove an 
asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted 
class of snfferers, and stand as a noble monument 
of wisdom and mercy. 
Under the acts of Congress of August 31, 1852, 
and of March 3, 1853, designed to secure for the 
citizens of Washington and Georgetown an abun¬ 
dant supply of good and wholesome water, it be¬ 
came my duty to examine the report and plans of 
the engineer who had charge of the surveys under 
the act first named. The best, if not the o’nly plan 
calculated to secure permanently the object sought 
was that which contemplates taking the water from 
the Great F alls of the Potoinac, and consequently 
I gave it my approval. 
For the progress and present condition of this 
important work, and for its demands, so far as ap¬ 
propriations are concerned, I refer you to the re¬ 
port of the Secretary of War. 
(Sec page 402, this number.) 
