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Tine Okavango River : A Narrative of Travel, Exploration, 
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of “ Luke ,Sgarni." With numerous Illustrations and a 
Map of Southern Africa. [Svo.—pp. 414 J New York: 
Harper A; Brothers. Rochester— Stkhlk A Avery. 
Wolkeht’R Roost and other Papers, now first collected. By 
Washington Irving Author's Revised Edition. New 
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Choonh i.k cur the Conquest or Granada. From the MS. 8, 
of Fray Antonio Agapida. By Washington Irving. Au¬ 
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by F. 0. C. IUrlky. (l’diiio —pp. 4.S4 ] New York: W. 
A. Townsend fi Co. Rochester—D. 11. JlHWKr. 
Lieu Among the Chinese: With Characteristic Sketches 
and luci'lente of Missionary Operations aud Proepects in 
China. By Rev, It. S. Mai-lay. If. A., thirteen years Mis 
rionary to China from the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
| pp. 400 New York : Carlton A Porter. Rochester—E. 
Harrow A Bro. 
The Travels of Ida Pfeiffer: Inclusive of a Visit to 
Madagascar. With an Autobiographical Memoir of the 
Author. Translated by H \V Dclckkn. (pp. 281.] New 
York : Harper A Bros. Rochester—S teele A Avery. 
Seasons with the Ska Horses ; or. Sporting Adventures in 
the Northern Seas. By Jas. I.aHOnt, Esq , F. G. S. [8vo. 
-pp. 282] New York; Harper A Bros. Rochester— 
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Life and AnvKNTt RK in tub South Pacific. By a Roving 
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ter—S teele A Avery. 
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by Rev. L D Barrows. [Sro — pp 230 ] New York : 
Carlton A Poiter. Rochester—D arrows. 
The Elements of Logic: Adapted to’the Capacity of. 
Younger Students, and Designed for Academies aud the 
Higher Clause* of Common Schools. By Charles K. Tri e, 
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Carltou A Porter. Rochester—B arrows. 
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on the Tree? ami Shrubs of iJassachugetts,” and Charles 
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Carle ton. Rochester—J. F. Hosts. 
The Silver Cord. A Novel. By' Shirley Brooks. [8vo.— 
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Streaks of Light ; or, Fifty-two Facts from the Bible for 
the fifty-two Suudays of the Year. By the author of 
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ester— Steele A Avery. 
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sbadowings. | No. 219 or Library of Select Novels ; 8vo.— 
pp 150 J New Yoik : Harpers. Rochester — Steels A 
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Maitland," “The Days of My'Life,” “The Laird of Nor- 
law. 1 etc [12mo.—pp. 405 J New York : Harper A Bros. 
Rochester— Steele A avert. 
il 0, Star-Spangled Banner! the Flag of onr pride! 
Though trampled by traitors and basely defied, 
Fling out to the glad winds your Red, White and Blue, 
For the heart of the North-laud is beating for you! 
And her stroug arm is nerving to strike with a will, 
Till the foe and his boastings are humbled and still! 
Here's welcome to wounding, aud combat, and scars, 
And the glory of death—for the Stripes and the Stars!” 
ROCHESTER. N.Y., DECEMBER 14, 1861. 
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
FeMow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: 
In the midatof unprecedented political troubles, we 
have cause of great gratitude to God for uuusual good 
health find most abundant harvests. You will not 
ho surprised to learn that, in the peculiar exigencies 
of the times, our Intercourse with foreign nations 
has been attended with profound solicitude, chiefly 
turning upon our own domestic affairs. A disloyal 
portion of the American people have, during the 
whole year, been engaged in an attempt to divide 
and destroy the Union. A nation which endures 
factious aud domestic divisions ia exposed to disre¬ 
spect abroad, and one party or both is sure, sooner 
or later, to invoke foreign Intervention. Nations, 
thus tempted to interfere, are not. always able to 
resist the counsels of seeming expediency and 
nngenerous ambition, although measures adopted 
under such influences seldom ('ail to be unfortunate 
and injurious to those adopting them. The disloyal 
citizens of the Uuited States, who have offered the 
•ruin of our country in return for the aid and com¬ 
fort which they have invoked abroad, have received 
less patronage and encouragement than they prob¬ 
ably expected. If it were just to suppose, ns tho 
insurgents have seemed to assume, that foreign 
nations in this case, discarding all moral, social, and 
treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly for 
tlie most speedy restoration of commerce. Including, 
especially, tho acquisition of cotton, those nations 
appear, as yd, not to have seen their way to their 
object more directly or clearly through the destruc¬ 
tion than tlirough the preservation of tho Union. 
If we could bear to hclieve that foreign nations 
are actuated by no .higher principle than this, I am 
quite sure a second argument could he made to show 
them that they can reach tlielr aim more readily and 
easily by aiding to crush this rebellion than by giv¬ 
ing encouragement to it. The principal lever relied 
on by the insurgents for exciting foreign nations to 
hostility Against us, ns already intimated, is the em¬ 
barrassment of commerce. Those nations, however, 
not improbably saw from tho first, that it was tho 
Union which made as well our foreign as our domes¬ 
tic commerce. They can scarcely have failed to per¬ 
ceive that the effort for disunion produces tho exist¬ 
ing difficulty, and that one strong nation promises 
more durable peace, and a more extensive, valuable, 
and reliable commerce, than can tbo same nation 
broken into hostile fragments. 
It is not my purpose to review onr discussions 
with foreign States, because whatever might be their 
wishes or dispositions, tbe integrity of onr country 
and the stability of our Government, mainly depend 
not upon them, bnt on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism 
and intelligence of the American people. The cor¬ 
respondence Itself, with the usual reservations, is 
herewith submitted. I venture to hope it, will appear 
that we have practiced prudence and liberality to¬ 
wards foreign powers, averting causes of irritation, 
and with firmness maintaining our own rights and 
honor. 
8ince, however, it is apparent that here, as in 
every other state, foreign dangers necessarily attend 
domestic- dlllicnUics, I recommend that adequate and 
ample measures be adopted for maintaining tho pub¬ 
lic defences on every side, while under this general 
recommendation provision for defending our coast 
line readily occurs to the mind, r also, in the same 
connection, ask the attention of Congress to our 
great lakes and rivers. It is believed that, some forti¬ 
fications and depots of arms and munitions, with 
harbor and navigation improvements at well selected 
points npon these, would be of great importance to 
the national defence and preservation. I ask atten 
tion to the views of tin; Secretary of War, expressed 
in lil.i report upon the same gone nil subjects. 
I deem it of importance that, the loyal regions of 
Eftst Tennessee and Western North Carolina should 
be connected with Kentucky and other Taithful parts 
of the Union by railroad. I therefore recommend, 
tvs a military measure, that Congress provide for the 
construction of Huch road as speedily as possible. 
Kentucky will, no doubt, co-operate, and through 
her Legislature make tbo most judicious selection of 
a line. The Northern terminus mast, connect with 
some existing railroad, and whether the route shall 
be from Lexington or Nicholaaville to the Cumber¬ 
land Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line In 
the direction of Knoxville, or on some still different 
lino, can easily be determined. Kentucky and the 
General Government co-operating, the work can he 
completed in a very short time/and when done it 
will be not only of vast present usefulness but also a 
valuable permanent improvement, worth its cost in 
an the future. 
Some treaties, designed chiefly for the interest of 
commerce, and havingno grave political importance, 
I have been negotiated, and will be submitted to the 
Senate for their consideration. 
Although we have failed to induce some of the 
commercial powers to adopt a desirable amelioration 
oi the rigor of maritime war, vve have removed all 
the obstructions from the way of this humane 
reform, except such as are merely of temporary and 
accidental occurrence. I invite your attention to 
the correspondence between Her Britannic Majesty’s 
Minister, accredited to this Government, and the 
Secretary of state, relative to the detention of the 
British ship Perthshire, in Jane last, by tbo United 
Status steamer Massachusetts, for a supposed breach 
of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned 
by an obvious misapprehension of the fact-, and as 
justice requires that we should commit no belligerent 
act not founded m strict right as sanctioned by pub 
lie law, I recommend that an appropriation be made 
to satisfy the reasonable demand of the owners of the 
vessel for her detention. 
1 repeat the recommendation of my predecessor, 
in his annual message to Congress in December last, 
in regard to the disposition of the surplus which will 
probably remain alter satisfying the claims of Amer¬ 
ican citizens against China, pursuant to the awards 
of the Commissioners under the act of the 3d of 
March, I860. If, however, it should not be deemed 
advisable to carry that recommendation into effect, I 
would suggest that authority be given for investing 
the principal over the proceeds of the surplus 
referred to in good securities, with a view to the 
satisfaction of such other just daimB of our citizens 
against China as are not unlikely to arise hereafter 
in the course of our extensive trade with that Empire. 
By the act of August 5, last Congress authorized 
the President to instruct the commanders of suitable 
vessels to defend themselves against and to capture 
pirates. This authority haH been exercised in a 
• single instauce only. Dor the more ellectual protec¬ 
tion of our extensive and valnable commerce in the 
Eastern seas, e ape dally, it seemed to me that It 
would also be advisable to authorize the commanders 
of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which 
pirates may make of tho United States vessels and I 
their cargoes, and the Consular Courts established by 
law in Eastern countries to adjudicate the cases in ] 
the event that this should not be objected to by the 
local authorities. 
If any good reason exists why we should persevere | 
longer in withholding our recognition of the inde¬ 
pendence and sovereignty ot' Hayti and Liberia, I 
am unshle to discern it. Unwilling, however, to 
inaugurate a novel policy in regard to them, without 
the approbation of Congress, J »nbmit for your con¬ 
sideration, the expediency of an appropriation for 
maintaining a Charge d’ A (fairs near each of those 
new States. It does not admit of doubt, that import¬ 
ant commercial advantages might be secured by 
favorable treaties with them. 
The operations of the Treasury during the period 
which has elapsed since your adjournment, have 
been Conducted with signal success. The patriotism 
of the people has placed at the disposal of the Gov¬ 
ernment tho large means demanded by the public 
exigencies. Much of the national loan has been 
taken by citizens of the industrial classes, whose 
confidence in their country's faith, and zeal for their 
country’s deliverance from its present peril, have 
induced them to contribute to the support of the 
Government the whole of their limited acquisition. 
This fact imposes peculiar obligations to economy in 
disbursement and energy in action. 
The revenue, from all sources, including loans for 
the financial year ending on the 30th of Juno, 1801, 
was $86,835,000.27: and the expenditures for the 
same period, including payments on account of the 
puhlio debt, were $8-1,678,034.47, leaving a balance 
in the Treasury on the 1st. of July, of $2,257,005.80, 
for first quarter of the financial year ending on tin-. 
30th of September, 1801. The receipts from* all 
sources, including the balance of July 1st. were 
$102,532,500.27; and the expenses $98,239,783.09, 
leaving a balance on the 1st of October, 1801, ot $4,- 
292,770.18. Estimates for the remaining three quar¬ 
ters of tho year and the ijflnneial year of 1863, 
together with his views of the ways and means for 
meeting the demands contemplated by them, will ho 
submitted to Congress by the Secretary of the Treas¬ 
ury. It is gratifying to kriowthat, the expenses made 
necessary by tbe rebellion - are not beyond tho re¬ 
sources of the loyal people, anil to believe that the 
same patriot,ism which tias thus far, sustained the 
Government will continue to sustain it till peace and 
union shall again bless the land. 
I respectfully refer to tho report of the Secretary 
of War for information respecting the numerical 
strength of the army, and for recommendations 
having in view an increase of its efficiency and the 
well being of the various branches of tlie services 
entrusted to his care. It is gratifying to know that 
the patriotism of the people has proved equal to tho 
Occasion, and that the number of troops tendered 
greatly exceeds the force which Congress authorized 
me to call into the Held. 
T refer with pleasure to those portions of his report 
which make allusion to tho creditable degree of dis¬ 
cipline a] rendy§attained by our troops, and to the 
excellent sanitary condition of the entire army. 
The recommendation of the Secretary for an organi¬ 
zation of the militia upon a uniform basis, is a sub¬ 
ject, of vital importance to the future safety of the 
country, and is commended to the serious attention 
of Congress. The large addition to the regular army, 
in connection with the defection that bus « 0 consid¬ 
erably diminished the. number of its o(fleers, gives 
peculiar importance to his recommendation for 
increasing tho corps of Cadets to tho greatest 
capacity of the Military Academy. 
By mere omission, I presume, Congress has failed 
to provide chaplains for the hospitals occupied by 
the volunteers. This subject was brought to my 
notice, and I was induced to draw up the form of a 
letter, one copy of which, properly addressed, has 
been delivered to each of the persons, and at, the 
dates respectively named and stated in a schedule, 
containing also the form of the letter, marked A, 
and herewith transmitted. These gentlemen, I un¬ 
derstand, entered upon the duties designated at the 
times respectively stated la the schedule, and have 
labored faithfully therein ever since. I therefore 
recommend that they tie compensated at the same 
rates as chaplains in the regular army. I further 
suggest that, general provisions lie made for chaplains 
to serve at hospitals as well as with regiments. 
The report, of the Secretary of the Navy presents 
In detail the operations of that branch of the service, 
the activity and energy which characterize its ad 
ministration, and the results of measures to increase 
its efficiency and power. Such have been tin- addi¬ 
tions by construction and purchase, that it may 
almost be said a navy has bren created and brought 
into service since our difficulties commenced. Be 
sides blockading onr extensive coast, squadrons 
larger than ever before asueriiblfid under our flag 
have been put afloat, and performed deeds which 
have increased onr naval renown. 
I would invite special attention to tho recommend 
ation of the Secretary for a more perfect organiza¬ 
tion of the Navy, by introducing additional grades 
in tbo service. The present organization is defective 
and unsatisfactory, and tbe suggestions suhmitted 
by the department will, it is believed, if adopted, 
obviate the difficulties alluded to, promote harmony, 
and Increase the efficiency of the navy. 
There are three vacancies on the bench of the 
Supreme Court — two by the decease of Justices 
Daniel and McLean, and one by the resignation of 
Justice Campbell. 1 have so far forborne muking 
nomination* to till the vacancies for reasons which 1 
will now state. Two of the outgoing Judges resided 
within the .States now overrun L>y the revolt, so that 
if successors were appointed in the same localities, 
they could not now serve on their circuits; und 
many of the most competent men there probably 
would not take the personal hazard of accepting to 
serve even here upon the Supreme Bench. I have 
been unwilling to throw all the appointments north¬ 
ward, thus disabling myself from doing justice to 
the South on the return of peace, although I mav 
remark that the transfer to the North of one which 
lias heretofore been in the South, would not, with 
reference to territory aud popuLution, be uujust. 
During the long and brilliant judicial career of 
Judge McLean, his circuit grew into an empire alto¬ 
gether too large for any one Judge to give the courts 
therein more than a nominal attendance—rising in 
population from 1,170,018 in 1830 to 6,151,405 in i860; 
besides this, the country generally has outgrown our 
present, judicial system. If uniformity was at all 
attempted, the system requires that all the States 
shall bo accommodated with Circuit Courts, attended 
by Supreme Judges, while in fact Wisconsin, Minne¬ 
sota, Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas. California and 
Oregon have never bad any auclt Courts. Nor can 
this well ho remedied without a change of the system, 
because the adding of Judges to the Supreme Court 
enough for the accommodation of all parts of the 
country with Circuit Courts, would create a Court 
altogether too numerous for a judicial body of any 
sort, and the evil of it. he one that will increase as 
new States came into the Union. 
Circuit Courts arc useful, or they are not usefnl. 
Tf useful, no State should be denied them; if not 
useful, no State Should have them. Let them be 
provided for all, or abolished as to nil. Three modi 
fications occur to me, either of which, 1 think, would 
be an improvement on our present system. Let the 
Supreme Court be of convenient number, in every 
event. Then, let the whole country be divided into 
circuits of convenient size, the Supremo Judges to 
serve on a number of them corresponding to them 
in their own number, and independent, Judges to be 
provided for the rest; or, secondly, let the Supreme 
Judges be relieved from circuit duties, and Circuit 
Judges provided for all the circuits; or, thirdly, dis¬ 
pense with Circuit Courts altogether, leaving the 
judicial functions wholly to tbe District Courts and 
an independent Supreme Court, 
I respectfully recommend to the consideration of 
Congress the present condition of tbo statute laws, 
with tile hope that Congress will be able to find su 
easy remedy for the many inconveniences and evils 
which constantly embarrass those engaged in the 
practical administration of them. Since the or.ani- 
/.aliou of the Government, < lOngres* has enacted 
some 5,000 a ta and joint resolutions, which fill more 
than 0,000 closely printed pages, and are scattered 
through many volumes. Many of these acts have 
been drawn in haste, and without sufficient cautiun, 
ho that their provisions are often obscure in them¬ 
selves or in conflict with each other, or at least so 
doubtful as to render it very difficult for even tho 
best informed persons to ascertain precisely wlmt 
the statute law ls. It seems to me very Important 
that the statute laws should be made as plain and 
intelligible us possible, and be reduced to as small a 
compass as‘may consist with the fullness arid pre- 
ei>ion of the will of the Legislature aud the perspi¬ 
cuity of its language. These well done would, I 
think, greatly facilitate the labors of those whose 
duty it is to assist in the administration of the laws 
and would be a lasting benefit to the people, by 
placing before them, in a more accessible and intel¬ 
ligible form, the laws which so deeply concern their 
interests and their duties. I am informed by some, 
whose opinions I respect, that all the acts of Con¬ 
gress now in force and of a- permanent and general 
nature, might bo revised and re written so as to be 
embraced in one volume, or at least two volumes, of 
ordinary und convenient size, and I respectfully 
recommend Congress to consider the subject, ami, if 
ray suggestion be approved, to devise such plan as 
to thoir wisdom may seem most proper for the 
attainment of the end proposed. 
One of the unavoidable consequences of the pres¬ 
ent Insurrection, Is the entire suppression, iu many 
places, of all ordinary means of administering civil 
justice by the officers, and in the forms of existing 
law. This is the case in whole or In part in all the 
insurgent States, and as our armies advance upon 
aud take possession of parts of those .States, tho 
practical evil becomes more apparent. There are no 
courts nor officer-i to whom the citizens of other 
States may apply for the enforcement of their lawful 
claims against citizens of the Insurgent States, and 
there is a vast amount of debt constituting such 
claim. Some have estimated itas high as $200,000,001), 
due in large part from insurgents, in open rebellion, 
to loyal citizens, who are even now making great 
sacrifices in the discharge of their patriotic duty to 
support the Government- Under theso ctrounistau- 
cos, I have heen urgently solicited to establish, by 
military pmwer, courts to. administer summary justice 
iu such cases. 1 have thus far declined to do it, not 
because I had any donht that the end proposed, the 
collection Of the debts, was just and right in itself, 
hut because I have, been unwilling to go beyond the 
pressure of necessity in the unusual exercise e( 
power. Bat the powers of Congress, 1 suppose, are 
equal to the anomalous occasion, and therefore I 
ruler the mutter to Congress, with the hope that a 
plan may be devised for the administration of justice 
in all parts of tho insurgent States aud Territories 
as nifty bo under control of this Government, whether 
by a voluntary return to allegiance and order, or by 
tbe power of arms. This, however, is not to he a 
permanent institution, but a temporary substitute, 
and to cease as soon as the ordinary courts cun be 
re-established in peace. 
It is important that some more convenient means 
should bo provided, if possible, for the adjustment 
of claims against the Government, especially in view 
of their increased number by reason of the war. It 
is as much the duty of Government to render prompt 
justice against itself in favor of citizens, twit id to 
administer the same between private individuals. 
The investigation am! adjudication of claims In tlicit 
nature belong to the judicial department. Besides, 
it is apparent that the attention of Congress will he 
more than usually engaged, for some time to come, 
with great national questions. It was intended by 
the organization of the Court of Claims mainly to 
remove this branch of business from the halls of 
Congress. But while the Court has proved to be an 
effective and valuable means of Investigation, it in a 
great degree fails to effect the object of its creation 
for want of jmwer to make its judgments final. 
Dully Aware of the delicacy, not to say the danger of 
the subject, I commend to your careful consideration 
whether this power of making judgments final may 
not properly be given to the Court, reserving the 
right, or appeal on questions of law to the Supreme 
Court, with such other provisions as experience may 
have shown to he necessary. 
^ I ask attention to tho report of the Postmaster 
General, the following being a summary statement of 
tlm condition of the department; 
The revenue from all sources during the fiscal year 
ending Juno 30, lfldl, including the nunuul perma¬ 
nent appropriation of $700,000. for the transportation 
Of free mail matter, was $9,040,296.40, being about 
two per cent, less thnn the revenue for I860. The 
expenditures wero $13,600,759,11, showing a decrease 
of more than 8 per cent, as compared with those of 
tho previous year, and leaving an excess of exnendi- 
tun a over the revenue for tho last fiscal year of over 
$557,462.71. The gross revenno for the year ending 
Juno 311th, 1863, is estimated at an increase of four 
per cent, on that of 1861, making $8,683 000, to 
which slionld be added the earnings of the Depart¬ 
ment in carrying free matter, viz., $700,000, making 
$9,383,0(10. The total expenditures for 1863 are esti- 
mated at $12,528,000, leaving an estimated deficiency 
of $3,145,000 to ho supplied Ij-om tho Treasury in 
addition to the permanent appropriation. 
The present Insurrection shows, I think, that the 
extension of this district across the Potomac river at 
the time of establishing the Capital here, was emi¬ 
nently wise; und consequently that tlm relinquish¬ 
ment of that portion of it which lies within the State 
of Virginia, was unwise and dangerous. I submit 
for your consideration Die expediency of regaining 
that part of tlm District and the restoration of the 
original boundaries thereof, through negotiations 
with the State, of Virginia. 
The Report of the Secretary of the Interior, with 
Urn accompanying documents, exhibit the condition 
of the several branches of the public business per¬ 
taining to that Department. The depressing influ¬ 
ences of the insurrection have been especially felt in 
the operations of the Latent and General Land 
Office. The cash receipts of sales of public lands, 
during the past year, have exceeded tlm expenses of 
our land system only abont $ 200 , 000 . The sales have 
been entirely suspended in the Southern States, while 
the interruptions to the business of the country and 
the diversion of large numbers of men from labor to 
military service have distracted settlements in tlm 
new States and Territories of the Nortb-We-t. The 
receipts of the Latent. Office have declined in nine 
months about $ 100 , 000 , rendering a large reduction 
of the force employed necessary to mnke it self sus¬ 
taining. Tho demands upon the Pension Office will 
be largely increased by the insurrection. Numerous 
applications for pension* based upon the casualties 
of the existing war have already been made. Tlmre 
Is reason to believe that many who are now upon the 
pension roll aud iu the receipt of the bounty of the 
Government, are in the ranks of the inmirgeut army 
or giving them aid and comfort. The Secretary of 
the Interior has directed ft suspension of the-payment 
of the pensions of snch persons, upon proof of their 
disloyalty, i recommend that Congress authorize 
that, officer to cause tho names of such persona to be 
stricken from the Pension Roll. 
The relations of the Government with the Indian 
tribes have been greatly disturbed by the rebellion— 
especially in tho Northern superintendency and in 
that of New Mexico. The Indian country south of 
Kansas Is In possession of the Insurgents from Texas 
and Arkansas. The agents of the United States 
appointed since the 4th of March for this superin¬ 
tend oncy have been unable to reach their posts, 
while moat of those who were in office before that, 
time have espoused the insurrectionary cause, and 
assume to exercise the powers of agents by virtue of 
cornini-sions from ilm insurgents. It has been slated 
in tbe public press that a portion of those Indians 
have been organized as a military force and are 
attached to the army of the Insurgent*, although the 
Government has no official Information upon tho 
subject. Letters have been written to the Commis¬ 
sioners of Indian Affairs by several prominent chiefs, 
giving assurance of their loyalty to the United States, 
and expressing a wish for the presence of Federal 
troops to protect them. It Is believed that, upon tho 
reposesM-in of the country by the Federal forces, the 
Indians will readily cease all ho.-tile demonstrations, 
and resume their former relations to the Government. 
Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of tho 
nation, has not a department Ora bureau, but a clerk¬ 
ship only assigned to it in the Government. While 
it is fortunate that this great interest is so independ¬ 
ent in its nature as not to have demanded and 
extorted more from the Government, I respectfully 
ask Congress to consider whether something more 
can not be given voluntarily with general advantage. 
Annual reports, exhibiting the condition of our agri¬ 
culture, Commerce and manufactures, would present 
a fund ot information of great practical value to the 
country. While I make no suggestion as to details, | 
I venture the opinion that an Agricultural and Statis- j 
llol Bureau might profitably be organized. 
The execution of tho laws for the suppression of! 
the African Slave trade has been confided to tho j 
Department of the Interior. It is a subject of con¬ 
gratulation that the efforts which have been made for 1 
the suppression of this inhuman traffic have been ! 
attended with unusual success. Five vessels fitting 
out tor the Slave trade have been seized and eon- 
dcraned. Two masters engaged In the trade, und i 
one person engaged in equipping a vessel as a slaver, j 
have been convicted and subjected to the penalty uf 
fine and imprisonment; and use captain, taken with 
a cargo of Africans on board his vessel, has heen 
convicted of the highest grade < f offence under our 
laws, the punishment of which is death. 
The Territories of Colorado, Daootuh and Nevada, 
created by the last Congress, have been organized 
and civil administration lias heen inaugurated there¬ 
in, under auspices especially gratifying, when it is 
considered that the leaven of treason was found 
existing in some of these new countries when the 
Federal officers arrived. The abundant natural re¬ 
sources of these territories, with the security and 
protection afforded by organized government, will 
doubtless Invite to them ft large immigration when 
pence shall restore the business of the country to its 
accustomed channels. I submit the resolutions of 
tbe Legislature of Colorado which evinced the patri¬ 
otic spirit of the people of the territory. So far the 
authority of the United State* has been upheld in all 
the Territories, as it is hoped it will he In the future. 
I commend their interests and defence to the enlight¬ 
ened and generous care of Congress. 
f recommend to the favorable consideration of 
Congress the interests of the District of Columbia. 
The insurrection lifts been the cause of much suffer¬ 
ing and sacrifice to tho Inhabitants, nud us they have 
no representative in Congress, that body should not 
overlook tlujjr jnftt claims npon the Government. 
At your late session n joint resolution was adopted 
authorizing the President to take measures for facili¬ 
tating ft proper representation of the Industrial inter¬ 
ests of th" United States at the Exhibition of the 
Industry of all Nations to bo holdup at London In the 
year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two. I 
regret to h ive been unable to give personal attention 
to this matter a subject at once so interesting in 
itself, und so extensively nod intricately connected 
with the material prosperity of the world. Through 
the Secretaries of State ami of the Interior a plan or 
system "has been devised and partly matured, which 
will be laid before you. 
Under ami by virtue of the net of Congress, enti¬ 
tled "An Act to Confiscate Property used for Insur¬ 
rectionary Purposes,” approved Ang. fi, 1861, the 
legal claim of certain persons to the labor and ser¬ 
vice of certain other porsons have become forfeited, 
and numbers of the latter thus liberated are already 
dependent upon the United States, and must be pro¬ 
vided lor in some way. Besides this, it is not impos¬ 
sible that some of the States will pass similar enact¬ 
ments for their own benefit respectively, and by tho 
operation of which persons of tho same class will bo 
thrown upon them for disposal. In such case, I 
recommpml that Con gross provide for accepting such 
persons from snch States according to some mode of 
valuation, in lieu pro tanto of direct taxes, or upon 
sumo ether plan to bo agreed ou with such States 
respectively; that such person*, on acceptance by tbe 
General Government, be at, once deemed free,—that 
in any event steps bo taken for eolonizing both 
classes, or the one first, mentioned If tho other shall 
not be brought into existence, at some place or places 
In ft climate congenial to them. It might bo well to 
consider whether the free colored people already in 
thc United States could not, so fur aa Individuals may 
desire, bo included In mi eh Colonization. 
To carry out the plan of colonization may involve 
the acquiring Of territory, and also tho appropriation 
ol money beyond that to bo expended in the territo¬ 
rial acquisition. Ifaviog practiced the acquisition 
of territory for nearly alxt.y years, the question of 
constitutional power to do so is no longer an open 
one with us. The power was at first questioned by 
Mr. Jefferson, who, however, in the purchase of 
Louisiana, yielded hla scruples on the plea of great 
expediency. 
If it be said that the only legitimate objects of 
acquiring territory is to furnish homos for white men, 
this measure affects that, object; for t he emigration of 
colored men leaves additional room for white men 
remaining or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, Imwever, 
placed the importance of procuring l.onisisna more 
on political and commercial grounds, than on pro¬ 
viding room for population. On tills whole proposi¬ 
tion, including the appropriation of money, with the 
acquisition of territory, does not tho expediency 
amount to absolute necessity, that, without which 
tho Government cannot bo perpetual? 
If the war continue, in considering tho policy to 
bo adopted for suppressing the insurrection, I have 
been anxious and careful that the Inevitable conflict 
for this purpose shall not degenerate Into a violent 
and remorseless revolutionary struggle. I have, 
therefore, in every case, thought it proper to keep the 
integrity of the Union prominent as the primary 
object of the contest on onr part, leaving questions 
which are not. of vital military importance to the 
move deliberate action of the legDInture. 
In the exercise of my best discretion, T have ad¬ 
hered to the blockade of the port* held by tho insur¬ 
gents, instead of putting in force, by proclamation, 
the law of Congress, enacted at tho late session, for 
closing those ports. Also, obeying the dictates of 
prudence, as well as the obligations of law, instead of 
transcending them, t have adhered to the act of Con¬ 
gress, to confiscate property used for Insurrectionary 
purpose-. If a nt w law upon the same, subject shall be 
proponed, its propriety will be duly considered. Tho 
Union must bo preserved, and hence all defensible 
means must lie employed. We should not be in haste 
to determine what radical and extreme measures, 
which may reach the loyal aa well as the disloyal, are 
indispensable. 
The Inaugural Address at the beginning of the 
Administration, and the Message to Congress at the 
late Special Session, were both mainly devoted to the 
domestic controversy, out. of which the Insurrection 
and the consequent war have sprung. Nothing now 
occurs to add or substract to or from the principles 
or general purposes stated and expressed in those 
document*. 
The last ray of hope for preserving the Union 
peaceably, expired at the assault upon Fort Sumter, 
and a general review of what has occurred since may 
not ho unprofitable).. What was painfully uncertain 
then, is much better defined and more distinct now, 
and tho progress of events is plainly in the right 
direction. The insurgents confidently claimed a 
strong support from north of Mason and Dixon’s 
line, and the friends of the Union were not free from 
apprehensions On the point. This, however, was 
soon settled definitely, and on the right side. South 
of the line, noble little Delaware led oil' right from 
the first. Maryland was made to seem against the 
Union. Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges were 
burned, and railroads torn up within her limits, and 
we were many days at one time without the ability to 
bring a single regiment over her soil to the Capital. 
Now her bridges and railroad* are repaired, and open 
to the Government. She already give* seven regi¬ 
ments to the cause of the Union and none to the 
enemy; ami her people, at a regular election, have 
sustained the Union by a large majority, and a larger 
aggregate vote than they ever before gave to any can¬ 
didate or any question. Kentucky, too, for some 
time In doubt, is now decidedly, and T think un- 
changeaVdy, ranged on tho side of tho Union. Mis¬ 
souri is comparatively quiet, and I believe cannot 
again be overrun by tbe insurgents. These three 
States of Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, neither 
of which would promise a single soldier at first, have 
now an aggregate of not less than -10,000 in the field 
for Du: Union, while of their citizens, certainly not 
more than a third of that number among the insur¬ 
gents, and they of doubtful whereabouts and exist¬ 
ence, are iu arms against it. 
After a somewhat bloody struggle of months, winter 
closes on the Union people of Western Virginia, leav¬ 
ing them masters of their own country. An resur¬ 
gent force of about 1,600 for mouths domlnatJng the 
narrow peninsular region, constituting the eonntiesof 
Accomac find Northampton, and known as the eastern 
shore of Virginia, together with some contiguous 
parts of Maryland, have laid down their arms, and the 
people have renewed their allegiance to, and accepted 
the protection of, the old flag. This leaves no armed 
Insurrection north of the Lotomac or cast of the 
Chesapeake. Also, we have obtained iv footing at 
each ot tbe isolated points in the Southern coast of 
I latte ran, Fort Royal, Tybee Islatnl, near Savannah, 
and Ship Island, and we likewise have some general 
account# of popular movements in behalf of the Union 
in North Carolina and Tennessee. Theso things 
demonstrate that the cause of the Union is advanc¬ 
ing steadily southward. 
Since your last adjournment, Lieut. General Scott 
has retired from the head of the army. Daring his 
long life, tbo nation has not been unmindful of his 
merits. Yet. op calling to mind bow faithfully, ably, 
and brilliantly lie has served tho country, from a time 
far back In our history, when few of the now living 
had been born, and thence forward continually, I 
cannot but think that we are still his debtor. I sub¬ 
mit, therefore, for your consideration, what farther 
mark of recognition is due to him and ourselves as a 
grateful pimple. With tbe retirement of Gen. Scott 
came the Executive duty of appointing iri bis stead a 
General-in-Chief of the army. It is a fortunate cir¬ 
cumstance that neither in council nor country was 
there, so far as 1 know, any difference of opinion as 
to the proper person to be selected. The retiring 
Chief repeatedly expressed his judgment iu favor of 
