3 
[ Rep. No. 564. ] 
April 26 , 1832. 
The Committee on Agriculture, toiohich were referred the memorial of 
Dr. Henry Perrine, consul of the United States at Campeachy, and 
a resolution of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, 
recommending a grant of land in that Territory for the encourage¬ 
ment of the growth of neio and important agricultural products, 
exotic vegetables, and tropical plants, have had the same under con¬ 
sideration, and report: 
The plan and object of the memorialist, Dr. Perrine, are explained in 
his petition, hereto annexed, and made a part of this report, (No. 1.) Dr. 
Perrine has been for some years the American consul at Campeachy and 
Tabasco. Being a man of science and industry, he has devoted a great 
portion of his time, for the last four years, in the collection of the most 
rare and valuable tropical plants, medicinal trees and fruits, dyewoods,. 
and other productions of the Mexican States in which they abound. 
From the testimonials exhibited to the committee, they are satisfied that, 
from the extensive acquaintance of this gentleman in that country, and the 
high estimation in which he is held by the public authorities of Mexico, 
he has it in his power to obtain and* import to this country the most use¬ 
ful and valuable acquisitions to our agriculture. 
The committee do not deem it necessary to offer any remark on the 
subject of the practicability of such an enterprise. The history of the world 
shows that, in all ages and countries, trees. Vegetables, grains, and plants 
have been successfully transplanted and domesticated from one country to 
another. As a general principle of action for the National Legislature, it 
is better to abstain from any legislation upon such subjects, leaving them 
to individual enterprise and exertion. There are some cases, however, in 
which it would be unwise and impolitic not to furnish some facilities in aid 
of our enterprising fellow-citizens.. The Greeks and Romans obtained, at 
thepublic expense, a number of grains, vegetables, and plants, from Africa; 
and all the modern states of Europe have made it one of the leading con¬ 
siderations of national policy to promote new acquisitions to the agricul¬ 
ture as well as to the commerce of the country. 
The United States have accjuired eighteen or twenty millions of acres 
of>land hy the late treaty with Spain, now almost entirely uninhabited, 
the largest portion of which is incapable of producing any article now 
cultivated in the United States. This immense tract of land on the 
borders of our Union must lie unemployed and useless for many years, 
without some experiment such as Dr. Perrine proposes. The committee 
have, therefore, determined to report a bill, setting apart for this object 
one township of the public lands, to be granted to him and his associates, 
I Upon condition of its occupancy and successful cultivation. The com¬ 
mittee annex to this report a number'of documents and letters explanatory 
of the object, and shoAving the importance of the proposed experiment, 
(humbered from 2 to 7.) ^ r y 
' The committee also annex a copy of the Treasury circular to this report, 
(No. 8,) and translations from a recent work on Cuba, made by the dele¬ 
gate from Florida, showing the extent and value of the productions of that 
island, and the great importance of the introduction of the same articles 
as far as practicable, into this country. ' 
