PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
of the Snxite
and of' thp Ifoi^xr rtf' Ik rprmcy)hifii'cs
1 congratulate you and m\r common con- i
s.titi;oncy uj'on the favorable anspicos un-!
der wLich you moeV for your first session, j
(hir country is at jK'acc with all the worKl. j
Tli«* airitation which, for a time, threaten
ed to disturb the fraternal relations which
make us one people, is fast suhsiilingj
a year of general prosperity and health
has crowned the nation with unnsna’ hless-
injjs. None can look back to the danxers
which arc pass(*d, or f >rward to the bri'^ht !
prospect before us, without feeling a thrill |
of gratifii. ition, at the same time that he j
must be impressed with a graieful seusi of
our profound obligations to a benetii (M>f ,
IVovidcnee, whose p »ternal eare is so m iii-
ifest in the happiness of this highly-tavor- ■
cd laud.
Since the close of the la-t (^ringrcs.s, cer- I
tain (’iibans ainl other foreigncvs resi leiU
in the I'. S., who were more or less con-;
cerncd in the previous invasion of Cuba,
instead of being disc.>uraged by its failure, .
have agaiii abused tlie hospitality of this
country, bv makin*: it tjie scene of the
ci]ui}tment of another military expedition
airai^iSt that possession of her Catholic ma
jesty, in whiih they were counteiianeed,
aided and joined by citizens of the 1 . S.
On reci’ivinir intelligence that sut-h lesigns
were entertained, 1 lost no time in issuing
sueh instructions to the proper t)fficers of
the C. S. as seemed to be called for by the
occasion. 1)V the proclam ition, a cojty of
which is herewith submitted, I also wanit*l ^
those who might be in danger of U'ing in
veigled into this soherae of it.s unlawful
charactiT, and of t!ie penalties wliich they
would incur. I'^ir some time there was
reason to hojio tiiat these me-iures had
sufficed t(» prevt'ut any such atti inpt. This
hope, however, provo*^ t'-* be ih*hi«;ive. Ve
ry early iu the m'^n’ing of iif August,
a sttamer called the I'uiiporo ib'parti-tl
from New Orleans fi'r ('u*>), having im
]>oard upwards of four hundred armed
men, with evident intentions to make war
u|K>n the authorities of the island. This
expeditiou w,i> set on foot in palpabL- vii>-
liitiou of thf laws of the F. S. It> leader
was a Spaniard, and some of the chief offi-
cer, and some oth‘rs engaged hi it, were
fortigners. The {H'ts^'us compo-.iii'^ it.
however, wore mostly citizens of the I'. S.
Before the ex}>edition set out, and pro
bably before it w.is organized, a slight in-
surreetiunary nu)VLUicnt, which appears to
liave been .soon suppressed, had taken
plaee in tlie e.asteru quarter of Cuba. The
importance of this movement was unfortu
nately somuch exaggerated in the acct'unts
of it published in this country, that tlu-st' i
sulventurer? seeu\ to have bt i-n led to be
lieve that the Cn'ole population of the is
land not only d’sir^“d to tlir-'W otF the au
thority of the mother country, but had re
solved upon that step, and had b> guTi a
well-coueerted enterprise fur eticeciii:; it.
The jiersoiis engaged in the expedition
were generally yung and ill-infornied.—
The stt amer in which they embarked left
New Orleans stcaltLily aud without a
clearance.
[Here fcdhtws an account of the pro
gress and result of the c.vpeditiim. which
is so Will known that we omit that part.] [
Such is the melaneholy result of this H- j
legal anil ill-fatcc] expe-litiun. Thu«:. ;
thoughtless young meti have l»oen induced, :
by fa Is. ‘ and fraudule!it rej’resentations, to j
yiflate the law >f their country, through
rash and unfounde.l expectations of assist
ing to accomplish politi- al revolutions in
other States, and have lost their lives in
the undertaking. Too >evcre a judgment
can hanlly be passed, by the indignant
s'*nse of the community, upon those who. 1
being better informed ihem>elves, have vet |
h'd away the ardor of youth and a!i ill-di- I
reeted love of political li>K‘rty. The cor- i
re-pon lence between this (rovcrnment and j
that f?f rjtain relating to this transaction 1
is herewith communicated. j
Although the?e offenders against the
laws have forfeited the protection of their i
country, yet the Government niav, so far
as i... consistent with its ohlijrations to other
*ountries, aud its fixed purpose to luain- ;
tain and enforce thi- laws, entertain syin- i
pathy for their unofTending families and j
frienils, as well as a feeling of compassion i
for theinselves. Accordingly no proper
effort has been spared, anl none will be ^
“j-ared, to procure the relea.se of such citi- i
Zens of the I . S., engaged in this unlaw
ful enterprise, us are uc.r in confiement in
Spain; but it i.s to be hojjed that sueh in- ;
terposition with the go\.-rninent of that
country may not be considered as afford
ing any groun 1 of e.xpectation that the j
Cioverunient of the V. S. will, hereafter,
feel itself under any oblig.ition of duty to
intercede for the liberation or ]Kirdon of
such persons as are flagrajit offenders a-
g.'iinst the law of nations and the laws of
the li. S. These laws must be executed. ;
If we desire to maintain our respectability i
among the nations of the earth, it behoves
us to enforce stealily and sternly the neu-
Iralitj acts pas.sod by Congress, and to fed- ■
low, as far a.s may be, the violation of I
those acts with condig i {tunishment.
l>ut what gives a peculiar criminality to
this invasion i)f (’nba is, that under the
lead of Spanish subjects and with the aid
of citii'cns of the United States, it hud its
origin, with many, in motives of cupidity.
Money wa.s advanced by individuals, pro-
b ibly in considerable amounts, to {>urchase
Cuban bonds, as they have been called, is
sued by liopez, sold, doubtless, at a very
large discount, and for the payment of
which the public lands and public {iroper-
ty of Cuba, of whatever kind, ami the fis
cal resource-: nt the p fiplo and govomment
of that island, from v.hatever source to be
deriveil, were jdedged, jis well a.s the good
faith of the government expected to bo es
tablished. All these muans of payment,
it is evident, were only to be obtained by
a process of blooished, war, aui revolu
tion. None will deny that those v,ho s(!t,
on f )ot military cxjieditions against foreign
Siiite'^ by moans like these, are far iiion!
eulp.ible th.'Hi the ignorant and the neces
sitous whom they induce to go forth a.s flu;
((steii^ible parties in the proceeding. The«m j
originators of the invasion of Cuba .seem to
have det‘rmined, with coolness and .sys-
t‘in, upon un undertaking wliich should
uisgiaec their country, vi(^late its laws, and
]^ut to h.izaid the lives ot ill-infiirmel and
delu.lod men. You will consi.ler whether
further legv>latitm be necessary to prev-nt
the perf»etration of such offences in lature. :
No individn ils l..tve a right to hnzar.l :
t’le pr.fice of tin* eonntry or to yiolat‘ it^;
J - tVi 'ij'Oii v' gtu; notions of ah' ring or rc-
1 1 / ' idnpp of refuere and refrcshmenl for our
and in accordance with public law, but ls ^ * -f-.wo
I.ugrafad into tlic otIim of uthcr i.o“,lislant a»yT l.c vmM ni, Wtwcci. tl,v
r.sp«criv. dulL a,„l arc wHl.-rn .oust „f Nor.l. A.n.:,K-a aud Last-
ruilty of no violation of our laws. This ern Asia. , . ^ , , . ■
n. ...l.nWfe,! l:.w of uatious. Mud uo 1 AVc wcro also influenced by a des re
should not pa.ss under
maritime
indcpeml-
well as our own. Rut while such are
sentiments of this Gi'vernuient, it may be
added that every independent nation mu.st
be presumed to be able to defend^its ^pos-
.sessions ' ' •••■>■- ' i>' ■
baiul
aid use-
i.owers' and to observe all the duties of j the country and maintain the honor of it>
neutrility. At an early period of the flag. 15ut how can they di.scharge l.u'se
Gov’t in the udministrati.ni of Washing- duties unle.ss they be themselves protected;
(on, .several laws were passed for this pur- and, if protecti'd, it must be oy the laws
nose. The main pro\isions of these hiws . of the country ui which they reside. And
!v.-re re-enact,‘d by the act of April, 1>1S, i what is due to our own public functiona-
i.v which, amongst other things, it was de- ; ries rcjiiding in foreign nations is exactly
ciared that if any person shall, within the ; the measure ot what is due to the func-
tcrritory..r jurii-liction of the IT.S., be-: tionarics of other governments rcsi.iing
f'in, or set on foot, or provide, or jirepare here. As in war, the bt'arers ot nags >
du' means for any military expedition or truce are .'acred, or else wars woiud be in-
eiiterpri.»e to be carrii d on*from thence a- teiininable, .so in peace, embassador.s, j.ub-
the territorv or dominion of any for- lie ininist(‘rs, and c>nsuls,
sideratioiis has been greatly enhanced by
the sudilen and vast development whiidi
the interests >f the I . S. h.ive attainetl in
California and Orc'gon; and the policy
heretofore adopted iu regard to those is
lands will be steadily pursued.
It is trratifying not only to those who
mated unappropriated balance iri the Trea-'
sury on the 80th .June 1S53,
*.M), wherewith to meet that ]>ortion
of the public d('bt duo on tlic 1st July
following, amounting lo *(),287,^^31 35, as
well as any a]>propriaiions which may be
made beyond the estimates.
In thus referring to the estimated ex
penditures on account of f)ur newly-ac|uir-
ed Territories, I may ex[>rcss the hope that
Congress w’ill concur with me in the desire
th:it a liberal course of policy may be pur-
.sued towards them, and that every obliga
tion, express or implied, enter‘d into in
con.scqncnce of their ac(piisition, shall be
fullillcd by the most liberal ap[»i( i)riations
for that purpose.
The values of our domestic exjiorts for
tin' la.-'t fiscal yi'ar, as compared with tiiose
if the jtrevious year, exhibit an increase of
At first view this condition
^ Sr.
»■.
harircd with
ei'Mi prince or State, or tif any colony, dis-friendly national iuTercourse, arc objects *i‘ • i i: i...r . fir f le.lf nf tli if
p , I'  resnoct ind nrotection each ae- ternal tranuuility of the Mexican republic during tlic fii>t li.ilt ot that
tnet, or peopie wuh whom t^^ie I . S. are ot .spLual uspcct ami pi. ticti n, ^ ,,,iously .li.sturbed; for, . price has since .h clincd about one-lialf.
84:},r)4),:}'2-2.
con.sider^ the * commercial "^interests of ua-1 of (uu- trade with foreign nations wouhl
tions, but aUo to all who favor the pro- ' seoni to present the most flattering lu.pes
gres.s of knowledge and the diffusion of of its future prosperity. An examination
ivliLiion, to see a community emerge from ■ of the details of our exports, however, will
a savairi' stale and attain such a degree ot show that the increased valu‘ of our ex
civilization in those distant ,se:;s. ports for the hist Mcal year is to be fouixl
It is much to be deplored that the in- | in the high price of cotton which prevaih'd
year,
This practical evasion of the present law, j of Guadalupe ITidalgo has
combined with the langui.shing condition engaged in running and m. i.”
of some of the great interests of the conn- boundary line between the (', • ’
try, caused by over importations and con-1 and Mexico. * * "
sequent depressed |*rices, Jiiid with the | The commission on our part w
failure in obtaining a foreign market for j orgaiiized on a scale wh
our increasing surplus of breadstuffs and ; proved to be uiiwicldly aini ^ttf i
jirovisions, has inluced me again to re-, unnecessary expense. Or,], rVi*,''
commend a moditication of the existing fore, been i.ssued for the hm.u,t*!,' '
tariff’. number of pcr.^ons ei.ipl„y,.!i
The report of the Secretary of the smalle.et limits, con>i>tei,t\;,i| jj '"'‘U
Interior, whi(di accompanies tlii.-communi- Of tho.se engj'.ged in the
cation, will jiresent a condensed statomentj prompt and cftic,ient exccuti,,jj
of the f peratioiis of that imjiortant depart- inifiortant duties. 'U-
nw'nt of the (lovernmcnt. Keturns have been n cciv((| f(.,, „
It will be seen that the ca.«h .salesof the officers engaged in takJiijr fl.p' "‘
jmblic lands exceed those of the preceding the States and Territori>exMt ('■
year, and that there is reaso>.i to anticipate nia. The superiiitemh at '
a still further increase, notwithstanding make the enuuieratii
the large donations which have been made not yet made his full report fV,,
to many of the States, and the liberal as he alleges, bcyoi.tl his;
grants to individuals as a reward for inili- failure-is much to l>e refrn ttcrl ^ '
tary services. This fact furnishes very prevented the Secretaiy >f tli, j'
‘U,- -
"I tlii.t St',.'-
which
people .. ....
at peace, every person .■>o offending shall cording to the rights belonging to his rank
be deemed guilty ..f a high mi.sdeiueaiior, and .station. In view of thc.e important
and shall be tined, not exceeding $o,UOU, principl-s. it is wi,l. deep mortilieution aud
iiid imjiris'Uied not more than three yi'.irs; re^xret I announce to yt-'U that, dining the
and
f>
the
prod:
mil imjiris'Uied not more than three yi'.irs; regret I announce to yt-'U that, dining the
ind this law has been executed and eu- excitement growing out of the executions
forced, to the full extent of the power of at Havana, the office of her C.itholic ma-
the (iov’t, from that day to this. , j'-^ty’s con.'>ul at New Oilcans was a.^.-^aile.l
In proelaiiniiiir avlhoriiiix to tin'l*y his p/opi rt> ttu*
Spanish flag found in the ofhee carried off
and torn in pieces, and he himself indiic‘d
to lice for his personal safety, which he
supposed to be in danger. On reeiiving
intelligence of these events, 1 forthwith
most eminent of modjni liritish lirected the attorney of the V. S. residing
at New Orleans to injuire into the tacts
and'fhe extent of the pecuniary loss sus
tained by the consul, with the intention of
laying them before you, that you might
make pro\ ision for such indemnity to him
as a just rcgi.rd for tlie honor of th>‘ nation
and the rcsp«>ct w hi h i due to a triendly
power migl.t, in your judiiuient, seem to
rcipiire. Tin* corrc.-pondence ui>on this
subject iictween the Secretary of State and
her (’atholic inajesty’s nr’ni'f r plenipo
tentiary i>; herewith transm’tf.-l.
The occurn nee at New Orleans has led
me to give my attention to the state of our
laws in regard to fonign enii>a'.idors,
ministers, and consuls. I think the h gis-
lation of the country i- >b ficieiit in not pro
viding 'Uthcieiifly either f >r th" jiroteetion
or the puni-'hment td" i iii'ul.-. 1 tht refore
recommend the subject to the co.isiii; ra
tion of Congros.
Your ;.ttintion is ngiin invited t.. the
i|Uestion of rei-ijinK-al tr.ide belwi'en the
1. .and (’anada and oth-r Mriti'h p"s-
se^sions near our frontier. (K rture^for
a convention upon this >u' ji t have been
rt eei\ed from her Dritann.c 'i.tj> ' Min-
i.'ter I’l' iiipoteutiary, but it ni' to ! ■■ in
many r'“>peet' pr> f’er.il le that t!ie matter
should be re:rul;ited by reeipnKal lei^i-l.i-
tion. I>«)cmuents are laid before you show-
ing the terms which the JJriti.^h govcrn-
nu’ut i> willing to effer, .nnd the mea.'uro
which it may adopt, if sonn* arrangement
upon this subject shall not be made.
From tli(“ accompanying copy of a note
from the liritish l.,egation at NVa-hington,
'c fir it.'V If, and make and the rejdy of the Departm* lit of St.ate
uit its theret '. it will appear that her llritannie
Maje.-ty's government is desir>iu- that a
jiart of the boundary line b« tween Oregon
and the I>riti>h j)i >houM be au-
th •rit;;ti\t ly m.uked out, ami that an in
tention was expressed to apply to Con
gress f T an aj'jir ipriation to defr.iy the
which we fitl in the spread of liberal prin- cxpen>ie thereof on the part of the I’. S.
trine of neiitrality and nin-iutervention,
the r. S. have not followed the le.nl of
other civilized nation.^;- they have taken
the lead theni.sclvcs, and have been follow
ed bv others. This was admitted by one
of tiie
statesnn'U, who said in I'arliament, while
a minister of the cn>wn, “that, if he wish
ed for a gui le in a system of neutrality, he
should take that laid diuvn by Auicriea in
th • days of Wa.'iiiiigton ami the .secret.ary-
ship of r]effer.-'on;'’ and we see, in fact, that
the act of Congress of lil'' was fdlowed,
the succeviling year, by an act of the Par
liament of l‘]ngland, sub>tanti:il!y the .same
in its general provision';. I'p to that time
there hail been m) similar law in Kngland,
except certain highly penal st.itutes pa.ssed
in the reign of (leorge If. prohibiting Kng-
lish subjects from enlisting in for"igii ser
vice, the avowed oi>jeet of wliich statutes
was, that f>reiin armies, raised for the
purp'xe "f rr'toring the house of Stuart to
the throne, >hould not be strengthened by
recruits from r.ngl.aid her.'; lf.
All uui't sv-e that difliculties may arise
in carrying the laws referred to into exe
cution in a country now having three tir
four thousand miles of sea coast, with an
infinite numlK'r of ports ami harlH^rs and
small inlets, from some of R-hich unlawful
ex})cditions m ly .suddenly .-^ct forth, with
out tlie knowledge of (I 'Vernnu nt, again.-t
the po.sacssioiis of foreign .'^tates.
Friendly relations with all, l>ut I'litaiiir-
ling alliances with none, ha.' lontr been a
maxim with us. Our true mi>sion i not
to propagate our opinions, or impos.“ upon
other countries our firm of govirnnu nt. by
artifice or force; but to teach by example,
and show by our .-«ucee>', moderation and
just :cc, the blessings ot stdf-governmeiit,
and the advantagts of free institutions.
Let every ]>e>‘} !e c h
and alter it' pditieal iii'titutions to
own conditi on and cnvetiience. J>;it,
while we a\' w and maintain this n. utral
policy ourselves, we are anxious to >ee the
.same forbearuJice on the part of other n.i-
tioiw, whose forms of govi rnment are dif
ferent from our own. 'I’he deep interest
since the peace between that republic and The value of our exports of breadstnffs
the r. S., it had enjoye*! such conipara- ami provisions, w Inch it was sup[»o.ed the
live reposi' that the m )st favorable antiei- incentive of a low tariff ami large iinporta-
pations for the future might, with a degree tions from abroad would have greatly aug-
of eonfideiu e, have been indulged. These, menteil, h.is fallen from • 1 ,l)l'1, in
however, have been thwarted by the recent is 17. to ?2(),(>:)1 ,:!7o in 18.')(>, ami to 1 ,-
outbreak in the State (d' Tamaulip.is, on in with a strong probabili-
the riirht bank of the Ilio I>ravo. II iving tv, amounting almost to a certainty, of a
received information that jx’r.sons f'rom the still further reduction in the current year.
F. S. had taken part in the insurrection. The aggregate values of rice cxportel
and apprehending that their example might during the last fiscal 3’c ir, as compared
be followed by others, I eau.seil orders to with the previous year, also exhibit a de-
be issued for the purpose I'f preventing crease amounting to 7, which, w ith
any ho.'tile expedition against Mexico from a dei line in the valn -s of the (*xj»orts of
beiii'f set on foot in violation of the laws tobacco for the same ]>eriod, make an ag-
of the F. S. I liki-wise issuel a proda- gregat‘ decrease in these two articles of
matioii ui'on the ^ubject, a copy of wlr.eh .SI ,1 •)»,7*>I.
is heii-w ith laid before you. This appeared Th.- policy wdii h di-tated. a low ra*e of
to lie rendered imperative by tKeobligi- duties on forei«rn men haiidise, it was
gratifying evidence of the growing wealth from making the deei Tmial
and prosperity of our country. -of re{ircsentativi s ainonir t!ic ,'
[The l‘rc.sideiit here states that meas- ]
,1 1 ] r • l>oO. It IS hoped le.v.. \(r tl, ,'
a.l..|,U-.l f..r con.men.ll.g „.ill s. on li m, K.M a, il
the sm vi v of llii^ puliljc land.- li> Oregon d,,.,, j,, *
and California;—and that coniinissi''ners portionment, and in traii'iuiri,.,/' -' '
have been appointed to sittle private land tifieates required by 1;;^.
claims in ( ■aliforuia. In his lust unnua]^ ^ he Superintt nd(-.it (,} tlj, s;. ^ ,
1 11*1 , sus IS dilligently enii,] vii.,„i
messaire Ik; n'commendcil the survey and ,* ' • • '‘ii'l'r-
I 1 . 4- ,1 rectum ot the >.-retary of ,1,,. .
ands; but furiher , i *'i :;r ,
’ I ,. ela.sitvinir and arraiH-Mi r nt i:
to criaiiLre bis ,, ' ‘ . .
. , • *1 * *1 1 ‘ 1 *•* *he statistical iiifoi lu irj,.,. ,.
oiiHiion, and to advise that the lands re- ., , « . ,
‘ . ^ . n .1 the returns of tiie neu-i
main, as at present, open to all, until ex- , i
. ’ 1 n 1 1 1 1 .1 1 * lieved that when
iierieuce shall h;ive ueveloiieu tlie best i . i -i,
* plcted It Will '-xiii! It a uiQ
sal(! of th-'
information
mineral
inluced him
•a!t!l..(.
L'eat
cipK's and the e.'tabli.'hmcnt of free gov-
crnnicnfs, and the .>iympathy with wliich
we witne.-s every struggle against oppn s-
sion, f irbid that we sIi uiM be iiidifiereiit
t I u case in which the strong arm of a for-
e'gn jM.wcr is invoketl to >tifle j.ublie ' n-
tii.neiit and repics.' the spirit ot freedom in
anj country.
The governments of Great Britain and
I" ranee have i.'sued orders to their naval
coniinanders on the W.-st India station to
prevt ut by force, if necessary, the landing
of adventun-rs from any nation on the
Island of (’uba with hostile intent. The
copy i.f a memorandum of u couver'atiou
on tiiis suhject lietweeii the ('barge d'Af-
fuircs d‘ her Hrifaniiic Maje.'ty and the
Acting Seen tary ot State, and of a subsc-
\ our atti ntion to this sulijei t is according
ly invitril, and a proper appropriation re-
c: .mmended.
A con vent ion fr the ailju't m. nt ■ >f i laiins
of citizen.' of flu; F. S. against I’ortui^al
ha-i been ct.iKdmh-d, and the ratifications
have 1.1 i ll exi h.iiiged. The fir't instal
ment of the amount to be p:iid bv I’ortu-
gal fell due on the .‘U>th of Septenibi-r last,
ami h.is been paid.
The Frc.'ideiit of the French rejuiblic,
according to the provi-iin> of the cinxeii-
tion, has been seh'itcd as arbiter in the
case of the tlciieral Arm>trong; and has
signified that he acce]>ts tin' trust and the
high satisfaction he f. els in acting as the
eommoti friend of two nations, with which
Franco is united by sciitiuients of sinci re
(inent note ot the former to the Hepartm’t and lasting amity
ot State, are herewith submitted, together The 'I urkish government has expressed
with a cojiy of a note of the Acting S' crc- its thanks for the kind reception given to
tary ot State to the Mini.ster of the French the .'^ulton’s agent, Amin Bey, on the oc-
{{epublic, and of the reply of the latter, on casion of his recent visit to the F. S. On
the same subject. The.se papers will ac- the iiSth of February last a uespatch was
quaint you with the grounds of this inter- addressed by the Secretary of State to .^Ir.
position of the two leading commercial Marsh, the American Mini.'tcr at ('em
powers of Kiiropo, and with the a[>j>r(dien- ' statitinopb', instrm ting him tf) ask of the
si>ns, which this Government could not Turkish govirniii' iit permission for the
tions of treaties and the general duties of
giHid neighborhoi>d.
[The .^Icssage here refers to the propos
ed connection of the Atlantic and F.icifie
oceans by a r.iil-roa 1 across the Nfhmu> of
Tehuantepec, w hich has been ret.ir h'1 by
the delay of Mexico to ratify the treaty on
the subject. This government ha' no ob
ject in \ iew but to ojKii to all the world the
sh-'itest routi', with exidiisi\e privih-r' ' to
none. The .^!esslge mentions with n*grct
th“ civil commotions in Nicuragna;—n f r«
to tin* jirogre.ss of the canal from the mouth
of the St. John’s to the I'acific. and to tin*
r.iil road aero.' the I'thmus of Faii.im —
all of wliii h routes arc .'|ioken favorably of'.]
l‘i-aie has been concluded between tin*
contending parlit s in the I'laiid of St. Do
ming". an I it is hojx d upon a iur.ibh' b i-
si'. Sueh is the cxtt nt d’our cminereial
r latloiis with that i.'Ialld, that tlie 1 . S.
c.innot flil to frel a strong interc't in it'
tramp.iility.
The iifFiee of (’ommis'ioncr to China re
main' nntilh'd; .'cveral person' have been
appointed, anl the place has be>n offennl
to other. all of whom liavt* ilecline 1 its
ac‘i ]itan e. on the ground of tin* in.ib‘-
(piaev of the coinpeiisition. The annual
allo wance by law is aiiil there i'
no provi'ion for any outfit. I earii' 'fly
reeoninieiid the con>i !'ration of this sub
ject to 'oni:ri->s. (Kir commerce with
('hina is highly imp irtant, and is b‘e.im-
ing more ami more .'O, in cons'ijueiice of
the iin-rca'ing intcrcour.'c bilwieti our
ports on the I’acific coast and Fa.'tern A-
sia. (’hin.i is nn h'rstouil to be a country
in which living is very exp'-ii'ive, and 1
know of iKi reas.iii why the A lerir-.in
('ommi"ioner nt thither should not be
placed, in regard to com|»ensation. on an
e|Ual footing with mini'U i' w ho rt prc'’nt
thi' country at the i urts of |-]nrop,-.
l>y rer. n nee t i the lleport of the .''c-
cn tary of the 'I’rea'iiny. it will be seen
that till' .aggregate receip*' f>r fhi‘ l.it fis
cal year amonnt'd to 1 J.'.I7‘.> f^7;
which, with tin* balance in the Trea.'Ury
on the 1-t .Inly. gave, as the avail
able means for the year, the sum of S.’)S,-
I»17,.V_U :;f5.
'I'he totiil e.\[>endifures for the same pe
riod wer*' .? l''.tMlS (is.
The tital iinport.s fur tlio year eiidinp .‘^Oth .June
1H")1, w*.re ."j*!! 1
 If v.hicli there wfro in sj>t'cie 4,'.M'i7,‘.*Ol
The exjmrts for the saint- peritnl
were 17,517,130
Of wliioh there Aorc
of (I'liiiestic i>r>-
(lllCt.S
(footls re-ex-
jHirted
Specie
fail to entertain, that si.ch interp(jsitioii, if
carried into effect, might lead lo abuses in
derogation of the maritime rights of the F.
S. The maritime rights of th- F. S. are
founded on a firm, secure, and well-defined
llun
domini
to thi>
both
til'll requesti
!ji217..')l 7,1.30
Since the 1st of December last the pay
ments in cash on account of the public
thought by tho^•“ who pronioti- 1 and t's-
tabli'lu-1 it, would toinl ti) InMiefit the
farming popul iti ui of this country, by in
creasing the demand and raising the prict?
of atrricultural pr'>dnetiri foreiLTti markets.
'I'he foregoing facts, howevt'r, si-em to
show incontesiiblv that no siu h result h
followed the adoption of this policy. On
the contrai v, notwithstamiing the rej«‘al of
the restrii tive corn laW' in Fngland, the
f«rei^'»i demand f>r the products of the
Ann ric.-m farmer h.is steadily declined,
since the sh «rt erop' and i-o’i'eipu-nt famine
in .i portion of ICurojK* ha\c been happily
r. placed by full crops ami couip.native
abiindanee »>f fooil.
It will be s(>t‘i , by recurring to the rom-
ujen ial statistics f ir the pat year, that the
value of (lur dom'stic exports has been in-
ciea.s4-tl in the single item of raw cotton by
^ov. r the value of that export
for the V' ar preceding. 'riiis is not due
t > any nicn ased g'-neral leinm 1 f >r that
article, but to the >liort crop of the pre
ceding year, w hich cr- atcvl an iiicre.isevl
di niand and an autrnii uti-d price ftr the
crop of la>it y'-.ar. Sh-»uld the cotton crop
now going forward to market be only etpial
in {Uaiitity to that of the year preceding,
and be sol 1 at tin- prest-nt prices, tlun
there would be a filling iff in the value of
our export' fir the pn-'i nt ti'c.d y Mr of at
lei.'t is{(l,(i(i(J,tMi(l, comjiarcd with the a-
ni'Mint exp irted for the year ending .‘{nth
June, ]S.', 1.
The prodin tioii of goM in ('alifornia for
till- past Vi ar set ni' to pronii.se a lar:e sU])-
ply of that metal from that quarter for
SOUK- time to come. This large annual in-
cn a'(‘ of the currency of the world mu«t
be attemled w ith it' U'lial results. Tlu sc
haVe been already jiartially disclo.ed in the
enhancement i»f |>rices and a rising spirit
of sjH-culation and adventure, tending to
ovcriiMding. as wi ll at home as abroa-l.—
I nless some salutary « ht-ek sh.dl be given
to these t( ndeneiex, it is to be feared that
imp-'rtations of foreign gooils bevond a
healthy liemand in this country will lead
to a .XU Iden drain of the precious m-tals
from us, bringing with it. as it has done
in former tinit's, the most di.sistrous conse
quences to the business and cajiital of the
American people.
The exjiorts of specie to li|uidate our
foreign debt during the jiast fiscal year
have been 8‘24.‘2io.!l i !• uv r the aiii'iunt of
spi-cie imported. The exports of specie
liuring the first qu.irter of the pre.sent lis-
c.il year have been ,>'•27. Sh mid
specie continue to be exjiorted at this rate
for the remaining tlin'e quarters of this
year, it will ilrain from our metallic cur
rency during the year ending .‘JOtli June,
the enormous am >uut of 6.>S,tUl7,-
odS.
In the present prosperous condition of
the national finances, it will become the
■ iiiar-
ihe w
policy. I'he agricultural lands however,
1 ; 1 1 1 I . 1 * \i ♦ .'.5 ^'*1* p‘'pulat;on, wi-
shouid lie brouirnt into market, tliat titles • , ‘ ' ,. .
, '.11 I * • social condition of j
may hi'come settled, and permanent ini- . .
1 rpi .II I .. r has ever been prc.s-nr d t
iirovcnicnts made. 1 lie cstablisliiuent ot rr., i ,
1,-1 J he \ alu.- of .'lU'li a \V' i k i>
land oi;ices is therefore recommend-d.J
In niy last annual communication to
Congress I reconifneii lcd the cstai lishmcnt
of an .\irriculrur:.l Uur-;.u, and 1 t, k - this
occasion again to invoke your fav;irable
con-iid. ration of the subject.
Agriculture lusy ju.stiy iie regarded as
the gre.it interot of (.nr people. Four-
fifths of our active population are cmjiloy-
C'l in the (.iihivation of the soil, and the
rapid expansion of onr settlcm'-nts over
new territory is daily adding to the nnmbcr
of tho.se eiiiriircd in tiiat vocation. Justice
■ ■ i
enlightened le;^i.'l.itioii. can n
vcr-i^stimateii; and 1 ( rncvtiv ;
Cmgn ss will h>.e no tinn-i;I i;,
apjirop; iations ncces' rv r,, c. |,
(dassiiicatioiis, and to •
in a styh' w-irthy of the .'ul j i r
national cliaracier.
In my last ainra.d m- ] ,
ly my n'Tisons for bcli.'\iie_r e, .
sos.«ed the constitutional j - W'ri
the harbors r f onr gn ;.f !/k'>
coast, aiiil the iiaviiratiou
rivers, and reconimt iidt'l ili
Ul
an f sonnd policy, tln-reton-, aliKc require tions should be made f t c i,,,
that the (rov»*rnment should u.'C all the works as had alreadv
mean authorivred by the Con.-ititution to
prom- te tin- inteiots and wt lfare of that
imjiortaiit cla'S of our t’l llow-eltizcns. And
yet it is a singular fact that, whilst the
manufaitnring and commercial intere.>ts
have eiigafed the attention of Congress
during a large p irtir>n of every .'ession.
and our statutes abound in provi.sions for st.ite, and cons: qui-nilv
liiiii.-:.-,
for comrnencin:: such nfl,. T':,' iu ■
to the w;.'di'iii of Coiiiirc." t.-: I, ■: -
and general impi rtani v . W,:li u .
ing the n a.'on' tln-n iiiv-d. I c|r, i,i
duty again to e:tll your ati.nt:'
important subject. Th w.ik- ;
of the harbors were h fr iu ;.i. ui.;.
tioii of the ch'incnts. whi, h f;,>t :■
ing tlu in. Gre:it llnIlJ^^r■- 'f ;
v;'t amounts of pr >p-rtv ,n.- Mnm. .
f r want of safe and cni.\ i.r
th'- lakes. None 1 ut thwi;-,'n
cx)> >s.>d to that daiig(-roii' n.a.^u.
fully apTireciate flu- iinp i i. e
snbji'ct. The wdioh- ii-rili«' :,j,i
you for relief, and I tni't th
n-ceivc due considi r..ti -n at v ir
Tin- .s;ime is in a niea'Un i;u
their jirotcction and cncourag-ment, little
h.»s yet bei-n d-nu- directly for the advance
ment of agricniture. It is time that this
repro;i-h to iiur legi.'lation sliouM be re-
iiioVt-d: and I sim-.-rely iiope that the pre-
'••:it C 'lign'' will not close tin-ir labors
without .idojiting  ffi ient means to 'Upply
th * oni.''.'*ii' ot those who have pii ceded
th-ni.
-Vn .\irriculfural I>uri’..u, charged with
the duty of i-ollecti.ig and dissi niiiiating
I'orrect intorin it:on as to the bi-st modes et to some of the harbor' aiii
cultivation, and ot the most cffectua' means seacoast.
of pre.'. rvin^j: and n storing the ft riilify of
the soil, and of proeiinng and ui'trii uting
seeds and jdants and otiier vegetable pro-
iluctions, with instructions in reg.ird to the
soil, climate, and treatment best adapted
to their growth, could not fid to be, iu the tl/e jnil.lic land' in those rci:
language of Washington, in his la.'t annual T,.,.;;tlv enhanced l-\ freeinL'
mes.'age to ('’onL^re.v-. a “very cheap instru- n,,,i of th isi. waters'fr ni ol,..-:n.>ti
ment of inimeu'e tiational bem fit.” \ iew, therefore, of this i.r
liegaroing the act ot Congress ajiproved deem it my duty again to unre uj
•jsth Sep'eml>er, 1'00, granting bounty grc'S to make siieh a{.jaopria;;. ii'
The unetli'tructed nav'.i.;ati
rivers is of equal imj>': taiir ■
nu'iits are now exten lin_ t ■
the great rivt rs w hieh i inj iy
a p'srt of the 31issi."i{'pi
(I
th’-
H I:' '
lands to persons who had been engaged in
the military service of the country, as a
great nu-a'urf of national jnstiee and mu-
niticencc, an anxious de.'irc has been felt,
by th'- officer' entrusted with its immedi
ate execution, to give prompt effect to its
priivisions. All the means Viithin their
control were, th*n fore, brought into re
quisition to expedite the ailjudication of
claims, and I am gratified to b* able to
."tate that near apj lic.itioiis have
i'ceii considered, and about 7>.war-
iniprovenu-nts ;!S they may dei iiii! -
’I'ln- surveys (if the D Ita of th- M-
sipjii, with a view to the {>;•-v. :r;
oveiflows that have proved .so di'..'’:
that region of country, h:ive b-
compl- tcd, and th*-reports tiieP "I : ■
in coursi- of pre]>aratien, and
be laid before you.
[Here follows a detail ef tin
made to protect our southwc't' ru 1:
and the adjacent Mixicaii Statt'. i-
ijuired by the treaty with .^b.\a". ”
I rants issued within the short space of nine
months. If ade|uate provision be made depredations. (’on-ri" 1.
by law to carry into effect the recommeii- r-i i i i
I,.;,,,.. ,1 I, , . •. • tailed to provide an addiiional rcL'iiu'.
dations or the i>epartment, it is conhdcnt- *
' ly expected that, bcfore. thechi.se of the
next fiscal vi'ar, all yvho are entitled to the from other jdaces h:
bccH ■
basi.s; they stand upon the ground of Na- the employment of a public vessel to con
benefits of the act will have received their
warrants.
The Secretary of the Interior has .sug
gested in his report various amendiuents
of the laws relating to pensions and boun
ty lands, for the purpose of more effectu
ally guarding against abuses and frauds on
the Government, to all of which 1 invito
your particular attention.
centrated theri-; and there is n.* ’ '
hope they will effectually cii ■ik iiianii
expeditions. As some of these t'Ta*" '
drawn from the Pacitic. the troej.-; iii*'^-
ifornia are not suliicient f>r it'I'f 't’ ■ •
against the Indians, who have l.tilv' ■'
mitted acts of hostility. They riiii' • .
increa.s*d, however, without an nait--
the army, w hich is rec‘ niiiKinhd a.';W'
'1 he large accessions to our Indian pop- peiisable. j
■ tions of an extraordinary character, this
mg the amount of awanls to American cit- surplus should be employcil in such way.
tional independence and public law, and vey to this country Louis Ko.ssuth and his izens under the late treaty with Mexico, ;,nd under such restrictions as ('onf»re
wil bc mamtuiued in all their full aiid • a,s-oeiates in captivity. ^ for which the issue of st.Vk was author- may enact, in extinguishing’the outsUiir
^ ■ II- • ' instruction above referred to was ized, but which was paid in cash from the intr lcbt of the nation
Ihe princiiile which this Government complied with, and the Turkish govern- Treasury.
tand-
izc(j, nut Which was paid in cash from the ing lebt of the nation,
govern- Treasury. • i
has heretofore solemnly announced it still ment having relea.*icd (joveriior Kossuth The public debt on the 2(.)th ultimo, ex- L-*he 1 resnlent next mentions the law to
adh(*res to, and will maintain under-ill cir- and his companions from prison, on the elusive of the stock authorized to be issued P-'V Texas live millions of dollars in bonds,
cuinstaiicc.s and at all hazanls. That pr:n- 10th of Sejitcmber last they embarked on to Ti-xas by the act of 9th Sept. IS,')*), was ii» .satisfaction of her claim to New' 'NIexico
ciple IS, that in every regularly document- board tlie F. S. .steam-frigate Mi.ssissippi, S()-i,r)()0,:j»r) 2G. (^which has been done,) and to pay a like
i w ve.,M*l, the cn*w who navigate which was .selected to curry into effect the 'I’he receipts for the next fiscal year arc to the creditors of Texas, which h.-is
protection
No
Illation consequent upon (he ac.juisition of
New -^lexico and California, and the ex
tension of our settlements into Ftah and
Oregon, have given increased interest and
importance to our relations with the abo
riginal race.
No material change has taken place,
within the la.-t year, in the comlition and
prospects of the Indian tribes who re-
The ajipropriatioiH f'r tin-
the army during the current tisol ;
ending 30th June next, w^ re ruiii'’'!
below the estimate sul.mitted l-y
partnient. The con.'cnieiu-c "t tlii* -
tion is a considerable defieien'y. t" "
I invite your early attention.
The expenditures of that IVpir.w
for the year cndiiiir olUli Jiui>‘ I-'" • "
grateful ac-
, . . respectfully refer, 1 stated briefly the reu-
has been deemed pnipi*r, in view of sons which induced me to recommend
ird, nor can there be allowed any wat h .■'tale nc has expre.ssei. .i,.-, ^i.m-nn itc
hy the ve.s.scls of any foreign nation over Knowledgements for the interjiositioii of
Aininican ye.ssel.s on the coasts of the U. ' this (iovernnicnt in iehalf of himself and
S. or the seas adjacent thereto. It will be his as.sociate,s. This country has been that the estimat*s for the^icxt fiscal year whm^^I-The'
.'^ecn by the la.st conimunication from the justly reganled us u safe asylum for those sh.iuhl be laid before Congress in su h a character as 1 penu^^r Zt
British ( barge d Affaires to the J)epart- whom political events have exile.l fnmi manner as to distinguish th "expenditures a ^crimination sCl '
ment of State, that he is authorized to a.s- their own homes in Europe; aud it is re- -so required from the otherwise ordinary of tlm in.lustrhl imrsi s ,,f
sure theSecretary of .state that evp'eare commendeil to (’ongress to consider in demands upon the Treasury. ^ try as to encourile h nV frod^^^^
will be taken that, in exec.iting the pre- what manner Governor Ko.ssuth and his The total expenditures for the next fis- ouV^xclmling foX c m^
ventive mc-a.urcs aguin.st the expeditions, companions, brought hither by its author- cal year are estimated at 84*^ 8»>*> •>»! 10 rr ^ omip tition,
wl.iel, ,l,e r. s. iovor„,„euj i,«if ha, h, .hall he receive,! and .reaped. " ..f uhieh .W^e ^ ;e;uircd1:;"h: ^d'lnaf^^ he ptV bvtr-‘”
denouneed as not being enlltled to the pro-| it .s carno.,tly to he liojied that (he dif- I.li. pos..a of the G..verim>ent, other thI voiie/and underea
tecii.m ut any government, no interference I ferences which have for some time passed tho.se con sen uent uuon the acouisiti.m nf unUtiNdluation.s, constitute an
.hall take ,,Uee with the lawful eo.u.neree heen pendin, hetween the gover.' nret.l] our njw E.r^)? aid S :"t,^' r's:":!"? d
“f !■">• rei-nhlie and that of the S„.„t. p„j tnent, o„ „eeonnt’ of the puhlie'leht, ; wh':e .h! the
not forbid it. A striking illustration of
these frauds will be exhibited in the Re.
port of the Secretary of the Treasury,
showing the custom-house valuation of
articles imported under a former law sub-
. wi tuu nii acciuiiii >i rne puoiic 1
in a.lditiou to the correspondence on this wieh Islands, may be peaceably and dura- the sum of OS; and for
...Jtyect, herewith submitted, ollicial infor- bly adjustcl, .so as to .secure the indepen- purposes connected directly or indirectly
mation i,us been received at the Depart- dence of those islands. Long before the withtho.se Territories, and in the fulfil
ment ot .Mate, of assurances by the French events which have of late imparted .«o ment of the obligations of the Government
government that, in the oideru given to much importance to the possessions of * . . - . ’
side in the Northwestern Territory and ?r»,0G(»,'2(jS 50. The esiiiiiati' 1"''
^ west (d the Mis&i.ssippi river. e are at year commencing 1st July lu-.xt
peace with all of them; and it will be a, ing June oO, 1853, arc Si ‘j’.
source ot pleasure to you to leain that they showing a reduction of 81.I'd.4'*- ^
are gradually advancing in civilization and The report of the Secretary’ t tl>' -
the pursuits of siK-ial lite. will exhibit the Condition nt 1'''.^
i tlie ^Mexican frontier, and in Cal-, service under the .suiK*rvisi.ai et ,
ifornia, and Oregon, there have been occa- partmcut. Our naval frtrce atl 'it lu- -
sional manifestations of unfriendly feeling, | the present year has been activ. i'.
and some depredations committed. I am i fully cinployeil in giving prnteiti''i'
satisfied, however, that they resulted morel widel^’-extendeil and increasiii!-'
from the destitute and st»rving condition j and interests in the various ip'.ait'.- j .
ot the Indians tnan from any settled hos-: globe, and our fl:iii has evcrv"!'*'’ -■ _
tility toward the whites. As the settle-1 ed the security and received the
ments of our citizen.s progress towards ' inspired by the justice mid
them, the game upon which they mainly j our intercourse, and the dignity 1
rely tor subsistence is driven ofi or de-j er of the nation. •
stroyed, and the only alternative left | The expedition ciniuianded 1'
them is starvation or plun«ler. It becomes ! De Haven, despatched in searui I
us to consider, in vieyv of this condition of British commander. Sir J"l“*.
things, whether justice and humanity, as I and his companions in the Arctii-
well as an enlightened economy, do not j turned to New York in the iimndi
reijuire that, insto;id of seeking to punish : tober, after having undcrg"n*‘ r
them for offences which are the result of! and suffering from an unknown
‘.urojie immediately followed
llowed. We were in- by corrcspoj’ding action on the part of
! by the existing and ('' ngress, and ajiprojiriutions made in ac-
our ov.n pcdicy towards them, we .should gerou.s navigation ;
not proviili! for their immediate wants and ■ ern climate, witln
and the rigor
without any s;iti
of a u
sfaiti'iy
.Vi:.-
or armament under its protrction.
Ministers and con suls of foreign Qatious
fiuenccd ill this mea«ure
Iirospcctive importance of the islands as a coidauce therewith, there will
au esti-
ject to specific duties, wdieu there was no
inducement to undervaluation, and the
custom-house valuations of the gime ar
ticles, under the present system of :id
valorem duties, so greatly reduced as to
leave no doubt of the existence of the most
flagrant abuses under the existing hiws.
encourage them to engage in agriculture, I formation of the objects of
and to rely on their labor, instead of the but with new contributions to
chase, for the means of support, navig:ition from the iinfn*|ueutc'‘l”’' ^
A ariou.s import;iut treaties have been gions. The officers and men ’f
negotiated with different tribes during the dition, having b*cn all volunteer? ,
year, }«y which their title to l.ii-ge Hiid val- sersice, and having so conduitei^ ^
uable tracts ot country has been extin- meet the entire ariirobatiou et *
:u-t
lllH' •'
i:. «■
guished, all of which will at the proper ernment,*it is suggested, as ;
tiuie, be submitted to the S;.uatj for ratiti- grace aud generosity, that the s;i ^
eation. ances of extra pay and cmobiiiH'nt' ‘ ^
The joint commission under the treaty j tended to them thut were made to t
^ors and
;*loring e
^ I earn
tion the
Till Ksta]
the num'
viding s
;j,i^rher gi
eiice to I
uiority o
and for r
Reduced
tciit to t
a me
;'ficiency
v^ision la
pfyour
The 1
.elativc
civil ofli'
tfcrs of t
^^rades
^ioii.
‘i tc wh
'i j.hed fo
p 1 tl
^and 1'
t uf
3the sM-v
gra»
ireforms
Ifieverity
=fene*'S o
*-jii its st
' 5 in prove
. sea men
.'.gi'latur
I'liieii.
simple (
T iiiip'”ta
'rr.f d. tei
.= „f imni.
J'i inanity
; u il". an
.. ,„o^t i-n
duty an
ship'^ of
The
, York, >
, i-onstnil
be sum
yard,
reporte
J soon to
; ji;j;ent' (
nioiitli
^ livery;
* agreeal
^ sc'sion
" 15;!V of
t iition
jnrtme
navy V;
the Pa(
cessary
" ness of
be expo
coiiimer
whale li
The
(h r u n
giilatioi
Ilea tion
cipial,
jifi ivem
' in the
, ;f act in
eonnn*-i
and a ;
the in>
for regi
well as
three oi
The
u flairs
lii'trat
].'rt of
me.ins
jeeted
Snpi-rii]
the p
l-llie ])Oi
elH-d b
" 'I'he
-Navy ;
\ lar w
the ('Stl
?.'),!'00
Tlu-
tlle ctn
:: ir2,t;s4
I ]T-sent
I 1 v the
■A :
J' Cliu- CO
ill ('alii
^ of ('on
I der the
■' in n IV
1 ih
^ eeononi
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