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any new colony or dominion on any pnrt of Pfftie North American contineni, mint be maintained. Eppunmiuiniug tins principle, and in resisting ltsinvn ■hLiv any foreign Tower, we might be involved in otli BBvvats mom expensive nnd more diiiicult man tlmt in W’ 'which wc are n >w engaged w Tue province* of New Mexico ana the Calilornias ore contiguous to the territories of the United riiates, a.ij it brought under the governmentol our laws, their resource* —nmoral, agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial —would Boon fit* developed. Upper California is bounded on the north by our Or egon possessions; ami il held by the United State*, Would Boon be settled by a hardy, entrpi i mg. ami intel ligent portion of our population. i’he Bay of Sun Uranc.aoJj and other ha bo sulong the Californian coast wuuiJ a hard hi letter foi our navy, for our numerous Wiiait* ships, and other merchant vess*is employed in the Pucmc oc.*an, and would in a abort period Income th marU oi m extensive and prolitable commerce with Cn nu, and other countries ot the Cwt i n-.-e advantages, in Which the whole commercial vvo.ld would participate, would ul once be secured to ■ t * United Suites by tie cession ot tins territory ; white 1 11 fa certain that a# tong as it remains a ptut ot me ; ni ’Xiciii fomt.ii6tfe,Uie) cm not oe enjoyed neithe, by Mexic nersetf nor by any other nation. N w Mexico is a frontier province, and lias never been and uny considerable v.du to \i xico. From its loemty, it i- 1 naturally connected with our settlements. I ni 1 *rntonal hunts oi the Suite of Texas, too, as de fin*,! oy tier laws, before her ad.mssion into our Union, eiuoraoe ult mat portion ot New Mexico lying east ol ‘ tne tiio Grande, while .Mexico still claims to hold this ritory us a part ol Iter dominions, ‘i’he adjustment of this question of butm I try is important. l’n-'i'e is auom r consideration which induced the belief mat the Mexican government might even desire to puce t.us province miner t e protection ol trie gov eruiu-nt or in* United Suites. Numerous bauds ol fierce und warlike savages wa.i ler over it, and upon n* 00. ders. Mexico has oeen, and must continue to be, too iceole to restrain tnem from committing depreda tions, robberies, and murders, not only upon the iniiab-, .. i .us o. New Mexico itself, but upon those of the other nouaem States ot Mexico. It would be a blessing to a.i the* northern States to have their citizens protected Against them by the power ot the United St tea. At this moment, many Mexicans, principally females and cmidreu, are in captivity among them, it New Mex ico were held and governed by the United States, we coaid effectually prevent these tribes from committing sue.l outrage*.and Comiwi them tnrptam** iht*se eaptiv** and restore tnem to their families und li lends. l-i proposing to acquire New Mexico and the Cali forniHS, it was known luat but an inconsiderable por hoa oi the Mexican people would be transferred witn ! them, the country embraced within these provinces be- * mg chiefly an uninhabited region. i’nese were the leading considerations which induced | me to authorize the term* ol peace which were pro- j posed to Mexico. They were rejected ; and. negolia tio:is being at an end, hostilities were renewed. An assuuit Wd* made by our gallant army upon the strong- i ly loruheJ places near the gates of ttie city of Mexico, and upon the city itself; und attgr several days ol severe \ conflict, the Mexican forces, vastly superior in number I to our own, were driven from the city, and it was occu pied by our troop*. immediately alter information ol the unfavorable re pjli oi tuc negotiations, believing that his continued p* \.iC; with tue army couid in: productive of no good, ] ’ 1 mined to recall our commissioner. A despatch 1 ’ 1-dfoct was transmitted to him on the sixth oi i Oct .:x The >I *xi an jjveiuaiem wni be in-! ‘r***‘ 0i rccMl; and thav, in the existing state o ‘ * B hailq.*t deem it proper to make any further j t > u,e3 °* ft ‘ h o, but shau be at all tunes ready to re bv Vi 101 * P ro P° 3,i ‘ -w^l * c * 1 may lie made | t>r ®^°*‘ t ion Os the United States was i E£E? meun’ed t.! 1 ’ *'• W-Un-re, our n*ii rit .l ir i,i! a> and * u *-he precious blood of many o. Zrf Clfc c, 5"“ sIK-d m the pruts,- cut.on of tue war. J - w ;W|l formum. *-5l hate persevern'“** oi Mexico m protracting the war. in t t mduence the terms ot peace which it may be dcem . and proper hereatt r to accept. Our aim* navmg been every where victorious, having subjecte i to our military occupation a lurge* portion o. i ui enemy’s country, including ins capital, und negolia- ! tio i* lo; peace having tilled, the important questions! ari> *. f.i what maimer me war ought to be prosecuted ! an t w iaisaouiJ be our mtuie policy l 1 cannot doubt thu wcsnmld secure and render available the co i '■- i* wnicn we hive already made; and that, with t:; v.e.v, we snojid uoiu and occupy, oy our naval and ii. . tary lo.ces, uli the poito, towns, cities, uud provinces u ,v ill 041 occupation, or wutc may hereafter I li into n p ss.*3S.oii; mat we snout, i p.ess lot ward our miii ta y operations, a id levy such military contributions on tuj e le.ny a* m iy, as mr us practicauie, defray tue fu ture expenses ol tue war. Hii me govern.n.*m ol M *xico acceded to the equ;- tabl- and lioerai terms propos'd, that modeoi adjusl in il Wouij nave been p.‘ierrcd .v1.x.00 iiavung de- Chned to do ims, und fuued to oiler uny other terms wti.cn could be a- v ept.-d oy the L tilled .Mute-, tue na tional honor, no less than ui* public intervals, requires ilia, tn : war sir >n.d tk.* paxcii., n witn increased • *iergy amt power until ajusi and sausiaciory p ..ce can u obi u eI. fu in.* mean Ume, as Mexic • re ms san m deuiiiity, we snouid adopt m mhu.cs to in ie .un y our s-1 ■, ny app.opnaiing p r.n.meutiy a portion ot her territory, iy aiu-r to • com iie.tc -.noni oi tlie war, New Mexico and me Goiilo.mas weretikeo posse aion of by our lorces. Our military and naval commanders were orde eJ to conquer und uoid them, subject to b. dispused ol by a t eaty oi p *a<*e. i'ue-K; provinces are now m our undiHpuicd occupa tion and nave been so lor many months ; all res sianoe on tue part oi vs x.co navmg c used watun their h ints. 1 am s .usii-’d tn.it tn y s io.n.t u *ve be surrendered to Mexico. Snounl Congress v incur with me in this op niou.and tuut they suould be retained ty the United F. it_*s as indemuity. lean peic.iv* no good reason wny me CiVU jurisdiction and mws of tii • Umt *1 omi*,-.-. •no ii l not at once be extended over them. To wan !.• a treaty ot peace, such a- we are willing to make, by w.i c.i iiui relations towards tnem would not be eii i ig-d.cm not be good p iu*y ; wmlsiourown inter esi. i.i iui.it of *lk*people mh ioiti.ig the.u,require that a .me, reapoui .i.\ and lr<v gov ruinent under our au . >..ty s,H>ull,us soon asp.. sib<e,be estaisisli *d ovei th i on m. J Congress, m refore, Ueierm nc to boi l th -e provinces permanently, und that they Miaii here ah. r oe coiisule ed as coiisinueiii p iris oi oar country, tii -any e-tabutiiment ot terato ial governments ovet th i w.d be important lor the more pci feet protection oi p o.is aid property; and 1 recommend tmu suc.i i u. i. g -mm *ui* be ctttabtislied. it will promote p ac-- .md i.ii .qjility am • lg the mh ibitanis, by allay nig m appre.ieusiod that lucy may slot eiiieaaiii ol oe *** on snOjCCted lo tne jurisdiction oi Mexico, im ..to me eany a.id l .vombtc eonsideration of Congiess to ..us onpoitani subject. o sues New .>1 *X:co u and the Califb nias, there are .viexican piovioces winch have been reduced to c . possession by conquest. I’hes * other Mexican pi .me e are now governed by our military and navui o ri .ladders, unJei the geperal authority which is con iei i upon a conqueror by the laws of war They i cohunue to be held as a ne atisofoxMcing Mexi- | c accede to just teun* ot |)<*ace. Civil a* well a* in ry officers are reijnued to conduct such a govern m . Adequate compensation to be drawu fioiacon- ! triOutious levied on the enemy, should b<* fixed by law tot Mien oiae-*rs us may be thus employed. What furtlur provMwoa may become necessary, und what fi nai usoosiuoii it may be proper to make of them, must j xb-p. nd on the future progiess of the war, and the cou:*e which .Mexico may think proper heiealter to pui- | ■tie. With the views 1 entertain, I cannot favor the policy w non h .sbeen suggested, either to w nhdiaw our army &>. g nner, ol to retire to a designated line, ami simply ani and tend it. To withdraw our army altogether . tne conquests they have made by deeds of unptr- ‘ ...j bruvciy, and at the tx;>en*e of so much bloo 1 i a... treasuie, in a just war on our nai* and one which, oy me .ct of the enemy, we could not honorably have av..itld, would be to degrade the nation in its own es tnn i;io*i ami in that of the world. l > retire to a line, and simply hold and deiGVf it. 1 •v md not terminal* the war. On the eoniraiy, i* 1 **iicourage Mexico to persevere, und tend to pro- | lie imviimU ii is not mih* -‘xpeeted tli Vs •*. | .bun., such u.i us a peimaneiit po*l for atltfek, would eoilceti it. would be a condition taie , would protwbly prefer to uny to aMuiiie a defensive altitude on euein ra.uid levy no or uny other make him feel iU|t UllC'Ntrffnty 111 I H In my annual iff? to Congress of Deoemlier last, I declared that “the war iia* not been waged with a view to conquest ; but having been commenced by Mexico, it has been earned into the enemy's country, and will !*e vigorously prosecuted there, with a view to obtain an honorable pence, and thereby secure ample indemnity for the expense* of the war, as well a* to our mucli lujured citizens, who hold large pecuniary demands against Mexico n Such, in my judgment, continues to be our true policy—indeed, the only policy which will probably secure a permanent peace. It has never been contemplated by in-*, as an object of the war,to make a permanent conquest of the repub lic of Mexico, or to annihilate her separate exist-nee at an independent nation. <>n the contrary, if has ever been'iny desire that she should maintain her nationality, and, under u good government adapted to her cond.tiou, be a free, independent., and prosperous republic. The United Stales were the tirst among the nations to recog nise tier independence, .and have always desired to he on terms of amity and good neighborhood with her.— This she would not suffer By her own conduct we have been compelled to engage in thu present war. In its prosecution, we seek not tier overthrow as a nation ; j but, in vindicating our national honor, we seek to ob- j tain redress ll>r tii: wrongs *h bus done us, and indem nify for our just demands against her. We demand an honornbe pence ; and that pence niunt bring with it jn- i demniiyfor th* past, and security tor the future llith- 1 ei to Mexico has reused all accommodation by ‘which sueli a peace couild he obtained. Whilst our arm *s nave a 1 vance 1 from victory to vie- j tory, from the commencement ol the war, it has always been with the olive-brauce of pence in their hands ;and it has been in the fiower ol Mexico, at every step, to arrest hostilities by accepting it. < hie great obstacle to the uliainmont of peace has. un doubtedly, arisen from the fact, that Mexico has been -n long held in subjection by one faction or military usur per alter another, and such has been the conditio of insecurity m which their successive governments have been placed, that each has been deterred from making peace, least, tor this very cause, a rival faction might i expel it from power. Such was th-’ late of President Herrera’s administration in 181f>, or being disposed even to listen to the overtures of the United States to prevent 1 the war, a* is fully confirmed by an oihcial correspon- i dence which took place in the month ol August last, between him and his government, a copy ot which is herewith communicated. “For this cause alone, the revolution w .i h displaced him from power was set on j foot’* by General Paredes. Such may be the c<>ndition of i! security of the present government There can be no doubt thut tiie peac**uble nnd well disposed inhabitants of Mexico an* convinced that it is the true interest ol their country to conclude nn honora ble peac.* with the United States ; but the apprehension i of becoming the ttetims of some military faction or us- : urper may have prevented them from manifesting their ; feelings by any public act. The removal of any such - apprehension would probably cause them to speak their ‘ sentiments freely, and to adopt tlie measures necessary j for the restoration of peace. With a people distracted 1 i and divided by ct mending factions, and a government : subject to cons tai. changes, by successive revolutions, the continued successes of our arms may fail to s‘cure a satisfactory peac... In such event, it may become pro per for our commanding generals in the field to give i encouragement and assurances of proteciion to the - friends of peace in Mexico in tlie establishment and J mamtainuuce of a /Vee republican government of their i own choice, able and willing to conclude a peace which 1 would be just to them, ami secure to us the indemnity we demand. Thin may become the only mode of ob taining such a peace. Should such be the result, the war which Mexico has forced upon us would thus he j converted into an enduring blessing to herself. After 1 finding her torn and distracted by factions, and ruled by ! military usurpers, we should then leave her with a re -1 publican government in the enjoyment of real indepen , i dence,and domestic peace and prosperity, performing I all her relative dudes in the great family ol nations, and promoting her own happiness by wise laws an I their rdiihful execution. ; li. ujltu a.rf■!.mu* aii- 44iu- sn.l (.roUauan, i and after all the persevering nnd sincere effort* we have made, from the moment Mexico Commenced the war, and prior to 4hni time, to adjust our differences with j her, we Hhnll ultimately fail, then we shall have exhaust- | . cd all honorable means in pursuit of peace, and must ! | Continue to occupy her country with our troops, taking I . j the full measure oi indemnity into our own hands, and must enforce the terms which our honor demands. To act otherwise, in the existing state of things in Mexico, und to withdraw army witliout a peace, would not only leave all the wrongs ol which we com plain unrediessvd.but woivd be the signal for new and fierce civil desseusums and new revolutions —all alike hostile to peaceful re la t.ons with the Unite and States. Besides, there is danger, it our troops were with drawn bef.>re a p *ace was concluded, tia tne Mexican people, wearied with succ-naive revolutions, and de prived oi protection for their persons ami properly, mignt at iengm bein.-ii ied t.-yield t > iimlueuces, aid to cast Uiemselv into tin* arms oi same E iiopean monarch for pioiection irom tlie anarchy and suffering which would ensue. This, for our own safety, and in pursuance ot our established policy, we should be com pelled to resist. We couid never consent that Mexico should *ie inn* converted into a monarchy governed by a foreign punce. vlex co is our near neighbor, and her bound ivies are co-teruiinous with our own, through tlie whole extent across th* North American continent, from ocean to ocean. Both polhu aUy *ndcommercially, we have the deepest interest in lie, regeneration and prosperity.— Indeed, ft ih miposHiDl witn any just regard to our ow ‘safety, w -cau ever b-ttorne mdilierent to her fate. It may be that the Mexican government and people have misconstructed r niumndersloou 1 ° u *” forbearance, and our objects, in desiring to conclude a.n amicuble adjust ment of the existing (hikrcnc *s between ih e two coun * trieH. They may liave supposed that we W* uld submit to terms degrading to the nation ; or they n>ay have drawn false uilerences irom the supposed division ol opinion in the United States on the subject of the war, and may have calcu.aied to gam much by protracting it and, indeed, that we might ultimately abandon it ®lSo getlier, w.inourtns.simg oil any iiicieninity, territoria I ° r ’ j otherwise. Whatever may be the false impressions u,i~ der which they have acted,the adoption and prosecutiol. of the energetic policy proposed must soon undeceive them. In the future prosecution of the war, the enemy mast be made to feel ns pressure more than they have heretofore done. At it* commencement, it wasdeem ed | roper to conduct u in a spirit ot forbearance and iib *ra,ity. With tins end in view, early measures were adopted to conciliate, as far a* a stale of war would permit, tlie mas* ol the Mexican population . to convince them that the war was waged not again*’ the pe.icelul inhabitants of Mexico, but against their faithless government, which had commenced hostili ties* ; to remove from their minds the lulse impressions which their desigmng and interested rulers had art * I fully attempted to make, that the war oil our part was one of conquest; tfiat it was a war against their religion and their church, which were to be desecrat ed and overthrown ; and that their righis ol person und private property would be violated. To remove them* false impressions, our commanders m the field were j directed scrupulously to respect their religion, their churches, and their church property, which were ui no I manner to l>e violated ; they were directed also lores ’ pect the rights of persons and property of all who { should not take up urms against us ’! Assurances lo this affect were given to the Mexican! people by Major General Taylor, in a proclamation is- ‘ 1 i sued m the puisuauctf of uisiiuciioiistroiii the Secretary ‘ ol Wav, m the mouth of June, 1816, and again by Ma | jor General itoul t, who acted upon Ins own convictions ‘ j of the propriety of issuing it iu a proclamation of the i eievenui of May, 1847. 1 In this spirn ol liberality and conciliation, and with a view to prevent the body of the Mexican imputation from taking up armsagunisi us, was the wur conducted on our part. Provisions and other supplies famished to ! our army by Mejucun citizens were puid tor at lair and liberal prices agreed upon by the parties. After the lapse of a tew inotdhi.il became apparent that these u > sura ncet, and this mild treatment, uud failed to produce the desired Gleet upon the Mexican imputation. While the war had been conducted on our part according to the most humane and libeiui principles observed by civ ilized nations, it was waged in n tar different spirit on the part ol Mexico. Not appreciating our forbearance, ■ th*. Mexican people geih*rally t>< cauie hostile to the Uin- j ted Sta.*“*, avuucd themselves of every opportuni- i ty to column the must savage excesses upon our troops, Large milliners o* th® population took up amis, and, I engaging in guerilla wartau*, robl-ed ami murdered lit tli” moat cruel manner n.J‘Vttiuul euldten, ui tutu II jt.tr tic, wliuui tKioiti. nl or otlier C!4m tad eeparattii Irom | the mam body ol uuiVtriiiy. ItattdH o-4Cuertllero,iind rob ben* malted the roaus, liarrassed *ur *od when- I ever it wus m their power, cut off our supplies. The Mexicans having thu* shown themselves to be , wholly tinapable *4 nppiefatnig our forbearance and , liberality, u was deemed proper to change me manner of conducting tin* wur, by muking them led its pres sure according to th** usages obsei ved u.ider aninlai cir cutiistaneei) nv all other civilized nations. Accordingly, as eurivus th** twenty ***c<>ud of Sep tember, ittlt*, matluctiuti* were given by the Sec relary ol War lo Muj General Taylor no” draw supplies for our army,** from the enemy, without paying ioi them, and to require contribution* lor it* suppoii,’ if ui that way tie was satisfied he couid * get übunda.n supplies for In* forces.” in directing the execution ol th* e in- j struct ion*, much wu* nec-(warily tell to the di*c re lion ot the commanding officer, who wus beet acquainted with the Circumstances by which he was sutiouiided, the wants ot tne army, and the practicability ol enforcing the ineasuie. Gen. Taylor, on the twenty-sixth oi October, 1846. replied, ironi Monterey, thut “ it would liave been nit poasnde iiilueito, and is so now, lo sustain the army to 1 any extent oy lotceJ coiuiinutiwus ol mom y or sup plies “ For tne lea sous assigned by linn, he iid not ‘ adopt the pohey ot fns iiu*u actions, but dec tai ed Ins ■ reuat.i w to doao, “ sliouid tlie army, ui il** future op- J* eistioiis, rracti a poiiion ol he country w ich may be j to pay 10. tile articles ol supply which were I tne enciuy * couniiy , >. . • i* I** stippoit iiwdl by tore* and con ibiiams, und sturv** ourselves.” On the ttnriy-fvst oi Marcli, last, I cnußcd an oitier to4)c* issued to our military and naval commanders to levy and collect a military contribution upon all vessels nnJ merchandise which might enter any of the port* of Vic xico in our military occupation, nnd to apply such contributions lowordo defraying th* expense- of the war Ly virtue of the right of conquest and the taws of war the conquerer consulting Insown safety or conve •ii.*nc*Miiuy either exclude foreign commerce altogeth er Irom all such ports, or permit it upon such t rmsond condition- as lie may prescribe. Before th*- principal ports ot Mexico were blockaded by our navy, tie* rev enue* derived Irom impost duties, under the laws of Mexico, were paid into the Mexican treasury. Aftei liieis* ports had inilcti into our niilitnry poßsess on, the blockade was raised, nnd commerce with them permit ted upon prescribed terms and conditions. They were ! opened to the trade of uil nations upon the payment of duties more moderate in their amount than those which ’ had been previously levied by Mexico: and the revenue j which was formerly paid into the Mexican tteusury. | was directed to be collected by our military and naval otlicers, and applied tuthe use of .ur army and navy. : j Care was taken that the officers, soldiers, and sailors of j our army and navy should lie exempted from the oper i a lions of the order; und us the merchandise imported ; upon which the order operated must be consumed by .Mexican citizens, the contributions exacted were, in i efleet, the seizure ol the public revenues ol Mexico, nnd the application of them to our own us in directing i tins measure, the object was to compel the enemy to j contribute, as lai ns practicable, towards the expenses ol j tlie war. For tin* amount of contribution* wh ch have been le vied in thislonn, 1 refer you to the accompanying re ports of the Secretary ol War and of the Secretary of the Navy, by which it appears that a sum exceeding half u million of dollars Hus been collected. This amount would undoubtedly have !>ecn much larger, but lor the dilhculty of keeping open communi cations between the coast and tlie interior, so ns to ena ble the owners of tlie merchandise imported, to trann purtand vend it to the inhabitants of the country. It is i confidently expected that this difficulty will, to a great j extent, be soon removed by our increased forces which * j have been sent to the field. Measures have recently been adopted by which the internal os well as external revenues of Mexico, in all places in our militury occupation, will be seized and ap propriated to the use of our army and navy, j The policy ol levying upon the enemy contributions in *very ibrrn, consistently with the laws of nations. which it may be practicable (or our ruililuiy command ers to adopt, shouid, in my judgui nt, be rigidly enforc ed, and orders to this effect have accordingly been giv en. By such a policy, at the same time that our ow n treasury will be relieved from a heavy drain, the 1 Mexican people will be made to feel the burdens of the ! war, and consulting their own interests, may be indu ced the more readily to require their rulers to accede to a just peace. After the adjournment of the lust session of Congress events transpired in the prosecution ot the war which, in my judgment, required a greater number of troops \n the field man had been anticipated. The strength ol the army w as accordingly increased by “ accepting” th*: * tservices of all the volunteer forces authorized by the ; act ol the thirteenth May, 1846, without putting a ‘ struction on that act, the coredness oi which v /as se riously questioned. The volunteer forces now ii * the field with.those which had been “accepted” 1o“ serve lor twelve months,,’ and were discharged m tile end ot their term of service, exhaust the fifty thousand men author ized by that act, Had it been clear that a proper con struction of the act warranted it, t'.ic services of an ad ditional number would have bee', called lor and accept ed ; but dovibtsexisting upon this point, the power was , not exercised, it is deemed important that Congress should at an early period of their tseasion, confer the authority to raise I an additional regoiar force to serve during the war with Mexico, and to oe discharged upon tlie conclusion and ratincationot u treaty of peace: 1 invite the attention of Congress to the views presented by the Secretary ot . Wur n ru* report upon tins subject. 1 recommend, also, that authority be given by law to call tor and accept the services of an additional lium- j j ber ot voluuteeis, to be exercised at such time and to such extent as the emergencies of the service may re- • j quire. in prosecuting the war with Mexico, whilst the ut- | most care h is been taken to avoid every just cause of complaint on me pari ol neutral nations, and none has ‘ been given, liberal privileges hove been granted to their I commerce m the ports oi tne enemy m our military oc- .’ cupation. i ne difficulty with theßrazii an government, wlrch ‘ 1 at one time threatened to interrupt the friendly relations 1 between the two countries, will, i tru t, b.* sp eddy ad j justed, i have received in for mation that an envoy ex - f traordinary and Minister Fhpotentiary to the United f States will shortly be appointed by his imperial Majes- i ty ; und it it hoped he will come msti acted and prepar- j ed to udjiisi oh remaining diilereuces between the two governuienisin a munner honorable and acceptable to 1 both, in the meantime, 1 have every reason to believe } that nothing will occur to interrupt out amicable rela tions wall Brazil. • it nus been my constant effort to muiiitain and culti vate the most inmnaie relations of friendship with ail • the independent Bowers ot JSoutli America; and this policy has been attended with the happiest results, it ist rue, that the settlement and payment of many just \ claims ol American citizens against these nations have i been long delayed. The peculiar positions in which they have been placed, and the desire on the wait oi ; predecessors, a* wen as myself, to grant mem the utmost ; indulgence, have hitherto prevented these claims from being urged in a manner by strict justice. The time J iuis arrived when they ought to be finally adjusted and liquidated, and efforts are now making for that purpose, i It is proper to inform you that the government oi Pe ru has m good lull 1 1 paid the first two instalments ol the , indemnity ot thirty thousand dollars each, and the grea- ( ter portion of the interest due thereon, in execution ol the convention between that government and the Uni- i ted States, ratifications oi w inch exchanged at Lima on the thirty-first of October, 1846. The Attorney Gen eral of tlie United States, early in August last, complet ed tlie adjudication of the claims under tins convention, and made his report thereon, in pursuance of the act ot the eigfh of August, I*l6. Tlie sums to which the cini l UaiiL-are respectively entitled will be paid on demand at the treasury. 4 .'nvite the early attention of Congress to ih-* present 1 condi/ion o.’ our citizens in Chinn. Under our treaty with I thatpo\ v et, Americans citizens are withdrawn hom the j jurisdiction, whether civil or criminal, of the Chinese i government stud placed under that of our public func tionaries in ti’tat couutry. By these alone can our citi- | zens be tried and ‘punished for the commission of uny i crime ; by these Jiane ran questions be decided bet ween them involving the rights oi person and property; and I by these alone can contracts be enforced, into w hich | they may have entered \ y ith the citizens or sub cl** of ; foreign powers. The merchant, vessels of the ’United States lying in the water* I 'of the live ports ol Chii.a open to foreign commerce are ui ’der the exclusive jurisdiction of officers of their own government. Until Cor.gress shall establish competent tribunals to try and ponish crimes, and to exercise jurisdiction in civil cases in Chi na, American citizens there are subject to no law what ever. Crimes may In* committed with impunity , und debts may Ih* contracted without any’ means to ens >rce their payment. Inconveniences have already resu ted from the onussiou of Congress to legtalaieupon the .*• üb ! j*ct, and still greater are apprehended. The British su ! tivunties in China have already complained that tins government has not provided for the piinislimcc t of crimes, or the enforcement of contracts against Au eri can citizens in that country, whilst their govemnien t has established tribunals by which an American citrzen can recover debts due from British subjects. Accusttmied as tiie Chinese are to summary justice, they could not be made to comprehend why criminals , who are citizens of the United States should esc ape with I impunity, in violation of treaty obligations, w mist the punishment of a Chinese, who had committed a riy crime ( against an American citizen, would be rigorou siy exac ted. Indeed,the consequences might l>e fatal ti > Ameri can citizens in China, should a flagrant crime by any one of them u|H>n a Chinese, and should trial . and pun ishment not follow according to the requisitior <a of the treaty This might disturb, if not destroy, our friendly ; relations with that empire, und cause an fitterr iptionol ; our valuable com me ice. ! Our treaties with the Sublime Porte, Trijjoli , Tunis, Mi>rocco, and Muscat, also require the legu lation of Congress to carry them into execution, though the ue i cessity tor immediate uction may not be so mg* mt as in i . regard to China. > The Secretary of State has submitted an e*t itnate to] defray the expense ol opemug diplomatic relati oris with the Bnpai States. The interesting political e* entstiuw 1 in progress in these States, as well as a just regard to | our commercial interests, have, mmy opinion, nude red such h measure highly expedient. ’ 1 .stimuli m have also been submitted for the on rflls nnd salaries of charge# d’n flairs to the republics ot Ikihvin, t fUiiteinrtla, slid Ecuador ‘l’hc insiiifest inr >rtanee * of cultivating the most Ire ridly rotation- with a) 1 tlie in dependent States upon this continent limh irului ed me to recommend appropriations necesaury for the mainten ance o! these imssion* 1 reeonuviend to Congress that an appropriation be made, to t>e pail to tti* Hpaninh government k r the pur pose cf (listritmtion among the cinimsnts m “t ne Aimst sdcase.” 1 entertain the conviction that this is due to, i Spam under the treaty ol tli** twentieth >t October, ami, moreover, that, trout the claim continue - to in* u*g ed, ao long aa u huu remain unsettled, it will b< a source ot irritation ami discord between the tw • countries, whu i mil prow highly pn idicial lo hi.- intereata <.t the United State*. (ood pohcy. no lea* thf n a faithful compliance with our treaty obligation*, require* that the meonsidenition appropriation demaiu icd *hould be made. A detailed *tnte in*'i it of the condition of tlie finance* will be presented in the annual report ot the Secretary of the Treasury The imports for the *.a*t fiscal yeur, eliding on the tfuitieth of June, I*l7, were of the value ot one hundred and lorty-mx million* t’,e humlred ami fotty-hv# thousand mixhundred and thi.ty-eight dollar*; of which the amount exported wa*cigit million eleven thousand one hundred and fifty-*l4lll ‘lollurs, leaving one hundred and llurty-eight million five hundred amt tinny four thousand four handled and eighty dollar* in the country lor dumeatk use. The va *uc of the export* tor the Maine period wasone hundred ami fifty eight million atx hundred and forty-eight thou and six bundled and twenty-two doilaix, of whichol e bundled and hity niii lioii a, htmdn and and thirty*-**'on tiounaiul lour bun* dred ami sixty-lourdollaia co isiated of domestic pro* dtictioii*, and eight nuluoii * ieven thousand one hun dred and lifty-eigln dollar* o foreign art.ci--* The re*?ept* into tfit treu*wiry k>r the name period n tnounted to twenty-aix million three hundred ami forty* *ix thousand aeveu hundred ami ninety dollar* and ihir* ty -eveii ceiita, of w hich there waa derived Ifmii custom* venty -three in ihon acven liumlnd und forty aeveu thousand eight hundred ami sixty-lour dollar* and sixty- Bki i iii*. tioiri wuieao pul.ln- (anti*, two iml'ioii lour ami ninety * ight (h< iikiiul three hundred ami d"l it• anti i*\. 1.1 \< • .md l• 1 .11. id* u under the act of 184*2, the amount received rom custom* w.-ih seven million eight hundred nnd forty-two thousand three hundred and *ix dollars and ninety cents, and du ring the seven months under the act of IH 16 the amount received was fifteen million nine hundred tind five thou s'Utd five hundred and fifty-seven dollars and seventy-six c ms. The next revenue from custom* during the year end ing on the first of UecunbcT, 1846, bring the last year under the operations of the tariff act of 1842, was twen ty two million nine hundred ami seventy-one thousand four hundred and three dollars nnd ten cents: and the nett revenue trout customs during the year ending on the first of Lb comber, 1817, bring the first year under the operation of thtetariff .net of 184n. was about thirty-one imliion live hundred thousand ilollars ; being an increase of revenue for the first year tinder th** tariff act oi 1816, oi more than eight million five hundred thousand dollars over that of the Inst year under the tariff’ ol 1842 The expenditures during th** liirnl year ending pn j the thirtieth of June Inst, were fifty-nine million tour hundred and fifty-one thousand one hundred and sev* n : ty-seven dollars and sixty-five cents ; of which tim e million f.ve hundred and twenty-two thousand and eigh ty-two dollars and thirty-seven ci*nLs was on account of payment of principal and interest >i the public debt, including treasury notes redeemed and not ftnided The exienditures, exclofae erf payment of public debt, were fifty-five million nine hundrurl and twenty-nine thousand and ninety-live dollars and twent)Mfight cents. i It is- stimated that the receipts i rto the treasury for the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth of June, 1848, in cluding the balance in the treasury on the first ol July last, will amount to forty-two million eight hundred and eighty-six thousand five hundred nnd forty-five dollars and eighty cento, of which thirty-one million, it is esti mated, will be derived fiomcui-torna; three miiiioii five hundred thousand front the sal • oi the. public lands; lour hundred thousand from incidental sources, including sales made by tin* the Solicitor of the Treasury ; and six million two hundred and eighty-five thousand two hun dred and ninety-four dollars and fifty-five cents from ! loans already authorized b> law , which .together with the balance in ihc treasury oil the iiist ot July last, make the sum estimated. The expenditures for the same period, il peace with Mexico shall not be coinduded, and the army shall be increased as i* propose I, will amount, including the ne i cessary payments on account of principal and interest of the public debt and treasury notes, to fifty-eight mil lion six hundred and fifteen iftousand hundred and sixty dollars mid seven cents. On the first offthe present month, the amount of the public debt ac'ually incurred, including treasury notes, was forty-fin*, million six hundred and fifty-nine thou sand six b.Yiiklred and fifty-nine dollars and forty cents. The public debt due on the fourth ol March, 1845, in cluding treasury notes, was seventeen million seven hundred and eighty-eight thousand tcven hundred and ninety-nine dollars and sixty-tw o cento; and conse quently the audition made to the public debt since tout time is twenty-seven million eight hundred and seventy thousand eight hundred and fiity-nine dollars and seven- ty-eight cento. . Os the of twentyty-three millions, authorized by the act of the twenty-eighth of January, 18L, the sum ot ot five millions was paid out to the public creditors, or exchanged at par l< s specie; t... remaining .eighteen millions was offered lor specie to the Highest bidder not below par, by an advertisement issued by the ere tary ofthe Treasury,and published Irom the Uuitlt >• 1 ebru ary until the tenth ot April, 1847, when it was awarded to the several highest bidders, at premiums varying from one-eighth of one per cent, to two per cent, above par. The premium has been paid into the treasury, and the sums awarded deposited in specie in the tn a.-uiy as last as it was required by the w’ant* ot the government. To meet the expenditures of the remainder of the pres ent and lor the next lineal year* ending on the thirtieth ot June, 184‘J, a In titer loan, in aid of the ordinary revenues of the government, will be necessary. Re taining a sufliicent surplus in the treasury, the* loan re quired tor the remainder of the present fiscal year will be about eighteen mifllon five hundred thousand dollars. If the duty on tea and coffee be imposed, and the graduation ol the price ol the public lands shall be : ma de a; an early period of your session, as recommend ed, tlie loan ibr the present fiscal year may be reduced 1 to seventeen millions ot dollars. The loan may be fur ther reduced bv whatever amount ot expenditures can be saved by military contributions collected m Mexico. ‘l’he most vigorous measures for the augmentation ot these contributions have been directed, and a very con siderable sum is expected from that source. lis amount cannot, however, be calculated with any certainty, it is recommended that the loan to be made be authorized upon the same terms, and for the same time, as that which was authorized uuder tlie provisions ot the act ot the twenty-eighth ot January 1847. | Simula the war with Mexico be continued until the thirtieth of June, 184'J, it is estimated that a further loan of twenty un.lion live hundred thousand dollars will be required for the fiscal year ending on that day, ii case n.) duty be imposed on tea ami coffee, und the public launs in* not reduced and graduated m price, and no in i ltary contribution shah fa* collected in Mexico, L the dmy on tea and coffee be imposed, and the lands l>e reduced and graduated in price, as proposed, the loan may b reduced to seventeen millions of dollars, and will be subject to be st.ll farther reduced by the amount of the military contributions which may he collected in Mexico. It is not proposed, however, at present, to ask Congress tor authority to negotiate tins loan for the I next tiscul year, as it is hoped that the loan asked tor tIM reinsoe t-* -*♦ l- ‘ yoor, ai.LJ t. ....li I tary contributions w .licit may be collected in Mexico, may be sufficient, if, contrary to my expectation, there should be a necessity tor it, the fact will be com- ! municated to Congress in time tor their action during: the present session. In no event will a sum exceeding ; six millions ol dollars of this amount be needed before 1 tlie meeting of the session ot Congress in December, 18 48. The act of the thirtieth of July, 1846, “reducing the duties on imports,” has been in force since the first ot December last ; and l am gratified to state, that all tlie j beneficial effect which were anticipated from its opera- ! lion have been fully realized. Tire public revenue tie- ! rived from customs during the yeai enu.ng on ihe first ! of December, 18*7, exc efts by more than eight mil.i ons of dollars tlie amount received in the preceedii g year under the operation ot the act ol 1842, which wan superseded and repealed by it. its effects are visible in ; the great and almost uu *xampled prosperity which pre- i vails m every branch of busmess. While the repea of the prohibitory and restrictive du ties of the act oi 1812, & tlie substitution in their place of reasonable revenue rates levied on articles imported ac- j cording to their actual value, has increased the reven ue and augmented our foreign trade, all the great inte- ; rests of the country have been advanced and promoted. The great and important interests of agriculture, which hud been not only too much neglected, but actu ally taxed under the policy for the benefit ol other inte rests, have been relieved o! the burdens winch that pol icy imposed on them; and our farmers and planters, under a more ju.-i and liberal commercial policy, are finding new and profitable markets abroad lor their augmented products. Our commerce is rapidly increasing, and is extending more widely the circle of international exchanges.— Great us has been the increase of our imports during the past year, our exports of domestic produce sold in for eign markets are still greater. Our navigating interest is eminently prosperous.— The number of vessels built in the United 4>uius has been greater than during any preceding period ol equal length. Large profits nave been derived by those who ‘ have constructed as well as by those who have naviga ted them. Should the ratio of increase in the number of our merchant vessels be progressive, and be as gnat for the future as dunng the put year, the time is nut distant when our tonnage and commercial marine w ill be larger than timt ot any other nation iu the world. Whilst the interests ol agriculture, of commerce, uud of navigation have been enlarged and invigorate i, it is highly gratifying to observe that our inamifM tu s are also in a prosperous condition. None of the ruinous ef fects upon tins interest, which were apprehended by some, us the result ol th# operation of tin* revenue syst em established by the act ot 18 i, .uve been expericn- , ed. Uu the contrary, the number of manufactories, and the amount ot capital invested in them, i* -i. adily j and iupidiy increasing, affording gratifying pio<*i ■* that 1 American enterprise und skill employed in in - vnch ! ol domestic industry, with no otlu i advantages man. those fairly and incidentally accruing from a just -.t- i nil ol revenue duties, nr - abundantly able to in, . i -nc , cesstuliy all competition from übroud, and sun derive | , lair and remunerating profits. j While capital invested in manufactures i* yel ling ! ’ adequate and fair profits uuder the new system, the wage* of labor, wnethcr employed iu inanulnetuiv*, ‘ agriculture, commerce, or navigation, have be n uug- j in* nied. The toiling millions, whose daily labor fur- ! lushes the supply ol food and raiment, and all the ne- | cessaries uud comforts of life, and receiving high’ r wu- i g**s, und more steady uud permanent employment than m any oiln rcountry, or ul any previous period of our own history. Bo succcwlui have been all branches of our industry, 1 that u foreign war, which generally diminish**the ie sources ol a nation, has in no essential degree retarded our omvurd progress, or checked our gciierul prosper ftU With such gratifying evidence# of prosperity, and of the succcmlul operation of the revenue act of 1816, eve ry consideration of public policy recommends that.it ij i.'ireiu’ iiiiiim ui jMitnu, imn null snail remain unchanged. It is hoped mat the ayatem | ol’ impost dutie* which it established may be regarded I aa the permanent policy of the country, und th.n tin* I great interest* flee ted by it may not again be auhjeci to be injuriously disturbed, aa they have heretofore been, by frequent and aoinetime* sudden cluing'* For die purpose of mcrenaing the revenue, and with* ou: changing or iiiotnlymg the rates imposed by the act ol ibh'> oil the dutiable a mole* embraced by it* provia* ion*, 1 aga.ii recommend to your favorable oonwd.ru tioii the exp* thency ot levying a revenue duly on ten and cotiee. Tlie poncy winch exempted th< •*• uriicle* from duty duuug peace, ami when Uw revenue to b derivetl I loin lie ui wum imi needed, OeOsc* to exist, when die country i* eugaged in war, ami require* die u*e ol ail n* available resow***. It 1* u tax winch would h- *0 generally dilia** and among the people, dun it would be kil oppreaa.vciy by none, and be complain* ed of by none, it is U*h* vod that there are not, in the 1 hat ol imported aa tick*, any winch ure more properly j the’ subl et ol wuruuties than U a und coffee. It i* evtuuNUrd that thlee million* of dollar* would l**> de ivad annually by a moderate duty imposed 011 tiieae articles. Should Uongrea* avail its* If of tin* additional source ol revenue, not only would the uiiioiint of t ie public loon remit- led necessary by the war with Mexico In diminished to that extent, but the puhiiocreth', and die luhiic confidence m he ability und tide m urn I ion of dn g veriumnt to meet all na t ligag< ineiiis prompiiy, Wouid Ih more fltmly established, und the reduced u mount of the loan winch it may be nee* s*ary to negoti ate could probably l*c obtained m chcupei tali** Congo-** is, in** re lore, called iq * u to determine whether it i* wiser to impo*- the War bulk” lecoin niended, or, by omitting to do *O, men aw di* public debt annually three million* of dolls I*o long if l-ui” “Ill'll I e required l 6 prosecute the war, and a. rwurd* provide, in some other f .nto, to pay the a. uii-.niuual niter. *1 upon it, mid ultimately to extinguish die pun* i,j uuditi'm to tie, duties, t< ngrer* should graduate and reduce the price of such of the public lands ns experience has proved will not command the prices placed upon them By the government, an addi tional annual income to the treasury of between halt n million and a million of dollars, it is estimated, would be derived from this source. Should both measures re ceive the sanction of Congress, the annua l amount ol public debt necessary to he contracted during the con tinuance ot the war would be reduced near four millions of dollars. The duties recommended to be levied on tea and coflee, it is (imposed shall be limited in their duration to the end of the war, and until the public debt rendered necessary to be contracted by it shall be dis | charged. The Amount of the public debt to be contruct | * and should be limited to the lowest practicable sum. and should lie extinguished ns early alter the conclusion ol the war as the means of the tieasury will permit. Wrh tliis view, it is recommended that, as soon a* the war stud! be ov*r, all the surplus in the treasury, not needed for other indispensable objects, shall constitute a silking fund, anil be applied to the purchase ol the .ijnded debt, and that authority he conferred by law lor that purpose. The act ol the Ctli of August, 1816, “to establish a warehousing system.” has been in operation more than a year, and has proved to be an important auxiliary to tile tariff net ot 1846, in augmenting the revenue, and • xtepding the commerce of the country. Whilst it has tended to enlarge commerce, it has been beneficial to our maiiulacturcs, by diminishing forced sales at auction ol loreign goods at low prices, to raise the duties to Lie advanced on them, and by checking fluctuations in the market. The system, although sanctioned by the ex - I perience ol other countries, was entirely new in ihe U. ; States, and is susceptible of improvement in some ol its provisions. ‘l’lie Secretary of the Treasury, upon whom . was devolved large discretionary powers in carrying this . measure into effect, hascollected, and is now collating, the practical results ol the system in other c >untries, [ 1 where it has long been established, and will report at. an early period of your session such further regulations i suggest’ and by the investigation as may render it still ! more effectual and beneficial. By the act to “provide tor the better organization of the treasury, anu lor the collection, safe keeping, and ’ disbursement of the public revenue,” all banks were J discontinued as fiscal agents of the government, ami the paper currency issued by them was no longer permitted to be received in payment of public dues. The constitutional treasury created by this act went | into operation on the first ol January Inst. Under the | system established by it, the public moneys have been ! collected, safely kept, and disbursed by the difeet a | gency of officers of the government in gold and silver ; a.. 1 transfers of large amounts have been made from 1 points of collection to points of disbursemeiit, without loss to the treasury, or injury or inconvenience to the trade of the country. While the fiscal operations of the government have been conducted with regularity and ease, under this sys ! tern, it lias had a salutary effect in checking and pre venting an undue inflation of the paper currency issued by the banks which exist under State charters. Requir | mg, as it does, all dues to the government to be paid in ...i , ... .. ....V. , .... - - p - r. gold and silver, its ellect is to restrain excessive issues | of l ank paper by the banks disproportioned to the spe cie m their vaults, for the reason that they are at all 1 tunes liable to be called on by the holders of their notes I for their redemption, in order to obtain specie for the payment of duties and other public dues. The banks, ; therefore, must keep their business within prudent lim j its, and be always in a condition to meet such calls, or i tun the hazard of being compelled to suspend specie payments, and be thereby discredited. Tic amount of i specie imported into the Uu.au states during the lust ’ hscal year was twenty-four million one hundred and twenty-one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine | dollars; of which there was retained in the country twenty-two mill on two hundred and seventy-six thou- I sand one hundred and seventy dollars. Had the for iner financial system prevailed, and the public moneys been placed oil deposit in banks, nearly the whole of 1 this amount would have gone into their vaults, not to be ! thrown into c.rculation by them, but lobe withheld from , the hands of the people usa currency, and made the ba- j sis ot new and enormous issues ol bank paper. A large : jiorportion of the specie imported has been paid into the treasury for public dues ; and after having been, to a 1 great extent, been recoined at the mint, has been paid ! out to the public creditots, and gone into circulation as a currency among the people. The amount ot gold and silver coin now in circulation in the country is lar ger than at any former period. The financial system established L>y the constitution al treasury has been, thus far, eminently successful in its j operations ; and 1 recommend an adherence to all its essential provisions, and especially to that vital provis ion wich whollly separates die government from all connexion with banks, and excludes bank paper from all revenue receipts. In some of its details, not invovling its general princi ’ pies, the system is defective, and will require modifica tion. These defects, and such amendments as are deemed important were set forth in the last annual re- j port of the Secretary of the Treasury. These amend-, ments are again recommended to the early and favora ble consideration oi Congress. During the past year, the coinage at the mint its branches has exceeded twenty millions of dollars. This , has consisted chiefly in converting the coins of foreign countries into American coin. The largest amount of foreign coin imported has been received at New York ; and if a branch mint were established at that city, all the foreign coin receiv- I ed ut that port cou and at once be converted into our ; j own cum, witnout trie expense, nsK, and delay ol trails- 1 porting it to the mint for that purpose, and the amount I recoined would be much larger. Experience has proved that loreign coin, and espe- . cially loreign gold coin, will not circulate extensively | ‘as a currency among the people. The important meas ! lire of extending; our specie circulation, both ol gold and silver, and of diflusing it among the people, can only be ’ effected by converting such foreign coin into American coin. 1 repeat the recommendation contained in my : last annual message tor ill*- establishment of a branch I of the mint ot the United States at the city of New ! York. All the public lands which had been surveyed and ! were ready for market have been proclaimed for sale • (.luring the past year. The quantity offered and to lie j offered ior sale, under proclamations issued since the j j u,si of January last,amounts to nine million one hun j die i and thirty-eight thousand five hundred and thirty- | | one acres. The prosperity of the western States and ! territories in which these lands he will be advanced by j their speedy sale. By withholding them from market, j their growtfi and increase ot population w ould be retar | ded, while thousands of our enterprising and ineritori- ! oua frontier |>opulation would be deprived ol the oppor- | j tunity of securing freeholds lor themselves and their j minifies. But in addition to the general considerations j ’ which rendered the early sale of these lands proper, it | was a leading object at this time to derive as large aj : sum as possible from this source, and thus diminish, by S that amount, the public loan rendered necessary by the existence of a foreign war. I It is estimated that not less than ten millions of acres j of the public lands will be surveyed and be in a condi itoii to be proclaimed for sale during the year 1348. In my last annual message 1 presented the reasons j which, in my judgment, rendered it proper to graduate and reduce the price of such of the public lands ay have j remained unsold for long periods after they have been ■ offered for sale at public auction. I Many million acres of public lands lying within the j limits oi several of the western States nave been offer ed in the market, and been subject to sale at private en try lor more than twenty years, and large quantities for ‘ more than thirty years, at the lowest price prescribed, by the existing laws, and it has bein found that they will ! j not command that price. They must remain unsold j and uncultivated for an indefinite period, unless the ; price demanded tor them by the government shall be , reduced. No sat’siactory reason is perceived why they . should be longer held at rates above their real value. At the present period an additional reason exists for adopt- j ! ing the measure recommended. When the country is , ! engaged in a foreign war, and wc must necessarily re- , 1 rioi't to loans, it would seem to be the dictate of wiidom , that we should avail ourselves of all our resources, and . thus limit the amount of the public indebtedness to the j lowest possible sum. i recommend that the existing lews on the subject of, pre-emption rights be amended and modified so ns to j operate prospectively, and to embrace all who may set- ; tie upon the public lands and mnk* improvements upon i them beiore they are suiveyed.as well as afterwards, in 1 ull cases where such settlements may be made after tire ‘ Indian title shall have been extinguished. If the right < f pre-empt on be thus extended, it will i embrace a large und meritorious clam of our citizens it w ill increase the number of small freeholders upon I our borders, who w ill Lie enabled thereby to educate ■ their children and otherwise improve then condition, while they will be found ut ail times, us they have ever I proved themselves to hr*, in the hour ot danger to their I i country, among our hardiest and best volunteer soldiers, I ever ready to teuder their services in cases of emergen | cy and among the last to leave the field as long as an i enemy reitiums to be encountered. Such n policy wifi also impress these pat node pioneer emigrants with deep er lee lings of gratitude for the parental care of their government, when they find their dearest interests se cured to them Ly the permanent laws of the land, and that they ure no longer in danger of losing their homes and hard-earned improvements by feeing brought into coni|>etition with a more wealthy class ot purchasers at 1 tin- tund sides. 1 In* utteiition of Congrt w wus invited, nt their luit und tlie preceding seitsiuii, to the ini|H>rtunee ot estub lißliiny u ‘l erntorisf government ovrroar pitMH’Hsions m l on the subject. Out citizens *lm mliribit tliut distniit region of country ure stilt loft without the pro tection ol our luws, or tiny regulurly organized pvem inent Before the question of limits and bounuunm of the terntoiy ot wiin definitely H**ttled. from the UTiMßity of their condition, the itilinhitiuaM hud estah li.-in <i u teiii|M>rary government ol lie ir own. Besides tiu wnnt of it uinhoriiy for continuing ucli u govern ment, it is wholly inadequate to piotcct them m tlieir ri| Hum 1 ;*• non and property, and to secure to them tbs enjoyment of the privileges of other citizens, to which they are entitled uuder the constitution ol the United Htulce Tliey afiuuld have die right of suffiug’ jfe* rep resented in ft j'erruoiiui legistiiture, mid fy a delegate I in Congress; und |hwinhi til tin* rights and privilege s j winch eiti/ms of other portions ol the Terriloravu of 1 the United Staten have In reiotore enjoyed or may now en,oy Our judicial systenip revenue laws, laws regulating I trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, mid the protection of* our lews generally, should he cx’ettded ov r them. In addition to the inhnbiliints in tire territory who lied I previous. > emigrated t<’ it• lei gc number** of our citi zens have followed tiiein during tli” present year; and it is not doubted that during the next and subsequent yens ue ir nuiiiirers wdi be greatly increased. Congo ss,ut its lust session, ertublDhed lending n* Oiegon.ntnl between iliffr rent points wltli- I oi (hut terntoiy, Slid suthorr/ed th* estahfishiiient *n ‘ ,nst oliiet sut “ Astone slid such other placet on tfie ! eo *h of the Pin tic, within the territory of the Unite J .-in 1 S, ns the public interests may require.” Poet offi ces have accordingly been esiublisoed, deputy post tuustere appointed, and provision made lor tlie trsns portution of tle mads The pres 1 vat ion of pence with the Indian tribes re- siding west of the Rocky Mountains will render it proper that authority should be given by law for the ap pointin*"ill ol an adequate number of Indian agents to reside among them. 1 recommend that a surveyor general’s office he es tablished in that territory, and that the public lands be surveyed and brought into market at an early period, j 1 recommend, also, that grants, upon liberal terms, of limited quantities of the public lands Ik* made to oil citizens of the United States who have emigrated, or may hereafter within a p*escribed period emigrate to Oregon,and settle upon them. These hardy and ad venturous citizens who have encountered the dangers and privations of u long und toilsome journey, and have at length found an abiding place for themselves and their la miles upon the utmost verge of our western lim its, should he secured in the homes which they have improved by their labor. I refer you to the accompanying report of the Secre tary of War fora detailed account of the o|ierations ot the various branches of the public service connected with the department under his charge. The duties de volving on this department have been unusually oner ous and responsible during the past year, and have been . discharged with ability and success. Pacific relations continue to exist with the various Indian tubes, and most of them manifest u strong friend ship for the United States. Some depredations were committed during the past year upon our trains trans poring supplies for the army, on the road between the western border ol Missouri and Santa Fe. These dep redations, winch are supposed to have been committed by bands from the region of N w Mexico, have been arrested by the presence of a military force, ordered out tor that purpose. Some outrages have hern perpetra ted by a portion of the northwestern bands upon the I weaker and comparatively defenceless tribes. Prompt measures were taken to prevent such occurrences in J future. Between one and two thousand Indians, Lielonging to several tribes, have been removed during the year from the east ol the Mississippi to the country allotted to them west of that river, as their permanent home ; and arrangements have been made tor others to fol low. Since the treaty of 18-16 with the Cherokees, the feuds among them appear to have subsided, and they have become more united and contented than they have beed for many years past. The commissioners, appointed in pursuance of the act of June twenty seventh, 181 C, to settle claims arising under the treaty ot IN3. r >-- ’36 with that tribe, have executed their duties; and al ter a patient investigation, and a full and fair examina tion of all the cases brought beiore them, closed their lutiors in the month ol July last. ‘Phis is the fourth board of commissioners which lias been organized un der this treaty. Ample opportunity lias been afforded to all those interested to bring forward their claims.— No doubt is enteitained that impartial justice has been done by the iate board, und that all valid claims embrac ed by the treaty have been considered and allowed. — This result, and the final settlement to be made with this tribe, under the treaty of 1816, which will be com pleted and laid before you during your session, will ad- just all questions of controversy between them and the united States, and produce a state of relations with j them simple, well-defined, and satisfactory. Under the discretionary authority conferred by the act of the third ol March l ist, the anilities due to the va rious tribes have been paid during the present year to the heads of families instead of to their chiefs, or such persons as they might designate, as required by the laws previously existing. This mode of payment has given | feneralsat sfaction t the great body ol the Indians, — : ustice lias been done to them, and they are grateful to the government for it. A few chiefs ana interested per sons may object to this mode of payment, but it is believ ed to be the only mode ofpreventing fraud and imposition from being practised upon the great body of common In dians,constructing a majority of all the tribes. It is gratifying to perceive that a number of the tribes have recently manifested an increased interest in the es tablishment of schools amongthem, and are making ra pid advances in agriculture—some of them producing a sufficient quantity of food for their support,and in some cases a surplus to dispose of to their neighbors. The comforts by which those who have received even a very limited education, and have engaged in agriculture, are surrounded, tend gradually to draw off their less civiliz ed brethren from rhe precarious means of subsistence l>y the chase, to habits of labor and civilization. The accompanying report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a satisfactory and gratifying account of the condition and operations of the naval service during the past year. Our commerce has been pursued with increased activity,and with safety and success, in every quarter ol the globe under the protection of our flag, which the navy lias caused to be respected in the most distant seas. In the gulf of Mexico,and in the Pacific, the officers and men of our squadrons have displayed distinguished gallantry, and performed valuable services. In the early stages of the war with Mexico, her ports on both coasts were blockaded, and more recently ninny ol them have been captured and held by the navy. When acting in 1 co-operation with the laud forces, the naval officers and men have perlomied gallant and distingu Vhed services on land as well as on water, and deserve ihe high com mendation of the country. While other maritime powers are adding to their na vies iurge numbers ot war steamers, it was a wise policy on our part to make similar additions to our navy . The four war steamers authorized by the act of the third of March, 1847, ore in course oi construction. In uddii°* to the fiui war steamers authorized Hy this act, the Secretary of die Navy Lias, in pursuance of its provisions, entered into contracts lor the construc tion ol live steamers, to be employed in the transporta tion of the United States mail “from New York to New Orleans, touching at Charleston, Savannah, and Havana,and from Havana toChagres tor three steam ers to Le employed in like manner from Panama to Or egon, “so as to connect with the mail from Havana to Chagres across the isthmus;” and lor five steamers to be employed in like manner from New York to Liver pool. These steamers will be the property ol ih • c at tractors, but are to La* hudi “under the superintendence and direction of a naval constructor in the employ of the Navy Department, and to Lr* so constructed as to render them comer table at ihe least possible expense into war steamers of the first class.” A prescribed number of naval officers,as well as a post office agent, are to be on board ol them ; und authority is reserved to the Navy Department at all times to “ ex ercise control over said steamships,” and “to have the right “to take them tor the exclusive use and service of tue United States” “ upon making proper compensation to the contractors therefor.” Whilst these steam-ships will be employed in trans porting the mails of the United States coastwise, and to foreign countries, upon an annual compensation to be paid to the owners, they will be always ready, upon an emeigencv requiring it, to be converted into war steam - ! ere; and the right reserved to take them for public use, add greatly to the efficiency and strength of this des cription of our naval force. To the steamers thus au thorized under contracts made by the Secretary of the Navy, should be added five other steamers authorized under contracts made in pursuance of law by the post master General, making an addition, in the whole, of eighteen war steamers, subject to be taken for public use. As further contracts for the transportation of the mail to foreign countries may be authorized Ly Con gress, this number may be enlarged indefinitely. The enlightened policy by which a rapid communi cation with the various distant parts of the globe is es tablished, by means of American-built sea steamers, j would find an ample reward in the increase of our com me ice, and m making our country and its resources ■ more favorably known abroad ; but the national advan- I tuge is still greater, of having our naval officers made familiar with steam navigation; and of having the privi lege of taking the ships already equipped for imme diate service at a moment’s notice ; and will be cheap ly purchased by the compensation to be paid for the transportation of the mail in them, over and above I tile postages received. A just national pride, no less than our commercial 1 interests, would seem to favor thp policy of augment ing the number of this description of vessels. They i can be built in our country cheaper and in greater | nuumbera than in any other in the world. I I refer you to the acconuninying- report of the Post j master General for a detailed anu satisluctory urcount I of tlie condition and operations of that department during the past year. It is gratifying to find that, with , in so short a pci hr! alter the reduction in the rates of postage, aud notwithstanding the great iucreuse ol ! mail service, the revenue rec< lvrd lor the year will La* sufficient to defray uil the expenses, and that no further aid will be required from the treasury for that purpose. The first ol the American mail steamers authorized I by tlie act of the third ot March, 1843, was completed | and entered upon the service oil the first ol June last, j and is now on her third voyage to firemen and other , intermediate ports ‘The othci vessels authorized under | the provisions of that act are m cotitse of construction, and will be put upon the hue us soon as completed.— i Contracts have also been made lor (he transportation of ; the mail in a strainer from Charleston to Havana. A reciprocal and satisfactory postal arrangement hn* been made by the Postmaster General with the author ities of Bremen, and no difficulty is apprehended hi making similar arrangements with all other Powers with winch wc muy have communication by muil steamers, exoept with Great Britain. On the arrival of tlie first of the American steamers. bound ho Bremen, nt HouUiaiiiptnn, in tl.s moinli of June last, the liritiali post ottice directed tin collect! >ll : ot discriminating postugeson all letters and oilier mail able matter, wlii’ li *!•• took out to (ireat Britain, or [ which went mu* the British post oflioe on their way to France ami oilur part* ol hurope. The effect of the order ol the Butisli p*st oflice in to subject all letter* ami other matter trun*|oitrd by American steamers to double postage, one p<tage having leen previously paid on them to me Lull'd (Slates, while letter* traiiH|Hited ill British et unwreare subject to pay but a single uost age Tina measure whh adopted with the avowed ob ject ol protecting the British line ot mail •teamen* now running between Boston and luip**ol, ami. 11 ja r nutted to continue, iiiiihi speedily put an end to the trmiMpoitutioii o! all letter* and other matter by Ameri can NicNiner*, and give to British steamers a monopoly ol die business A |ut ami lair reciprocity wall that we desire, and on tin-* we must insist By onr Imwm. no micli discrimination ih made against British strainers bringing lettera into out putts, hut all letters arriving in . 11 it* I lilted Mates are sublet to the *smc rate ol pat* age, whether biought Ml British *r American V* *wi** I reter you m thereout ol th*- I'ostuisNier < #en*rnl loi a lull statement ot the I act* of the i'll*’, ami of the step* taken by him to correct till* inequality lb* has exerted •U the pnwer conferred upon hiui by the exuding laws. The Minister ol the United Mtutea nt L ‘id*n. In brought the subject to the attention ol the British gov ernment. and is now engaged in negotiation** lor the purpose nt adjusting ncipioeal postal arningenieiitf*. whieli shall lie equudy just to I**t| coiiuti.es. imoaid he tail hi concluding such armngeiiKMits, and should Lreal Hritum insist oil enlo, cmg the urn quul ami uiqu-i mriinuie sin* has adopted* it will become llivtiMirv !•> collier additional pow* rson the i'ustimisti r • surra I, in order to enable bun to meet the emergency, and m put our own steamers on on equal looting with British steamers engaged in transporting the mail between the two countries; and 1 recoimiieinl ilint such powers I*, conferred. , . . In View of the existing state of our country, I trust it may not Is- intinptcpriaie, hi eloaing tiua goiwmumca tion.tocallio rnm<t the word, of w i,i „ th< ‘ h " ■"‘•moat illustrious ot 111 h lurt-well address to Ins country predecr "*iN ■ I lint greatest and best ol men wlio , . try so long, and loved it no muelt’, ‘’ , hm concern, the dangerto our Union “,.1 ’l* 11 * 1 “•erim,, putties by geographical discrimination* ” rt/.m • j southern, A thi 11 Ur and ittesrer n _d^r'“ r '.* fl :'"Uid I 11 ™ ‘"“y endeavor to excite u belief thru difference of local interests and views “*"at his countrymen againat it. ’ anJ ani.,| So deep and solemn was his rnnvin*-. portnnee of tlie Union and of ‘!l° ‘m tween its different parts, that fie ,leS7["" be. tiymen in linn address, “ it i Sl> | 0 Jjneoun. you should projterly estimate t| le vn lh national i man to yoar collective ami indivW n V n w ness; that you should cherish a cordial i,"a"* l Hi immovable attachment .0 it aocC n , h ” bmnl t to think and to speak ot it, liirnl safety and prosperity; walking fa its D v’' lrpo ‘ tmn with jealous anxiety ; tliseoumeuaneimt wP’ ” 8 may suggest even n suspicion that it ran in*,^" Ilev 1 lev ' r lie abandoned ; and indignantly frowning an “iV’? 1 ” dawning of every attempt to alienate an? 1 i o, ; r country Irom the rest, or to enfeeble the “• which now link together the various par,” ‘* I Alter the lnpse of half n century, these n,l„ . of Washington fall upon us with all the force 5"!"? It is difficult to estimate tlie “ immense vnL glorious Union of confederated States to w fei ° ou ’ so much indebted for our growth in „ 11 We are wealth, and tor all that constitutes us agS l®”. 0n Wd py nation, llow unimportant are all our dilW, p ; opinion upon minor questions ot public noli,.> 7 of ed with its preservation; and how scrupulotii v “i, lpa f; SKS? ““if--SiS; Invoking tlie blessing of the Almighty R u U 0 r lK Universe upon your defiberatiuns, it will Ihe „7\ th ’ duty, no less titan my sincere pleasure toms * With you lit nil measures which may tend ~ the honor ami enduring weliare cornet ST Washington, December, K .KH UNAI.vV MKSSKXtSsT na c o\. u -a. WEDNESDAY. DEcTis. i on PRESIDENT, GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR. ty The Presentments of the Grand Jury 0 f Bibb —: . , , . „ , : wi dido ■ county, are in hand, hut crowded out by the ■ Message. Also some advertisements, and a variety oi I articles prepared for this day's paper. I History of Georgia. t The first volume of Dr. Wm. Bacon Stevens’ Htsto. I ry lias been issued, and is now for sale in this city by I the publisher, W. C. Richards, it wilkconsut of two I volumes, of about SIW pages each. A suitable notice I of the work will be given next week. I Congress. I The first session of the 30th Congress convened on I Monday, the 6th ittst. ■ R. C. Winlhrop, of Massachusetts, was e|-ctei fl Speaker of the House on the third liaUoting_e j,i„., ra . I hers were present. There was no regular tipp,ug I candidate—Linn Boyd, of Kentucky. recev 1 V( ,■, I on the second ballot. ■ Thomas J. Campbell, ot Tennessee, was <-!ectej ■ Cletk ot the House on tlie first ballot. The vote wo- fl Campbell 114, Benj. B French 103. 3scattering. m The last “Speech” from “Old Chatham.” I On Monday the fit It tnst. tlie election fir Mater H Alderman, tor tin- City of Savannah t,.k p.Hce, resulted in the election of the entire whig ticket H The vote lor tlie election k r Mayor was, il K Bit- H I roughs, 661 K. J Harden, 4U2.—Win j ißjnriiy 3; ■ Two full tickets tor Alderman were run i:i: iieiie.H j vvlug majority was neurlv tlie same is;:.a:: H or. “Old Chatham” never spoke better. B Wm. 1.. Mitchell, Esq. of Athens,has beenappo.il-1 ed Chief Engineer, on tlie State Road hv tk.v is B Col C F M Garnett, who is displaced, wc an cl : glad to learn lias la-eit elecled t.'inef Engineer ut jl 1 Columbia and Charlotte Rail-Roait ■ Reception of (feu. Taylor in Sew Orient, fl We have no room to give the details ol al magnifieient spectacle. From the drsrnpouH in the New Orleans papers, it surpassed uni , thing of the kind that has ever taken pitnaH our country. The Picayune of the sii. siys.l Never beiore i:t the history of a city icmH tortile hberalty and magnificence of.’’ B . al displays, was so grand a demomtruhu.; iH |s>piihtr I'edinjf exhibited as that nl y ‘■ It sur|iassetl tlie expectations ot t..c H guine. It was truly a noble. ispom.W'fiß nuiiimous out|Nmi'iug of the gratitude B triutisui of a |M ople keenly alive to .ill that -B doiinds to the national honor, and t-usn-j’ of the deepest impressions of adm. r B tilleetion lor those whose deetis liitve ui rB new lustre to the name and tame 0! uut bfl public, lie was entertained by :t in- B dinner, and a sword was presented to lain B tlil v. Johnson in behalf of the state horn--'fl He remained in New Orleans but two - I when lie left for his plantation. ■ •>l>eeinl rorrespondetne. I MILA.EDGEVILLE, i Gsntlemen The Senate, yeas 4l, nap y 1 ed to reconsider the vote ol yesterday, Boynton’s resolutions. Anoiiu r mug im.. .^B 1 dieted upon thetKHly, |tendtng the 1 | Chastain This is shout the touch or fans ™ the same speech which has been intbeU up ate in as many days, aud I ant happy u> atfen . the body in the course of the morning. provision nguiirst a recurrence ot the evil. ard a l.rtillter DemiH rat, oili-red a resolution t'^- W “itrar no inemher of the Senate shall speak |i® thirty mxnutet on any one subject lor the H | the session.” This ol course was a *|^ 11 ”’ B \ nays C. The nays were Messrs Gamp, ■ | Cucliran. Dunngan, Duncsn and Wig-rma More than five days have been consiui* J ate in diwussiotui ou national 1 H ’ I Williamson laid upon tho table the n i lrt nntlee m tilt- State of tire Repu 011 1 liiorttmg and called il tip—the H 0 1 ” Is-gg. and llutl they would lie allow ed to a-- 1 a .tH , 1 11. > almost cltarged the WhigswUh* them” Tie Wings extend, and every ~jM| Two day s w* re consumed by tie- during which time, they continually ; l H lugs with IH-iiig aliiud to express an 1 subjects winch agitated the country ( ,>■ § and tlemiiu tation were It aped upon ‘ ■ J w hole Wlt.g party were abused, aud Utd r B . reuiaincd silent, not wishing to “’U- , ‘ eesaartly, they Is,re the taunts and ltr> • -J | jstiitteai opponents until il was no On Monday last they met them upon* >’ B tile language of some Deiu.K-raw • 1 .. B tlretrhand.” In juaiiee to the Wit's - which prompted them to 6'“' 1 B 1 Ist The wings knew Iltey had d"’ j ',,.,1 afl to vote down any resolution wmc.i Hh to Is- pn per nr collect. . lrllll y 4d. They were disposed m ... B IK-inocracy und treat them witli I’"' 1 "7 ‘ ( "B 3d ‘IVy knew that il the Besi'> ~ fl ed, they tin- (Wings) being m ■ clrnrgnltle tor it beiore the |s-o|’ * q (il o “Ba. lilt They knew that the wvei'f' 0 :■ fl uisnllici.-ul to meet tls’ ex|s-ns, s. a- JgP Urn present li-al year, 1 11 ’T*’ di- ‘"’ ‘fl as Intis tun us possible in uiui*'” * rlw ,; ‘B till wich tiictr atltfersaries j ,,v “ al |1( , fek’-'’ BB with Is-ing afraid to MW*’ I .’ 7j with eountty, when they wereevenet nru> H '**flw manly indepeii lenee eitotigli ,|„ v K I every ..-onsidcration “I |tairwlie > |li|H ,s< tesy had been assailed, smi n fe,., J-’ ‘~^B 10 them, tln-y buckled on df* ri ,h “ I fl planted iheiii-lve up“” l1 "’ *"*' ’ ig"' Mg Lrinciples, m) sustained them ‘l, . * flf strong to tie shaken oy the • y sit” ‘ 1 til. II tmn game, I need Ito’ / t— oiJU 1 ’" l '’ recorded In so in my words 1 ,., 1 ,fe lex ‘‘ fl llilliaitl which must hav I “* ( 7Viend ■ ’ a report,liny eopiesof which B | ed tor Ihs u*r of the Sens If. H