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J (JL Ali i\ xi
J4nE S T. MSB FT AND SI3IRI ROSE,
EDITORS.
LIFE.
The child, beside its mother’s knee,
Known little of the open sea:
iu a secluded vale he dwells,
■Where golden surds and smooth-lq-ped t-hells
Amuse liis life;
Unconscious that the whirlwinds sweep
The surface of the outer deep
With never-ending strife.
He set's, perchance.
Some I Kirk ujion the shore,
Which sailed of hue
The waters o’er.
Tite broken spars, toe rifted .leek.
The silence Oi the wave washed wreck,
impress his heart:
But, in the sanshim* on the s.**.
And summer biwies blowing free.
Such thoughts dejKirt.
The sturdy oak is growing near:
The ash within ir.e forest stands;
And yet he builds an osier bark.
Secured with silken bauds.
The pennants gay
S<rwrai from the mast,
As on the outward tide he floats,
Receding last.
O mother! who hath known
The terrors of the sea.
In all the watches of the night
How thinks thy son of thee.
Who, smiling, stood upon the strand.
And sent him, helpless, from the laud
What wonder, when a time
Os looking out i past,
Some sad memorial of his fate
Upon the shore is cast!
And that he,
Gone down at sea,
Is lost to earth and all its memory ’
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
l>. v- Citizen* •/ t}ir S*h ’t
(•mi >/’ th‘ }{ r>f lltpst-ratal •-* :
Tnc brief spare which lias elapsed since the close r,
Tour last session, has been marked by no extraordinary
a j ditical event. The quadrennial election of Chief Ma
gistrate has passed ofl with less than the usual excin
-I*. However individuals and parties ina\ have ‘.ee
a-.ipt'oiased in the result, it is nevertheless a subject■ ‘
national co-.gra'uLxtion that the choice ha- b*-en effected
by the inlependeat suffrages of a free jasqde, undisturb
ed by those influences, which in other countries, have
too often affected tlie jHirity of jiwpular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an all-needful
dence, not only for staving the pestilence which, in dif
ferent forms, lias desolated some of our cities, but tor
crowning the labors of the husbandman wi*h nn abun
dant harvest, anil the nation generally with the bless
ings of peace and prosperity.
Within a few weeks the public mind has been deed ,
affected by the death of Daniel Webs er, Piling, a. bis
decease, th office of Secretary of S'ate. His ns.'ic'a es
in the Executive gnvemmwit have aincefely sympa h -
zed with his family, and the pubPc gem-rail r,” on th s
mournful occasion. His commanding talen s. liis g;ent
political and professional eminence, his well-tried pa r -
otistn, and his long and faithful services, in the most
important public trusts, have caused his death >o be la
mented throughout the country, and ini. c canted for
him a lasting place iu our history.
In the course of tire last summer, considerable anxie'v
was caused for a short time, by an official intimation
from the government of Great Pnta n, tha 1 orders had
been given for the protection of the fisheries upon the
coasts of the British provinces hi North America,
against the aUcdgctl encroachmcr.ts . f die fishing ves
sels of the Unite-i States and France. The >hoin:*T->
this notice awl the season of the year, seemed io make
it a matter of urgent importance. It was a hrsi appre
hended, that an mcreaseii naval force had been cnic-.cd
to the tishing grounds torn ry the British in
terpretation ot those provisions in the convention of
IHIH, in reference to the ’rue intent of which the two
governments differ. It was -siu dis.-o.e ed ha’ such
wa# not the design of I .rent i.riso/ and sutislac <Ti
explanations of the real übjec’s of the measure have
been given bo’h here and iu iaindt-u.
The unadjusted difference, however, b-.-'ween the two
governments as to the interpretation ot the first article
of the convention of ISl.s, is still a uiaiter of inipor
ance. American fishing v, ssds, within aim* oi tea
rears, have been excludes! f-'om waters to which thev
had free access for twenty-five years us ct ;be negotia
tion of the treaty. In l.si.'i this exclusion was relaxed so
far aa concerns the Bav of Funday, but live just and lil
cral intention of the Home g.n entmeai, in * compliance
with what we think the true construction of she conven
tion, to open all the oilier outer bars tc our fishermen,
was abandoned in cense*jucnce of the oj tmsitii.n of tiie
colonies. Notwithstanding tbn, tlie Uni *ed ritaos have,
since the Bay of Fluidity was r> -e-icd to ourlishe;-
ren in . - * •. pursued themost bbc.-al course oward the
col.-mid fishing itnere.- s. By the revenue lan .-f isq.;,
the duties on colonial fish en ering our ports were verv
•gn-atlv reduced, and by the warehousing act J is allow
ed to be entered in bond widsont pa.'iucts! of iluiv. Iu
this way, colon: a] fish has acqu red the mono’, lv'of the
export trade in our market, and isetneri.ig, o some ex
tent, into the home consumption. These lac.* were
among these which increased tlic sensibility t .f our t.sh
itig interest, at :he movement in question. ’
Thesecircuci stances, and die incidents aUtre alluded
to, have led me to ihiuk die uioti.a ut htvor.ible . •t a u
consideratioa of the eiiiire .subject of the fisheries on
the coasts of the British pro. iucea, with a view io place
them upon a more liberal footing of !tcjri! privi
lege. A willingness to ti*-e hs iu sotne airaiigvmeut
of this kind is understood o exist, ta: the pail of Great
Britain, with a desire on her j art :o iuciutle ,n * re ccio
pieheusiblc setileu eiti, as wtii diis subject a-s die tom
nicrcial intercourse between the UuiU-il States and .ho
British provinces. I have thought, th .t what-ier ar
rangements may be made on these two subjects, it is ex
pedient that they should he embraced iu sepm-fot* con
ventions. The illness and dest.li of the late Settetarv
of Slate, prevented the coimueecemeat of she coneui
p!ated negotiation, Fairs have been taken to collect
the information required for the de’a ls of such an ar
rangement. The subject is attended with lonstdemble
difficulty. If it is foun-l pi .ic'icabie to come to un ogrei -
mint mutmtliy acceptable to she two ponies, con na -
tions nusv be concluded iu the c urse < f the pre-ent
winter. The control of Congress over all the piovisions
of such an arrangement, affecting the revhtme, wilt ..f
course be reserved.
The affaii-s of Cuba fomicd a { mlnent --.pic in my
last annual message. They remain iu an uncase condi
tion, and a feeling of ahmi and iiriiutkm, on the pan o.
the Cuban authorities apjavus ti exist. This ti ding
has interfered with the regular cominetcial imeiusirse
between the United Stau-s and the Island, and led o
some acts of which we hare a right to complain. But
the Captain General of Cuba is clothed with no powir
to treat with foreign governments, urn is l.c in any d
gree under she contiolof thefspauisli Minis.it at Wash
ington. Any conimuniiation he may hold wiili un agent
of a foreign power, is informal and matter of cout e>v.
Anxious to put an end to the existing mciuivuii* ikcs,
('hich ju-emed to test on a niiacoocrpDiKO I dtre’ ed
the icwly aprse.nteil Minister to Mexico to visit Havana,
or his way to Vera Cruz. He was res ( ec fully rcoeiv .-d
by the Uaptain tleiu-ral, who conferred with him fively
on the recent ocviirreuces; but no pcnuaucut airaug.-
lueni was effected.
In the Meantime, the refusal of the Cap'aln General
to allow [ss- sengers and the mail to be landed iu cciiam
cases, for a reason which does not furnish, in the opin
ion of this government, even a good po-niuipiiregiound
for such a prohibition, ha-* isi-n made tin- subject of a
serious remonstrance at Madrid : and ! have no lca iai
to doubt that due respect will lie paid by the government
of Her Catholic Majesty, to the represent at ions which
our Minister has been mslrueteil it* make on tlie suL
jeet.
It is but justice to the Captain General to add, that
hia conduct toward the stun nets employed to carry the
mails of the Uni'ed States to Havana lias, vritli ;|Te ex
cept :011s at>ve oHuded to. been marked wi'h kindness
and liberality, and indicates no gcneial pnrpis,- of in
terfering w ith the commercial corresjsiinlcnce and in
tercourse between tlie island and this country.
Early in the present year otlicial notes were received
from tnc Ministers of France and England, in viting the
government of the l nited Stales to become a { ar'.v with
Great Britain and I ranee to a tripartite Convention, in
virtue of which tho three powers should severally and
collectively disclaim, now and tor the future, nil intention
to obtain possession of the island iff Cuba, and should
bind themselves to discountenance all attempts to that
effect on the part iff any power or individual whale* er.
This invitation has been resjtectfully declined, for rea
sons which it would occupy too much space in this con -
miinication to state iu detail, hut whn h ksl me think
that tlie proposed measure would le of doubtful consti
tutionality, impolitic and unavailing. I have, however,
in cornmou with several of my predect-sors, directed
the Ministers of France and England to lie as-mred that
the United Stab* entertain no designs against Cuba; hut
that, on the contrary, I should regard its inoorpora ion
into the Union, at the present time, as trough: with se
rious peril.
Were this Island comj-aratively ilcstittife of inhabi
tants, or occupied by a kindred race, I should regard it,
if voluntarily ceded by Spain, as a most desirable acqui
sition. But, under existing circumstances, 1 should
look upon its incoqsitwtion info our Union as a very
kiaanioua measure. It would bring into f Im* cuniedrra
ev a 1 equitation of a different national stock, sja-aking a
different language, and not likely to harmonize with the
other members. It would probably alii ct, in a prejudi
cial manner, the industrial interests of the South ; and
it might revive thoae conflicts ol opinion last ween the
different sections of the country, which In tidy shook the
I ■on* to its c* - u:re, and which hate Ltu si* happilv
eomprvm. i-t;.
7 ie !_'• • lion, by the Mecican t'engress, of the fVu-
Ttntioa v inch had ‘toeu concluded between that KeiMilr
l'c and R|o l uitcd Slate*, f. r the [.mtec'ion of a tra.imt
way ocflLs the Isthmus of Tahuantepec, and of the in
terest-* of those citizens of _lhe UuiteU State* who hud In -
come proprietors of the rights whkdt Mexico had con
femil on tHie of her own citizens in regard to that tmu
ait, has thrown an obstacle in die wav of the attainment
of avers desirable national object. lun .-still witling to
hope that the differences on the subject which etiw, or
foxy la-real for arise, between the roveniments will be
snucably adjusted. This subject, however, has already
orgtged tbe attention of the Senate of the L nited States
and requires no further cotnincnt iu this conmiunica
tiiia.
j. ‘he settlement of the question respecting the pon of
ciaa Juan de Nicaraugu, und of the controversy between
ft- Republics of Costa Rica and Xic&rwuga, in regard to
c*i ixundaritß, was considenst indispeiiM>blc to the
i-r canal between the two
’ J r-, P wns the subject of the convention between
i*i Mates and Great Britam of the ltrth of April,
e : * < f lp |V nl y a proposition for the same purposes
to the Mi-annit* gveniiuent hi tha? quarter, and
. ffi. M -sqarto Indmus, was agreed to in April Inst by
the Secretary ot State and the Minister of her Britannic
Majesty. Besides ibe wish to aid in reconciling the dd- !
ferencesof the two Republics, 1 engaged in the negotia
tion from a d*sire to plac*> the great work of a ship ca
nal between the two oceans under one jurisdiction, aud
to establish the important jiort of San Juan de Nicaniu
ga tinder the government of a civilize 1 js*wer. The pro
position in question wav assented io by Costa Kica and
the Mosquito Indians. It has not proved equally in -
cept able to Nicaraugu, but it is to be hoped that the fur
ther negotiations on ilie subject, which are in fnt’n, will
b*- carru-I on in that spirit of conciliation end com pro
wine which ought always to prevail on such occasions,
and that they will lend to a saiisfactorv restil*.
I have the satisfaction to inform yon that the Ecectt
tive government ot V etiernela has acknowfiedg* -1 some
claims ot citizens of the L nited Saties, which have, for
many years past, b,*et! tirre J by our charge d'alfaires at
Cwraccaa. It w Isqied that the satnc sense of justice
will actuate the Congress of that Republic in jmnviding
the tueatui f*r their payment.
T lie recent re coin hi a :n littettos Ayres and the coa
ederaletl States, having ot-euc.l ‘he pio*j>ri.*t es an im
proved st.ite*/ things in ‘hut qa irt.*', the govc - 11 incut*
of Great Britain and !•'nonce detenninedto nego'Lt e vvt 1:
be chief of ihe new eonfrde'wcv for tic free access *>f
ihetr commerce io tbeexien-ivc co-ui ries wa'ercd bv
he tributaries of flic !.a I’la a ; and <li£v gave a friend
ly notice of this pvrjsre’ to the I nilrel S:.t:es, tliat vve
might, if we ih->cgLt proper, pursue t'. e ,:ine course.—
tn compliance with this rivita'ion, out .'linister at Kio
Janeiro and u ir charge d'affaires at Buenos Ayres, have
been fully au horized to conclude treaties wi h the new
lv trgauize*l eontedentimt, <>t the Stoles composing it.
i ite del tvs which have taken place in the formation of
lie new govern :urnt. Slave, as yet, prevented theexecu
■ ii*M of th-me instructioa*; but thi-re is every reason to
ho;s*. tint these vast coaatri.es will be eventually ojicned
i. our demnerce.
A treaty of eo’.anuTce h ts been concluded between the
United States atu! tho* Oriental tt-*public of Uruguay,
vvii eh will be laid bet-we the Senate. Sicaild tfos con
vention p> in o ojieraf ion. it will upea to the coniiiierci.il
-nfergriscof onr ciiiztt, .1 comi'ry of greit extent and
•i!isiiq**s.’d in Hntoira! reuonrves, but flour wb'cli ibreigu
nations have hitherto bevn almost wholly excluded.
The om sj*,n.letoff the lit;- Si-cretary of State with
the Peruvian dinpcf’ißbirrs l relative to the Utbos lt
!itml.\ tt ‘is tx;nmi:uicated to (''ingress t*.. aid the* close of
thei-*st session. Since th t* time.on further investiga
tion of the subjec*, the doubt* which had been cuterUi.n
cl **f the title of S'ec.t to those Islands, have been remo
rt-1; and I have deemed it jus', that tlie temporary
wrong which Uo*l belt ua in tent tonally done her, from
want of information, should be rejKtired by an unreserv
ed acknowledgment of her sovereignty.
I have the attiaf'tction to infrirtn you that the course
pursued bv Pent has been creditable to the liberality of
Iter government. Before it was known by her that
liT title would H” acknowledged a! Wxdi.ng on, her
i Ministcrof Foreign Affairs h,d an horized our charge
I’.tfrtires at Lima to announce to the American vessels
which h.td gone to the l.ob<:s f>r guano, that the Peruvi
an government ms w tiling to freight them on its o wn ac
count. Th s intent i< hasbet n carried info effect bv the
IV ntvian Minister here, by an arrangement which is be
lieved to be advantageous to the jKirtk'sta interest.
Onr iMtkstrals <t tl*e shores of the Pacific haveal
rendv given a are.il extension, and in some rc*j?cfs anew
direction, to our ctHunnTce in that ocean. A direct and
r.tpitllv increasing intercom >e lias s-.ning up with Kast
ern Asia. The waters of die Xorthern Pacific, even in.o
the Arctic sea, Ictve, ot late years, been fre [U.-aied bv ottr
whalemen. The .ajiplicttlio’.i of s*eam to the general pttl
i o* s cf ttavig tiioti is becoming daily more common, and
mak -s it d-> ruble to obtain fuel and other necessary sup
plies, at convenient joints, ou tlie route between Asia
and our Pacific --Jtores. Our unfiirtunatc countrymen,
who. rro.u time to time, suffer hit wrecks on tlie coasts
of tlie eaaiem seas, tire entitled to protection. Besides
‘he*e*ia?ctfic objects, the general pi*aq>erity of our. States
*m the Pacific, requires that an attempt should be made to
• .jH’it the opposite n-gimisuf Asia ton mutually beneiicial
! mieno'irse. It is ob* h.-tis that this attempt could la*
I made bv no power i<> *•’ great advantage as by the Uni
j ted Si.iics, v*l,*!se consliiuiimul system excludes every
idea of and stun’ cob >nial depen- iencics. I have according
ly been letl *■ order an a]q>ropriate naval lorce to. Lit an,
tinder the command of a discreet and intelligent officer of
the highest r.ttik kuu'.vn to our s.rvice. He is instructed
to endeavor to obtain front the government of that comt
trv sotne relaxatkm * f the inhospitable an l anti-social
svstetn wh ch it has {pursued for ab*nit two centuries. —
He It is l>*eu directed jiarticnlarh to remonstrite in the
-fringes* lan gstage, aga-nst tlietniel tivjtn.en: to vvltidi
our shipwrecked nu-i mers h tveoften been subjected, and
to insist that they shall be treated with humanity, lie is
instructed, however, ut‘he sene time to give tbatgov
• fitment the amplest assurances that tlie objects of the
Unittsl States arc such and such onlv as I have indica
t'd, and that the expeiition is frieit-lit and itencefit!.—
X*tv.'itlistndiug the jeakmsv with which tJie govero
titents of Eastern Asia regard all ovitiun s front toreigit
t-rs, l am not w.tlmnf hopes of a beneficial result of the
exjiedilion. Should it be crowned witb micco s, the ad
vantiigis will not be contuu'd to the United Stales, but,
,:s in thcciseof China, will kee<|uallv enjoyed by all tlie
I other maritime powers. 1 havetnttch satisfaction in sta
iiitig, that in ail the sieos pro'mr. dory to this expedition,
| tlie govet nineiit of the t’nitva States has been materially
ia dedbv fhegood offices of tlie Kitigof the Netherlands,
1 lh:‘ only Kurojieun jower having any commercial rela
|tit ns with .hijaat.
In passing from thl- survey of our foreign relations,
■ I invite the attention of Congress to tlie oondition of
! tliat department of the tiovcruinent to which fbw
I l>nu;di of :he public business i- entrusted. Our inier
vo'.irse wiili flaeign powers bos <ifi*ite years creatlv ir
j ere.is*si. Loth in consequence *d our own growth and
;he introtbidion of maav new States into the family of
na ions. In tbkt way the detiirtmeat of Stale h*s !►•-
|*s.;,te overburdened. It hts, by the recent eslablish
i uicnt ofthe Depart 111 *nt of the Interior, lieou relievet! of
some |Nrt:oJi of tlie domestic business. If the trsidir’
of the business of kind, s tch a* the distribution of Con
gressional documents, the k's-j'ing, prjblishing and dis
-1 :r htiiion *;f the law sos the United Suites, the execution
jof the copy right l.:w, the -object ot rejirieves and pai-
I doits, and some 0 her subjec s relati.ig to inurior ad
ation, sltmil.i he InmsteiTed fiom be Dej urt-
I meat of State, it would ir.iqties:humbly lie inf Ut*- betie
! iit </tin- public service. I would also suggest that the
building appropriated to the State Dcjiartiiietit is not
fut-pn 11: that slier- is reason :* -hink there are defects
in if.-: construction, mid tliat the archives of Ilie Govern
ment in charge ol the Itejiartiiieat, with tlie precious
collections ot the manuscript juita rs of Washing .0:1,
Ji-ltirsoo, lluinilwui. Madison and Monroe, are exjtoncd
o des'niction by fire. A similar remark may be made
of iht bi'Mings appiopm'ed to the war and Navy Dc
parlm*nts.
The condition < 1 the Treasury is exhibited in the an
nual rej *>rt from that IfopunnK-nt.
The cash n-tvip's i:ii the Tte.vsury fin- the fiscal year
ending the Sdsh .1 uiic last, exclusive of trust funds,
were tbity-ninc nttll’ot s seven htuidivd ami twenty*
eight thousand thive hundred and eight v-six dollars and
eight!-nine cents. 1 7'Zs,:.-*> -t', 1 and the exjiemli:tires
I i>f the sitine per:*!, likewise exelus.ve of * rust funds,
j were forty-six miliums seven thotis ind eight hundred
J and uiue’y- *ix dollars ai >i twenty cents, iiftfi, h'T.hi *i unj
jol which nine luiliioas four hundred and tiity-hve tliou
|.-.uid eight Itußdred *nd ntioco dollars and eight *-tin-e
j rent*. ‘-.>3, s *." ’■•J) was ou account of the prindjatl
i and int. rest of the jniblic ! bf, ineludiiig the last in
stalment ofthe imlemni y to Mexico, tinder ihe treaty
oftviia i.tilt’s* Hidalgo, leaving a balancevf tl4,ti:W,l:ttS,-
;i 1 th- Treasury 01 die fir*: day of July list. Since
this latter perital, further pureittses ofthe principal of
the J'uhlic d-ht have been made to the extent ol two
miliums four hundred uud fifty-six thousand five hun
dred an*l torty—even dollars and folly-nine cents, (*2,
t t*, >47 4'.', i and the surplus 111 the Treasury will coit
tinue to be applied to that object, whenever the stock
can he proettred within the limits, its to price, uu liotiz
| ed bv law.
Tiie value of foreign merchandise imported during
the lies.’ fiscal year, was two hundred and seven mdlio.is
:wo hundred and firty tiioiissud one hundred and one
dollars, 5i07,g40,10l >; ainl die value of domestic ]r.*-
duclions exisirtcd was one handled and firty-ninc niil
ih.ns eigiit bundled and sixty-*)iie thousand nine hun
dred and eleven dollar*, i>i4:',stil,V!l); besides seven
tvi'ii inili.ons Two hundred and tour thousand and
tvveai*-six dollar.., I of foreign merchandise
e.xjsii irtl; nmking the aggregate of ihe entire e\]>oi".s
one hundred and sixty-seven millions sixty-live thou
sand nine hundred and thirty-seven dollars, I#l'i7,no >,-
*:T7); exclusive of ihe above, iliere was exjsvrted lorty
tvv millions five hundred and seven thousand two hun
dred and eight*-five dollais (>*l2,-’o7,'-'*■") iu s]ecie;
and imported front foreign ]<ort five million* two hun
dred and sixty-two thousand six bundled and forty
three dollars, (*-’>,2ti_',i43.)
In mv brut annual message to Congress I called your
attention to what s*:emed io mo some defects iu the
pienent tariff’, a id re'C*>nuncnded such modification as in
nr. judgment were bt - aihq>te*i To remedy its evils and
promote the prosperity * f the coiurry. Nothing has
.-once ch'C.ii re<l to cliaage my views ou this important
question.
Without repeating the arguments contained in my
former me >age, in lav*,r ot discriminating protective
duties, 1 deem .t my duty to call your at’entKm to one
or two other consider ilium* ailecung this subject.—
I The first is, ihe effect of large importations of tl ‘reign
Ig -'•ls ii|*o:i our currency. Most ofthe gold <f Ualifor
| nia, as las! ; -_s it is coined, finds its way directly to Eu
j rope in payment for giuxls purchased. In the second
1 place, us our niunuCtciiirirg esuibbslitucnt* are* broken
I down by cotn]setiii*n wish soreignei s, thecapiial mves -
ed in iftem is lost, tiumrands of iui'. s: and iiidu • ri.ais
citizens are thrown out of employment, and tlu* larmer
to ‘hut extent is deprived of a home market for the sale
of hi* surplus produce. In the third place, the destruc
tion of our manufactures leaves the foreigner without
competition in our market, and he cone<jiientlv raises
tlie price *f the urtiele sent here tor sale, e.s is now seen
in the increased co-**t “t iron im; *r v 1 from Knghnd.—
The prosperity and wealth ofevery nation must depend
a sin it* productive industry. Tin* farmer re stiumla.-
so exertion bv finding a ready market lot hi* surplus
products, mid benefitted by isdng able to exchange
them, without lose ot time or expense of tnni*]a:na:ipti,
for the manufacture* which hi* comfort or convenience
requires. Th.* is atwa < done 1 the best at* .oi'.ajpc
where a j orthm of ihe ooiumuuitj’ in which he lives is
engaged in oflicr jfUisuiis. But most manufacture* re
qu>re *ll aiuou it ol capifid and a praeiie.il sk.l! which
cannot l*e oommande-t, iiiil*ss they be prolccte*! for a
time from ni:iin?* coinjiHition fiii itniuad. llc-ftcn*
the necessity oi laying \lnmv (itilicAUpon itnjwifdgtKKh
which the Coffidif ution authorico for revetiw, in such
a mamier a* to protect and enomrage (lie labor of our
own citizen*. DutiuN, however, klioulcl not Us lixed ut
a rate mi li’pli a> to esciude flic foreign urficlo, hui
should lie so gradtwted as to enable the domestic man
efaeturer fairly to compete wilh the foreigner in our
ow n markets, and bv this rompet i'.ion to reduce the price
of the nianutUc'iire*! article to Ihe consumer to the low
est rate ai which it can be produced. This policy
would place the mechanic bv the side of the farmer,
create a mutual interchange of their respective cotum< -
dities, aud thus stimulate the indus rv of the whole
country, and render us ir.dcj>eiident <>f foreign nation*
fi r the supplies required by the habits or necessities of
ihe |>eople.
Another question, wholly independent of protection,
preaant* iisdf, and tiiat is, w iicther the duties levied
should be upon the value of the article at the place of
shipment, or, where it is practicable, a specific duty
gnidua ed atroixl ng to quantity, its uscertained by
we gilt or measure. An ottr duties arc at jircseut ml
A certain per eeutage isdevied on the price
of the giO is at th*> j>cn-i ol” -iiipmeut in :i foreign coun
try . Moat commercial uuiious have lirtiid it iiidisjict
sahle, lor It • purjit'V* of preventing .inn 1 and perjury,
to make the dttl.es specific wheiu-teT the article is of
such a uniform value iu wciglit or measure as to justify
such a duty. Legislation sfiotiM never encourage ds
hnnesty or crime. If is intposs hle that the revenue of
iK'ws at ihe port where tin l goods are entetwi, and :he
d'i’i-s na and, should know wiili certainty what thev east
in he foreign country. Vet the law requires tint th v
should levy the dutv according to such cost. They are
thereto!e compelled” to resori 10 very unsatisfoc'o ‘v e\
de'ice to ascertain what that cost was. Thev take the
i tv >ice of the imiwrier, attested by hisoailt, as he h -st
cci ieiiee of which th * nature of the case admits. Bm
e *’ \ one must see -hat the invoice may be fabr cited,
t* id the oath by which it i<* sttnjairted talse, fiv reason
of which the dishonest importer j*avs ;t jiart onlv ot the
duties wit ch are paid by the li*m si one, and tint* itirl.-
ro tly receives from the treasury ofthe United States it
reward tor hot fraud and perjury. The reports of the
Secretary ol’ltie Treasury h -r -lof ire made 0:1 th s stih
jcci, show conclusively that these frauds have been
practiced to it great extent. The tendency i* to destroy
that high moral character for which our nterclia'i'a
L i>'hiitg been distinguished; to defraud the Gove n
tnetit of ils revenue ; to break down the honest imj 01-
tor by a disjmmest compictitio 1; and. linallv, to trmsfet’
the business of imjtoriaiion to foreign au l irresponsible
agents, to the great detriment */ our own citizens. 1,
therefore, again must etrnestl rev-nil mend the lulnp
t on ot speeiiic and 1 ies, wherever it is practieible, or a
home valtution, to prevent these frau Is.
I would als'i again call your attention to tit ■ fact that
the present tart if 111 some cases impose.* a higher duly
tlieratvmateri.il imjHirted titan upon ino article
manufactured from it, the eoiw jiicnce ol which is that
the duty operates to the encouragement ui'wic foreigner,
ait.l the discouragement of ottr o n citizens.
For full and detail cl informa'ion in regard to tlie
general condition of our ludi>m affairs, I, respectfully,
refer vou to the report of the Seer entry of the Interior
and tiie accompanying d‘*cttinen:>.
The Senate ant hating tfomgh; jwvxir to ratify .he
treaties winch ba*l been nego tuicd witit the tribes if
Indians iu California and Oregon, our relations with
them have been lot* in a very u.isatisfac'ory condition.
111 other par.s of our territory particular districts if
country have been set apart for ibeexclttsiveoccupation
ofthe Indians, andtheii right to the lands wi.hnt tho.-e
limits has hr m acknowledged and resjiected. Hut ill
Ualifornui and Oregon there bus be-n no recognition hv
the Govereinent ot ihe exclusive right of the Indians to
any port of the country. They utv, therefore, mere ten
ants at sufferanc**, and liable to be driven f o n jilace to
place, at the pleasure of (he whites.
The treaties which have been rejected proposed to
remedy this evil, by allotting to the diflerent tribes
dis riels of country suitable to their habits of life, und
sufficient for their sntij or . This provision, more than
any other, it is believed, lei to their rejection; and a*
no substitute for it has been adopted by Congress, it
has not been detnaed ad\ ts.ible to .ittempt to enter into
new treaties of a jieriuanctr. t h tracer, ul.hough no ef
fort has been spared by temporary arrangements to
preserve friendly relations with them.
Ifit be the desire* of Congress <1 lemovc them from
the country altogether, or to assign to ilicm particular
districts more reuio c trenn thesettleuientsof tne whites,
it will be proper to set apart, by law, the territory which
thev are to occupy, and to provide tlie means necessary
fiir removing them to if. Justice alike to our own cit 1-.
zeus and to the Indians requires the ]'roinjn action i
Congress on this subject.
The amendments pro;ose<l bv the Senate, to the trea
ties which were negotiated with the Sioux Indians 1
Minnesota, have been submitted to the tribes who were
1 parties to them, and have received their assent. A
! large tract of valuable territory has dnts been otictteil
! for settlement atid cultii ution, and all danger of collision
i with ihe.-c jHtwei'fitl and warlike bands has been happily
■ removed.
The removal of the remnant ofthe tribe of Seminole
i Indians from Florida has long been a clieri-lied object
; ofthe Government, and it is one to which toy attention
lias been steadily directed. Admonished by past e.xj>e
rieuce of the difficulty aud cost of the a 1 tempt to remove
them bv military force, resort has been had to concilia
tor.’ nie'.suus. By the invitation of the Commissioner
ot Indian Afih.rs several ofthe princij)al (dtiefs recently
visi'ed Washingion, and whilst here* iteknowletlged in
writing the obligation of ilteir Irilie ‘o remove \\ t.lt the
lets’ pos-ihle delay. Late advices from ffee .-pceia.l
agent of the Government represent that they adhete to
their promise, and that a council of their people has
been called to make their preliminary arrangements. —
A general emigr.t ion may, therefore, be cotmdenily ex
pected at *ll early day.
The re*] or: from ihe General Land Office shows in
creased ac ivi. v iu its ojicrations. The survey of the
Northern boundary of lowa has been completed with
unexampled despatch. Within the last year, ty’.jJiVaKl
acres of public hind have been surveyed, ands ‘J.4o..'>
acres brought into market.
■ 111 the last fiscal year there were sold, 1,"71 acres.
| Located with bounty land warrants :i,201,ff14 “
Ijocated with other certificates li.y>’- “
[ Making a total of 4, v 7‘Vkj7 “
In audit inn. there were --
Reported utider swamji land grants “
■ For internal iniptoveuients, railroads,
1 Making an aggregate of B!,l 10,17n “
Being an inereaso in the amount 01 lands sold and lo
cated under land warrants of f>6.,'Jgo act e- over the pi c
rions year.
The whole amount thus sold, lo -ated und 1’ land ivar
rant.-, uqsirted under swamp land g .nits, and sclec ed
ti.r internal improvements, exec-ds .hat ( f th- previous
year bv ff.fft'.',-I'ff acres; and the sales would, without
doub , have b v.i miicb larger but for the extensive re
servations for railroads in Missouri, Mississippi, and
Alabama.
Fo the quarter ending .‘l fib Sent., l i'-J, tb uc were
sold atu,•_>,'( acres
L ie.: ed widi bounty land warrants.... 1,:V'7,1 it “
Locate*! with o.her certificates i -i.-iin “
Ue]K>rted under swamp land grants....a,4so,a:;;l “
Making an aggrega'e for tli * quarter of 4, lffL-’ Vt “
Much the large!’ jxirtion of lie labor of arranging and
classifying the returns of.he last census lias been finish
ed, and i: will now devolve upon Uongrcss to make the
necessary provision fi>r the publication ofthe results in
such form as shall be deemed best. Theapporli mment
of representation, on the basis of the lien census, lias
been made by the Secretary of the Interior in cor.fonni
tv with the j revisions of law relating to Ih.ll subject,
and the recent elections have been made in accordance
with it.
I commend to your favorable regard the suggestion
contained in the report ofthe Secretary ot the inter.or,
that provision had been made by law tor the publica
tion and distribution, periodically, of an analytical <i -
gesf of all the patents which have I v.i, of may hereaf
ter be, granted for useful inve:.lions und discoveries,
with such descriptions and as may be ne
cessary to present an intelligible view of their nature
and operation. The cost ol such publication could ea :-
Iy be defrayed o.u of ihe patent fluid, and lam persu ul
ed that it could be applied to no objif? more acceptable
10 inventors and beneacial to the public at large.
An appropi'iatiou of having been made at the
last session for ihe purchase of a suitable site, and for
the erection, furnishing, and fitting up of a.ll Asylum for
the Insane ot tlie District of Columbia, and ofthe Army
and Navy of the Uui.e I States, the proper measures
have been adopted to carry this beneficent purpose into
effect.
By the latest advices from the Mexican Boundary
Commission it appears that ilie survey of the river
(itla, from its con 11 tie nee with the Colorado to its sup
iio.-cd intersection with the western line of New Mex
ico, has been completed. The survey of the I o
Grande has also been finished from the point agreed on
bv tlie Commissioners as “the point where it strikes
the southern boundary of New Mexico” to a point one
hundred and thirty-live miles belo.v Eagle Fuss, which
is about nvo-’h rds of the distance along the course of
ihe 1 iv* r o ils mouth.
The appropriation which was made at the last session
of Congress for the continuation of ihe survey is sub
ject 10 ihe following proviso:
“ J’l-orol and. That 110 pan of this appropriation shall
be used or expended until it shall be made sutistaetori
lv to ajqicai’ t*> die I’resident ofthe United Stales that
the southern luinutary of New Mexico is not estub
liiihed bv the coniniissioner and surveyor ofthe United
S ates farther north ofthe town called ‘Basso’ Illa.ll the
same is laid down in Distumcll’s map, winch is added
to the treaty. ’
My attention was drawn to this subject by a report
from the Department of the Interior, which reviewed
all the tacts of the case, and submitted tor mv decision
the question whether, under existing circumstances,
anv part ofthe appropriation could be lawfully used or
exjiemled Ifit’ tiie f.inner jirosecution ot the work. Af
ter a can-fill cons.deration of the subject, 1 came to the
conclusion that it could not, and so informed the bead
of that Department. Orders were immediately issued
h, him to the commissioner and surveyor to make no
further requisitions on the Department, as they could
not be pa:d ; and to discontinue nil operations on the
southern line of New Mexico. But as the Department
had no exact information as to Ibeauioun! of provision*
and money which retn lined unexpende 1 in the hands
ot the comniiss.ont'l - and s'li ve.or, it wa* left dtscre
lioiiary with tiiem to continue ilie survey down the
Rio Graii'tcas lar a* lilt* means at their tlisposal would
enable them, or at once to disband the Commission. A
special messenger has since arrived from the officer in
cliaigc ot .he survey on the river, with information
that the funds subject to its control were exhausted,
und (hut the officers und others einp'.i.veat in lbs sei
viee wore destitute alike of the means of prosecuting
the work and of returning to their homes.
The object of the proviso was doub.less to arrest the
survey ol theron!hern and western lines of N. Mexico, in
regard to which different opinions have been expressed;
for it is h.udlv to be sup'sitied that iliere couht be any
objection to that j.urt oj'ihe line u hieli extends along
the channel ol the Kio Grande. But die terms of the
law are so broad ns to forbid the ti*e of any part of the
money lor the pr isectdiou ol the work, or even lor the
pay incut, to the officers and agents of . bo arrearages of
j :.v which arc justly due 10 t.- ln.
I ejiraesUy iuviie vour pioinj.t attention t.a this s*ii>-
j- t, and recoin mcrnl a liiodiflc it ion of Hie terms of t iio
provisos)us to enable ilie Dcpurtnieut to use ns much
ofthe appropriation us will l* necessary to di-eli.i: ge he
uin'ing 01.1.gi.t oils of die G*./eminent, ami tocomjdetc
tin wncvi't the Rio Grande to its mou h.
li will aho be proper in make further provision bv
law for the fulfilment ofourtren'y with Mexico for nr:-
ning and marking the residue of’ he boundary line be
tween the two coillitries.
I’ermit me to invite your particular attention to the
interest* of the District of Columbia, which tiro confi
ded by the Constitution to t our pecnl.ar care.
Among thcincuMiies w iiich seem to me of the gren •.
est iinporiHttce to its prosperity, me the introduction <
a copious supply of water into the city cd M ashmgtou,
and the coastriictlon of suitable bridges across the IV
tomac, to replace t Ik>v 1 which were destroyed by high
w ater in the early part “f the present year.
At the last session of Congress uu appropriation was
made to defray .he costs ofthe surveys necessary for
determining the best means of affording an unfailing
supply of good and wholesome water. Some progress
lias been made in the survey, and as soon as it is com
pleted, tin* result will be laid before you.
Fur: her appropria'ions will also be necessary for gra
ding and paving the stive sand avenues, and enclosing
and embellishing the public grounds within the city ot
; Washington.
I commend ail these objects, together w ith the cltur
i'able institution* cf the. District, to yoor favorable re
gard.
Every effort liar. Leen made to protect our frontier,
and tbu* of ihe adjoining Mexican States, from the in
cur-ions of the Indian tribes. Os about 11,WO men of
which the army is composed, nearly *,OOO are employed
in'he defence < f the newly-acquired territory, (inclu
ding Texas,) ami of emigrants proceeding thereto. I
uin gratified to sty that these effort* have been unu
sually successful. With the exception of some partial
outbreaks in California und Oregon, and occasional de
predations on a portion of the Kio Grande, owing, it is
believed, to thedistnrbed state of that border region, the
inroads ofthe Indians have Iks") effectually restrained.
Experience his shown, however, that whenever the
two races are brought into contact, collisions will inevi
abiy occur. To prevent these collisions the United
.■Suites have generally set ajiart jiortioits of their territory
tor ihe exclusive occupation of the Indian tril>es. A
difficulty occurs, however, in the application ot this pol
ice to Texas. By the terms of the compact by which
that S ate was admitted into the Union, she retained
the ownership of all the vacant lands within her limits.
The government of that .State, it is understood, lias as
signed no [Million of her territory to the Indians; but as
fast as her settlements advance lavs it off’ into counties,
aid proceeds to survey and sell it. This policy mat fi
les.lv tends, not only to alarm and irritate ihe Indians,
but io compel them to resort to plunder for subsistence.
It also deprives this Government of that influence and
control ovei them without w hich no durable peace can
ever exist between them and the whites. I trus‘, there
fore, that a due regard for her own interests, apart from
considerations of humanity and justice, will induce Ilt.it
State to assign a small portion of her vast domain for the
provisional occupancy of the small remnants of tribes
wii hill her borders, subject of course To her ownership
and eventual jurisdiction. If she should fail *0 do this,
t..v fulfilment ol our treaty stipulation with Mexico, ami
onr duty to the Indians themselves, will, it is leared, bc
co n ‘ subject to serious embarrassment to ihe Govern
ment. it is hoped, however, that a timely and just pro
-1 vision by Texas may avert this evil.
No appropriation* for fortification* were made a* the
two last sessions of Congress. The cause of this omis
sion is, probably, to be found in a growing belief that the
system of fortifications adopted in 181 C, and heretofore
a . ted on, requires revision.
The subject certainly deserves full aud careful inves
tigation; b.it it should not be delayed longer than can lie
avoided. In the meantime there are certain works
which have been commenced —some of them nearly com
pleted -designed to protect our principal sea-ports from
Won to New Orleans, and a few other important
1 oims. In regard to the necessity of these works, it is
believed that little diflorenceof opinion prevails among
military men. I therefore recommend that the appro
priations necessary to prosecute them be made.
i invite vour attention to the remarks 0:1 this subject,
and on others connected with his Department, contained
m the accompanying report of the Secretary ot \\ ar.
Measures have been taken to carry into effect the law
of the last session making provision for ihe iinprove
[ ment of certain rivers and harbors, and it is believed
! that the arrangements made (or that, purpose will com
bine efficiency with economy. Ow ing chiefly to the ad
j viinced season when the act was passed, little has yet
1 been done in regard to many of the works beyond ma
king the necessary preparations. With respect ton few
of tlie improvements, the sums already appropriated
will suffice to complete them, but most of them \\ ill re
quire additional appropriations. I trust that these ap
propriations will be made, and that this wise and benefi
cent policy, so auspiciously resumed, will be continued.
Great care should be taken, however, to commence no
work which is not of sufficient im]Hirtancc to the com
merce of tlie country to be viewed as national iu its elnir
uoier. But works which have been commenced should
not he discontinued until completed, as otherwise the
sums expended will, in most cases, be lost.
The report from tlie Navv Department will inform
you of tlie prosperous condition of the branch of ihe
public service committed to its charge. It presents to
your consideration many topics and suggestions of
which I ask your approval. It exhibits an unusual
degree of activity in 1 lie operations of the Department
j during the past year. The preparations tor tne Japan
! expedition, to which I have already alluded; the ar
rangements made for tlie exploration and survey ofthe
(’lima Seas, the Northern Pacific, and Behring’s Straits;
j ihe incipient measures taken towards a reconnoissance
ofthe continent of Africa eastward of Liberia; the
preparation for an early examination of the tributaries
of the River I.a Plata, which 11 recent decree of the
provisional Chief of the Argentine Confederation lias
opened to navigation; all these enterprises, and the
means by which they are proposed to be accomplished,
have con 111 inded my lull approbation, and I have no
doubt will bo productive of the most useful results.
Two officer* of the navv were heretofore instructed
to explore the whole extent of the Amazon river from
the confines of Peru to its mouth. The return of one
of them has placed in the possession of the Govern
ment an interesting account of the character and re
sources of a country abounding in the material* of
coniine; ~ and which, if opened to the industry of the
w orld, will prove an inexhaustible fund of wealth.—
Tie'report of this exploration w ill bo communicated to
you a- soon us it is completed.
! Among other subjects ottered to your notice by the
; Socrr'ni * of the Navv, I soil'd for special oommenda-
I lii'ii, in view of its connexion with the interests of the
! nary, the plan submitted by him for the establishment
J. t’ a permanent corps of seamen, and the suggestions
!he ini’ presented for the re-organization ot the Na
j val \ eademy.
In reference to the first of these, I fake occasion to
j say lint 1 think it will greatly improve the efficiency
I of the service, and that 1 regard it as still more entitled
jto favor tor tlie salutary influence it must exert upon
I the naval discipline, now greatly disturbed by the in-
I creasiug spirit of insubordination, resulting from our
j preseni system. The plan proposed for the organizu
i tion of the seamen furnishes a judicious substitute for
the law of September, IS/i' 1 , abolishing corporal pun
ishment, us satisfactorily sustains the policy of that,
I act, under conditions well adapted to maintain the 1111-
| thoiityand command und the order and security of our
| >hi;,s. It is believed that any change which proposes
i permanently to dispense with this mode of punishment,
j should be preceded by a system of enlistment which
shall supply the navy with seamen of the most merito
rious class, whoso good deportment and pride of charac
ter inav preclude ail occasion for n resort to penalties of a
harsh nr degrading nature. The safely of a ship and
her crew is often dependant upon immediate obedience to
a command, and the authority to enforce it must be
equally ready. The arrest of a refractory seamen, in
such moments, not only deprive the shiji of indispensa
ble aid, but imposes a necessity for doable service on
otheis w hose fidelity to their duties may be relied upon
in such an emergency.
The expot-aire to this increased and arduous labor,
since tlie pa sago ofthe act of ls.'ni, ha* already had, to
a most observable and injurous extent, the effect of pre
venting the enlistment ofthe best seamen in the navy.
The plan now suggested is designed to promote a con
dition of service in which this objection w ill no longer
exist. The details of this plan may be established in
great part, if not altogether, by tlie Executive, under the
authority of existing laws; but- I have thought it prop
er, iu accordance with the suggestion oi the .Secretary
ofthe Navy, to submit it to your approval.
The establishment of a corps of apprentices for ihe na
vy, or boys to be enlisted until thev become of age, and
to be employed under such regulations as the Navy De
partment may devise, us proposed in the report, I cor
dially approve and commend to your consideration ; and
I also concur in the suggestion that this system for the
early training of seamen may be most usefully engrai
led upon the m nr ice of our mercham marine.
The other proposition of th” report to which I have
referred- ihe reorganization of the Naval Academy—l
j recommend to attention as a project worthy of your eu
cour.igemcnt and support. ‘1 he valuable services ulrea
! dv rendered by this institution euiitle it to the coniiuu
: unce of your fostering cure.
Vour attention is respectfully called to the report of
the 80-;master General tor the detailed operation ot his
5 Department during the last fiscal year, lrom which it
! will be seen that the receipts from postages for that time
were less by *d,441,0**16 than for the preceding fiscal
year, being a decrease of about ‘id per cent.
This diminution is attributable to the reduction in the
rates of postage made by the act ofJMarch ff, 1 ‘til, which
reduction took effect at the commencement of the last
fiscal year.
Al.hough in its operation during tlie last year the
act referred to lias not fulfilled the predictions of its
friends by increasing the correspondence of the coun
try in proportion to the reduction of postage, 1 should
j nevertheless question the policy of returning to higher
rates. Experience warrants the expectation that as the
community becomes accustomed to cheap postage, cor
respondence will increase, it is believed that from this
cause, and from the rapid growth of the country iu
population and business, the receipts of the Department
must ultimately exceed its expenses, and that the coun
try may solely rely upon the continuance ofthe present
cheap rate of postage.
In fo’ inif messages I have, among other things, res
> pce-Tully rceom: 1 elided to the consideration of Congress
I the propriety and necessity of further legislation for the
protection and punishment of foreign consuls residing
in the United .States ; to revive with cert am modifica
tions the act of loth March, 1 SGri, to restrain unlawful
j military e ipeditions against the inhabitant* of cotitcrm.-
; nous Shites or territories ; for the preservation and pro
j tuctioxi fVom mutilation or theft of the paper?*, records,
| and archives of tlie nation ; for authorizing the surplus
revenue to be applied to the payment ofthe public debt
!in advance ot the lime when H will become due; for the
[establishment of land office* for the sale of the public
! lands in t ‘nliforma and the Territory of Oregon ; lor the
’ construction of a road from the Mississippi valley to the
! Bae.tie ocean ; for the establishment of a bureau of ng
j ricuhine for tlie juoinotfon <>l lhat interest, perhaps the
most important in the connt’ V; for the prevention ol
j frauds upon the Government in applications for pensions
I and bounty kinds; for the establishmenl ol a uniform
fee bill, prescribing ;i, sj>ceifie eotupennation for every
service required of clerks, district a-itorueys, and mur
shnis; for authorizing an additional regiment of moun
ted men, for the defence of our frontiers against the In
dians. and for fulfilling our treaty stipulations with
Mt xko to defend her cirizeus against the Indians “ wilh
cjiul diligence and energy our own ; for determining
the relative tank brlween ihe naval and civil officers m
our public ships, and between the officers ot the Army
j and Navy in the various grade* of each ; for reorgani
sing the naval establishment by living ihe number of
[ officers in each grade, and jirovidhig lor a retired list
! mam 1 educed paj of these unfit tor active duly; for
■prescribing aud regulating punishments in the navy;
lor ilie ap|H>inimeu’ of a commission to revise the pub
lic siuiules of ihe United Stales, by arranging them in
[older, supplying deficiencies, correcting incongruities,
simplifying their language, und reporting them to Con
gress lor ils tinul act a ni; and lor the establishment of a
cutiiinissiou to inljii ileate and settle private claims
against the United biates. 1 tun uot aware, however,
thai anv of these subjects have been tmady acted upon
bv Congress. Without repeating the rea-ons tor legis
lation on these subjects which have been ass gned in
ftifnior moJWwigoH, 1 reßpectftoUy recommend t.iem a^ain
to votir liivorable consideration.
I think it due to the several Executive Departments
of this Government to bear testimony to the eliiciencv
and integrity with which they are conducted. W illi all
the careful superintendence which it is possible tor the
Heads of those Dejiartmenta to exercise* still the due
administration and guardianship of the pt’.hiic money
must very much depend on the vigilance, intelligence,
and fidelity of the subordinate officers and clerks, and
especially on those entrusted with the settlement and
adjustment of claims and accounts, lam gratified to
believe that they have generally p’ rs >rmed their duties
faithfully and well. They arc appointed to guard the
approaches to the public Treasury, and they occupy po
sitions that expose them to all the temptations and in
ductions which the cupidity ot peculators and fraudulent
claimants can prompt them to employ. It will he hut
a wi -<? precaution to protect the (Government against that
source of mischief airl corruption, as far as it can be
done, bv the enactment of all proper legal penalties. —
The laws, in this respect, ate supposed to be defective,
and I therefore dec*in it niv diiyv tocall your atfetibon to
the subject, and to recommend that provision tie m ide bv
law for the punishment not only oft hose who shall accept
bribes, but also of those who shall either promise, give
or offer to give to anv of those officers or clerks a bride or
reward touching or relating to any matter of their official
action or duty.
Ft has been the uniform policy of this Government
from its foundation to the present dai to abstain from all
i.iterfcie ice in the domestic affairs of other nations. The
consequence has been that while the nations of Europe
have been engaged in desolating wars, our country has
pursued its peaceful course to unexampled prosperity
and happiness. The wars in which wc have been com
pelled to engage, in defence of the tights and honor of flic
country, have been fortunately of short duration. Du
ring the terrific contest of nation against nation, which
succeeded the French revolution, wo were enabled by
the wisdom and firmness of President Washington to
maintain our non rality. While other nations wen#
drawn into this wide sweeping whirlpool, we sat quick
aid unmoved u|>on our own shores. While the flower
of their numerous armies was wasted by disease or per
ished bv hundreds of thousands upon the battle field, the
youth of this favored land were permitted to enjoy the
blessings of peace beneath the paternal roof. While the
Slates of Europe incurred enormous debts, under the
burden of which tlieir subjects still groan, and which
must absorb no small part of the product of the honest
industry ofthose countries for generations to come, the
United States have once been enabled to exhibit the
raid sjtectacle ofa nation free from public dembt; and,
permitted to pursue our prosperous way tor a few
years longer i:i peace, we may do the same again.
Hut it is now said by some that this policy must !>■
changed. Euiojie is no longer separated from us by a
voyage of months, but st am navigation lias brought be
within a few days'sail of our shores. We see more*.,
liar movements, and take a deeper interest in li -r contro
versies. Although no one proposes that we should join
the fraternity of potentates who have for ages lavished
the blood and treasure of their subjects in maintaining
“ the balance of power,” yet it is sai l that we ought to
interfere between contending sovereigns and their sub
jects, tin- the purpose of overthrowing the monarchies <
Europe and establishing in their place republican insti
tutions. It is alleged that we have heretofore pursued a
different course from a sense of our weakness, ‘out that
now our conscious strength dictates a change of policy,
and that it is consequently our duty to mingle in these
contests and aid those who are struggling for liberty.
This is a most seductive hut dangerous appeal to tho
generous sympathies of freemen. Enjoying as we do the
blessings of a free government, there is no man who has
an American heart that would not rejoice to see these
blessings extended to all other nations. Wc cannot wit
ness the struggle between the oppressed and his oppress
or anywhere without the deepest sympathy for the fot
lner, and the most anxious desire for his triumph. Nev
ertheless, is it prudent or is it wise to involve our selves
in these foreign wars? Is it indeed true that wc have
heretofore refrained from doing so merely from the de
grading motive of a conscious weakness? For the hon
or of the patriots who have gone before us, 1 cannot ad
mit it. Men of the Revolution who drew the sword
against theoppressionsofthc mother conn: ry, and pledg
ed to Heaven “their lives, their fortunes, and their sadivd
honor” to maintain their freedom, could never have been
actuated by so unworthy a motive. They knew no
weakness or tear where right or duty pointed the way,
and ii is libel upon tlieir fair fame lor us, while weenjov
the blessings for which they so nobly fought, and hied,
to insinuate it. The truth is that the course which they
pursued uas dictated by a stem sense of international
justice, bv a statesmanlike prudence and a far-seeing*
wisdom, looking not merely to the present necessi
ties, but to the permanent safety and interest of the
country. They know that the worldis governed less by
sympathy than by reason and force; that it was no*
possible for this nation 10 become a “propagandist” o
tree principles without arraying against it the combined
powers of Europe; and that the result was more likely
to be the overthrow of republican liberty here, than its
establishment there. History has been written in vain
for those who can doubt this. France had no sooner
established a republican form of government, than she
manifested a desire to force its blessings on all the world.
Her own historian informs us, that hearing of some
petty acts of tyranny in a neighboring principality,
“The National Convention declared that she would al
fonl succor and fraternity to all nations who wished to
recover their liberty; and she gave it in charge to the
Executive power to give orders to the Generals of the
French armies to aid all citizens who might have been,
or should la* oppressed in tiie cause of liberty.” Here
was the false sicp w hich list to licr subsequent misfor
tunes. She soon found herself involved in war uiih
all the rest of Europe. In less than ten years her gov
ernment was changed from a republic to an empire; :
and finally, after shedding riversof blood, foreign powers
restored her exiled dynasty, and exhausted Europe
sought peace and repose in the unquestioned ascendan
cy of monarchical principles. Let us learn wisdom from
her example. Let us remember that revolutions do not j
always establish freedom. Our own free institutions
were not theoffspring of our Revolution. They existed
before. They were plainted in the free charters of self !
government, under which the English colonics grew tip,
and our Revolution only freed us from the dominion of
a foreign power, whose government was at variant’
wit li those institutions. Rut, European nations have
had no such training for sel -government, and every j
effort to establish ii by bloody revolutions has been, |
and must, without that preparation, continue to be a
failure. Liberty, unregulated by law, degenerates into j
anarchy, which soon becomes the most horrid of all de.-- ;
potisms. Our policy is wisely to govern ourselves, and ,
thereby to set sncli an example of national justice, pros- ;
perity, and true glory, us shall teach to all nations the :
blessings of sell-government, and the unparalleled cn- 1
terprise and success of a free people.
We live in an age of progress, and ours is emphati
cally a country of progress. Within the last half-cen- j
tnrv the number of .S ales in this Union has nearly i
doubled— the population has almost quadrupled, and
our boundaries have been extended from the Missisippi
to the Pacific. Our territory is chequered over w ith !
Railroads, and furrowed with Canals. The iuventive
talent of our country is excited to the highest pitch, and
the numerous applications for patents tor valuable ira- j
provements distinguish this age and this people from all
others. The genius of one American has enabled our i
commerce to move against wind and tide; and that of :
ano'hcrhas annilulaied distance in the transmission of :
intelligence. The whole country is frill of enterprise.— j
Our common schools are diffusing intelligence among !
the people, and our industry is fast accumulating the 1
cointortsand luxuries of life. This is, in part, owing to j
our peculiar position—to our fertile soil, and compara
tively sparse population ; but much of it is also owing i
to the popular institutions under which we live, to the \
freedom which every man feels to engage in any useful
pursuit, according to his taste or inclination, and to the
entire confidence that his person and property will be
protected by the lans. Hut, whatever may be tlus
cause of this unparalleled growth in population, intelli
gence, and wealth, one thing is clear, that the Govern
ment must keep pace with the progress of the people.—
It must participate in tlieir spirit of enterprise, and
while it exacts obedience to the laws, ami restrains all
tuianiliorized invasions of the rights of neighboring
.Saves, it should luster and protect home industry, and
lend its powerful strong;li io the improvement of such
means of intercommunication as are necessary to pro
mote our internal commerce ami strengthen the ties
which bind us together as a people.
It is not strange, bowevt r, much it may be regretted,
that such an exuberance of enterprise should cause some
individuals to mistake change for progress, and the inva
sion of the light* of others for mtiiouul prowess and
glory. The former are constantly agitating lor some
change in the organic law, or urging new and untried
theories of human rights. The latter are ever ready
to engage in any wild crusade against a neighboring
people, regardless < f the justice m the enterprise, and
without looking it the laud consequences to ourselves,
and to the cause of popular got eminent. Such expedi
tions, however, ore often stimulated by mercenary indi
viduals, who expect to share the plunder or profit of the
enterprise, without exposing themselves to danger, and
are led on by some irresponsible foreigner, who abuses
ibe hospimln wof our own Government by seducing tho
young and ignorant to join in his scheme of personal
ambition or revenge, under Hie false and delusive pre
tence of extending the area of freedom. These repre
hensible aggressions but re'ard the tine progress of our
nation, and tarnish its fair tame. They should, there
fore, receive the indignant frowns of every good citizen
who sincerely loves his country and t-.-kes a pride in its
prosperity and honor.
Our Constitution, though not perfect, is doubtless th* !
beat that ever was formed. Therefore, let every pro j ni
si i ion 1o change it be well weighed,and if found benefi
cial, cautiously adopted. liivery patriot will rejoice to
see its uuihority so exerted as io advance the prosperity
and honor of the nation; whilst he will watch with
jealousy any attempt to mutilate liiis charter of our
liberties, or pencil its jiowuts to acts of aggression o,*
injustice. Thus shall conservation and progress Llsnd
their harmonious action in preserving tin* form and
spirit ot the Constitution; and, at the same time, car. >’
to*, ward the g:v:r improvements of the country, u i:li’a
rapidity and energy which freemen only can display.
In closing this, my last annual commitment.,>n, per
mit tne. fellow-citizens, to congratulate you on the pros
perous condition of our beloved country. Abroad its
relations wit!-, all foreign powers are lric.ldly ; ils rights
are respected, and its high place in the family of nations
clkxtlmllv recognised. At home we enjoy “an umouul
oi hapi mess, public find private, which has prolmblv
never 1 alien to the lot of any other people. Resides af
fording to our own citizens a degree of prosperity, <>J
which, oa so li.i'ge a scale ! know of no ‘.her instance,
out country is annually affording a refuge and a home
to multitudes, altogether without example, from the
Ohl World.
We owe these blessings, under Heaven, io the happy
Constitution and Government which were bequeathed
to us by our fathers, and n inch it is our sacred duty to
transmit, in all tlieir integrity, to our children. We
must all consider it a great distinction and privilege, to
have been chosen by ihe people, to bear u part in tho
administration of such a Government. Called, by au
unexpected dispensation to its highest trust, at u season
of embarrassment and alarm, I entered upon its ardu
ous duties with extreme diffidence. 1 claim only to hate
discharged them to the best of an humble ability, wi h
a single eye to the public good; and, if is with devout
gratitude, in retiring from office, that 1 leave the country
iu a state of peace and prosperity.
MILLARD FILLMORE.
Wasuixctox, December (j, ls. Vi.
~ m’acc >\7g eorg i a7~
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8,1852.
?|T We issue our paper to-day in new type, and by
anew arrangement of our advertisements, we shall be
enabled, in future*, to give our leaders mix * reading
matter than we have been able to furnish them fir
j several months past.
The poll for Mayor cod Aldermen of this city on
1-a‘urday next, us also .hat for Marshals, will be opened
.it the Courthouse at ‘J A. M., and closed at t P. 31.
Cashmere Goals.
It will be recollected by those who attended our re
cent Agricultural Fail, that Dr. J. It. Davis, of Colum
bia, S. ('., exhibited one of these rate and valuable mi
mals, which attracted much attention. By au adver
tisement in this paper it will be seen that be now offers
several of them for side. There is no doubt but that
their introduction would prove a valuable addition to
the stock of our Southern States.
KunkeUs Nightingale Opera Troupe.
In the dearth of all excitement and all novelties in our
city, for the last few weeks, we congratulate the young
and fun-loving portion of our citizens upou the appear
ance of the Nightingales, who began tlieir entertain,
mcuts on last evening, at Concert Hall. This celebrated
Troupe has appeared with great success in all theprinci
i pal cities of the Union, and of Canada. They are* d : -
reef from Savannah, ami our Savannah exchanges arc
tilled with complimentary notices of their performances.
We find, also, in the Bdirnu rv San, of which city the
gentlemanly agent of the Troupe, John T. Ford, is a na
tive, and lias been for many years a resident, the follow
ing notice of their recent visit to Savannah;
K* xkkl’s Niohtingauss. —We perceive by our Sa
vannah exchanges, that this accomplished troupe are
reaping a golden harvest in that city. On the evening
of the :Mi!i instant hundreds were compelled to relin
-1 quish all attenq ts to gain admission to the theatre,
where ihcv were playing. The press of Savannah, with
one accord, justly ranks them as the best Company ever
in tha? city. With an Agent like Joint T. Ford, andau
upright manager like kunkei, this troupe is bound to
succeed in whatever city they may visit.
The Nightingales give another of their delightful en.
tertainments at Concert Hall, this evening, with an entire
change of programme, and concluding with “Shukspe
rian Readings,” which promise to be a rich burlesque.
J3F“ The second Session of the Thirty-second Con
gress, began on Monday, the Gth inst. We shall have
a regular correspondent in Washington City who will
aid us in keeping our readers informed of all matters of
interesl, which may transpire, during the present Ses
sion of Congress.
President Fillmore’s Message was transmitted to the
Senate and House of Representatives, on Monday, soon
after the organization ot the two Houses. This docu
ment was sent in advance by special messengers, de
tailed from the Post Office Department, under seal to
j the Post Masters of the principal cities throughout the
; Union, and was delivered to us a short while after its
i transmission to Congress, and a few hours only before
the time at which we are compelled to go to press.—
By great exertions, and by deferring editorial and other
matter in order to make room fit - it, we are enabled to
lay it before our readers entire, in to-day’s issue, and
j commend it to their careful perusal, reserving our com
ments for our next issue.
Executive Appointment.
Peter E. Love, Esq., of Thomas, has been appointed
J by the Governor, Judge of the Southern Circuit, vice
Hon. Aug. 11. Ilansell, resigned.
| The Governor has also issued a proclamation order
ing the election of a Judge by the people of the circuit,
to lake place on the first Monday in January next, nu
, del 1 the law.
! * jff ’ Chat lea G. Atherton was, on the ‘JiUh ult., elected
j Senator from New Hump-hire.
| On the tilth ult., the Hon. W. F. DeSaussure was
j elected by the South Carolina Legislature, to till the
nnexpired term of R. Barnwell Rhett in ihe Senate of
the United States. Mr. DeS.ms.sure, it will be remem
bered, non’ holds the office by Executive appointment.
On ihe t< 1 1 1 ult., Judge Evans was elected to succeed
him, as Senator, for six years, t'rdin the Jib of March*
I*o3.
A crumb of Comfort for Whig Officeholders.
The New York t’.ime quotes a speech delivered in die
United States Senate in Is-Sd, by Franklin* Pierce,
j upon the subject of removals from office. From the
very decided manner in which S not v Pierce condemn
ed removals from office, we conclude that /Vex OtrU
: Pierce will make tew or none. In reply to some re
marks of Mr. C’lav that the nation demanded changes,
Mr. Pierce said: ‘
j “Sir, tliis demand of the nation, this plea of 1 Stit
oxc xx ty,’ let me tell gentlemen, is as old as the history
of wrong and oppression. It has been the Standing plea
j —the never-failing resort of despotism.
! “The great Julius found it convenient, when be re
i stored the dhjnity of the Roman Senate, but destroyed
: its in,hpr nd iis i . It gave countenance to and justified
all the atrocities of the Inquisition in Spain. It gave
i utterance to tlic stilled groans lrom the black-hide of
; Calcutta. It was written in tears upon the ‘Bridge of
iSighs’ in Venice; and pointed to those dark recesses
j upon whose gloomy portals there was never seen a re
j turning footprint.
’ “Where were the chains of despotism ever thrown
| around tho freedom of speech and of the press, but on
this plea of ‘ State nee- fmity f ’ Let the spirit of Charles
j X. and his ministers answer.
| “It is cold, selfish, heartless, and has always been re
gardless ot age, sex. condition, services, or any of the
I incidents of hie that appeal to patriotism or humanity.
! “Wherever its authority has been acknowledged, it
1 lias assailed men who stood by their countr. when she
; needed strong arms and bold hearts ; and has assailed
j them when, maimed and disabled in her service, they
I could no longer brandish a weapon in her defence.
! “It has afflicted the feeble and dependent wife for the
: imaginary faults of the husband.
’ “it has stricken down innocence in its beauty, youth
j in its freshness, manhood in its vigor, and old age in its
| feebleness and decrepitude. Whatever other plea or
apology may be set up for the sweeping, ruthless exer
jeiscot this civil guillotine at the present day, in the
| name of Libert v, let us b>* spared this fearful one of
I ‘ St"t lUaitiity, in this early age of the Republic, upon
; the floor of the American Senate, in the face of a people
yet free.”
After this (says the New York Express, 1 the wliigs in
office, we think, may feel perfectly safe that the “civil
guillotine” is not to reach them.
iPs?” ('bickering's Piano Establishment at Boston
was consumed by fire on Wednesday—loss £300,0.10. —
A watchman was killed by the falling of the walls.
Death ok Booth. —Mr. Booth, the Tragedian, died
between New Orleans and Cincinnati.
1- The official vote of Tennessee is at length de
clared, and shows n majority tor the Scott Electors of
1073, only it* votes over Campbell's majority.
Z Mr. ‘Webster, three days before be died, too ill
to visit bis extensive stable, had his noble cattle driven
up to his mansion, that he might, as he stood in the
doorway, take his last look of the noble animals in
which he took so much pride. The anecdote is another
evidence of the interest taken by thegreatest statesman
in Agricultural matters.— ('non.
Senator from Indiana.—We learn from the Indi
anapolis (la.) Sentinel, that the Hon. Charles W. Cath
heart has been appointed by the Governor of Indiana
United States Senator, to till the vacancy canted by the
death of Hon. James Whitcomb.
United Statbs Senator from Arkansas. The
Hon. Win. K. Sebastian was rc-elcct e-.l by the General
Assembly of Arkansas on the loth inst., to the Senate
of the United States for six years from the i l l l of March
next, when his present term will expire.
2- Dn Thursday evening, “3d ult., Mr. T. F. Mea
gher gave a lecture upon Australia, at the Mctroj'oHtau
Hall, New Yo:k city, winch was so crowded that nun:-
lx-rs were compelled to go away, being unable to obtain
admission even to a standing plr.ee. Never before w ere
so many persons congregated in Metropolitan llall.—
The lecture was highly eloquent, full ot information,
| and completely successful. In delivery, Mr. Meagher
is desermed a> being animated and very effective.
Florida Lkcislati re. -Tlie Democrats have a ma
jority in t Ik* I loiidu legislature, on joint b.tiro!, of;:*.—
Tlieir majority in ihe rieuate is t —in the House, io.
Tin* Mail steamer If am.'"-I It, left New York on
Saturday for Southampton and Havre. Among the
passengers we notice the Hon. Miller Grieve, laired
States Charge to Demum k, a;;u family, and Right Rev.
Rif Imp Spaulding, of Louisville.
Chief Justice Ruffin of the Supreme Court of
North Carolinia has resigned Ins office. He has been
Lh years on the Bench, idol which were in the Su
preme Con: t.
Two I(ko iiikuh is Cox-ii:ess.--E. B. Washburn,
Esq., jusi elected to (’ongn*sj* in Illinois. a bureiier to
[sncl Washburn, recently elected in .Maine. They are
the ooiis ot Israel Wash bum, Esq,, of Maine, \ !, ' s is
probably the first instance of two brollieis meeting to
lelher in Congress, from two extremes *>i llic L iiiou,
both Whig*, and printers by trade, and both highly e*-
teemed tor their talents and moral worth. “ 1 hese ate
my jewels,” truly the father might exclaim.
The Hon. John W. Crocket, died (at Memphis,
Tcnii., of pneumonia, on the night ol the -4th inst.
The *• nntn* imsnltum, by which the Empire is
re-established in France, was voted by eighty-six yeas,
against one no. Thut one no, was deposited bv Sena- I
tor Yieik.rd, the former tutor, and one of the best
friends of I ami is Napoleon, who since the accession of
Louis Napoleon to power has been his intimate friend
and adviser, though voting in the Constituent and Le
gislative Assemblies, of which he was a member, with
ih. liberals of the Cavaignac school.
The Bonaparte Family-the Line rfsut .
cession.
Louis Napoleon, being in the io. v-'ifffi vear nf
ms age, aidsi li uum .n ed, the anicle, * , of
1 shing .h * empire prov de f.r his success,, u ,1 ,
i g that if he has no male heir, he im* re d . v ‘ e ‘. ar *
m .re* chdd.ea and descvud.it; s in the i.taii \i‘J
fro his of the Laqtorer .oq.ohou )k* :i .. r-, V e
these ciuumstaitces, i i* • . ,;..*s ;• * . i A :v ‘ r
as to he living mal * mem!..,:-< ot the e, -,5, ’ u , re
mv he eaftei be eu ided tin ... y'i re'.' 1 , “ ‘ “
r.ght ol adoption being m .. “ .. .
e iimot of course say which of his rela i.re- h *'’ W<i
cbtK.se to adopt or exclude fsom thsri-li’ <• *‘ ,ay
b “ thy entire list of surviving
tlK.ug.i not very numerous, is more so than that ~r\v,
li. u bolts. ‘ 1 ine
in th : . ; ,ew work criti l-rel “The Nape'. *on Dv ni , tv .
or 1 lie History of the Bonaparte Family ; bv the Berk.!
ly Men, ’ we find elaborate genealogical statements and
a list ot surviving members of the Bonaparte fu’iifr
iron\ which v.e uiuk-■ u> the following: 1 *’*
Joseph Bonaparte, the eider hi oilier of Napoleon
had ta> son, but two dauglitcis, oin* ot whom married
her cousin, Charles Lucien, I’rince of Caaino.
The surviving sons ol'Lucita, seceond brother of Ns
poteon, are* :
1. Charles I.ucien, Prince of Canino. born at Paris
May si, l-sofi. lie was president of the Constituent \s,l
scmbly of the Roman repttMie in 1 sre*. For a in!reii..-r
of years he resided iu this country, and is author of a
great work on ornithology. In i*- he married his
cousin Charlotte, (daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, ibv
whom iu* has eight children - -three sons and five daugh
ters. Tne family resides in Italy.
a. Louis Lucien, son of Lucien, and brother of the
Prince of Canino, was born January 4, lslS.
;. Pierre NajKileon, another son of Lucrin, b< m Sep
tember 1 Isl a. He was a member of the late Nation
al Assembly of (he French republic.
The sons of Charles Lucien, Prince of Canino, are—
1. Joseph Lucien, born February, ls-rek
:-■ Lucien Louis, born November, 18"J8.
Napoleon Gregorie, born February, 1539.
<>f the family of Louis, the third bio:ln ;■ of Najtoleon,
tlic nc*v Emporer, Ireuis Napoleon, is the only sure
vivor.
Jeixioie, tlie only surviving brother of Napoleon 1.,
and late President ot the French {situate, is now sixty
e years of age. lie was born November 1,3, 1764.
W bile an officer m the French navy, a’id on a visit to
the united Sia'<o, in December, 1 re*'t>, he was married
to Elizabeth Patterson, daughter of a vvealihv merchant
of Baltimore. This marriage was annulled bv a decree
of the Emperor Napoleon in April, 1805. Their son bv
this marriage, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, was born
in England in lß<>s, and now resides in Baltimore. He
inherited a large estate from his grandfather, Patterson,
and married a Baltimore lady, by whom lie has two
sons, one of whom, Napoleon Jetome, latch graduated
at vVi*st Point, is now lieutenant in the United States
army. These American Bonapartes, lather and sou,
are gentlemen of modest depore mgut, and void of am
bition on account of their lamily pretentions, jiut it
would not be surprising if fu.ute events should calhthc
young lieutenant to the other side of the Atlantic to
take hi-’ share in the rising fortunes of the family.
Since her divorce was proclaimed by the imjierial
government of France, and subsequently obtained bv
her from the legislature of .Maryland, Mr. Jerome Na
nolcoii Bonepart’s mother—Elizabeth Patterson—has
lived an unmarried life, residing with her friends iu
Maryland in the enjoyment of opulence and the socieiy
of a retim'd and intellectual circle.
Jerome, the elder, after the divorce, married the
daugli'er of the King of Wurtcmburg, by whom he
had two sons and one daughter. Os the former, one
survives, namely, Napoleon Joseph, born at Trieste,
September fi, lSifr. lie was a member of the late Na
tional Assembly of the French republic.
Tin* male heirs to the throne of France, after Louis
Napoleon, it appears, therefore, from the forgoing, are—
1. Charles Lucien, Prince of Canino, aged 4'J years.
‘l. Louis Lucien, brother, aged 4” years.
3. Pierrie Napoleon, brother, aged 37 years.
4. Joseph Lucien, son of Charles Lucien, aged 33
years.
/>. Lucien Louis, do., aged 34 t ears,
tj. Napoleon Gregorio, do., aged 13 years.
7. Napoleon Joseph, sou of Jerome, aged 30 years.
To the above may possibly be added the Baltimore
Bouapartes, if Louis Napoleon and the French S-urate
should restore them to their rigiits, of which they were
deprived, through their mother, by an unjust decree of
the Emperor Napoleon.
The Valley of the Amazon.
A year or two ago Lieut. Maury, by a very graph : c
and interesting article, drew the attention of the people
of this country to the immense agricultural and mercan
tile resources of the great valley of the Amazon. He
proposed that Congress should report upon the subject,
and suggested, as . lie source of a trade of illimitable ex
tent, that Virginia should try tlie experiment b .'lull
ing a line of communication with it. Since this, the
suojocl has grown into more imrxirtauce, and presently,
v.e think, we shall have the first dawnings of a new
trade in that direction. The cities of the'Gulf would
profit immensely bv it.
In the Washington fre on we find the first of a series
of communications on the subject, from which we ex
tract the following;
“The * policy of commerce,’ and net the ‘policy of
conquest,’ is the policy of ih. U iled iEaies. The spir
it of the age, animated b- ■ -*is* .p. *s<j, is every
day seeking new fields for its peaceful iinutq hs. ;tnd
commerce can accomplish thioughout the world no
achievement l;ke those w hich note its coming and its
marches up and down the Amazon arid other great riv
et’ of that grea’est of water-sheds, the Atlantic slopes
of South America.
“ Men may talk about Cuba and Japan, but, of all the
diplomatic questions of the day. the free nuviga’ion of
tho-e majestic water-courses and their tributaries, is to
this country the most valuable and important. It sur
passes them all. It is paramount.
“ The country that is drained bv the Amazon, if re
claimed from tiie savage, the wild beas*, and the reptile,
ami reduced Hi cultivation now, would be capable of
supporting, with its produce, the population of the
whole w orld. Jt is a l ice country. The common yield
of riee is forty for one. It is reaped five months after
planting, a:.d may be planted at any time of the vear.
Thus the fanner may plant one bushel of rice to-day—
in live months hence he will gather forty front it. l'lanf
ing these forty, lie may iu another five months, gather
sixteen hundred bushels. In ten months theearth yields
an increase there of a thousand fold and more.
“ Corn, too, may be planted at any time, and in three
months is fit for gathering. Thus, the husbandman
there may gather four crops of corn a year, its seasons
are an everlasting summer, w ith a peroetual round of
harvests.
“ It is the policy of commerce, and commerce is the
policy of these l nited State.**, to open that river to
steam, and its valley to settlement and cultivation, and
its earth, air and waters to the business and wants of
trade and traffic. Then?, upon the Atlantic slop?* of
{south America, in the valley of the La Plata and in the
valley of the Amazon, nature in all her wavs In* been
most bountiful. There the vegetable kingdom displays
its forces in their most perfect grandeur, and in all their
might; and there, too, the mineral kingdom is most
dazzling, with its wealth opened to navigation, its for
es;s to settlement, its pampas to cultivation. What
commerce has done for South America, is nothing to
what it will do. It has fringed onlv the sea coast of
that continent with settlement and cultivation. The
great Interior has never been touched: the heart of the
country is a commercial blank ; nor is it to be reached
except through the powers of steam, and the free use of
its majestic water courses.
-- *.- * * * * *
“Because the Amazon is in a tropical country, tin*
public i’ disposed to judge of its climates by comparing
them with the climates of other tropical countries, a--
India, for example; but for the reasons staled, and be
cause thcreare no monsoons or other conditions to cause
the valley of the Amazon to be parched with drought
at one season, and drenched with rains at another, as
India is on one hand, end the Oronoco country on the
other, there is no more resemblance between the cli
mates of India and the Amazon, than there is between
tho climates of Rome and Boston. And any one who
would infer similarity of climate from the fact that Bos
ton and Rome arc in tho same latitude, would not be
more out than he who infers similarity of climate be
tween India and Amazonia.
“Now, what ought to be the condition of an inter
tropical country, whose plains are watered w ith frequent
showers, unaccompanied by a single drought, daring
ages of perpetual summer? Why, fertility and salu
brity ; tiir in such a climate, anything and everything
will grow. The rapid production and constant decay of
vegetable matter that have been going on there tor thou
sands and thousands of years, must have made tlie soil
rich widi vegetable mould.
The fact that vegetation there is in perpetual :ictivity,
that there is no period of vegetable repose; that us lust
as one leaf falls and begins to decay, other leaves just
putting forth absorb its gasses, makes the valley of the
Amazon one of tlie most salubrious and delightful of
climates.
Having shown that tbc climate of the La Plata and
Amazon country is aclimate without droughts, and that
it is a moist and warm climate, 1 have established
enough to satisiy any one that the soil there, v, ha ever
be the substratum, must have upon it a rich vegetable
mould, which the decay of the most rank vegetation
during ages must have formed.
The Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Adams, in a letter written to Mr. Bickering, in
1833, speaks in an interesting way of the writing of die
Declaration of Independence.
“Mr. Jeilcrson,” lie says, “came into Congress iu
June, 177-'>. and brought with him a reputation lor lit
erature, science, aud u happy Uiiont of compobi -ion
\VGongs of his were handed about, leinarkabi.- for .heir
peculiar leiiciiy ot expression. Though a sileut mem
ber of Congress, he was so prompt, hank, explicit and
decisive, upon Committees and in conversation—not
even Samuel Adams was more so—that he soon seized
upon uty heart; and upon this occasion 1 gave him m;.’_
vote, and did oil in my power to • -..cate to-. •* -- **
Olliei A i >U!2ik ilc ii-. 1t ■: * LilU*r- sole liluß 4 ’ . ‘• *
utsi ihui placed hiui at . •:•? he vi it! ‘ :-
Adattts was second, and bo*li were apjxii: ,i t- “i;rc
the Declai-ation. “Thesub-Luinumu* hie’.. JuicjM-fi
piopostsi to me to make the draught. ! ‘i"<;l
not; vow should do it.’ • Oh, i.o.’ * vVhv will you
iiot > * 4 to do i:. ‘ 1 iviJi no 1 -. ‘ v •
* Reasons enough. Rex-on first- you ate a t irgu* !
and a Virginian ought to appeal at ilte hetui 11 lni- > I ,u ’
simbs. lioasoti Htoud—l tun obnoxious and uiipopi' -
iur ; you Hie very much otherwise- Keason ihird^— y
can write leu limes better than I can*’ &ai r
Jellei-son, ‘if yon are decided, i will do its tre* l .
cau.’ * Very welt; when you hare drawn it up. wew*
have a meeting.’ ,
“ A meeting we had, accordingly, and oonneu “>e P“‘
per over. I was deliglited with its high ‘one, n
tiiglits of oratory with which it abounded, espeew* l .
(bat concerning slavery. * 4 Ttiere wetc o’ *■
expressions which 1 would not have inserted, it •“
drawn it up, particularly that winch calledi the kll, s
tv rant. 1 thought tins too personal; tor 1 ,a ‘ u ' !
lie?ed Gaorge to be a tyrant iu disposition and m ■
ture. I always believed him to be deceived by ms ** m
tiers on both sides of the Atlantic, and in m* ofiiu*J