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f RESIDENT’S MESSAGE.' Ftlkw r.tnens of toe Senate at,a Hotueof Representatives: 1 re;ret that I cannot, on this occasion, congratulate you that the past year has ceil woe of' unalloyed prosperity. Tiie lava 'cs ol’ lire autl disease have painfully nULtc I otherwise flourishing portions ot ■our country : and serious embarrassments >ct derange the trade ot" many ol our cities. But notwithstanding these adverse circum Stances, that general prosperity which has been heretofore so bnnuttl iliy bestowed Upon os by the Author of all good, still v. au IIU'S to tor oar warmest gratitude. Especially have we reasons to rejoice m I lie exuberant harvests which have lavishly recompensed well directed industry, and given to it that sure reward which is vainly nought in visiouaiy speculations. 1 can not indeed view, without |>eculi.:r satisfac tion, tlie evidences afforded by the past season of the benefits that sprang from the steady de-vo'ion of til ■ husb-mtm n to bis honorable pursuit. No means ol individ ual comfort is inure certain, aud no source o’ national prosperity is so sure. Nothing c in compensate ape c le for a dependance up >n others for the bread they eat ;*titiil tint cheer.id abundance on which the hap piness of every one so much depends, is to be looked for nowhere with such sure te ll nice as in the industry of the agricultur ist and the bounties of the tatth. With foreign countires, our relations ex hibit (he same favorable aspect which was presented in my hist annual message, and afford continued proof of the wisdom ofthe pacific, just, and forbearing policy adopted by the o.it administration o the Federal tioveraincui, and pursued by its successors. The extr..or unary powers vested in me by an act oi Congress, for the defence of the country in an emergency, considered ro far probable as to require that the -Execti live should possess ample means to meet it, have not been exerted. They have, therefore been attended with no other re sult than to increse, by the confidence thus reposed iD me, my obligations to maintain, with religious exactness, the cardinal prin ciples that govern our intercourse with other nations. Hapj ily, in our pending questions with Great Britain, out of which this unusual grant of authority arose, not thing Ins occurred to require its exertion; and as it is about to return to flip Legists tare, I trust that no future necessity may call for its exercise by them, or its %ele,;a tion to another department of the Govern ment. For the settlement of our Northeastern boundary the proposition promised by Great Britain for a commission of explore tion and survey, has been received, and a counter project, including also a provision tor the certain and final adjustment of tin; limits in dispute, is now before the British _ Guvernme it fir ns consideration. Vjust regard to tue delicate-tate of this question, and a proper respect tor the uatui il impa tience of the Slate of Maine, not less than a conviction that the negotiation lias in m already protracted longer than is prudent on the part of either Government, have led me to believe that the present favorable mo ment should on no account be suffered in pass without putting the question for ev r ■at rest. I feel confident that the Govern ment of her Britannic Majesty will take the same view of this subject, as lam per suaded it is governed by des res equally strong and sincere fertile amicable termin ation ofthe controversy. To tlie intrinsic difficulties olquestions of boutt l-iry lines, especially those described in regions unoccupied, and but partially known, is to be added in our country the embarrassment necessarily arising out ol our •Constitution, by which the General Govern ment is trade the organ of negotiating, and sleeping upon the particular interests of the State on whose frontiers t- -c line are to be traced. To avoid another contro versey in which a State Government might rightfully claim to h ive her wishes consult ed, previously to the conclusion of conven tional arrangements concerning her lights of jurisdiction or territory, l have thought it necessary to call the attention ofthe Gov ernment of Great Britain to another portion of our conterminous dominion, of which the devision still remains to be adjusted. I re fer to the line from the entiance of Lake Superior to the most northwestern point ol the Lake oi the Woods stipulations fin the settlement of which are to be found in the seventh article of tho treaty of Ghent. The commissioners appoined under that nr i*de by the two Governments having dif fered in their dpinions made seperate re ports, according to its stipulations, upon the points of disagreement, and these differ ences are now to be submitted to the arbit ration of some friendly sovereign or State. The disputed points should be settled, and toe line desig itiled, Pel"re the territorial government, es which it ,s one ofthe boun daries, {takes it- place in the Union ns a Stare; nail rclv upon the cordial co oper ation of the British Government to clfcct that object. There is everv reason to believe lint dis turbances hue those which lately agitated the neighboring British Provinces will n t again prove the sources of b irder ( omen - lions, or interpose obstacles io the contin uance of that good i.ndt rst mdiag which it is the run ual interests of Gred Britain ai.d the United States to'preserve and mu main. Within the themselves tran quillity is restored, .union oar (ion'ier that misguided sympathy in tavnr of what was pre turned to he a general t ilbrt in behalf of of pup.ilar right* and which ia soul.; instan e.cs misled a few of our more inexperienced citizens, has subsided into a rational convio tion strongly oppo ed to all iutnn-Mldlmg v’t -h the internal a slams id our neighbors. The people of tin; United States t .I, a , j i • hoped they dway., will, a warm solici r« - for tne stifcccss of all who art sincerely e i lea voriug to improve the political con . i ti ll ot mankind. This generous feeling they eheri-h towards the most disitrd n.t tiois . tend it was natural, therefore, that it Kiiou’ i be awakened with nine liian'co.n mon warmth in behalf of their immediate-! neighbors. But it does not belong to their char icter, as a community, to seek the gratification of those feelings in acts which vi. their duty as citizens, endanger tile pe ice of their country, and tend to bring I'pbn it the st ai nos a vn.fated faith Inwards f ireign nations. If, zealous to confr ben• ti s o i others, they appear for a mom at to I >s • sight of the perin me it obligations in posed upon mem as citizens, tli»v are s 1 ooni Ion; misled. From all the i■’«*<• imiion I receive, confirmed, to some extent f y personal observation, L am satis.'ie I that tn.’t orte can now hope to engage in such enter i'fbj!;’ wiilmnt, encou-ptering public itclig iu ~) „ |,|,ti u ,to the severest penalties <Ji l & i iw; t\ i ts.it information also lends me to hope irin-i .-murnot- Irb.n her Mnjmuv’g p,„ ' V"™ vl *' have - mght refuge w.thui „ur > i rndariesf, Hte di-p>se.i to lieqo nc peace ail lo aW " ,i- ' f"* nafl at “‘npHtacniaugemUe p« Wl! ofthat couatrv which lias afforded them an asylum. On a , revitw of the occurrence on both sides ou | the line, il is satisfactory to reflect, that in almost every complaint against our country, j the offence may be traced to emigrants from ! tlie Piovinces who have sought refuge here. In the few instances in which they were aided by citizens of the United States, the | nets of these misguided men were not only in direct contravention of the laws nnJ well i , known wish.is of their own Government, j but mer wirii (lie decided disapprobation ot j tlie people of tlie United Slates. I regret to state the appearance of a dit lereoi spirit among her Majesty's subject in the Canadas. The scutum ms of hostility lo our people and institution*, which have been so frequently expressed there, ami the I disregard of our rights which have been manifested on some occasions, have, 1 alii sorry »o say, been applauded and encouraged by the people, and even by some of the I subordin ate local authorities, ofthe Provin- I j ccs. 'fdie chief officers in Canada fortun- I titelv have not enteitained tlie same feel ing, and have probably p* evented excesses that must have been fatal to the peace of tiie two countries. 1 look forward anxiously to a period when all the transactions wh ch have grown out of this condition of o r affairs, and which i have been made the subjects o r complaint and reinon.sirnice by the two Governments respectively, slia I be fully examined, and ilie proper sat staction given where it is due from either side. .Nothing has occnrr°d to disturb the har mony of our intercourse with Austria. Bel gium, Denmark. France. Naples. Portugal. Pru-sia, Russia, and Swecden. 'Flic inter t cal s‘;tte of .Spain li is scusiblv improved, 1 and a well-grounded hope exists that llie re turn of peace will restore m the people of that country their bonier prosperity, ami | enable the Government to f ilnl ail its obli gations at heme and alum •. I. The Govern ment of Portugal, 1 have the satisfaction to stale, has paid in full the eleventh autl last instalment due to our ci izeps for the claims embraced in the settlement made with it on the third of March, 1837. I lay before you treaties n| commerce ne gotiated with tlie kings of Sardinia and of the Netherlands, the ratifications of which have been exchanged since the adjournment ofUongress. The liberal principles of these treaties will recommend them to your ap probation. That with Sardinia is the first treaty of commerce formed by that kingdom, and it will, I trust, answer the expectations ofthe present sovereign, by aiding the de velopment es the resources of his country, and stimulating-the enterprise of his people. Tint w ith tlie Netherlands happily termiu ales a long existing subject of dispute, and removes from our future commercial in tercourse. all apprehension of embarrass ment. The king of tlie Netherlands has dsn, in further illustration of his character j for justice, and of his desire to remove every | cause of dissatisfaction, made conipensa | rinu for ail American vessel captured in ii- )',by a Fruicli privateer, and carried in j to Cnraciii, where llie proceeds were ap J preprinted to tlie use ofthe colony, then, i and for a short time after, under tuedoniin | ion of Llolland. j The death of the late Sultan has pro ! tlueed no alteration in our relations with J Turkey. Our newly appointed Minister Resident has reached Constantinople, and I h ive received assurances from the present Ruler, that the obligations of «ttr treaty, a id those of friendship, will be fulfilled by himself in the same spirit that actuated his illustrious father. 1 regret to be obliged to inform you that no convention for the settlement of the claims of our citizens upon Mexico has yet been talifieii by the Government of that country. The first convention formed for that purpose was not presented by the Pres ident of Mexico for ihe .’.pprobafion of its t.'ongrcss, from a belief that the king of Prussia the arbitrator in case of disagiee ment in the joint commission to be appoint ed by the United Stares and Mexico, would not consent to take upon himself that friend ly office. Although not entirely satisfied with the course pursued by Mexico, I felt no hesitation in receiving in the most con ciliitorv spirit the explanation offered, and also -chertfully consented to anew conven tion, in nrderto arrange the payments pro posed to 'lie made to our citizens, in a manner | which, while equally just to them, was (Itemed less'onerous and ineonvetiii at n> i the Mexican Government. Relying con j ftdently upon the intention of that Gov- I eminent, Mr. Ellis was diiected to repair to Mexico, and diplomatic intercourse has been resumed between the two countries* The new convention has, he informs us. been recently submitted hytlie President of that Republic to its Congress, under circum stances, v hich promise a speedly ratifica tion; a result which I cannot allow myself ' to doubt. Itisiruciions have been given to the Coin- I missioner of the United States, under our j Convention with Texas, for tiie demarcation ■ of tlie line which separates us from that : Republic. The commissioners of both j Governments met in New Orleans in August last. The joint conruission was organized, and adjourned to convene at the s line place on the twelfth of October. It is presumed to l> * now in the performance of its duties. Th*' new Government of Texas lias shown its and -sireto cultivate friendly relations with ns. by a prompt reparafons f.ir injuries rompb.iue lof in the cases of two vessels of tin; I h,i ed States. With < n*i,«l America a convention lias been com holed tortile renewal of its former treaty wuhthe United Stales. This was nut ratified befor the <!epa-ture of our late Charged' Affaires liom that country, and the copy ol it brought by him was uot re ceived be To re tlr* adjournment of the Sen ate at the la at session. In the mean while, the period limited for the exchange of rati fications having expired, 1 deemed it expe dient, in consequence of the death, of tlie | (marge d* Al.-ii es, to send a special agent I t> Cchtr il America, to close rlie affairs of c-tir mission there, and to arrange wi»h the | Govern.ne i;m extension of tiie time lor | the exchange of i.atificntions. i The commira-ion created by tlie Stafos 1 whicli lonucrfy composed the'Republic of! Colnnibia, for adjusting the claims against that <1 .ivernitisn , has. by a very unexpected ; construction ol the treaty under which it acts ! decided that no provision was ’ made for j ilio-e claims of citizens oft lie United States ! which arose frmn ea; tures by Cotombiau ! | privateers, and were adjudged against the i i claimants in the judicial tribunals. This ; j deci-drtn will compel the United States to appl. to th* several Governinents formerly i united for redress. Willi all these—New j Granada, Venezuela, arid Kruador—a per } frctly good understanding exists. Ourtrea j ty with Veuezuht, is faithfully carried into i- x"c ot ion ; and that country, in the eri|oy j men; ot tranquility, is gradually advancing I m prosperity tinder the guidance of its pre- 1 s-nt distinguished President, General Paez. Vv it i Ecuador, a liberal commercial con vention l,as lately been concluded, which will lie transmitted to the Senate at an ear ly day. With the great American empire of Bra-1 zil our relations continue unchanged, as doe- I our friendly intereoutye with the other gov- 1 ernments of South Ante ica—the Argentine Republic, and the Republics ol Uruguay, Chili, Peru, and Bolivia- The dissolution of the Peru Bolivian Confederation may occasion some temporary inconvenience to our citizens in that quarter, but ihe obliga tions on tiie new governments which have , arisen out of that confederation to observe its treaty Mipulalioi s. will no doubt be soon i understood, and it is presumed that no in- ( ! disposition will exist to fulfil those which it 1 contracted with the United States. The financial opeiatiousof the Gnvern i nr cut during the present year have, l «m i happy t-i stiv, been very -successful. Tlie difficulties under which ilie Treasury De ; partinent lias labored from known defects I in the existing la vs relative to the state keeping of the public moneys, aggravated iby the suspension of specie payments by several ofthe banks holding public depos iles, or indebted to public officers for notes t received in payment of public dues, have , been surmounted to a very gratifying extent, j The large current expenditures have been punctually met. and the faith of the Gov ernment in all its pecuniary concerns has been scitpuiously maintained. The nineteen millions of Treasury notes authorized by the act of Congress of 1837, and the modification thereof, with a view to the indulgence ot merchants ori their duty bonds, and ofthe deposit- banks in the pay ment of public moneys held by them, have been so punctually redeemed as to leave less than the original *en millions outstand ing at anv one time, and the whole amount unredeemed now falls short three millions. Os these the chiefportion is not duett I next year, and the whole would have been alrea dy extinguished th" Treasury have realized the payments due to it from the banks. If those due from them during the next yearshall be purcttully made, and if Congress shall ke.-p -the appropriations within the estimates, tlf re is every reason to believe that all the outstanding Treasu ry notes can be redeemed, and the ordina ry expenses defrayed, without imposing on the people any additional burden, either of loans or increased taxes. To avoid this, and to keen the expendi tures within reasonable bounds, is a duty, second only in importance to the preserva tion of our national character, and the pro tection of our "itizens in their civil and political rights. The creation, in time of peace,of a debt likely to become perma nent, is an i vil for which there is no equiva lent. The rapidity with which many of the States arc apparently approaching to this condition admonishes us of o ,r own du ties, in a manner ton impressive to be disre garded. One, not the least important, is to keep the Federal Government always in a condition to discharge, with case and vigor, its highest, functions, should their exercise be required by a.iy sudden conjuncture of public affairs—a condition to which we are always exposed, and which may occurwhen it is least expected. To this end, it is in dispensable that its finances should be un trammelled. audits resotitces, asfar as prac ticable, unincumbered. No circumstances could presem greater obstacles to the ac complishment of these vitally important ob je-ts, than the creation of an onerous na tional debt. < )ur own experience, and also that of other nations, have demonstrated the unavoidable and fearful rapidity with which a public debt is increased, when the Govern ment lias once surrendered itself to rite ruinous practice of supplying its supposed necessities by new loans. The struggle, on our part, to be successful, must be made at tlie threshold. To make our efferls effective, severe economy is necessary. This is the surest provision for the national welfare ; anil it is, at tlie same time, the best preserva ive of the principles on which our institutions rest. Simplicity and econ omy in the affairs of State have never fail ed to chavten and invigor te republican | rin ciples, while these have b-en as surely sub verted by national prodigality, under what ever specious pretexts if may have been in troduced or fostered. These consi I,•rations cannot be lost upon a people ivlm have never been inatten ive to the efft et of their policy pj on the institu tions they h ive created for themselves ; but at the Present moment their force is aug mented by the necessity which a decreasing revenue -must impose. The check lately gi'en to importations of articles subject to duties, the derangements in the operations of interaa! trade, and, especially, the reduc tion gradually takirg place in our tarifl’of duties, till tend materially to lessen our te— ceipts; indeed it is probable that the dim inution resulting from the last cause alone will not tall short of five millions ol dollars in tl:e year 1813, its the final reduction of all dut'u s to twenty p»r cent, then takes es- Irct l iie whole revenue then aecruing from the c list os and from the sales of public lands, if not more, will undoubted ly be wanted to and. fray tlie necessary ex penses of the Government under the most prudent administration of its affairs These are circumstances that impose tiie necessi'y of rigi I economy and requiie its prompt and constant exercise. With the Legislature rest the power and duty of so adjusting the ! public expe dtiitre as to promote this end. By the prov stuns of the cons:ilution it is only iti cans qnettce of appropriations made by law that money can be drawn from the Treasury; no instance has occurred since the establishment of the Government in wh;eh the executive, though a component part of the legislative power, has interposed an objection to an appropr'alien billon the sole ground of its extravagance. His duty jn tills respect has been considered fulfilled by requesting such appropriations only .as the public service may be reasonably expect ed to require* In the present etrnest di rection ol the public mind towards this sub ect, both the Executive and the Legisla ture have evidence of the strict responsibili ty to which they will he itiTi.i ; and wh’fle I am conscious ol my own anxious efforts to peiform, with fidelity, this portion of mv public fiin.-tiotis, it is a satisfactioNlto me to he able to comil on a cordial co-operation from you. At the time I "nr°rcd upon my present ! duties, our ordinary disbursements— without ■ including those on account of the public debt, the post office, and the trust fun U in charge ofthe Government—had been large- ! ly increased by’ appropriations for the re- ! iiiov.it oftlm Indians, for repelling Indian hostilities, and lor other less urgent ex- * penses which grew out of an ovetflowing j 1 teasurv. Independent of the redemption I ofthe public debt and trusts, the gross ex- j penditurcs ol seventeen and eighteen millions | in 1834 and 1835 had, bv these causes, sivel- I led to twenty-nine millions in 1836; and the ! appropriations for 18-37, ma le previously to j the 4tit of March, caused the expenditure I to rise to the very large amount of thirty- [ thtee millions. Y\ e were enabled during i the year 1838, notwithstanding tlie contiu- , nance ol our indiiti embarrassments, some- ! what to reduce this amount; and that for the present year. 1839, will not in.dl proba- ! bility exceed twenty-six millions, or six ' millions less than it was last year, estimates for 1840 to be subject'd to the severest scrutiny, and to be limited to the absolute requirements of the public service. Titev will be found less than the expenditures ol 1830 by over live millions cfdol'ars. Tlie precautionary measures which will be recommended by the Secretary of the Treasury, to protect faithfully the public credit under the tlm illations and condoeii cies to which our receipts and expenditures are exposed, and especially in a commercial crisis like the preseut, are commeudc-d to : yonr “arly attention. On a former occasion yotir attention was I invited to various considerations in support ' of a pre-emption la v in behalfof the settlers on the public lands ; and also of a law grad uating the prices for such lands as had long been in the market unsold, in consequence of their inferior quality. The execution o'" the act which was passed on tlie first sub ject has been attended with the happiest consequences, in quieting titles, and secur ing improvements to the industrious; and , it Ins also, to a very gratifying extent, been | exempt from the frauds which were prac tised under previous pre-emption laws, it ! has, at the same time, as was anticipated. ! contributed liberally during the present year to the receipts of th« Treasury. The passage of a graduation law, with tlie guards before recommended, would al so. I am persuaded, add considerably to the revenue for seveial years, and prove in oth errespeels just anil beneficial. Your early consideration of the subject is. therefore, once more earnestly requested The present condition of the defences of our principal seaports and navy yards, as represented by the accompanying report of the Secretary of War, calls for the early and serious attention of Congress ; and, as connecting itself intimately with thissulijecf, I cannot recommend too strongly to your consideration the plan submitted by that officer for the organization ofthe militia of the United States. In conformity with the expressed wishes of Congress, au attempt was made in the spring to terminate the Florida war by ue gociation. It is to be regreted that these humane intentions should have been frus trated, and that tlre effort to bring these un happy difficulties to a satisfactory conclu sion should have failed. But after entering into solemn engagements with the Com manding General, the Indtanns, without any provocation, recommenced their acts of treachery and murder. The renewal of hostilities in that Territory renders it neces sary that I should recommend to yonr fa voluble consideration the plan which will be submitted to you by the Secretary of War, in order to enable that department to conduct them to a successful issue. Having had an opportunity of personally inspecting a portion of (he troops during the last summer, it gives me pleasure to hear testimony to the success ot the effort to improve their discipline, by keeping them togeihcr in as large bodies as the nature of our service will permit. I recommend, therefore, that commodious and permanent barracks be constructed at the several posts designated *>y the Secretary of Wnr. Not withstanding tlie high slat” of their discip line and excellent police, the evils resulting to the service from the deficiency of compa ny officers, were very apoarent, and I rr commend that tlie staff officers be perma nently seperated from the ii.ie. The navy has been usefully and honora bly employed in protecting the rights and property of our citizens, wherever ihe con <1 it ion of affairs seemed to require its pre . settee. \V itli (lie exception of one instance. . where an outrage, accompanied by murder, ; was committed on a vessel of tlie United Slates while engaged in a lawful commerce, nothing is known to have occurred to im pede or molest ti e enterprise of our citizens in that element where it is signaily displayed. On learning this dr.ring act of piracy Com modore Reed proceeded immediately to tiie spot, and receiving no satisfaction, cither in tlie surrender of tlie tnurderers.or the lestor atioti ofthe plundered property, inflicted se vere and merit! and chastisement on (he barba rians It will be seen, by the report of t e Sec tary of the Navy respecting the disposition of cur ships of war, that it has been deem ed necess try to .iadon a competent farce on the coasr <1 Africa, to prove it a fraud uleiu use of our flag by for i.nrrs. Recent experience ' has shown that the provisions in ottr existing laws which relate to the sale and transfer of American vessels, while abroad, extremely defective. Advan tage has been taken of these def, els to give to vessels wltol'y belonging to foreigners, and navigating tlie ocean, an apparent \- merican ownership. This chaniciar has been so well simulated as to afford them comparative security io prosecuting the slave trade, a traffic emphatically denounced in our statutes, regarded with abhorrence by our citizens, and of which the effectual supression is nowhere more sincerely desir ed than iu the United States. These cir cumstances make it preperto recommend to your early attention a careful revision of these laws, so that, without impeding the freedom and facilities of our navigation, or impairing an important branch of our in dustry connected with it the integrity and honor of our ling may be carefully preserv ed. Information derived from our consul tit II wan t, showing the necessity of this, was coinnmicated to a committee of the Senate near the close of last s> ssion, but too late, as >t appeared, to be acted upon.— It will be brought to your notice by the proper department with additions! commu nications from other sources. I he latest accounts from the Exploring Expedition represent it as proceeding suc cessfully in its objects, ami promising re sults no less useful to trade anil navigation than to science. The extent of post roads covered by mail service on tlie Ist of July last, wps a boitt 133-999 miles and the rates of annual transportation upon them 34 496,878 miles. I lie numbei ol post offices on that day was 12.780, and on the 30th ultimo. 13.048. ; The revenue of the Rust Office Depart j tnent r or the year ending with the 30th of j Jitiifo last, was four millions four hundred j and seventy six thousand and thirty eight ■ dollars—exhibiting ;m increase over the pre | ceding year of two hundred an I forty-one thousand five hundred and sixtv dollars.— ; l ' lle engagements and liabj'itics of tho lJe | partinent for the same period are lour mil fioiissix hundred and twenty four thousand ' one hundred and seventeen dollars. I I iic excess of liabilities over the revenue | for the last two years lias been met out of the surplus which had previously ticcutnu j kited. The cash on ln-ul on the 30th ulti ! mo, was about §306,701 95, and the current ; income of the Department varies very little from the rate of current exnendituresl— ! Most of the service suspended last year has [ been restored, and most ol the new routes established by the act of 7th July, 1838, i havp been set in operation at an annual co<t of §13(5,963. Notwithstanding the peem | tliary difficulties ol the country, the revenue t I ol die Department appears to be increasing ; j and unless it shall be seriously checked by tlie recent suspension of payment by so many of the banks, it wilt be able not only to maintain the present mail service, but ini a snort time to extend it. It is gratifying to 1 witness the promptitude and fidelity with whic'i the agents of the Department iu general perform their public duties. Some difficulties have arisen iu relation to contracts for the transportation of tiie mails by railroad and steamboat companies. It appears that the maximum of compensa tion provided by Congress for the transpor tation of the mails upon railroads is not suf i rtcient to induce some of the companies to | convey them at such hours ns are required I tor the accommodation of the pnh'ic. It is i ob* es the most important duties of the I General Government to provide and main tain for the use of the people of the States the best practicable mail establishment, i To arrive at that end, it is indispensable that the Post Office Department shall be enabled to control the hours at whicli ihe mail shall Ue carried over railroads, as it flow does over all other roads. Should serious incon veuience arise from the inadequacy of tiie compensation now provided by law, or from unreasonable demands by any-of the rail road companies, tlie subject is of such gpneral importance as to require the Prompt attention of Congress. In relation to steamboat lines, the most efficient remedy is obvious, and has been suggested by the Post Master General. The War and Navy Departments already employ steamboats in their service; and although it is by no means desirable that tlie Government should undertake the transportation of passengers or freight as a business, t.iere can be reasonable objection to running boats, temporally, whenever it inay be necessary lo put down a'tempts at extortion, to be discontinued as soon is reasonable contracts can be obtained. The suggestions of rhe Postmaster Gen eral relative to the inadequacy of the legal alljwance tu witnesses in cases of prose cutions for mail depredations merit your serious consideration. The. safety of tho mails requires that such prosecution shall be efficient ; and justice to the citizen whose time is required to be given to the public, demands not only that his expenses shall be paid, but that he shall receive a reason able compensation. Tlie reports from the War, N..vy and and Post Office Departments will accom pany this communication, and one from t ie Treasury Department wid he presented to Congress io a few d.ivs. For vairious details in respect to matters in charge ol tln»«o Departments, 1 would refer you to those important documents, satisfied that you will find in them many valu tjtle suggestions, which will he found well deserving tlie attention of tlie Legis lature. From a report made in December of last year by the Secretary of State, to the Sen ate, showing the trial docket of each of the Circuit Courts, and tiie numbor ol miles each judge has to travel in the p- r tormancc of lit* ilnii''s. a great ieeqn.iffty impears in the amount of labor assigned to cticb Judge. The number of teims to be held in each of th** courts composing the ninth circuit, t 1 e distances between the places at which they si’, and from thence to the sett of Government, arc represented to be such as to render it impossible for the judge of that circuit to perform, in a man ner corresponding with the } tibiic exigen cies, h;s term and circuit duties. A re | vision, therefore, of tlie present arrange ment of tlie citcuiis seems to lip called for, anti is recommended to your notice. I think it proper to c:i!t vottr attention to the power assumed by Territorial Legisla tures to authorize the issue of bends bv eorporate companies oil the guarantv of the Territory. Congress passed a law in providing that no act of a Territorial Legisb tore incorporating banks should have the force of la tv until approved b\ Congress; but acts of a vi rv exceptionable character, previously passed by t! e Legis lature of Fieri *a, were suffered to remain in force, by virtue of which bonds may be issued to a very large amount bv these in s'itutiors upon the faith of the Territory. A resolution, inlending to be a joint one. ■ passed the Senate at the same .session, ex pressing tho sense of Congress that the laws in question ought not to be permitted to remain in force unless amend; and in nun y material r speefs, but it failed in the House ol Representatives for want of time, and the desired amendments have not been made. The interests involved me of great importance, and the subject deserves your early and careful attention. Tin* continued agitation of tin; question relative to tlie best mode of ket ping and disbursing the public money still i juriously affects the business of the count rv. The suspension of specie payments in ls:;~ rendered the use of deposite banks, as pre scribe!! by the net of. 1836, a source rati.er ol embarrassment ihan aid. and of necessity placed the i ustody of most of the pnbiii moneys aiterw.irds collected, in charge ol the public officers. The new seen lilies for itssnfely, which this required, weie ,i | linci pal cause ol my convening an extra session of Con gross; hut in consequence of a dis agreement between the two Houses, neither then, nor at any subsequent period. Las there been any legislation on the subject.- The effort made at the last session, to ob tain the authority ol Congress, to pm ish the use. of public money for private purpos's as a crime—a measure attended under other Governments with signal advantage—was also uusucceessliil, from diversities of opinion in that body, notwithstanding the anxiety, doubtless fell by it, to afford every practicable seemity. The result of this is still to leave the custody of the public money without those safeguards wlnch have been for several years earnestly desired bv the Executive; and, as the remedy is only to be found in the action of the Legislature, it imposes on me the duty of again' sub mitting to you, toe pro; riety of passing a law providing for the safe keeping of the public moneys, and especially to ask that its use for private purposes by any officer et,trusted with it mly be declared to be a lelony, punishable with penalties propor tioned in the iniqpiitude of the offence. These circims nnces added to known defects in the exi ting laws and unusual derangement in the general operations of I trade, haw, during the last three years, much increased the difficulties attendant outlie collection, keeping, and disburse ment ol the revenue, and.called forth cjr responding exertions from those having ;Lem in charge. Happily these have been j successful In ynnd expectation. Vast su ' s have been collected and disbursed by the several De|rartineuts with unexpected cheap ness and ease; transfers have been readily made to every p.ut of the Union, however distant; and defalcations have been fir less than might have been anticipated, from the ! absence ol adequate legal restraints. Since • heofficers of the Treasury ami Post Office Departments were charged with the custody of most of the public moneys received by th*m, there have been eollecteit sixty six millions of dollars, and, excluding the case of the late collector at N. Vork, the ag gregate amount of losses sustained in the collection cannot, it is believed, exceed sixty thousaud dollars. The defalcation of the late collector at that city, of the exteut and circumstances of which Congress ha* been fuMy informed, ran through all u ie modes of keeping the public iitonev that have been hitherto in use, and was distin guished by an aggravated disregard of dutv, that broke through the restiaiots of every system, ahd cannot, therefore, be usefully referred to ns a test of the comparative safety of either. Additional information will also be furnished by the report oftlm Secretary of the Treasury, in reply to a call made upon that officer by the House of Representatives at the last session, tel quiring detailed information on the subject of defaults by public officers or agents uni der each Administration, from 1789 to 1837 This document wil< he submitted to you in ■ a few days. The general results, (indepen dent of the Post Office w hich is kept sen ; arately, and will be stated by itself,) S o f-, r | ns they bear upon this subject, are, that the losses which have been, and are likelv to be. sustained,by any class of agents, have been the greatest by banks, including, as re quired in the resolution, their depreciated paper received for public dues; that the next largest have been by disbursing offi cers an I tlie least by collectors and re reirrrs. If tie losses on duty bonds are! included, they alone will be threefold those jby both collectors and receivers Our I whole experience, therefore, lurn'shes the strongest evidence that the desited legisla tion of Congress' is alone Wauling to insure in those op: rations the highest degtee of security and facility. Such also appears to have been tin* experience of oilier na-- ! tioi s, From the r suits t f inquiries made by Ihe Secretary of the T'easury in regard to the practice among them. I am enabled to state that in twenty-two out of twenty s'-ven foreign Governments, from width undoubted information has'been obtained the public moneys are kept in charge of public officers. This concurrence of opin ion in favor of that system is perhaps as great ns exists on any question of internal j administration. In the modes of business and official res traints on disbursing officers,no legal change was produced by the suspension ol sp< c e payments. The report last referred towi l In; found to contain, also, much useful in fnnnaiioii in relation to this sr.t.joi t. I have heretofore assigned to Uongress my reasons for believing that the establish ment of an I dependent National Tn us ury, is contemplated by the Constitution, is necessary to the safe act ion of the Fed eral Government. The suspension es specie payments in 1337, by the banks having the custody of the public mot.ev, sl owed in so alarming a>lt gree out-Vie petulance on those institutions lot the per formance of dulies inquired by law, that I then recommended the entire dissolution of that connexion. This recbtv.tierdation ban been subjected, ns I desired it should b'% to severe scrutiny aid animated discus*ion; and 1 allow m\sclf to believe that, nr.r withstanding the natural diversities of opinion which nay be antirip. ted no dl subjects iavo ving such important consid erations, i: has secured in its favor as g<n eral a concurrence of public sentiment :s cotiltl be expected on one of such magni tude. Recent events have also contributed to develope new obje -tiotis to such a couno - ion, Seldom is any bank, under the exiMii.g system and practice, able to me»t, mi th til-anil, nil its liabilities lot drpr sites at d' notes in ciretth lion. Il mail ‘lnins s| < < e payments and transacts a profitable bi.-siut >• , only by the confidence of the public in its solvency; and whenever this is destrt>\<■ . the demands of its depositors andTo'iTt - tiers—pressed more rapidly than it ean mai •- collections from its debtors-—force it to stop | ay-men*. This loss of cmd'dri e>, with its consequences, ocrurntl in i- i‘. and a (forded tlie apology of the,-batiks fi r their suspeiisioe. Tlie public ilgov «■ - quiesced in the validity of die excuse; aid, while the State Legislatures did not evai f from them their forfeited charters. (Ti - gress, in acemdanc’' w : th the rect tun intui tion of the Executive, rtiji.wed them tin <• •to pay over the public mousy they held, although eotiip* red to issue Tic: sitt v notes to supply the th fieieuev thus creati and. li now appears that there an; i tl er mo tives t;::iri a want of public cot faience m.drr which tln* linf fcs seek In justify the mselvrs in a refusal to mint their obligations. Scarcely were the country and Goteitin.cm r< IFved, in a dt gro*\ . f.oin the difficult)'s occasioned by the gem rid suspension «and" w hen a partial one, oretming will.in thirty mouths of the former, produced new mil soi ions etnhnrinssmeii's. though it had mi palliaiion in such circumstances as were alleged in justification of that wbi h bail previously taken place. 'I here was limbing in the cimtiitiotro! lire eoniitry to endanger a tvel| managed banking instill.lion ; com merce was deranged by i o foreign yvar; evciv braneli ol mnnnf.iei in ing iudustiy was e'rmvned with rieh lewards; and the mure than usual abnndanee of our harvests, niter supplying our domestic want-, had bit nor granairus :n.J storehouses filled with a snr plos tor exportation. h is in the inidst of ibis.th.it an irredeeinl In and depreciat'd paper currency is entailed upon the Peapie jby a huge portion of the banks. They are j not driven toil by the exhibition of a loss of | public confidence or of a sudden pressure j fioin their dejiositois or note holders, blit they excuse'ifi'emselvt s by alleging that the current of business, and exchange with foreign countries, which lira- stlie precious metals front their vaults, would requite, in order to meet it, a large curtailment of lluir. j loans to a comparatively small portion of the community than it will be convenient ■ for them to bear, or perhaps safe for the j banks to exact. The plea has ceased to be i one of ecessity. Convenience and policy j are now deemed sufficient to warrant these institutions in disregarding their solemn obligations. Such conduct is not merely an injury to individual creditors, but it is a wrong to the whole community, from whose liberality they hold most valuable privileges-—whose tight they violate, whose business they derange, and the value of whose property they render unstable and insecure. It must be evident that this new ground for bank suspensions, in re ference to which their action is not only disconnected with, but wholly indepenufut of, that of the Public, gives a character to tin ir suspensions more alarming tliatt any which they exhibited before, and greatly increases the impropriety of relying on the banks in the transactions of the. Govern ment. t To be Concluded. Judge Saunders is ta'ked of bv the Ad ministration party, as n candidate for the boiler of the Executive Chair of North Car olina, at the expitatioti of Gov. Dudley's second Term, JOB HUNTING NEATLY EXCOI’TLI/ AT THIS Oll'iCT,