The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-02 00:00:00

appear by reference- to the accompanying- papers. Withou
dwelling upon the numerous and important topics embraced in
them, I again invite your attention to the importance of pro-
viding a well-digested and comprehensive system for the pro-
tection, supervision, and improvement of the various tribes now
planted in the Indian country. The suggestions submitted by
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and enforced by the Se-
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cretary, on this subject, and also in regard to the establishment
of additional military posts in the Indian country, are entitled

to your profound consideration. Both measures are necessary
for the double purpose of protecting the Indians from intestine
war, and in other respects complying with our engagements to
them, and of securing our western frontier against incursions,
which otherwise will assuredly be made on it. The best hopes

of humanity, in regard to the aboriginal race, the welfare of
our rapidly-extending settlements, and the honour of the
United States, are all deeply involved in the relations existing
between this Government and the emigrating tribes. I trust,
therefore, that the various matters submitted in the accompany-
ing documents, in respect to those relations, will receive your
early and mature deliberation; and that it may issue in the
adoption of legislative measures adapted to the circumstances
and duties of the present crisis.
You are referred to the report of the Secretary of the Navy
for a satisfactory view of the operations of the department un-
der his charge during the present year. In the construction
of vessels at the different navy yards, and in the employment
of our ships and squadron at sea, that branch of the service has
been actively and usefully employed. While the situation of
our commercial interests in the West Indies required a greater
number than usual of armed vessels to be kept on that station,
it is gratifying to perceive that the protection due to our com-
merce in other quarters of the world has not proved inefficient.
Every effort has been made to facilitate the equipment of the
exploring expedition authorised by the Act of the last session
—but all the preparation necessary to enable it to sail, has not
yet been completed. No means will be spared by the Go-
vernment, to fit out the expedition on a scale corresponding
with the liberal appropriation for the purpose, and with the
elevated character of the objects which are to be effected by it.
I beg leave to renew the recommendation made in my last
annual Message respecting the enlistment of boys in our naval
service; and to urge upon your attention the necessity of fur-
ther appropriations to increase the number of ships afloat, and
to enlarge generally the capacity and force of the navy. The
increase of our commerce, and our position, in regard to the
other Powers of the world, will always make it our policy,
and interest to cherish, the great naval resources of our
country.
The report of the Postmaster-General presents a gratifying
picture of the condition of the Post Office Department. Its
revenues for the year ending the 39th of June last were
3,398,445d15., showing an increase of revenue over that of
the preseding year of 404,878d15. 53c., or more than 13 per
cent. The expenditure for the same year was 2,755,623d15.
76c., exhibiting a surplus of 642,831d15. 43c. The department
has been defended from embarrassment and debt, has accu-
mulated a surplus exceeding half a million of dollars, has
largely extended, and is preparing still farther to extend, the
mail service, and recommends a reduction of postages equal
to about 20 per cent. It is practising upon the great princi-
ple which should controul every branch of our Government,
of rendering to the public the greatest good possible with the
least possible taxation to the people.
The scale of postage suggested by the Postmaster-General
recommends itself, not only by the reduction it proposes, but
by the simplicity of its arrangement, its conformity with the
Federal currency, and the improvement it will introduce into
the accounts of the department and its agents.
Your particular attention is invited to the subject of mail
contracts with railroad companies. The present laws, pro-
viding for the making of contracts, are based upon the pre-
sumption that the competition among bidders will secure the
service for a fair price. But on most of the railroad lines
there is no kind of competition in that kind of transportation,
and advertising is therefore useless. No contract can now be
made with them except such as shall be negotiated before the
time of offering or afterwards, and the power of the Post-
master-General to pay them high prices is practically without
limitation. It would be a relief to him, and no doubt would
conduce to the public interest, to prescribe by law some
equitable basis upon which such contracts shall rest, and restrict
him by a fixed rule of allowance. Under a liberal law of that
sort he would undoubtedly be able to secure the services of
most of the railroad companies, and the interest of the depart-
ment would be thus advanced.
The correspondence between the people of the United States
and the European nations, and particularly with the British
islands. has become very extensive, and require s the interposi-
tion of Congress to give it security. No obstacle is perceived
to an interchange of mail between New York and Liverpool,
or other foreign ports, as proposed by the Postmaster-General ;
on the contrary, it promises, by the security it will afford, to
facilitate commercial transactions, and give rise to an enlarged
intercourse among the people of different nations, which can-
not but have a happy effect. Through the city of New York
most of the correspondence between the Canadas and Europe
is now carried on, and urgent representations have been re-
ceived from the head of the provincial post-office, asking the
interposition of the United States to guard it from the acci-
dents and losses to which it is now subjected. Some legisla-
tion appears to be called for, as well by our own interests as by
courtesy to the adjoining British provinces.
The expediency of providing a fire-proof building for the
important books and papers of the Post Office department is
worthy of consideration. In the present condition of our
Treasury it is neither necessary nor wise to leave essential
public interests exposed to so much danger when they can be
so readily made secure. There are weighty considerations in
the location of a new building for the department in favour of
placing it sear the other extensive buildings.
The important subjects of the survey of the coast, and the
manufacture of a standard of weights and measures for the
different customhouses, have been in progress for some years,
under the general direction of the Executive, and the imme-
diate superintendence of a gentleman possessing high scientific
attainments. At the last session of Congress, the making of
a set of weights and measures for each State in the Union, was
added to the others by a joint resolution.
The care and correspondence as to all these subjects have
devolved on the Treasury Department during the last year.
A special report from the Secretary of the Treasury will soon
be communicated to the Congress, which will show what has
been accomplished as to the number and compensation of the
persons now employed in these duties, and the progress ex-
pected to be made during the ensuing year, with a copy of
the various correspondence deemed necessary to throw light
on the subjects which seem to require additional legislation.
Claims have been made for retrospective allowances in behalf
of the superintendent, and some of his assistants, which I did
not feel justified in granting. Other claims have been made
for large increases in compensation, which, under all the cir.
cumstances of the several cases, I declined making without the
express sanction of Congress. In order to obtain that sanction,
the subject was, at the last session, on my suggestion, and by
the request of the immediate superintendent, submitted by the
Treasury Departments to the Committee of Commerce of the
House of Representatives. But no legislative action having
taken place, the early attention of Congress is now desired to
the enactment of some express and detailed provisions in rela-
tion to the various claims made for the past, and the compen-
sation and allowance deemed proper for the future.
It is further respectfully recommended that, such being the
inconvenience of attention to those duties by the Chief Ma-
gistrate, and such the great pressure of business on the Trea-
sury Department, the general supervision of the coast survey,
and the completion of the weights and measures, if the works
are kept united, should devolve on a board of officers, orga-
nised specially for the purpose, or on the Navy Board attached
to the Navy Department.
All my experience and reflection confirm the conviction I
have so often expressed to Congress, in favour of an amend-
ment of the Constitution, which will prevent, in any event,
the election of the President and Vice- President of the United
States devolving on the House of Representatives and the
Senate ; and I beg leave, therefore, again to solicit your at-
tention to the subject. There were various other suggestions
in my last annual Message not acted upon, particularly that
relating to the want of uniformity in the laws of the district
of Colombia, that are deemed worthy of your favourable con-
sideration.

Before concluding this paper, I think it due to the various
Executive Departments to bear testimony to their prosperous
condition, and to the ability and integrity with which they have
been conducted. It has been my aim to enforce in all of them
a vigilant and faithful discharge of the public business ; and it
is gratifying to me to believe that there is no just cause of
complaint from any quarter at the manner in which they have
fulfilled the objects of their creation.
Having now finished the observations deemed proper on
this, the last occasion I shall have of communicating with the
two Houses of Congress at their meeting, I cannot omit an
expression of the gratitude which is due to the great body of
my fellow citizens, in whose partiality and' indulgence I
have found encouragement and support in the many difficult
and trying scenes through which it has been my lot to
pass during my public career. Though deeply sensible that
my exertions have not been crowned with a success corre-
sponding to the degree of favour bestowed upon me, I am
sure that they will be considered as having been directed
by an earnest desire to promote the good of my country ;
and I am consoled by the persuasion that whatever errors
may have been committed will find a corrective in the in-
telligence and patriotism of those who will succeed us.
All that has occurred during my Administration is calcu-
lated to inspire me with increased confidence in the stability
of our institutions ; and should I be spared to enter upon
that retirement which is so suitable to my age and infirm
health, and so much desired by me in other respects, I shall
invoke that beneficent Being to whose providence we are al-
ready so signally indebted for the continuance of its blessings
on our beloved country. ANDREW JACKSON.
Washington City, Dec. 6, 1836.

The Macclesfield family are displaying old English
hospitality at Sherborne Castle, in Oxfordshire, and Buck-
leigh, in Devonshire.

Among the Secret State Papers in a December
Number of the Portfolio, is a Despatch from Prince Lieven
to his Government, relative to his negotiations with Mr.
Canning for the settlement of the affairs of Greece.
Scarcely any document in our archives affords more asto-
nishing evidence of the talent displayed by the Russian dip-
lomatists than this Despaich ; which betrays alarm lest Mr.
Canning should suspect the ulterior views of Russia, and an
immediate increase of audacity on finding that he had not
conceived any suspicions of them. Had it dropped from
Prince Lieven's pocket and been conveyed to the Foreign
Office, there can be no doubt that Mr. Canning would have
effected the pacification of the Levant by a speedier process
than the campaign of Adrianople—by British broadsides in
the harbour of Sevastopol.