The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-18 00:00:00

FORNIA.

There being no mint in California, I am informed that
the labourers in the mines are compelled to dispose of
their gold dust at a large discount. This appears to me
to be a heavy and unjust tax upon the labour of those
employed in extracting this precious metal; and I doubt
not you will be disposed, at the earliest period possible,
to relieve them from it by the establishment of a
mint. In the meantime, as an assayer's office is es-
tablished there, I would respectfully submit for
your consideration the propriety of authorising gold
bullion, which has been assayed and stamped, to be
received in payment of Government dues. I cannot con-
ceive that the treasury would suffer any loss by such a
provision, which will at once raise bullion to its par
value, and thereby save (if I am rightly informed) many
millums of dollars to the labourers, which are now paid
in brokerage to convert this precious metal into avail-
able funds. This discount upon their hard earnings is
a heavy tax, and every effort should be made by the
Government to relieve them from so great a burden.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Moro than three-fourths of our population are en-
gaged in the cultivation of the soil. The commercial,
manufacturing, and navigating interests, are all to a
great extent dependent on the agricultural. It is, there-
tore, the most important interest of the nation, and has
a just claim to the fostering care and protection of the
Government, so far as they can be extended consistently
with the provisions of the constitution. As this cannot
be done by the ordinary modes of legislation, I respect-
fully recommend the cEtabishment of a❑ agricultural
bureau, to be charged with the duty of giv-
ing to phis leadirg branch of American in-
du,try the encouragement which it so well de-
serves. In view of the immense mineral resources of
our country, provision should also be made for the em-
ployment of a competent raineralogiat and chemist, who
should be required, under the direction of the head of
the bureau, to collect specimens of the various minerals
of our country, and to ascertain by careful analysis, their
respective elements and proportions, and their adapta-
tion to useful purposes. He should also be required to
examine and report upon the qualities of different soils,
and the manures best calculated to improve their pro-
ductiveness. By publishing the results of such experi-
ments, with suitable explanations, and by the collection
and distribution of rare seeds and plants, with instruc-
tions as to the best system of culthatioa, much may be
done to promote this great national interest.

THE LATE CENSUS.
In compliance with the Act of Congress, passed on
the 23d of May, 1850, providing, among other things,
or taking the seventh census, a superintendent was ap-
pointed, and all other measures adopted which were
deemed necessary to insure the prompt and faithful
performance of that duty. The appropriation already
made will, it is believed, be sufficient to defray the whole
expenses of the work, but further legislation may be
necessary in regard to the compensation of some of the
marshals of the territories. It will also be proper to
make provision by law, at an early day, for the publica-
tion of such abstracts of the returns as the public in-
terests mry require.
TERRITORIES ON THE PACIFIC.
Tie unprecedented growth of our territories on the
Pacific in wealth and population, and the consequent
increase of their social and commercial relations with
the Atlantic States, seems to render it the duty of the
Government to use all its constitutional power to im-
prove the means of intercourse with them. The im-
portance of " opening a line of communication, the best
and most expeditious of which the nature of the country
will admit," between the valley of the Mississippi and
the Pacific, was brought to your notice by my prede-
ces,sor i❑ his annual message, and as the reasons which
he presented in favour of the measure still exist in full
force. I beg leave to call your attention to them and to
repeat the recommendations then made by him.
The uncertainty which exists in regard to the
validity of land titles in California is a subject which
demands your early consideration. Large bodies of
land in that State are claimed under grants said to
have been made by authority of the Spanish and Mexi-
can Governments. Many of these have not been per-
fected, others have been revoked, and some are be-
lieved to be fraudulent. But until they shall have been
judicially investigated, they will continue to retard the
settlement and improvement of the country. I, there-
fore, respectfully recommend that provision be made by
law for the appointment of commissioners to examine all
such claims with a view to their final adjustment.
I also beg leave to call your attention to the propriety
cf extending, at an early day, our system of land laws,
with such modifications as may be necessary, over the
state of California and the territories of Utah and New
Mexico. The mineral lands of California will, of course, '
form an exception to any general system which may be
adopted. Various methods of disposing of them have
been suggested. I was at ;first inclined to favour the
system of Is acing, as it seemed to promise the largest
revenue to the Government, and to elOrd the best secu-
rity against monopolies; but further refLetion, and
our experience in leasing the lead-mines and
selling lands upon credit, have brought my
mind to the conclusion, that there would be great
difficulty in collecting the rents, and that the rela-
tiens of debtor and creditor between the citizens and
the Government would be attended with many mischie-
vous consequences. I therefore recommend that, instead
of retaining the mineral lands under the permanent con-
trol of the Government, they be divided into small par-
eels and sold, under such restrictions, as to quantity and
time, as will insure the best price, and guard most effec-
tually against combinations of capitalists to obtain mono-
polies.