John Tyler 1946 There have been determined in altitude above or below the level of the monu- ment, by means of the spirit level, 1,716 points, and the altitudes of 1,816 other points have been similarly olfserved in-order to verify the altitude of the monument above the level of mean tide at Calais. For the determination of the magnetic variation at a number of points on the me- ridian line, more than 200 observations have been made upon four different needles, and for the determination of the magnetic dip at four principal stations on the same meridian 300 observations have been made upon two different needles, Under the directions of the same commissioner the line claimed by Great Britain from Mars Hill and that recently chosen by Messrs. Mudge and Featherstonhaugh have been surveyed westward from the meridian line to the highlands near the head waters of the Aroostook, and the necessary data obtained for the construction of a correct map of that portion of country. Upon this survey, without reckoning the distances traveled for approaching many important points of observation, there have been actually measured with the chain and coursed with proper instruments 267 miles, including the Aroostook River from its mouth to the point where it receives the Lapawmpeag Stream, a profile of the country from the head waters of the Moluncus to the St. fohn at Fish River, and such other important lines as were necessary for obtaining the correct topography of the country, and the altitudes of many points upon the line claimed by Great Britain as the boundary, in the vicinity of the Aroostook, have been obtained. Ten principal points have been determined in latitude and longitude by means of 115 sets of astronomical observations, aided by three good chronometers, and seven- teen other points have been determined by triangulation with a portable theodolite. Two hundred and five points have been determined in altitude by means of 1,319 barometric observations, and seventeen by means of the theodolite and spirit level. One hundred and rftnety-two observations have been made for determining the varia- tion of the magnetic needle at three important points. The field duties above mentioned are considered to furnish sufficient data for a correct map of the line reported upon by the late British commissioners, ‘Colonel Mudge and Mr. Featherstonhaugh, between the St. John River and the head of the Aroostook, besides some lateral explorations of considerable extent that will have an important bearing upon this branch of the subject. The work accomplished is full as much as could have been properly done in a single season, marked, as the last was, by an unusual drought of long continuance, which rendered it impossible to ascend, even with light canoes, some of the smaller streams, especially those forming the northwesternmost sources of the Aroostook. These might be profitably explored another season. 2. The division under the direction of A. Talcott has, besides verifying a part of the line of 1840 and tracing the course of Indian Stream (a branch of the Connecticut) to its source, explored and surveyed the line of highlands which extends from the Kennebec road to the Temiscouata portage, and so much of the line claimed by Great Britain as extends from the Kennebec road to the eastward as far as the head of the Aroostook River. In the course of this survey, without counting the lines of approach or ground trav- eled over more than once, 703 miles have been passed over and such notes taken as will form the basis of amap. Of these 703 miles, 335 are upon the lines respectively claimed as boundaries by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain. In the course of these surveys, in order to the geographical determination of the position of the line, the latitudes of 54 points have been determined by means of 114 sets of altitudes of heavenly bodies, and the sets of subsidiary observations for time and for the determination of longitude by chronometers amount to 245. The number of points at which observations have been made by barometers for the purpose of determining their altitudes is 930, of which 669 are upon the boundaries respectively claimed by
1947 Messages and Papers of the Presidents the two countries. The number of separate sets of barometric readings made at these points amounts to 1,981, while those made at the fixed stations, with which the former are to be compared, amount to 1,671. 3. The division under the direction of J. Renwick has explored or surveyed the line of highlands from the southeastern extremity of Lake Matapediac to the vicinity of the river Du Loup, where the line of survey has been connected with that of A. Talcott. In this survey a gap is yet left of a few miles on the western side of the valley of the Rimouski near its source. In the course of the operations of this division 586 miles have been passed over and such notes taken as will form the basis of amap. Of these 586 miles, 275 have ‘been actually measured, 209 are upon the boundary claimed by the United States, and about 30 upon the line pointed out by the proclamation of the King of Great Britain of the 7th of October, 1763, as the southern boundary of the Province of Quebec, making in all 239 miles of the height of land. In the course of these surveys, in order to the geographical determination of the position of the line, the latitudes of 47 points have been determined by means of 85 sets of altitudes of heavenly bodies, and the sets of subsidiary observations for time and for the determination of longitude by chronometers amount to130. The number of points at which observations have been made by barometers for the purpose of determining their altitudes is 407, of which 267 are upon the boundary claimed by the United States. The number of separate sets of barometric readings made at these points amounts to 1,153, while those made at the fixed stations amount to 837. The division of Major Graham not having returned from the field until within a few days, neither the reduction of the astronomical observations nor any of the office work preparatory to a general map has yet been commenced by his division.” The office work of the divisions of A. Talcott and J. Renwigk has been steadily carried on since the return of those commissioners from the field in the month of October, and great progress has been made in the calculations and plotting prepara- tory to the construction of maps, and necessary as materials for a general report. In this state of the work of the several divisions the undersigned find themselves under the necessity of communicating to the State Department that the further progress of their operations is about to be arrested by the exhaustion of the appro- priation, and of stating that unless speedy provision be made for the supply of the necessary funds the report of their operations tan not be made up in time to be laid before Congress at its present session. The position of the finances of the commission may be seen by the following statement: Of the eppropriation of $15,000 # there have been drawn— By J. Renwick.. oes ope ccec cece ee ccccecccseecs $21,000 By A. Talcott... cL 24, 200 Total Grawn....... cess cece secs cee en ence cnnccscceeneteneensecennseseeeceeee 70, 200 Leaving in the Treasury of the United States $4,800. By a careful estimate it is found that to finish the office work of the several divi- sions there will be required over and above any balances in the hands of the several commissioners— For the division of J. Remwick.........ccececcccccccercecccccsoecesscessnsenees $3, 000 For the division of A. Taloott........ccscccsccccccccccncccesecccsscceeccsceuse 5, 800 For the division of J. D. Graham, including some arrearages due for instru- ments and to assistant engineers attached to this division.................. 6, 500 Making in all $15,300, and leaving to be provided for the completion of the work of the late season $10,500. The undersigned can not refrain from stating that the necessity of applying for further funds was unexpected by each of them individually, as it is painful to them collectively. There are, however, reasons that in their opinion are incontrovertible
John Tyler 1948 which have led to an expenditure thus exceeding their estimate submitted to the Secretary of State the 11th of January, 1841: 1. The estimate for the expenses of the division under the direction of Major Graham amounted to $22,500, This referred only, however, to the continuation of the survey of the meridian line; and as the country had been represented by the most authentic maps as generally rising from the monument to the north, it was inferred that the timber to be cut away in opening this line through a dense forest would be of the description generally found upon elevated and dry lands, and the labor sup- posed to be requisite was estimated accordingly. So far, however, from this being the case, 26 miles out of the 32 between the base of Parks Ridge, near Houlton, and the river Des Chutes (6 miles north of the latitude of Mars Hill) have actually been found to be below the level of the monument and intersected by swamps covered with a thick growth of cedar and other timber common to such land, extremely difficult to cut away. More than double the labor estimated had therefore to be performed in accomplishing this and all similar portions of the work, and a corresponding increase of expense was unavoidable. In addition to this increased labor upon the meridian line, the division of Major Graham has executed the surveys between that line and the head waters of the Aroostook, already given in detail, the expenses for which were not estimated or included in the sum above mentioned. The cost of this survey, including the instruments that were required for it, has amounted to $5,500, and while this sum should be added to the original estimate for this division, the expenses of the divisions of the other two commissioners have not in any manner been thereby diminished, for the actual quantity of work performed by them has exceeded what was supposed from the best maps extant to be necessary upon the whole of the lines claimed by the two Governments, respectively, exclusive of the meridian line, as will hereafter be shown. There was another cause which tended in a great degree to augment the expenses of this division in proportion to the progress of the work, which it was not within the power of human agency to control, and which we should not omit to mention here. The severe drought which prevailed throughout this region of country during the month of August and the greater part of September caused the fires which are annually set to the fallen timber upon newly cleared lands to spread far and wide into the growing forest, and so rapid was its progress and so serious its ravages as to compel the inhabitants in many cases to fly for the preservation of life. Some check was experienced in the duties along the meridian line from the flames that actually embraced it, but a far more serious one from the dense smoke which filled the atmosphere almost incessantly for six weeks, and so obstructed the view as to render it impossible to fix the stations in advance with the requisite precision. While the party charged with the astronomical operations was thus deprived of the opportunity of making scarcely any progress for six weeks, the expense of main- taining it could not in any way be diminished, because there was a daily hope that such a change in the weather might occur as would have removed this difficulty. In order to make amends as far as practicable for so much time unavoidably lost, this division continued to prosecute its field duties north of the forty-seventh degree of latitude until several weeks after the severities of winter had commenced, with no other protection than their tents, the commissioner in charge of it believing that the expectations of the Government and of the country generally would but be fulfilled by the investigations in relation to this important line being pushed to the utmost attainable point. But for this it would have been impossible to have reached the St. " John River the late season. There remains to be surveyed along this meridian line, in order to reach the north- west angle of Nova Scotia as claimed by the United States, about 64 miles, to accom- plish which will require another season of active field duty.
1949 Messages and Papers of the Presidents 2. In the estimate for the work of the division of A. Talcott and J. Renwick it was assumed that the length of the boundary remaining on the line claimed by the United States was 320 miles, and upon the lines claimed by Great Britain 170 miles. Of the latter, about one-half was undertaken by Major Graham’s division,* leaving for the estimated distance to be surveyed by the divisions of A. Talcott aud J. Ren- wick 405 miles. It will appear by the statement hereinbefore given that the joint surveys of these two divisions upon the lines of highlands have actually amounted to 574 miles. Upon the principle of their estimate, the probable cost of this would have amounted to $49,746.37, and with the Addition for instruments and for the additional cost of the more remote parts of the line to $57,079.70. The actual cost, including the foregoing estimate for the completion of the work, is $54,000 It will appear, therefore, that when the increased extent of the work performed over that made the basis of the estimate is considered, the cost of performing it, so far from having exceeded the estimate, has fallen short of it by $3,000. The reason of the discrepancy between the real extent of the line, as actually measured, and that which formed the basis of the calculation is that the latter was made by reference to the best existing maps, which were considered to be entitled to a certain degree of credit. Upon the close examination which the operations of the late season have afforded, these maps have been ascertained to be exceedingly erro- neous. Well-known streams have been found to extend in either direction many miles beyond the points at which their sources have been laid down on the maps, and great rivers and lakes have, as it were, been discovered, of which no delineation had ever been given by geographers. The extent of these errors in remote and difficultly accessible points may be inferred from what has been found to occur ir the part of the region which is most accessible, best known, and most frequently _ traversed. On the Temiscouata portage, a road traveled weekly by the mail of Her Britannic Majesty, continually passed by the officers of her various services, which had been carefully surveyed by civil engineers preparatory to its reconstruction, and which has been traveled by the surveyors of both countries under the joint commission, it had hitherto been believed, and it was so represented on all maps, both English and American, that the line dividing the waters crossed the road three times. The sur- veys of the late season show that the boundary claimed by the United States crosses this road five times, and it became necessary to explore the culminating points of the valleys of four streams, instead of two, as had been anticipated. Instances of the same sort, but which do not admit of verbal description, have occurred on every part of the lines of highlands. The two commissioners whose operations are under consideration no doubt had it in their power to have suspended their operations and returned so soon as the por- tion of the appropriation placed at their disposal was so far exhausted as to leave no more than would be needed to complete their office work; but they feel satisfied that they would not have been justified in so doing so long as any portion of the line remained unsurveyed or the weather would permit a pasty to keep the field. Thus. although in the original plan for the partition of the work it was estimated that their lines would probably be connected in the parallel of the river Ouelle, about 30 miles south of Temiscouata portage, when it was found that, from unforeseen delays in the transportation of the party of J. Renwick by sea to their work, and on the river *1t has already been stated that in the survey of the portion of this line allotted to Major Graham ~ there were actually measured upon it, with the chain, 276 miles, and this did not constitute more than one-half the labor and expense incident to all the duties enumerated and performed by his division on his portion, so much did the work required upon this portion of it exceed what was estimated for the whole of it. N .
John Tyler 1950 St. Lawrence from ofe station to another, it became doubtful whether he could pass the Temiscouata portage before the woods became impassable, his colleague con- tinued his parties in the field until the junction was effected. In this way, while the expenses of the division of J. Renwick have not been materially diminished, those of the division of A. Talcott have been largely increased; but a portion of the general work has been accomplished which might otherwise have been left incomplete. The undersigned, in conclusion, beg leave respectfully to urge the importance of a speedy appropriation to enable them to make up their report. A delay of any con- tinuance will be productive of evil, either by enhancing the cost of office work or by rendering it difficult in ‘consequence of the dispersion of the engineers and survey- ors by whom the field notes have been taken. Upon the completion only of such a report will it be possible to render apparent how much of the whole task has been accomplished and how much remains to be performed; and the Department will then have it in its power to decide whether the part that has not been completed is of such importance to the question at issue as to require further operations upon it. All which is respectfully submitted. JAS. RENWICK, A. TALCOTT, J. D. GRAHAM, Commissioners. Hon. DANTEL WexsTEr, WASHINGTON, January 25, 1842. Secretary of State. Sir: The undersigned, commissioners appointed by the President of the United States for the purpose of surveying and exploring the boundary line between the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the British Provinces, beg leave, in com- pliance with your directions, to submit an estimate for the operations of the commis- sion for the ensuing year. So much of your directions as regards the state of the survey and the amount required to complete the office work preparatory to a report has already been laid before you in their report of the 4th January, 1842, prepared in anticipation of your orders. By reference thereto it will appear that the delineation of the meridian of the source of St. Croix has not, in spite of every effort on the part of the commissioner to whom it was assigned, been pursued farther than 81 miles from the monument. Sixty-four miles, therefore, of the said meridian line remain to be surveyed before this part of their task is completed. The other two commissioners, while they would not have hesitated to join in a final report in case the state of the survey of the meridian line would have permitted it, are aware that the hasty manner in which their work was performed, in anticipation of completing the object of their appoint- - ment during the past year, leaves room for a more accurate examination of some parts of the lines they have surveyed. Some portions, also, of the lines intrusted to them, respectively, were not reached; and, in addition, a part of the survey which was contemplated in their original instructions from your predecessor was not included in their estimates for the past year, in consequence of its having only a collateral relation to the main object. Thus the surveys respectively undertaken by Messrs. Talcott and Graham of the lines claimed on the part of Great Britain and by Messrs. Mudge and Featherston- haugh, although brought near to each other, have not been united, and a part of the highlands claimed by the United States near the source of the Rimouski was not reached by the parties of Professor Renwick. The height of a part of the line explored by Captain Talcott in 1840, lying at the source of Arnolds River, was not determined for the want of a barometer. Two or three miles in length of the line of highlands near the source of the river Du Loup require to be reexamined. The longitudes of Lake Megantic, Lake Etchemin, the source of the Metjarmette,
1951 Messages and Papers of the Presidents upon the line of Captain Talcott, and of some one point on the line of Professor Ren- wick ought to be ascertained with greater precision than the time that could be allowed during the last season would permit. The instructions of Mr. Forsyth contemplated an exploration of the highlands described in the proclamation of 1763 as beginning on the north shore of the Bay of Chaleurs. The existence of a continuous elevated region from the tide of that bay to the termination of the exploring meridian line has been ascertained in a manner satisfactory to the commission, but the heights have not been measured on that part of it which lies nearest to the Bay of Chaleurs. , Under these circumstances the undersigned are of opinion that as no delay in the presentation of a final report will arise from further explorations of the parts of the territory thus pointed out and the more accurate examination of the uncertain matters, it would add to the confidence which may be placed in their results that a party be employed under the direction of each of the above-named commissioners upon the said work. For this object it is estimated— + 1. That $25,000 in all, say $12,500 to be expended under the direction of each of the two above-named commissioners, will suffice. A less sum than this will not keep two parties in the field during the working season; a larger sum could not advantageously be expended on this part of the work. 2. In estimating the amount necessary for completing the delineation of the me- ridian of the source of the river St. Croix, it will be borne in mind that numerous astronomical observations must be made in aid of the operations with the transit instrument, in order constantly to preserve the true north direction, a condition of the utmost consequence, not alone as affecting the extent of territory that will be embraced by it, but more particularly because the character and position of the high- lands alluded to in the treaty of 1783 would be exhibited in a very different light as encountered by a line running due north, as is required by the treaty, and by one varying even in a slight degree from that direction. This principle has already been exhibited in a striking manner by the trace of the meridian line as far as it has now progressed, for instead of encountering highlands in the latitude of Mars Hill hav- ing a claim to be considered those described in the treaty as the intended boundary between the two countries, the line as recently traced actually passes that latitude at an elevation of less than 10 feet above the level of the monument, and the greatest elevation encountered by this line in passing over any spur connected with Mars Hill is 63 feet above the level of the monument. In advance of this spur the line becomes again depressed below the level of the monument at several points before it reaches the Aroostook. These, however, are only a few of the many facts that might be adduced from the surveys already made to show how important it is to the question at issue that every necessary means to avail of the aids of science should be adopted in order to preserve scrupulously the direction specified in the treaty while tracing this line. It must also be remembered that in the further prosecution of this duty a wilderness has to be traversed, totally uninhabited and totally without roads. The only means of progressing through it and of transporting the necessary provisions and the instru- ments indispensable to accuracy will be by means of canoes, for supplying two or three depots at points where Grand River and the waters of the Restigouche inter- sect the line, leaving the whole transportation along the meridian to be performed by packmen, or men carrying burdens on their backs, That the usual avenue to give an unimpeded view-along the line must be opened through a dense forest, which in the neighborhood of all streams crossing it will still be found to consist of that swampy growth described in the report from the undersigned of the 4th of January instant as requiring so much labor to cut through it. With all these circumstances in view, the following estimate for the completion ot the survey of the meridian line and for some further surveys between that line
John Tyler 1952 and the source of the Aroostook is submitted ; and it is intended to embrace the expense of completing both the field and the office work that will require to be done in order to a final accomplishment of the duties. ‘ Estimate for the meridian line. £. Pay of 4 assistant engineers from May 1, 1842, to March 31, 1843, being 2 days at $4 per day €ach....... cece eee cece ence re eee eee nreeeeeee $4, 2. Pay of 3 other assistant engineers from May 1, 1842, to December 31, 1842, being 275 days, at $3 per day cach............ce cece eee teen eee 2,475. 00 3 Hire of 30 men as axmen, and for preparing, constructing, and erecting stations and siguals in advance, from June 1 to November 30, 1842, being 183 days, at $1 each per day... ........ cece cece cece eee eee ne eeee 5:490. 00 4 Hire of 30 other men as instrument carriers, chain bearers, canoe men, and packmen for 183 days, as above, at $1 per day each..........-.... 5,490. 00 g. Hire of 1 carpenter and 2 cooks 183 days, as above, at $1.25 per day each 686. 25 6. Subsistence of 1 commissioner, 7 assistant engineers, 1 carpenter, 2 cooks,{and 60 men, as above, being in all 2 persons, while in the field, 183 days at 50 cents per day each, including transportation of provi- sions fo Grand Falls of St. John, or first depot...............cceeeeeee 496. 50 7. Purchase of barometers and repairs of instruments heretofore used.... 800. 00 8, Salary of commissioner............ 0.0 ccc ceeee eee e cece eee e se eeeeeneneeeees 3,000. 00 g. Contingencies, including stationary, office rent, and fuel, and transpor- tation of engiueers and commissioner to and from the field............ 1,500, 00 Total required for the meridian line ........ vate e cence eee e nen eeees 30, 801. 75 That is to say, $30,801.75, making the whole amount for the work yet to be performed in the field on all parts of the boundary and fur the office work that will be consequent the said field work, $55,801. 75. . All which is respectfully submitted. JAS. RENWICK, A. TALCOTT, \ commissioners J. D. GRAHAM, ‘RECAPITULATION. . Amonnt of estimate for completing the surveys yet required to be madeon ; the boundary, as above stated..........sccsesccccsoccnccccssesccccoescccons $5S SOE. 7S, 2. Amount of estimate rendered with report of January 4, 1842, for complet- ing mape of surveys already made, etC........sccesccccescccccccescesccecs 10, 500,00 Aggregate amount required ......0cccccccccceccccscoscccccccccsesecese 66, 301, 75, To the House of Representatives: Wasutncton, February 9, 1842. In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th of February, 1842, in the following words— Resolved, That the President of the United States inform this House under what authority the commission, consisting of George Poindexter and others, for the investigation of the concerns of the New York custom-house was raised; what were the purposes and objects of said commission; how many persons have in any way been connected with it, and the compensation received or to be received by each; and the aggregate amount of every description of said commission, and out of what fund the said expenditures have been or are to be paid— I have to state that the authority for instituting the commission men- tioned in said resolution is the authority vested in the President of the United States to ‘‘take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and to give to Congress from time to time information on the state of the Union, and to recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”’ The expediency, if not the necessity, of inquiries into the transactions of our custom-houses, especially in cases where abuses and malpractices are alleged, must be obvious to Congress, and that investigations of this
1953 Messages and Papers of the Presidents kind were expected to be made appears from the provision in the twenty- first section of the act of 1799, ‘‘ which enjoins collectors of the customs to submit their books, papers, and accounts to the inspection of such persons as shall be appointed for that purpose.’’ The purposes and objects of the commission will be explained by the commission itself, a copy of which, together with information on the other subjects mentioned in the resolution, will at the proper time be laid before Congress, ~ JOHN TYLER. Wasuincton, February 11, 1842. Zo the Senate of the United States: In compliance with the request of the governor of the Territory of Iowa, I have the honor to submit the accompanying memorials* and joint resolutions* of the council and house of representatives of that Territory to your consideration. JOHN TYLER. WasHIncton, February 14, 1842. To the House of Representatives of the United States: In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d instant, I transmit herewith a report} from the Secretary of State, with copies of the papers requested by the resolution. JOHN TYLER. WasuHIncTon, February 16, 1842. To the House of Representatives: ° I transmit herewith a communication addressed to me by the Secretary of War, in relation to certain contracts entered into by a board of medical officers appointed for that purpose for the purchase of sites on the west- ern waters for the erection of marine hospitals; and concurring fully in ‘his views of the subject, I recommend that either an appropriation of $44,721 be made for the purpose of satisfying the claims of the individ- uals with whom the contracts were made or that the Department of War be authorized to reconvey to them their lands and annul the contracts. JOHN TYLER. Wasuincton, February 18, 1842. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I have the honor to invite the attention of Congress to the accompany- ing letter, addressed to me by the Secretary of State. You will doubtless *aAsking an appropriation to defray the expenses growing out of the dispute between the United States, within the Territory of Iowa, and the State of Missouri relative to the southern line, an appropriation to defray the expenses of a convention for the formation of a State con- stitution, etc. +Relating to letters written in March, 1841, by Andrew Stevenson, United States minister at the Court of Great Britain, to Isaac Hull, commander of the United States squadron in the nean. which caused a pert of that squadron to return to the United Siates
John Tyler ; 1954 perceive the importance of furnishing a uniform rule for the guidance of the public officers in the matter referred to in the Secretary’s letter * JOHN TYLER. WasHincton, February 19, 1842. Lo the House of Representatives: In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 8th instant, I have the honor to submit the accompanying communi- cation | from the Secretary of State and the correspondence on the subject. referred to by the resolution of the House. JOHN TYLER. WASHINGTON, February 21, 1842. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit to the Senate herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with an accompanying paper,{ in answer to their resolution of the 18th instant. JOHN TYLER. Wasuimncron, February 26, 1842. To the House of Representatives: The resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st instant, requesting the President of the United States to communicate to that body, ‘‘if not incompatible with the public interest, the state of the nego- tiation between the United States and the Government of Great Britain in relation to the northeastern boundary of the State of Maine, and also all correspondence on that subject between the two Governments not hitherto communicated,’’ has been transmitted tome. Desirous always to lay before Congress and the public everything affecting the state of the country to the fullest extent consistent with propriety and prudence, I have to inform the House of Representatives that in my judgment no communication could be made by me at this time on the subject of its resolution without detriment or danger to the public interests. JOHN TYLER. WasHincton, February 28, 1842. To the House of Representatives: I have the honor to submit copies of the correspondence§ and other documents called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 2d February. *Relating to the mode of paying salaries, etc., of ministers and other diplomatic agents of the United States at the several Courts of Hurope. qRelating to the colonia! history of New York. } Extract of a letter from the Department of State to the United States minister at London rela- tive to the case of the brig Creole. § Relating to an act of the legislature of South Carolina providing for the imprisonment of free negroes found on board vessels entering any of the ports of that State, complaints of the British Government relative to the operation of said act, etc.
1955 Messages and Papers of the Presidents I am not informed of the existence of any official opinion of the late Judge Johnson on the unconstitutionality of the act or acts of the State of South Carolina upon the subject referred to in the resolution. JOHN TYLER. . WasHINGTON, March 8, 1842. Zo the House of Representatives: I feel it to be my duty to invite your attention to the accompanying communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, in relation to the probable demands which will be made upon the Treasury for the present quarter. It will be seen that, without arresting the requisitions which will be made by the War and Navy Departments for the months of March, April, and May, there will be an unprovided-for deficit of upward of three millions. I can not bring myself, however, to believe that it will enter into the view of any department of the Government to arrest works of defense now in progress of completion or vessels under construction or prepa- ration for sea. Having due regard to the unsettled condition. of our foreign relations and the exposed situation of our inland and maritime frontier, I should feel myself wanting in my duty to the country if 1 could hesitate in urging upon Congress all necessary appropriations for placing it in an attitude of strength and security. Such recommenda- tion, however, has heretofore been made in full reliance as well on Con- gress as on the well-known patriotism of the people, their high sense of national honor, and their determination to defend our soil from the possibility, however remote, of a hostile invasion. The diminution in the revenue arising from the great diminution of duties under what is commonly called the compromise act necessarily involves the Treasury in embarrassments, which have been for some years palliated by the temporary expedient of issuing Treasury notes— an expedient which, affording no permanent relief, has imposed upon Congress from time to time the necessity of replacing the old by a new issue. The amount outstanding on the 4th of March, 1840, varies in no great degree from the amount which will be outstanding on the 1st of January next, while in the interim the new issues are rendered equiva- lent to the redemption of the old, and at the end of the fiscal year leave an augmented pressure on the finances by the accumulation of interest. The contemplated revision of the tariff of duties may, and doubtless will, lead in the end to a relief of the Treasury from these constantly recurring embarrassments, but it must be obvious that time will be necessary to realize the full anticipations of financial benefit from any modification of the tariff laws. In the meantime I submit to Congress the suggestions made by the Secretary, and invite its prompt and speedy action. JOHN TYLER.
John Tyler 1956 WasHINncTon, March &, 1842. Zo the Senate and House of Representatives: In my message of the 7th of December I suggested to Congress the propriety, and in some degree the necessity, of making proper provisions by law within the pale of the Constitution for the removal at their com- mencement and at the option of the party of all such cases as might arise in State courts involving national questions or questions touching the faithful observance and discharge of the international obligations of the United States from such.State tribunal to the Federal judiciary. Iam urged to repeat at this time this recommendation by the receipt of intel- ligence, upon which I can rely, that a subject of Great Britain residing in Upper Canada has been arrested upon a charge of connection with the expedition fitted out by the Canadian authorities by which the Caroline was destroyed, and will in all probability be subjected to trial in the State courts of New York. It is doubtful whether in this state of things, should his discharge be demanded by the British Government, this Gov- ernment is invested with any control over the subject until the case shall have reached the court of final resort of the State of New York and been decided in that court; and although such delay ought not, in a national point of view to give cause of umbrage to Great Britain, yet the prompt and instant rendering of justice to foreign nations should be placed among our highest duties. ps can not, therefore, in consideration of what prop- erly becomes the United States, and in anticipation of any demand from a foreign government for the discharge of one-of its subjects, forego the duty of repeating my recommendation to Congress for the immediate adoption of some suitable legislative provision on this subject. JOHN TYLER. WasHincton, March 11, 1842. To the House of Representatives: In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 23d ultimo, I communicate to that body a report from the Secretary of State, conveying copies of the correspondence* which contains the infor- mation called for by said resolution. JOHN TYLER. Wasuincton, March 12, 1842. To the Senate of the United States: I have reason to think that the rejection of Silas Reed as surveyor- general of Iflinois and Missouri on the evening of the last day of the session of the Senate at the last session of Congress was founded in a mis- apprehension of facts, which, while it deprived the public of the services * Relating to complaints of Spain and Portugal that the operation of the revenue act of Septem- ber 11, 1841, infringed treaty stipulations.
1957 Messages and Papers of the Presidents of a useful officer, left him to suffer a considerable degree of injustice in his reputation. After mature reflection upon all the circumstances of his case, and particularly of facts which have become known since his rejection, I have felt it my duty to submit his nomination for the same office anew to the Senate for its advice and consent. I therefore nominate Silas Reed to be surveyor-general of Illinois and Missouri, in place of Joseph C. Brown, removed. . JOHN TYLER. To the Senate of the United States: MARCH 15, 1842. I take the earliest moment to correct an error into which I inadvert- ently fell in my message of the 12th instant, nominating Silas Reed to be surveyor-general for Illinois and Missouri. In that message I represent the nominee as being rejected by the Senate on the evening of the last day of the last session of Congress, when upon a more accurate inquiry I find that he was rejected on the 14th of August, 1841, and his successor nominated on the 23d August and confirmed on the 13th September, which was the last day of the last session of Congress, and which fact had become identified in my memory, upon which I drew when I wrote the message, with the fact of his rejection. I hasten to make the correction, not deeming it, however, of much moment in regard to the real merits of the nomination; for whether the rejection occurred on the last or any other day of the session, if done under a misapprehension or mistake of the facts, the Senate, I doubt not, will take equal pleasure in correcting the error. JOHN TYLER. WASHINGTON, March 17, 1842. To the Senate of the United States: . In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 2d ultimo, requesting information in regard to the demarcation of the boundary line between the United States and the Republic of Texas, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the papers by which it was accompanied. JOHN TYLER. Wasuincton, March 17, 1842. To the Senate of the United States: I have the honor to submit the accompanying report and documents* from the Postmaster-General, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 16th February. JOHN TYLER. *Statements of the quantity and cost of labor and materials for the new public buildings iu Washington, D. C., etc.
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