The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-12-13

from the breaking up Of which these states
were formed. Hopes are entertained that
the claims of the United States may be oh
tanned by means of This convention. An
advantageous treaty Of commerce has been
concluded with The Peru Bolivian confede-
ration, which only requires the ratification
Of that government.
| With Mexico our difficulties are not set
tied, nor likely TO be SO. A special mes
senger was last summer despatched from
Washington to Mexico to lay before that
government, our causes of complaint and
make final demand for redress. The de-
mand was made on the Goth of July. IL
was answered with professions Off desire
to bring the complaints to speedy aud
equitable adjustment.--A Minister Plenl-
lpotenliary has since arrived at Washington
from Mexico, bringing with MIN assurances
of the same desire on the part Of his govern
ment. IL is only within few days pnsi,
however, that any specific answer could be
obtained to our com plants, and for not one
Of these has satisfaction been given or Of
| fercd. The President therefore retnrns the
subject to Congress, to decide upon the
WH'Nb ithites is w Ut ODldlItu.
The revenue from all sources during the
present year is estimated mt go, ,499, ,9S3
dollars. The expenses are estimated at
35,0S1 ,36l dollars. At the end of the year
there will he an available balance in the
Treasury of ,OS5, ,40S dollars. The nom
inal balance will, it is true, be greater,
namely 81, lS7, l43 dollars, but this will
principally consist of sums deposited with
the States, or due from the late dcposite
banks. 1t is supposed that the issue of
Treasury notes this year may nmount to
four millions aud half
No difficulty is anticipated in promptly
and faithfully defrayIng the current expen-
ses of tie nation. 1t is expected that the
means of the Treasury, without any resort
to loans or new taxes, will prove sufficient
to meet all the charges upon it ia the year
1888, and that the Treasury notes issued
during the present year will be redeemed
The message brings again before Con-
gress the subject of collecting, keepiug and
transferring the public money without the
intervention Of banks.-The Presiden. de-
clares that his convictions Of The danger of
increasing the already overgrown influence
Of these institutions by admitting them to a
connection with government, are stronger
than ever. Ia few forcible paragraphs
he presses the subject on the attention of
Congress.
The course taken by Mr.. Biddle's bank,
in relation to the notes of the late United
stnies Bank IS mentioned as worthy of the
considered of Congress. The old bank
just before the expiration Of its charter, in
March, 1886, transferred its effects TO Mr..
Biddle's bank, MS its trustee for the dis
charge of lis debts aud the settlement of lis
affairs. The trustee, instead Of redeeminr
and cancelliog its notes, has reissued them
TO vast amount, notwithstanding the two
years allowed for the closing Of its affairs
are nearly expired. IT." says the Presi-
dent" the trustee has u right to reissue
these notes, now, see u" reason why it
mny not continue TO do so after the expira-
ton of the two years.
Considerable space in the message is oc-
cuped with the subject of the public lands.
The President thinks the presen, system of
disposlng Of them worthy to be retained,
with some notifications aud improvements.
tie recommends that Congress inquire
whether in many cases two or more hand
districts might not be consolidated, and the
number Of persons employed in the bus-
ness reduced. He suggests that tho time
is AT hand when it will be the policy of the
Government to transfer to some of the
States the unsold and refuse lands, and
withdraw the machinery of the federal land
offices altogether
In the meantime he advises the passage
of a premption law, for the benefit of those
who have settled on the public lands in the
expectation of the passage of such law,
and at the same time that necessary steps
be taken 10y graduation of the prices of
the public lands to leave little ten ptation to
such intrusions hereafter.
An augmentation of our regular military
force is recommended, reorganization aud
enlargement of the staff of the army and
the ordnance corps, and moderate iu-
crease of the corps both of the military and
Typographical engineers.
The attention of Congress is asked BY
the message to n plan for the organization
OF bodies of volunteers, aud for the instruc-
ton OF militia officers, digested by the Sec
re,ary Of War. This method, it is thought,
will be found more simple and practicable
as means of creating military force
that can be relied on, than any general
arrangement of the whole militia of the
country.
II is recommended that the cadets at
West Point be enlisted hereafter for seven
instead of five years, that manufactorv
of gun powder for the supply of the gov
crnment be establishment, foundry for
cannon, and manuiaciory of small arms,
west of the Alleganies.
The condition of the Choctaw., Cbero-
KEGS aud other tribes, that first smigratcd
beyond the Mississippi, has, according TO
the repor, of the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, rapidly improved. They have