The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-08
THE UNION.

ton OF the protective policy, cannot be doubted That
our commercial and navigating interests will be enlarged
in corresponding ratio with the increase OF our trade is
equally certain; while manufacturing interests will
still be the favored interests of the country and receive
the incidental protection afforded them by revenue duties
and more than this they cannot justly demand r.
In my annual message OF December last, tariff of
enue duties based upon the principles OF the existing law
was recommended and have seen no reason to change
the opinions then expressed In view OF the probable
beneficial effects OF that law recommend that the policy
established by be maintained II has but Just com
menced to operates; and to abandon or modify without
giving il a lair trial, would be inexpedient and unwise
Should defects IN any OF lis details be ascernel by
ua experience exist these may be hereafter corrected
but until such defects shall become manifest, the act
should be fairly tested.
Ii is submitted for your consideration whether il may
not be proper, as war measure, to impose du
ties on some OF the articles embraced in the free list
Should il be deemed proper to impose such duties, with
view raise to meet the expenses of the war
with Mexico, to avoid to that extent the creation of
public debt they may be repealed when the emergency
which gave rise to them shall cease to exist and const
tute no part OF the permanent policy Of the country
The act Of the sixth Of August last "lo provide for the
better organization OF the treasury and for the collection
saekeepng transfer, and disbursement Of the public rev
enue" has been carried into execution rapidly as the
delay necessarily arising out OF the appointment OF
officers taking and approving their bonds and preparing
and securing proper places for the afekeepg Of the pub
lie money would permit. Il is not proposed 10 depart in
any respect from the principles OF policy on which this
In the details of the measure, developed BY its practical
operation which fully set forth in the report Of the
", m
gress is invited These defects would impair TO some ex-
tent the successful operation OF the law at all times, but
are especially embarrassing when the country is engaged
in war when the expenditures greatly increased
when loans are be effected and the disbursements are
TO be made points many hundred miles distant some
cases, from any depository and large portion Of them
i'm a foreign country. The notifications suggested in the
report of the Secretary OF the Treasury recommended
10 YOUR favorable consideration.
In connexon with this subject, invite your attention
TO the importance of establishing branch OF the mint of
the United States at New York Two-thrds of the rev.
enue derived from customs being collected at that point
the demand for specie to pay the duties will be large and
branch mint where foreign coin and bullion could be
Immediately converted into American CON- would greatly
facilitate the transaction OF the public business enlarge
time safe depository OF the public money
The importance OF graduating and reducing the price
of such OF the public lands have been long offered
in the market, at the minimum rate authorized by
existing laws, and remain unsold, induces me again
to recommend the subject TO your favorable con-
sideration. Many millions OF acres OF these lands
have been offered in the market for than thirty
years, and larger quantities for more than ten or
twenty years; and being OF inferior quality they
remain unsuitable for an indefinite PERIOD unless the
price at which they may be purchased shall be reduced
To place price upon them above their real value is not
only to prevent their sae and thereby deprive the
~ OF any income from that source, but unjust to the
and increase OF population, and because they have
power to levy tax upon them upon other lands with
in their limits, held by other Propretors than the United
States for the support of their local governments
The beneficial effects of the graduation principle have
been realized by some of the States owning the lands
within their limits, in which it, has been adopted They
have been demonstrated also by the United States acting
as the trustee OF the Chckaaw tribe of Indians in the
sale Of their lands lying within the States of Mississippi
and Alabama The Chickasaw lands, which would not
command in the market the minimum price established
by the laws of the United States for the sale of their
lands were in pursuance OF the treaty of 1884 with that
tribe subsequently, offered for sale at graduated and
duced rates for limited periods The result was that
large quantities Of these lands purchased which
would otherwise have remained unsold The lands
Il Oh vain
tied means were enabled to purchase small tracts upon
which they have settled with their families. That SINH
results D wHG b BE Ro4q %a y the o q the
in which they the owners OF large bodies of lands
which have been long the market, cannot be doubted
1t cannot be sound policy to withhold large quantities
OF the public lands from the and occupation of
citizens, by fixing upon them prices which experience has
shown they will not command On the contrary, it is
wise policy to afford facilities TO citizens TO become
the owners at low and moderate rates. of freeholds of
their own instead OF being the tenants and dependents of
others If il be apprehended that these ands if reduced
in price, would be secured in large quantities by specua
tors or capitalists the sales may be restricted limited
quantities, to actual settlers or persons purchasing for
purposes of cultivation r..
Grafton of Congress the present system of managing the
mineral lands OF the United States, and recommended
that they should be brought into market and sold upon
such and under such restrictions Congress might
prescribe By the act OF the eleventh OF July last ''the
reserved lead mines and contiguous lands in the States of
Illinois and Arkan and Territories of Wisconsin and
Iowa." were authorized TO be sold The act is confined
in its operation to ead mines and contiguous lands
large portion Of the public lands containing copper
and other ores, represented to be very valuable and
recommend that provision be made authorizing the sale
OF these lands upon such terms and conditions as from
their supposed value may, in the judgment of Congress-
be deemed advisable having due regard TO the interests
of such of citizens as may be located upon them
It will be important, during your present session. to es-
tablish territorial government and TO extend the juris-
dcton and laws of the United States over the territory of
Oregon Our laws regulating trade and intercourse with
the Indian tribes east OF the Rocky mountains should be
extended the Pacific ocean, and for the purpose of ex
ecung them and preserving friendly relations with the
Indian agencies will be required and should be author
lied by law The establishment of custom houses, and
of post offices and post roads, and provision for the trans
poraton of the mail such routes the public conye-
nience will suggest require Legislative authority II will
be proper Also establish surveyor generals office in
that territory and to make the necessary provision for
surveying the public lands and bringing them into mar
gon, have been subjected TO many hardshps, prvatons
and sacrifices in their emigration and by their improve
mens have enhanced the value OF the public lands the
neighborhoo of their settlements, recommended that
liberal grants be made them of such portions of these
lands they may occupy, and that similar grants or
rights OF empion be made TO all who may emgrate
thher within limited period 10 be prescribed by law
information relative to the several branches OF the public
service connected with that department The operations
OF the army have been OF satisfactory and highly graf
! flying character. ... Ir.I ...
/ recommend to your early and favorable consdera-
ton the measures proposed by the Secretary of War for
speedily filling up the rank and file of the regular army
for its greater efficiency in the field and for raising an
additional force 10 serve during the war with Mexico
Embarrassment is likely to arise for want of legal pro-
vision authorizing be made the