Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-11

consisted chiefly in converting the coins Of foreign countries
into American coin.
The largest Of foreign coin imported has been re
ceiyed at New York and If branch mint established
that city, all the foreign coin received that port could at
once be converted into con without the expense
risk and delay Of transporting to the mint for that purpose
and the amount recoined would be much larger.
Experience has proved that foreign coin and especially
foreign gold coin will not circulate extensively as currency
among the people, The important of extending
specie circulation both Of gold and silver and of dusing
among the people, only be effected 10y converting such
foreign coin into American coin. repeat the recommenda
ton contained in my last annual message for the establish
ment Of branch of the mint OF the United States the city
Of New York.
ready for market have been proclaimed for sale during the
past year The quantity offered and be offered for SALE
under pocamaions issued since the first of January last
nine million one hundred and eight thou
sand five hundred and thirty The prosperity Of
the Western States and Territories in which these lands lie
will be advanced by their speedy SALE BY Withholding them
from market their growth and increase of population would
be retarded while thousands of our enerprsng and merto
rous frontier population would be deprived of the opportunity
of securing freehods for themselves and their families But
addition the general considerations which rendered the
early sale Of these lands proper leading object this
time derive large possible from this source, and
thus diminish by that amount the public loan rendered
cessary by the existence of foreign
is estimated that less than millions of of the
public lands will be surveyed and be IN condition TO be pro
claimed for sale during the year 1913,
In my last annual message presented the which,
in my judgment, rendered proper graduate and reduce
the price Of such of the pubic lands have remained unsod
for long periods after they had been offered for sale public
auction
Many millions of Of public lands lying within the linn
its of several of the Western States have been offered in the
Market and been to sale private entry for than
twenty years. and large quantities for than thirty years.
the lowest price prescribed by the existing laws and has
been found that they will not command that price, They must
remain unsod and uncuvaed for indefinite period, unless
the price demanded for them by the Government shall be
M lyhv
be longer held above their real value At the present
period additional exists for adopting the
commended When the country engaged in foreign war;
and necessarily to loans il would to be
the dictate of wisdom that should avail ourselves of all
resources and thus limit the Of the public indebted
to the lowest possible
recommend that the existing laws the subject of pre-
epon rights be amended and modified operate pros
pecvely and embrace all who may settle upon the public
lands and make improvements upon them before they sur
veyed well afterwards in all cases where such settle
ments may be made after the Indian title shall have been
tinguished
If the right of pre-empion be thus extended, it will
brace large and meritorous class of our citizens will in
the number of small eehoders upon borde who
will be enabled thereby educate their children and other
wise improve their condition. while they will be found at all
times they have proved themselves to be- in the hour
Of danger TO their country among hardest and best voun-
eer soldiers ready tender their services in cases Of
emergency, and among the last to leave the field long
enemy remains to be encountered Such policy will also
impress these patriotic pioneer emgrans with deeper feelings
of gratitude for the parental of their Government when
they find their dearest interests secured to them by the perma
nent laws of the land and that they longer danger
of losing their homes and Improvements by being
brought into competition with wealthy class Of pucha
at the land sales.
The attention. of Congress was invited at their last and the
preceding session, to the importance OF establishing Terrific
rial Government possessions in Oregon and is 10
be regretted that there legislation the subject Our
citizens who nhab that distant region of country still left
without the protection of laws any regularly organized
tha Of limits
the Territory Of Oregon definitely settled om the neces-
sy Of their condition, the inhabitants had established tenn
porary of their Besides the want of legal
authority for continuing such government is wholly
adequate protect them in their rights of person and proper
y to secure to them the enjoyment of the privileges OF
other citizens which they entitled under the Constu
ton of the United States They should have the right Of sui
frage, be represented in Territorial Legislature and by
delegate Congress- and possess all the rights and privileges
which citizens of other portions Of the Territories of the United
States have heretofore enjoyed, or may now enjoy.
Our judicial system, revenue laws, laws regulating trade
and intercourse with the Indian tribes and the protection OF
our laws generally, should be extended over them.
In addition the inhabitants in that Territory who had pre-
vousy emgrated it. large numbers OF citizens have fol-
lowed them during the present year, and not doubted that
during the next and subsequent years their numbers will be
greatly increased.
Congress- its last session. established posoues leading
Oregon and between different points within that Territory,
and authorized the establishment of post offices at Astoria
and such other places the Of the Pacific within the
territory Of the United States, the public interests may
quire Post offices have accordingly been esabshed depu.
posnastes appointed, and provision made for the anspor
tation of the mails
The preservation of peace with the Indian tribes residing
west Of the Rocky mountains will render it proper that
hory should be given by law for the appointment of ade
quate number Of Indian agents to reside among them.
recommend that surveyor generals office be established
in that Territory and that the public lands be surveyed and
brought into market at early period
recommend also that grants, upon liberal terms, of limit
ed quantities Of the public lands be made all citizens OF the
United States who have emgraed, may hereafter within
prescribed PERIOD emgrae, Oregon and settle upon them
These hardy and adventurous citizens who have encountered
the dangers and prvaon Of long and toisome journey,
and have at length found abdngp for themselves and
their families upon the utmost verge of western limits
should be secured the homes which they have improved by
their labor
refer you to the accompanying report Of the Secretary of
War for detailed of the operations OF the
branches Of the public service connected with the Department
under his charge The duties devolvng this Department
have been unusually and responsible during the past
year, and have been discharged with ability and
Pacific relations continue exist with the various Indian
tribes and most OF them manifest strong friendship for the
United States. Some depredaons committed during
the past year upon trains transporting supplies for the
army the road between the border of Missouri and
Santa Fe. These depedaons which supposed to have
been committed by bands from the region of New Mexico,
have been arrested by the presence of military force ordered
out for that purpose Some outrages have been pepeaed
by portion Of the northwestern bands upon the weaker and
comparatively defenceless neghbong tribes Prompt
taken to prevent such in future.
Between and two thousand Indians belonging to
tribes during