Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


ncec;o,;nn nj the currency. The loans required
10 r,,osscnte The war with Mexico were nego
,;ated by the Secretary Of the Treasury ABOVE
mar realizing large premium to The Govern
,nent The restraining elect OF the system
unon the tendencies TO excessive paper issues oy
hanks. has saved the Government from heavy
lossss. and thousands of our business men from
bankruptcy and ruin. The wisdom of the sys-
ten has been tested By the experience oil the
last two years; and i. is the dictate of sound Po-
licy that it should remain undisturbed. Inc
notifications in some OF the details OF inns
measure, involving none oil its essential princi-
pies, heretofore recommended, are again pre-
sented Tor your favorable consideration.
In my message oil The sixth oil July ias',
transmitting 10 Congress the ratified treaty oil
peace with Mexico, recommended 'he adoption
of measuses for the speedy payment OF The
public debt. In rei,erating that recommends
lion, refer you to the consoles ations presented
in that message in its support. The public debt,
including that authorized to be negotiated 10
pursuance Of existing laws, and including trea-
sury notes amounted al that time 10 sixty n'e
million seven hundred and seventy -eignt .nou'
sand four hundred and fifty dollars anu ior5-
one cents.
Funded stock of the United States, amounting
to about half million Of dollars mas oeen pui
chased. as authorized by law, since mat Per'oo'
and The nnblic deb, has thus been reduced; the
details of which will be presented IN Tie an
nual report of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
The estimates OF expenditures Tor The mex, rs
cal year, submitted by the Secretary OF the lIea
sury, lis believed will be ample ior all necessary
purposes. Ii The appropriations maze oy Con
gfess shall not exceed The amount esunla W
meaas in the treasury will bc sufficient TO deiay
M
the mex, insla iment OF three millions OF collars
10 M exico, which will tall due on lie ,hrtieth q
Nav next. and still considerable safplus WIZ
remain, which should be applied 10 The inrhel
purchase OF the public stock and reduction u
the deb.
Shouli enlarged appropriations be made me
necessary consequence VIII De 10 postpone 'h'
payment OF the ceot. Though our deo,, as COM
pared with that OF most other nations. Is small, II
IS our true policy, and in harmony with the geni-
ms OF oar institutions, that We should present 10
the world the rare spectacle Of great republic,
possessing vast resources and wealth, wholly e1-
empt from public Indebtedness. This would add
still more 10 our strength, and give 10 US still
more commanding position among the nations oi
the earth.
The public Expenditures should be economical,
and be confined 10 such necessary objects as are
clearly within the powers Of Congress III such
as are no, absolutely demanded should br post
poned, and tie payment OF the public deb! al the
earliest practicable period should BE- Cardinal
principle oi public policy
For The reason assigned in nv last annual
message, | repeat the recommendation mar a
branch OF the mint OF The United States De estab-
lish.d al the city OF New York. The Importance
OF this measure is greatly increased by the ac-
ou>,lion OF The rich mines OF the precious metals
10 New Mexico and California, and especially
In The latter.
repeat the recommendation heretofore made,
10 favor OF the graduation and reduction OF The
price of The public lands as have been long offered
10 the market and have remained unsoid and 10
favor oil extending the rights Of pre-emption 10
actual settlers ON the unsurveyed as well as The
surveyed lands
The condition and operations of the army, and
the state OF other branches OF the public service
under The supervision Of the War Department,
are satisfactorily presented IN The accompanying
report OF the Secretary of war.
On the return of peace, our forces were with
dra wn IRON Mexico, and the volunteers and thai
portion OF The regular army engaged Tor The war,
were disbandet. Orders have been issued lot
slaticnipe The forces OF our permanent establish
meut al various positions IN our extended coun-
try where troops may be required. Owing 10 the
reuo,eness Of some OF hcse positions, The detach-
menis have no. reached theft deslinaii "a. Not
withsrapding the extension OF the limits OF Our
coualry ana Inc forces required in the new IeHl-
tories. il is confidently believed that our present
military establishment is sufficient for all ext
eencies, so long as our peaceful relations remain
unds,ufbed.
OF the amount OF military contributions coli
lected in MEXICO. the sum oil seven hundred ana
sixty-nine thousand six hundred and fity dollars
applied towards the payment OF The FIRST 10
stall men due under the treaty with Mexico. The
further sum of three hundred and tory-sx thou
sand and three h1nd aaeh pad ba treasury
ond nneYpeneed balances sill remain Ia Tue
hands OF disbur.ns officers and those VINO ~s't
engaged in The colse;i2a aGe no TO urtherdisbuss-
iieias were made CT any unexpehdea money ART
sing from this source. The balances ou hand
were directed 70 be paid iuo the treasury, and in
dividual claims on he fund will remain unajjuSl
&c until CnHg!ess shall authorize ihei- settlement
and payment! These claims are no! considerable
IN numbc. If amount.
/ recommend 10 your favorable consideration
me suggestions OF the Secretary OF War and the
Secre'ay OF .ne Navy in regard ,o. legislation on
this subject
Ou Indian relations are presented IN most
favorable view in The report from the War De-
partment. The wisdom Of our policy 10 regard
10 the tribes within our limits, is clearly mani
tested by their improved and rapidly improving
condition.
A most important treaty With he Menomonies
has been .ecrn'ly negotjaei BY he Commission
er OF Indian affairs III person, BY which all ,nei
land in the Stale OF Wisconsin, being abon, -four
millions Of acres-has been ccdei 10 the United
States This treaty will b. Submitted l, The s.
nate Tor ratification al an eaf!y period OF you
present session.
Within the last four years egb, important trea-
ties have been negotiated Wit different Indian
tribes, an. =, cost of one mill on eight hun
dred and ioily-,w thousand dollars; Indian
land. 10 the amount of more than eighteen mil
lion FIVE hundred thousand acres, have been &C.
ded to the United States, and provision has been
made for settling IN the country west oil the
Mississippi the tribes which occupied this large
exten, Of the public domain. The title TO all
the Indian lands within the several States of our
Unlon, with the exception Of few small reser-
va,ions, is now ex,inguished and vast region
opened for settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the Secretary OF
the Navy gives satisfactory exhibit of the oP
erations and condition Of that branch OF the
public service.
A number OF small vessels suitable for enter
ing the mouths OF rivers were judiciously pur.
cha aed during the war, and have ereal efhciency
10 the squadron in The Cult OF Mexico. On The
return OF peace, when no longer valuable Tor NJ
va purposes and liable 10 consian, ur,cTioyailun,
they were sold, and the money placed IN he ;,eas'
uy.
The number OF men in the naval service au-
thorizsd BY law during the war, has eeen reduc-
ed By Discharges b-low the maximum fixed icr
the pace establishment Adequate >quadfons
are main,ainea in The several quarters Of The
globe where experience has shown their services
may be most useiuiy employed; aud The naval
service was never III a condition OF higher dlscl-
pine or srea'er efficiency.
1 invite attention 10 The recommendation of
the Secretary OF lne Navy on the subject Of the
marine corps The reduction OF the corps a, the
end OF the war repaired tina, four officers Of each
Of the three lower grades should be dropped from
the rolls A board OF officers made the selection;
and hose designated We're necessarily dismissed,
bu, wi,hou, any alleged fault. concur 10 opin-
ion win the Secretary, that The service would be