The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury it believed
will be ample for all necessary purposes If the appro-
prallons made by Congress shall not exceed the
estimated, the means in the treasury will be sufficient TO
deiray all the expenses oil the government to pay off the
next nstalment of three millions of dollars TO Mexico,
which WI all due on the ,hirteth of May and still
considerable surplus VIII remain which should be APP
Piled to The further purchase of the public stock and
ducnon OF the debt Should enlarged appropriations be
payment of the debt Though our debt as compared
with that OF most other nations is small It is our true
policy and IN harmony with the genius OF our instltu-
TONS that should present the world the rare spec
tace OF great republic possessing vas, resources and
wealth, wholly exempt from public indebtedness This
would add still to our strength and give to us still
more commanding position among the nations OF the
| earth,
! The public expenditures should be economical, and
be confined to such necessary objects as are clearly
solaely demanded should be postponed and the payment
of the public debt at the earliest practicable period should
| be a cardinal principle of our public policy.
For the reason assigned in my last annual message,
repeat the recommendation that branch OF the mint OF
the United States be established at the city OF New York
The importance OF this measure is greatly Increased by
the acquisition OF the rich mines OF the precious metals
in New Mexico and California and especially IN the lat
repeat the recommendation heretofore made, in favor
OF the graduation and reduction of the price OF such OF the
public lands have been long offered in the Market and
have remained un sold, and in favor OF extending the
rights of -empon actual settlers on the unsurveyed
well as the surveyed lands
The condition and operations of the army, and the
supervision of the War Department, are satisfactorily
War. ''' accompanying 'ep''' u inc '' .
On the return of peace forces Withdrawn from
Mexico, and the volunteers and that portion OF the regu
lar army engaged for the war were dlsbandei Orders
have been issued for staonng the forces of perma
nent establishment at various positions IN our extended
country, where troops may be required Owing to the
remoteness of some of these positions, the deachments
have not yet reached their destination Notwithstanding
the extension of the limits of country and the forces
required in the new territories is confidently believed
that present military establishment sufficient for all
exgencies, so long our peaceful relations remain I'M
disturbed.
OF the of military contributions collected in
Mexico the sum of seven hundred and sixty nine thou
sand six hundred and fifty dollars was applied the
payment OF the first lnstament due under the treaty with
Mexico. The further sum of three hundred and forty,
six thousand three hundred and sixty nine dollars and
thirty cents has been paid into the treasury and unex-
pended balances still remain in the hands OF dsbursins
officers and those who We're engaged in the collection OF
these moneys After the proca maon OF peace further
disbursements were made OF any unexpanded moneys
arising from this source. The balances on hand were
directed to be paid into the treasury, and individual
claims the fund will remain unadjusted until Con-
gress shall authorize their settlement and payment.
These claims not considerable in number or amount
| | recommend to your favorable consideration the sug
gesons of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the
Navy in regard to legislation on this subject :,
Our Indian relations are presented IN most favorable
view in the report from the War Department. The wis
dom Of our policy in regard to the tribes within our linn
it's is clearly manifested by their improved and rapidly
improving condition
K most important treaty with the Menomonies has
been recently negotiated by the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in person. by which all their land in the State Of
WscOnsin-beng about four millions of acreshas been
coded 10 the United States This treaty will be submitted
to the Senate for ratification at an early period of your
present session
Within the last four years. eight important treaties have
been negotiated with different Indian IF bes, and at cost
of million eight hundred and forty two thousand dol
lars; Indian lands to the amount OF than eighteen
million five hundred thousand acres have been ceded to
the United States and provision has been made for set
Ting in the country west OF the Mississippi the tribes
which occupied this large extent Of the public domain
The title to all the Indian lands within the several States
of Union, with the exception of few small
tons, extingushed and vast region opened for
settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the Secretary OF the Navy
gives satisfactory exhibit OF the operations and condition
of that branch of the public service.
number of small vessels suitable for entering the
mouths of MYERS udiciously purchased during the
war; and gave great efficiency to The squadron in the Gulf
OF Mexico On the return OF peace when no longer val
liable for naval purposes and liable constant deteora
on they sold and the money placed IN the treasury
The number of men in the nava service authorized by
law during the has been reduced by discharges be-
low the maximum fixed for the peace establishment
Adequate squadrons maintained in the several quar-
tiers OF the globe where experience has shown their
vices may be most usefuy employed and the naval
vice was never IN condition OF higher discipline or
greater efficiency
invite attention to the recommendation of the Secreta
ny of the Navy the subject OF the marine corps The
reduction of the corps at the end Of the required that
four officers OF each of the three lower grades should be
dropped from the rolls board of officers made the
cction and those designated necessarily dismissed,
but without any alleged fault concur in opinion with
the Secretary, that the service would be improved by
ducing the number of landsmen, and increasing the
rincs. Such measure would justify increase of the
number Of officers to the extent OF the reduction by dis
miss and still the corps would have fewer officers than
a corresponding number of men in the army
The contracts for the transportation of the mail in
steamships convertible into steamers promise TO
realize all the benefits to and to the navy
which were anticipated The first thus secured
to the government launched in January, 1917.
There seven; and in another year there will,
lurOf he pOttP SS IA
great national advantage is secured, social and
mecia intercourse is increased and pro noted with Ger
many, Great Britain, and other parts OF Europe with
all the countries the West Coast of continent
especially with Oregon and California, and between the
northern and southern sections of the United States
Considerable revenue may be expected from hostages !;
but the connected line from New York to Chagres, and
thence across the sthmus to Oregon, cannot fail to
exert beneficial influence not to be estimated,
the interests of the manufactures, commerce, navigation,
and currency of the United States. AS important
part of the system. recommend your favorable con-
sideration the establishment of the proposed line OF
steamers between New Orleans and Vera Cruz. It
promises the most happy results in cementing friendship
between the two republics, and in extending reciprocal
benefits to the trade and manufactures OF both
The report of the Postmaster General will make known
to you the operations of that department for the past year
1t is gratifying TO find the revenues of the department
under the rates of postage established by law so
rapidly increasing The gross amount of hostages during
the last fiscal year amounted to four million three hun
dred and seventy thousand and seventyseven dol
lars, exceeding the annual average received for the
years Immediately preceding the passage of the act OF the
third OF March, 1885, by the OF six thousand four
hundred and fifty three dollars, and exceeding the
for the year ending the thrteth OF June, S47
by the sum OF four hundred and twenty five thousand