The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-28

reports of the several corps engaged IN this service
will be furnished as soon as received In the mean
time, the instructions Issued from this department.
are respectfully submitted.
The estimates submitted for the improvement Of
harbors and rivers refer TO works which have here
oforc received the sanction OF Congress In respect
10 other and new works, il is presumed that IN &C
cordance with safe usage, no appropriations VIII
be made without previous surveys and estimates by
competent officers.
Should Congress make appropriations in conform
lty TO the estimates, II is believed that the amount
could only be judciously applied under the super
vision OF the corps charged with the superintend-
ence of public works of this class. An excess OF
appropriation materially varying the estimated
amount, would impose the necessity OF increasing
the corps OF Typographical Engineers, which Is not
recommended.
In the interval of time between the proclamation
of peace with the Republic of Mexico and the period
when our revenue laws extended over Upper
California, large amount was collected by officers
of the army, duties on mportations into the sew
era ports of that Territory. The same system has
been continued by these officers up To the ARRIVAL OF
the authorized agents of the Treasury; who, doubt
less before this time have superseded the military
officers employed in this extraordinary service The
order given by the Commander Of the Pacific Divls-
ion required the collections TO be continued till the
military officers superseded by the proper of
GERS of the Treasury, and the amounts thus realized
should be subject to the final decision OF Congress
1t is respectfully recommended that their acts be
affirmed. The officers, however, should be required
nent, for all sums collected by them, and such dis
bursements allowed may be deemed necessary
and proper for the maintenance and support OF the
anomalous government of that Territory
The peculiar condition of the territories of Cali
fornia and New Mexico in respect to their internal
governments, and the absence of any clearly
defined authority by Congress for this object has
imposed delicate and difficult duties the army
One ofits assigned duties is to aid civil functional
ries, when required, in the preservation of public
tranquility. But il is believed that the civil au,
thorty. so far it had its origin in political power
in great measure disappeared by the transfer of
the sovereignty and jurisdiction from Mexico 10 the
United States. The military regulations estab
lshed for their government during the war were
superseded by the return of peace. large con
course of foreign emigrauts, not familiar with
institutions and habits, has been assembled in
Of the territories and engaged in pursuit eminenty
calculated to produce collisions and boodshed
Amidst all these difficulties, the army aided by the
confirmed habit of self government in which the
American citizen is reared has protected these
ritories from general or unusual disorders. re-
spectfully submit copy of the correspondence ON
this subject sent from and received at this Depart
ment.
The reports herewith of the chiefs of the several
bureaus connected with this Department will ex-
hbit in detail their respective operations, and to
which ! respectfully invite attention The duties
of these branches of the military service have been
performed with accustomed fidelity, zeal, and
ability. Respectfully submitted,
GEO. w. CRAWFORD,
To the President. . Secretary of War.