The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-12-05

4 4. y 8 s. = / III
aaminist} lion Of The laws. Thetfraudulenf
ds,ec,st dss%Ss 6 81 The The sisisncs he appraisers
leave no room to doubt thpe Similar imposi
|'dons not di4c6vered, % large sauoont,
thave been successfully prpc!ised since the
enactment OF the law now in force. This
state OF things has already had a prejndiciat
| inference npnE those engaged in foreign
fcomrner,e. II has a atendency 10 drive the
| honest trader FROM business of importing,
and 10 throw that important branch Of em
| ployment into the hands Of unsc,upulous
and dishonest mel, who are alike regardless
of law and the obligations of an oath. BY
these means the plain intentions Of Congress
as expressed in the law, are daily defeated.
Every motive of policy and duty, therefore,
impel me to ask the sarIest attention oi
Congress to this Subject. II Congress should
deem itunwise to attempt any Important
change in the system of leyying d2tiss at
this session, it will become indispe isabie I'd
the protection of the revenue that such rem
etiies, as in the Judgment of Congress may
Mitigate the evils complained Of, should be
at one applied.
As before stated. specific duties would, in
my opinion. afford the most petfeci remedy
for this ey ! ou,, if you should not concur in
this view, then, as partial remedy, / beg
leave respectfully TO recommend that, instead
oil taking the invoice of the article abroad
as a means of determining its value here,
the correctness of which invoice il is in
many cases impossible 10 verify, the law be
so changed as to tequire horne valuation
Of appraisal, 10 be regulated in such manner
az TO give, as far as practicable, uniformity
in the severat ports.
There being no mint in California am
informed that the laborers in the mines are
compelled to dispose o. their gold dust at
large discount. This appears to me to be
heavy and uujnst lax upon the labor OF those
employed in extr cling this prscious metal
aud doubt not you will be disposed, at the
earliest period possible, to relieve them from
it by the establishment Of a mint. In the
mean time, as an'essayer's offie is et,blish
ed there, would respectfully submit for
your consideration the proprety of authoii
zing gold bullion, which has been essayed
and stamped 10 be received in pay
ment of Government dues | cannot con
ceive that the treasury would suffer any loss
by such provision, which will at once raise
bullion to its par value, and thereby save (if
] am rightly informed) many millions of
dollars to The laborers which are now paid
in brokerage 10 convert this precious metal
into available funds. This discount upon
their hard earnings is aheavy tax, and every
effort should be male BY the Government to
relieve them from so great burden.
More than three fourths Of our population
are engaged in the cultivation of The soil.
The co nme fcial, manufacturing, and navi
eating interests are all, 10 a great extent,
dependent on the agricultural. |, is, there
fore, the most important interest Of the ma
ton, and has a just claim to the fostering
care and protection of the government, so
far as they can be extended consistently
W III the provisions Of the Consiiuti on. AS
this cannot be dode by the orr mary modes
Of Legislation, | respectfully recommend the
establishment of an Agrt u iral Bureau, TO
be charged with the duty OF giving to this
leading branch of American Industry the
encouragement which it so well deserves.
In view 0i the immense mineral resources
o, our country. provision should also be
made for the employment of competent
mineralogist ami chemist, who should be
required, under the direction of the head of
the burean, 10 collect specimens of the va
rious minerals OF our country. and to ascer
tain, BY careful analysis, their respective
! elements arid properties and their adoption
- useful purposes. He should also be re
quirod to examine and report upon the quail
tiles of different soils, and the manures best
calculated 10 improve their productivcness
BY publishing the results Of such experi
ments, with suiiible explanations, and by
the collection and distribution of rare seeds
and p ants, with instructions as 10 the best
system oil cultivation, much may be done TO
promote this great national interest.
In complisnce with the act Of Congress. passe,
on ths 2ad Of MY, 1850. providing among o,he
things, for taking The seventh census, a superin
tendent was appointed, and all other measure
adopted which we deemed necessary TO ensur,
Tho prompt and faithful performance Of that duty
The appropriation already made will, il is believ
ed be sufficient TO defray the whole expense O
/ the work; but further legislation may be neces
saiy in regard to the compensation Of some Of tn,
narshals Of the territories, 1t will also be pro
per to make provision by law, at an early day, to
the publication of such abstracts Of the return
! as the public interests may require.
The unprecedented growth Of our Terriiorie
on the Pacific in wealth and population, and III,
consequent increase of their social and CONNER
cial re latlons with the Atlantic States, seem I,
rerder il the duty of the G vernmrnt to use al
ats constitutional poxerto 10 improve the means
intercourse with them. The importance OF open
ing "a line of communica ation, the best and mos
exprdI Itious Of which the nature ol the countr,
will admit between the valley Of Mississippi
aud the Pacific, was brought 10 your notice b,
my predecessor, in his annual message; and a
the reasons which he presented in favor Of tn,
measure still exist IN full force, beg leave t.
call your attention to them, aud to repeat tn.
recommendations then made by him.
Tns uncertainty which exists in regard to IN,
validity OF land titles in California is a subjec
which demands your early consideration. Larg,
budiss Of land in that State are ella, me unde
grants said TO have been made by authority o
the Spanish and M.xican Governments. Map,
of,bese have not been perfected, others hav.
been revoked, and some are believed to be fraud
ulrnt Il until tney shall have been JUDICIAL,
| investigated, they will continue to retard the
settlement and Improvement OF the country. l.
therefore, respectfully recommend that proyis
ion be made by law, for the appointment Of com,
tnlssionersi TO examine all such claims with ,
view to their aaal adjustment.
also beg leave to call your attention 10 the
-. ~