Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-13

lax upon The lahor of those employed i
extracting this precious metal, and
doubtnot you will he disposed at III
earliest period possible to relieve then
from ii by the establishment OF min,
In the meantime, as an Assayor's offic,
is established there, would respectful,
submit 10 your consideration the proprie
ty of authorizing gold bullion, whicl
has been assayod and stamped, to be re
ceived in payment of government dues
] cannot conceive that tie Treasury
would suffer any loss by such a provis
ion which will al onre raise bullion 10 its
par value, and thereby save i'll am right
ly informed many millions cf dollars .c
the laborers which arc now paid in bro.
kerage 10 convert this precious metal in
10 available funds. his discount on
their hard earnings is a heavy tax, and
every effort should be made by The gov.
ernment to relieve them from this bur-
then.
More than three fourths Of our popu-
lalion are engaged in the cultivation OF
the sell. Commercial, manufacturing
and navigating interests are all 10 a great
extent dependent uron the agricultural.
It's therefore The most important inter
est Of tie nation, and has Just claim to
The fostering care and protection Of the
government, SO far as they can be ex-
tended consistently with The provisions
of The constitution. As this cannot be
done by the ordinary modes Of legisla-
tion, respectfully recommend the es-
tablishmeni Of an agricultural bureau to
be charged with the duty OF giving to
this leading branch Of American indus
try The encouragement which il so well
deserves. lii view Of the immense min
eral resources Of our country, provision
hsould also be made for tie employment
of a competent minerolcgist and chem
ISL who should be required under the dl-
rectlon Of the bureau to collect speci.
mems OF the various minerals of our
country and 10 ascertain by careful ana
ksis their respective elements and their
adartationtou useful purposes. He should
also be required TO examine and report
upon the qualities Of the different soils,
and the manner best calculated TO I'M
prove their producliveness by publish
ing tlese experiments, with suitable ex-
plantations; and BY the collection and dis
tribuiion of rare seeds and plants with
instructions as TO the best sy stem of cul-
liyation, much may be done TO promote
this g eat national interest.
In compliance with the act Of Com
gress, passed on the 23rd Of May, 1850.
providing among other things for taking
the seventh census, a superintendent was
appointed, and all other measures adopt
ed, which were deemed necessary to en-
sure The prompt and faithful performance
Of that duty. The appropriation Irea-
dy made viii, il is believed, be sufficient
10 defray the whole expenses Of the
workout further legislation may be
necessary in regard to the compensation
of the Marshals Of the Territories. 1t
will also be proper to Lake provision by
law at an early day for the publication Of
such abstracts OF the returns as the pub
lie interest may require.
The unprecedented growth of our ter
ri,ories on the Pacific, and social and
commercial relations with the Atlantic
States, seem TO render it the duty of the
government to use all its constitutional
power 10 improve the means of inter-
course with them. I'he importance OF
opening line of communication, the
best and most expeditions of which the
nature of the country will admit, be-
tween the valley Of the Mississippi and
the Pacific, was brought TO your notice
by my predecessor in his annual mes
sage, and as the reasons which he pre-
sentcd in favor of the measure still exist
in full force, | beg leave to call your at.
tention to them, and 10 repeat tho recom-
menda,ion then made by him.
The uncertainty which exists in re-
gard to land titles in California is a sub.
jcct which demands your early consider
aiion. Large bodies of land in that
State are claimed under grants said to
have been made by authority OF The
Spanish and Mexican goyernmenis.--
Many of these have not been perfected;
others have been reyok keIl ard Others
are believed TO be fraudulent; but until
they shall have been judicially investi-
gated they vii! continue to retard the
settlement and Improvement OF the
country. | therefore respectfully sug
gest that provision be made by law fol
the appointment of commissioners to ex
anime all such claims, with a view Il
their final adjustment. | also beg leave
to call your attention TO the propriety O
extending at an early day our system o
land law, with such notifications as ma,
be necessary, over the State of Califor
MIA, and the territories Of Utah and New
Mexico. The mineral lands Of Caliior
MIA will of course form an exception /,
any general system which may be adop
lied. Various methods Of disposing B
them have been suggested. / was a
first inclined TO favor the system of lea
sing, as it seemed to promise the larges
revenue to the government, and to afIor
the best security against monopolies: BIZ
further reelection, and our experience i
leasing the lead mines, and selling Ian
l.,..<,., all 10 .