The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-12-05


ed IN the law, are daily defeated. Every
motive of policy and duty, therefore. i'm
pei me to ask the earnest attention o!
Congress to this subject. If Congress
should deem II unwise to attempt any
important changes IN the system of levy
ing duties at this session, it will become
indispensable to the protection Of The rev.
enue that such remedies, as in the judg
ment of Congress, may mitigate the evils
com planned Of should be at once en-
ployed.
as before stated, specific duties wou Id
in my opinion, afford the most perfect
remedy for this evil; but, if you should
not concur in this view. then, as par
tial remedy, beg leave respectfully to
recommend that, instead of taking the in
voice of the article abroad as a means of
determining Its value here, the correct
ness of which invoice it is In many cases
impossible to verify, the law be 50
changed as to require home valuation
or appraisal. to be regulated in such man
ner as to give, as far as practicable, uni
formity In the several ports.
There being no mint In California
am informed that the laborers IN the
gold dust at a large discount. This ap-
pevrs to me to be heavy and unjust tax
upon the labor of those employed in ex-
tracing this precious metal; and doub
not you will be disposed ut the earliest
period possible, to relieve them from i:
by the establishment: of a mint. In the
same time, as an assayer's Office is esta b.
lished there, would respectfully submit
for your consideration the propriety of au
thorizins gold bullion, which has been
essayed and stamped, to be received IN
payment of government dues. ] cannot
conceive that the treasury would suffer
any loss by such a provision. which will
at once raise bullion to its pure value,
and thereby save Gf am rightly inform
ed) many millions of dollars TO the labor
ers which are now paid in brokerage toI
convert this precious metal into available
funds This discount upon their hard
earnings is heavy tax, and every effort
should be made by the Government TO
relieve them from so great burden.
More than three-fourths of our popula-
tion are engaged in the cultivation of
the soil. The commercial, manufactur-
ing, and navigating Interests are all, to a
great extent, dependent on the agricultu-
raj. 1t is, therefore, the most important
interest Of the nation, and has just claim
to the fostering care and protection Of the
Government, SO far as they can be exten-
ded consistently with the provisions CT
the Constitution AS this cannot be
done by the ordinary modes of Legislation
| respectfully recommend the establish
fment of an Agricultural Bureau, to be
charged with the duty of giving to this
leading branch of American industry the
encouragement which it so we'll deserves
In view OF the immense mineral resources
| OF our country, provision should also be
made for the employment of a competent
mIneralogist and chemist. who should be
required. under the direction of the head
OF the bureau, TO collect specimens of the
various minerals of our country, and to
ascertain, by careful analysis, their re-
sPective elements and properties, and
their adoption to useful purposes. He
should also be required to examine and
report upon the qualities of the different
soils. and the manures best calculated to
improve their productiveness. By pub
fishing the results of such experims nts,
with suitable explanations, and by the
collection and distribution of rare seeds
and plants, with instructions as to the best
system of cultivation, much may be done
to promote this great national interest.
In compliance with an act of Congress
passed on the 25d of May, 1850, provi-
ding among other things, for taking the
seventh census. superintendent was ap-
pointed, and all other measures adopted
which were dee med necessary to ensure
the prompt and faithful performance of
that duty. The appropriation already
made will, it is believed, be sufficient to
detray the whole expense of the work;
but further Legislation may be necessary
In regard to the compensation of some of
the marshals OF the Territories. 1t will
also be proper to make provisions by law
at an early day, for the publication of
such abstracts of the returns as the pub
lie interests may require.
The unprecedented growth of our
Territories on the Pacific in wealth and
population, and the consequent increase
of their social and CONNER cial relations
with the Atlantic States, seem to render
it the duty Of the Government to use al.
. its constitutional power to improve the
means of intercourse with them. The
importance of opening 'a line of commu-
nication, the best and most expeditions oil
which the nature of the country will adj
nit" between the valley Of the Missis-
sippi and the Pacific, was brought to
, your notice by my predecessor, in his an
nual message; and as the reasons which