The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-12-13


deem it unwise to attempt my important
changes IN the system of levyirg duties af
this session, i, will become indispensable To
The protection Of the revenue TINT such RENE
dies, as in the Judgment OF Congress may
mitigate the evils complained of. should be
at once applied.
As before stated, specific duties would, in
ny opInion. afford The mos. perfect remedy
for this evil; bur, lf you should not concur IN
this view, then. as partial remedy. ! beg
leave respectfully to recommend that. ins'e'd
nf taking the invoice of the articles abroad
as mcnns of determining its value here. the
correctness Of which invoice it is in many
cases impossible TO verify. the law be so
changed ns TO require home valuation or
npprni-al to be regulated in such manner ns
to give. ns far rs practicable. uniformity IN
the several ports.
There being no mint in California. | am
Informed that the aborers in The miLes are
comp, lied to dispose Of their gold dust at
large discount. This appears 10 he heavy
and unjust tax upon the Inbnrs Of those en-
p'oyrd IN extracting this precious metal. and
doubt not you will b" disposed. at the ear
licst period possible, t" relieve them from 1t
by The establishment OF q mint. In the mean
time, as nn nssaycr's office ia established
there. would respectfully submit for your
onsidrration the prnprir'y Uf auhorlslng
gold bullion, which has been assnycd md
STAMPED, to be received in payment of Gov
arnmrnt dues, | cannot conceive TINT the
trensury would suffer any loss by snch
provision, which vii al once mise billion
TO ito par value, and thereby snvc Gf | am
rightly m'orned) many millions Of dollars
to the nbnrers which are now paid in bro
kerage to convert this precious metal into
available funds. This discount upnn their
ard earnings is heavy tax and every af.
for, should he made by tho Government to
relieve them from so great burden.
More ian thrce-lourths cf our population
arc engaged IN he cultivation Of The soll.
The commercial, manufacturing, and navi
eating interests arc oil, to great extent.
dependent on the agricultural. II is. there.
fore, the most important interest of the ma
tion. and has Just claim to the fostering
cnre md protection Of the Government, so
Tar ~ they can be extended consist nl|y
with the provisions Of The Constitution. As
this cannot be done BY the ordinary modes
of legislation. | respectfully recommend
the establishment oran Agricultural Bureau.
to bc cha rgcd with The duty Of giving TO this
leading brnEch nf American industry the
cncuura cement which it 50 well Deserves
In view Of the immense mineral resources o!
our country, provision should also be made
for The employ ncnt of competent mineral
ogiSt and chemist, who should be required.
H.. h, Il, f,T hn hon oF ho M
to colcc, specimens Of the various minerals
of our country, and to ascertain, by careful
ANALYSIS, their respective elements and pro-
per,Ies, ard their adaptation to useful pu'.
poses. He should also DO required to cx.
anime and rerort upon the qualities Of dIf'
frren, soils, and the manures best calculated
to improve their prodic'vcness. BY pub
fishing the results OF such experiments, with
suitable explanations, and by the collection
and distribution of rnre seeds and plnnts,
with instructions as to the best system Of
cultivation. much may 5e done to promote
this great national interest.
In compliance with the net Of Congress,
passed on the 23d Of May, 1850. provIding,
among other things, for taking the seventh
census, d superintendent was appointed, and
other measures adopted which were deemed
necessary 10 ensure the prompt and faithful
performance Of shat duty. The appropriation
already made will. it IN believed, DO sutii.
cient TO defrav the whole expense Of the
work; but further Legislation may be neces.
sary in regard to tho compensation of some
of the marshaIs OF tho WerrIorirs. II will
also be proper to make provisions by law. at
an early day, for the Publication Of such abb
s,rac,s of the returns as the pubic interests
may require.
The unprecedented growth Of our Terri
.o,ies on the Pacific in wealth and popula.
ton, aud The consequent increase OF their
social and commercial relations with The
| Atlantic States, seem 10 render 1t The duty
! of the Government to use all its cOnsti,u.
,ional power to improve the means of in
tercouse with them. The Importance "f
opening ia line of communication, the
best and mos, expeditions OF which the
nature of the country vii! admit" between
the valley of The Mississippi and the Paci.
Gc, was broush, TO your notice by my pre-
decessor, in his annual message; aud as
the reasons which he presented IN favor OF
,h, measure silil exist in full force. beg
leave TO call your attention TO them. and to
repeal the recommendations then made by
him.
The uncertainty which exists in regard
10 the validity OF land titles IN California IS
a subject which demands your early con-
sideration. Large bodies Of land IN that
State are claimed under grants said 10 have
been made by authority OF the Spanish and
Mexican Governments. Many OF these
have NO, been perfected. others have been
revoked, and some are believed 10 be fraud
ulent. But until they shall have been Jn'
diciouslv investigated, they will continue TO
rerard the settlement and improvement OF
the country. therefore, respectfully
recommend that provision be made by law
| Tor the appointment OF commissioners TO
examine all such claims with view to
their fina! adjustment.
I also beg leave to call your attention 10
the propriely OF extending. at an early day.
our sysiem of land laws, with such mod'-
fca,ions as may be necessary over the State
Of California and the territory of Utah and
New Mexico. The mineral lands OF Calf
fornia will. Of course, form all exception
10 any general system which may be adopt
ed. Various methods Of jisposing OF Them
have been suggested. was a, first inclln-
ed TO favor the system OF leasing. as II
seemed to promise the largest revenue to
The Government, and 10 afford the best se.