The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-12-19

law, are daily defeated. Every motive G
policy aud duty, therefore, impels me
ask the earliest attention of Congress to hi
subject. If Congress should deem it wis
to attempt any important change in the sys
tenn Of duties at this session, it must becom
Indispensable TO the protection of the reve
nue. that such remedy as i'll the judgement
of Congress may mitigate the evils com
planned Of, should at once be applied. A
before stated, specific duties would, in m
opinion, be remedy for the evil; but if yol
do not concur in this view, as partial rem
edy, permit me- respectfully to recomment
that, instead of taking the invoice Of the ar
tic'e abroad as means Of detecting it's val
ue here, the correctness of which invoice j
is, in many instances, difficult and impossi
to verify-the law be SO changed as to re
quire home valuation, or appraisal, to be
regulated in such manner as to give, as fa
as practicable, uniformity in the severa
ports.
There being no mint in California, an
Informed that the laborers in the mines art
compelled to dispose of their gold at a large
discount. This appears to me to be an un
just and heavy tax upon the labor of those
employed in extracting the precious metal
and doubt not you will be disposed at the
earliest period possible to relieve them from
it, by the establishment Of a mint. In the
meantime, as an assayer's Office is to be es-
tabIished there, would respectfully submit
to your consideration the proposition of au.
thorizing gold bullion, that has been assayed
and stamped, to be received in payment OF
government dues.
cannot conceive that the treasury would
suffer any loss by such provision, which
will at once add to its par value, and there
by save, if am rightly informed, many
millions Of dollars to the laborers, which
are paid in brokerage to convert this pre-
cious metal into available funds. This dis
count upon their hard earnings is heavy
tax, and every effort should be made by the
government to relieve them from this bur-
then.
More than three-fourths Of our popuia-
ton are engaged in the cultivation Of the
soil. The commercial, manufacturing, and
navigating interests are to great extent
dependent upon the agricultural. 1t is there
fore the most important interest of the ma
ton, and has a just claim to the fostering
care of the Government, so far as it can be
extended consistently with the provisions of
the constitution.
As this cannot be done by the ordinary
mode of legislation, ! respectfully recon-
mend the establishment of an Agricultural
Bureau, to be charged with the duty ofgiv-
ing to this leading branch Of American in
dustry the encouragement which ii so well
deserves.
In view of the immense mineral re-
sources OF our country, provision should al
SO be made for the employment of a CON-
petent MinerOlOgIst and Chemist, who shall
be required, under the direction of the Blu
reau, to collect specimens of the various
minerals OF our country, and to ascertain
their adaptation to usefnLpurposes. They
also he required to examine and report up
on the quality of different soils, and the
best manner to improve their productive
ness. by publishing these experiments,
with suitable explanations, and by the COL
lection and distribution of rare seeds and
plants, with instructions as to the best sys-
TEN of cultivation, much may be done to
promote this great national interest.
In compliance with an Act of Congress
OF the 22d of May, 1850, providing among
other things for the taking the Seventh
Census, Superintendent was appointed,
and all other measures adopted which were
deemed necessary for the prompt and faith
fnl performance of that duty. The appro-
Priation already made will it is believed, be
sufficient to defray the whole expense of
the work, but further legislation may be
necessary, in regard to the COMPENSATION
Of some Of the Marshals of the Terrific
ries.
1t will also be proper to make provision
ny law at an early day, for the publication
of such abstracts of the returns as the pub
lie interest may require. The unprece-
denied Ufowtb IF our torr,forsoS ar, tbz De-
cifc, in wealth and social and commercial
relations with the Atlantic States, seems to
render it the duty of the government to use
all its constitutional power to improve the
means % intercourse with them.
The importance ofOpening line ofcom-
the best and most expeditions
OF which the nature of the country will ad-
INIT, between the valley of the Mississippi
and the Pacific, was brought TO your notice
by my predecessor i'm his annual message,
and as the reasons which he presented in
favor of the measure still exist in full force
beg leave to call your attention to them
and to repeat the recommendation there
cade by him.
The uncertainty which exists ia regard
o the validity Of land titles in California, is
subject which demands early cOnsidera-
ion. Large bodies of land in that State
ire claimed under grants said to have been
made by authority of the Spanish and Mex
can governments. Many ofthese have not
'een perfected; others have been revoked,
md others are believed to be fraudulent;
,ut until their state has been judicialy in
'estiga ted, they will continue to retard the
settlement and Improvement of the coun-
ry.
| therefore respectfully suggeste that
be made by law for the appoint
nent Of a commissioner to examine ali such
laims, with view to their final adjust
ncDt. | also beg leave to call your atten-
ion to the propriety of extending, at an
'arly day, our system of land laws with !
UGH notifications as may be necessary
'ver the State Of California and the terrific |
les Of Utah and New Mexico. The Min
raj lands of California will, of course, form
IN exception to any general system which |
nay be adopted. Various methods of dis |
,osing Of them have been suggested.
I was at first inclined to favor the system
# leasing, as it seemed to promise the |
argest revenue to the government, and to |
fford the best security against monopolies;
nut further reflection, and our experience in |
easing the lead mines and selling lands up
N credit have brought my mind to the con-
lusion that there would be great difficulty
m cnltpctirO ha vouta frha r.loe:oc.