Washington telegraph., 1851-12-24


shall be complied with, by the credito,.
of that State, unless Congress shall o,bo'
wise direct by modification of the I.n
In my last annual message TO VIII
I respectfully refer, [ stated briefly ,t
reasons inducing me to recomme,a
modification Of the present tariff bv o..
verting the al calOrem into snec;s
duty. wherever the article imported w.. ~"
of such character as to permit i, and
that such discrimination should be M
in favor Of the industrial pursuits Of o1
own country as 10 encourage hom. ~
duction, without excluding foreiqp CO.
petition.
The numerous frauds which con,rn.
to be practised upon the revenues =,
false invoices and under valuations CO.,
time an unanswerable reason for ado,
ing specific instead of ad ralorem dp,;a.
in all cases where the nature of the corn
modify does no: forbid it. Striking lin.
trations OF these frauds will be exh;h;.
ed in the report of the Secretary of ,bo
Treasury, showing the custom house vol
uation Of articles reported under form
er law, subject to specific duties wban
there was no inducement 10 under val,a
tron, and the custom house valuation nj
the same articles nnder the presep, a
vdloren duties. so greatly reduced as 70
leave no doubt of the existence of IL
most fragrant abuses under existing Iavs
This practical evasion of the press,,
law, combined with the ianguishmg CON
dltion Of some Of The great Interests os
the c'nn;ry, caused by over importa,i,n IN
and consequent depressed prices. and
with the failure Of obtaining a foreirr
market for our increasing surplus !,
| breadstniis aud provisions, has nducal
me again to recommend modi6cario,,
of the existing tariff.
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior, which accompanies this com.
munlcation, will present a CONDENSED
! statement of The operations of tha, i'm.
portant Department Of the Governneu,
| Ii will be seen. thai the cash sales Of
! public lands exceed those Of the preced.
ing year, and that there is a reason TO an.
tcipate still further increase, notwi,b.
standing the large donations which have
been made TO many of the States, and
the ilbera. grants 10 individuals as d re-.
ward for military services.
This tact furnishes very gratifying eyi.
deuce of the growing wealth and prosper.
ity OF our country. Suitable measures
have been adopted for commencing
survey Of the public lands in California
and Oregon. Surveying parties have
| been organized, aud some progress has
been made III establishing the principal
base and meridian lines. But farther lev
islation aud additional appropriations will
be necessary. before the proper subdvi-
sions can be made, and the general land
system extended over those remote paris
of oar territory.
On the third of March last, an act was
passed, providing for the appointment of
the three commissioners TO settle the pri-
vate lan1 claims in California. Three
persons were Immediately appointed, all
of whom, however, declined accepting
the office, La consequence Of the made
Quacy of the compensation. Others
were promptly selected, who, Tor Tie
same reason, ai,o declsned, and it was
not until late in :he season that the ser
vices of suitable persons could he procur-
ed. A majority Of the commissioners
nvened in this city on the l0lh of Sep
tenber last. when detailed instruction,
were given them in regard 10 their du-
Ties. Their first meeting for the transac'
ton OF business Will be held in San Fran
cisco on the Sth day of the pgesent month.
! have thought 1t proper 10 refer 10 these
facts, not only to explain the causes Of
delay in filling the commission, but 10
call your attenrion 10 the proprie.y OF IN
creasing the compensation OF the COM
missioners. The office is one OF great.
labor and responsibility. and the compeu-
sation should be such as TO command
men of high order of talent and the
most unquest:onahle integrity.
| The proper disposal OF the mineral
lands of California is subject surrounded
hy great difficulties. In my last message,
recommended the survey and sale OF
these lands In small parcels, under such
restrictions as would efeclaally guard
against the monopoly aud speculation
But upon further information. and N de-
ference 10 the opinions of persons iamil-
lar with the subject. | am inclined TO
change that recommendation, and to
advise that they be permitted TO. remain
as at present, a common field, open 10
the enterprise and industry of all our cit>
izons, until further experience shall have
developed the best policy 10 be ultimate
y adopted IN regard TO them. It is saeF
TO suffer the Inconvenience that now ex-
lists for short period. than, by premature
legislation, 10 fasten on the conntry.
system founded in error, which may
place the whole subject beyond the iuI'
ther control of Congress. The agr'cu',
tural lands should. however be surveyed
aud brought into market, with as lttle
delay as possible, that the titles may De-