The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-13
Presidents Message.
.ebnriutrat

Along this MekloaSnlfvntiun and IN Cali
forniA and Oregon, theirs hAVa been Ocrasidn.
Al manifestations OF nnfrisndly feeling. and
some depredahons Committed. AN satisfied
however, that they resulted more from the
destitute sBd starving eOaditioa OF the Isdl-
Ans. than from any settled hostility toward the
Whites, A the .snt,lcwenu Of our eitiEsas
prugrehs towards ihom, the game upon which
they mainly rely for subsistence IL driven 'olF
or destroyed, and the only alternative lei, 10
them Is starvation OF planler. IL bccun,os
ua 10 consider, in view of this eonslition OF
thing', whether justice and humanity, ~ we'll
as An enlightened erpnomy, do not require
that Instead of seeking 10 punish thenr for
offences which aro the result of oar own pol
icy tnwArds them, NO should not provide for
their Immediate wants, and encourage them
10 engage in agriculture, and TO ruly on their
labor. instead Of tho chase, for the means Of
support.
Various important treaties have bccn ne
gotiated With different tribes tlnring the year,
by which thoir title 10 largo and valuable
tracts Of country has been exiinguished. all
OF which will. at the proper time, bo submit
ted 10 tho Senate for ratifcAlions
The joint commission under the treaty OF
GuAdAlupc tIidAlgo has bccn actively cneag.
ed in running and marking the boandary
line between the United States and Mcxirn
Il was stated in the last annual reporf OF the
Secretary OF the Interior. that tho initial
point on tho Paeifc hnd the point OF junction
OF tho Gila with theColorado River had been
determined, and the intervening line, about
one bundrcd and fity miles in length, run
and marked by temporary monuments. Sinee
that time a monument Of marble has been c.
reossd at tho initial point. and permanent
landmarks ofiron have boen placed at saitA-
bic distances along tho limo.
The initihl point on the Rio Grande has al
40 been liked by abs DoRmissioeers az latitude
so deg. % min., and az tho date of tho last
communication, the survey of the lino had
been made thence westward about ono hun
dred and ffty miles 10 the copper niineS.
The commission on our part whs Mt 6rst
organized on a Eale which experience prov
ed 20 he unwieldy.and attended with nm necce-
Stry expense. ORDERS have. therefore, been
issued for the reduction OF the number OF per
sons employed within the smallest limits. con
sis,cnt with the safety Of those engaged In
the service, and the prompt and efficient OK
eeuiion of their important duties
Returns have been received from, all the r,f.
hccrs engaged in taking the census in the
States and territories, except California. The
superintendent employed 20 tnak. the emu
mcraiion in,that-statc has not yet made his
full report, From. causes, a. he alleges, beyond
his control. This failure Is much to be re-
GREETED, as II has prevented the Secretary Of
The Interior froin making the decennihI Ap-
portionmcnt OF representatives among the
States, rs required by the act approved Nav
%, 1850. II is hoped, however, thai the re-
turns will Soon be received, and no time will
then bc lost in making the necessary appor-
tionment, and in Transmitting the certificates
required by law
The Superintendent OF thu Seventh Census
Is diligently employed. under the direction
ofthe Secretary of the Interior, IN classifying
and Arranging, in tabular form, all the Stats.
tical information derived from the returns
of the marshals. and il is believed that when
the work shall I've completed it will exhibit a
moro perfect view OF the population, wealth,
occupations, and social condition or n great
country, than has ever been presented 10 the
world. The valne OF such work, as tho ha-
sis OF enlightened legislation, can hardly be
over-estimated and I earnestly hone that
Congress will lose no time in making the an
preparations necessary to complete tho clAssi.
ications, aud to publish the results In a style
worthy OF the subject and of our national char.
Aeter. -
The want OF a uniform fee bill, prescribing
the compensation to be allowed district at
torneys, clerks, marshals, and commissioners
much vexaiion, injustice, and complaint
would recommend thorough revision of the
laws on the whole subject, and the adoption
ofa tariff Of fees, which, as far as practicable,
should be uniform, and prescribe specific
compensation for every service which the
officer may be required TO pcriorm- This
subject viii be fully presented in the rcport
Of thc'sccretery OF the Interior.
In my last annual message, gave briefly
my reasons for believing that you possessed
the constitutional power TO improve the har-
bors Of our great lakes and seacoast, and the
navigation of our principal rivers, and rec
ontnchded that appropriations should be
made for completing such works as had al
ready been commenced, and for commencing
shch others as might seem TO the wisdom Of
Congress TO be ofpublic and general impor-
tance. Without repeating the reasons then
urged, deem Il my duty again u call your
attention TO this important subject. The
works on many of the hnrhors were laft in
an unfinished states aud consequently expos
ed to tho action Of tho elements, which is fast
destroying them, Great numbers of lives,
and vast amounts of property, are annually
lost, for waut of pafe and convenient harbors
on the lakes. . Mono but those who have been
exposed TO that dangerous navigation, can
fully appreciate tho Importance Of this abb
ject' Tho whole northwest appeals TO y0u
for relief, and / trust their appeal will re.
eelEa -e'se consideration At yesss l,aHtls, ,-
The sanIe is in n measure irpo in regard 10
sonic of the harbors and inlets op ghe suASJ
coast.
The nnobstrueted navigation OF our large
rivers is OF equal importance. Our settle
nents ARE now extending 10 the sources bf !
The great rivers which etnpty into and fornl
! plrt Of the Mississippi aud luhe value of the |
public lands IN those regions would hu great |
y enhsncUd by frcclng the naXiaarinllA af (
s-s.a..-. N-..... II n