The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09

them by military force, resort has been had to
conciliatory measures. BY the invitation Of
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs several of
the principal chiefs recently visited Washing
ton and while here, acknowledged in writing
the obligation of their tribe to remove with the
least possible delay. Late advices from the spe-
cial agent of the Government represent that
they adhere to their promise, and that a council
of their people has been called to make their
preliminary arrangements. A general emf
grafton may therefore be confidently expected
at an early day.
The report from the General Land Office
shows increased activity in Its operations The
survey of the northern boundary of Iowa has
been completed with unexampled despatch
Within the last year, $685., 1853 acres of public
land have been surveyed, and 5000, 463 acres
brought into market
In the last fiscal year there were ACRES
sold I.553O7I
Located with bounty land warrants 1901 ,3I4
Located with other certificates 1862
Making total of 4S7OO67
In addition there were
Reported under swamp land grants 5.2l9, iss
For internal improvements, rail
roads, sc. 3,O25. 900
Making an aggregate of l31l5,175
Beng an increase in the amount of lands sold
and located under land warrants, of 500, 22O
acres over the previous year
The Whole amount thus sold, located under
land warrants reported under swamp land
grants, and selected for internal improvements,
exceeds that of the previous year 10y 9,342,372
acres and the sales would, without doubt have
been much larger, but for the extensive reser-
vations for railroads in Missouri Mississippi
and Alabama.
For the quarter ending 3Oth September, 1852,
there were sold 243,255 acres.
Located with bounty land war
rants I,3S71ld
Located with other certificates I564q
Reported under swamp land
grants -2485,233
Making an aggregate for the
quarter of : -413l253
Much the larger portion of the labor Of ar
ranging and classifying the returns of the last
Census has been finished, and it will now de-
volve upon Congress to make the necessary
provision for the publication of the results in
such form as shall be deemed best The APP
pOrtiOnment Of representation, on the basis of
the new Census, has been made by the Secre-
tary of the Interior in conformity with the
provisions of law relating to that object and
the recent elections have been made in accord.
ance with it,
commend to your favorable regard the sug-
gestion contained in the report of the Secretary
of the Interior, that provision be made by law
for the publication and distribution, periodical
lu Of onaIySiool 1;ra,f &c oil IL
which have been, or may hereafter be, granted
for useful inventions and discoveries, with such
descriptions and illustrations as may be neces-
sary to present an Ineligible view of their ma
ture and operation, The cost of such publica-
ton could easily be betrayed out of the patent
fund and am persuaded that it could be ap-
piled to no object more acceptable to inventors
and beneficial to the public at large.
An appropriation of 100000 having been
made at the last session for the purchase of a
suitable site, and for the erection, furnishing,
and fitting up Of an Asylum for the Insane OF
the District of Columbia and of the Army and
Navy of the United States, the proper meas
ures have been adopted to carry this benefcent
purpose into effect.
By the latest adviccs from the Mexican
Boundary Commission, it appears that the sur
vey of the river ella, from its confluence with
the Colorado to its supposed intersection with
the western line of New Mexico has been com
pleted The survey of the Rio Grande has also
been finished from the point agreed on by the
Commissioners as "the point where it strike,
the southern boundary of New Mexico" to O
point one hundred and thirty. five miles below
Eagle Pass, which is about two-thirds of the
distance along the course of the river to its
mouth.
The appropriation which was made at the
last session of Congress for the continuation OF
the survey, is subject to the following proviso
"Provided, That no part of this appropria-
ton shall be used or expended until it shall be
made satisfactorily to appear to the President
of the United States that the southern bound
airy of New Mexico is not established by the
commissioner and surveyor of the United States
further north of the town called 'Paso than
the same il laid down in Disturnelrs map,
which is added 20 the treaty.
My attention was drawn to this subject by a
report from the Department of the interior,
which reviewed all the facts of the case. and
submitted for my decision the question wheth-
err under existing circumstances any part of
the appropriation could be lawfully used or ex-
pended for the further prosecution of the work
After careful consideration of the subject
came to the conclusion that it could not, and
SO informed the head of that Department. Or.
ders were Immediately issued by him to the
commissioners and surveyor to make no further
acquisitions on the Department, as they could
not be paid; and to discontinue all operations
on the southern line Of New Mexico. But as
the Department had no exact information Az
to the amount Of provisions and money which
remained unexpended in the hands of the CON-
missioner and surveyor, it was left discretion.
airy with them to continue the survey down the
Rio Grande as far as the means at their dis
posal would enable them, or at once to disband
the commission. A special messenger has since
arrived from the officer in charge of the survey
on the river, with information that the funds
subject TO his control were exhausted, and that
the officers and others employed in the service
were destitute alike of the means of prosecu-
ting the work and of returning to their homes.
The object of the proviso was doubtless TO
arrest the survey of the southern and western
lines Of New Mexico, in regard to which differ.
ent opinions have been expressed for it is hard
ly TO be supposed that there could be any OBJ
lection to that part Of the line which extends
along the channel of the Rio Grande. But the
terms Of the law are so broad ~ to forbid the
use of any part of the money for the prosecu-
ton Of the work, or even for the payment, TO
the officers and agents of the arrearages of pay
which are justly due to them.
earnestly invite your prompt attention to
this subject, and recommend modification of
the terms Of the proyiso 80 us to enable the
Department to use as much of the appropria-
tion rs will be necessary to discharge the ex-
listing obligations of the Government, and To
complete the survey of the Rio Grande to its
mouth.
It will also be proper to make further pro-
vision by law for the fulflment of our treaty
with Mexico, for running and marking the
residue Of the boundary line between the two