Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

From these quotations it is obvious that the treaty
1888 was construed by Mr. Forsyth precisely its
terpar has been by Mr. Buchanan Mr. Ewing and myself
That the Mexican Government has also understood |
in the same way is manifest from the fact that IL ha
deyoved the duties of commissioner and surveyor upoI
the same individual Gen Saazar. Ii Mexico had re
garded the surveyor associate commissioner, it IL
hardly to be supposed that she would have been willing
to dispense with his services and to conhde her interests
to single commissioner while the United States hae
two the ground.
Understanding the claim set up by Mr.. Gray to nva
date the action Of the commissioner by Withholding his
signature from the agreement entered into between them
as necessarily involving right his part to exercise
supervisory and controlling power the commissioner
deemed it my duty in conformity with what appeared
be the Interpretation of the treaty and the
broken chain of precedens under various Administrations
to express my dissent from his pretensons.
With regard the question whether the point at which
the Rio Grande strikes the southern boundary of New
Mexico has been correctly established not have
felt myself called on TO express opinion The treaty
has conferred upon jurisdiction the subject
If has been committed have no power
it. the other hand it has been correctly ascertain
ed expression of opinion by that effect could add
any thing to its validity. Having done all that con-
ceyed had the power to do, officially, the subject
it must be referred TO other departments of the Govern
ment to derive and adopt such further measures in regard
to it as the interests of the country may require.
deem it my duty, however, to request you to recon-
mend to Congress modification Of the provso to the last
attached to the commission from the embarrassment to
which they have been subjected by the of money
pay them and also to relieve the Government from the
discredi which has been brought upon it by the protest
OF the drafts accredited agents Five months have
elapsed since the close of the last fiscal year. during all
which time the officers and employees of the commission
have been diligently engaged in the discharge of their
respective duties in the full confidence that Congress
would make the necessary appropriations to defray their
expenses and compensate them for their services This
just expectation has been disappointed No part of the
appropriation for the current fiscal year can be applied
to their payment
They are left in the wilderness, many of them two
thousand miles from home without any provision having
been made by law for their support where they
and with means furnished to enable them
to return to their families They subsisting
funds borrowed their individual credit raised
drafts drawn by the commissioner and surveyor before
notice Of the proyso to the appropriation of which
been presented to the Department and protested for
non Payment. This is which calls for prompt ac
ton the part of Congress- and cannot permit myself
to doubt that your recommendation that effect will be
responded to without delay
1t will also be necessary to make further provision by
law for running and marking the residue of the line be-
tween the two countries in accordance with the terms Of
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The Extension Of Ae Capitol and Reconstruction Of
The Library
The work upon the extension Of the Capitol has ad-
vanced with as much rapidity consistent with its
proper execution The massive foundations have been
completed; the arches between the inside walls of the
sub basement have all been turned and the spandrels
filled with cement and brick and the whole OVERLAND by
pavement upon which the thing will rest large part
Of the granite work has also been DONE and portions of
The walls of the principal basement have been built of the
beautiful marble which selected as the material for
he exterior surface of the edce The
he new library also nearly completed with the
exception of the painting and gliding The galleries.
'iers, acoyes columns, DOORS stairways, shelving cell
ng consoles and indeed all of the fixtures are of
I'm IF tLnr zr -
With copper; that combustibe material is used in
my part of it. The plan of this work was designed and
The drawings and specifications in detail were prepared
BY Mr. Thomas u Walter the architect Of the extension
Of the Capitol and the execution of them entrusted
TO Messrs Beebe Co., Of New York. When completed,
il will present the first specimen of constructed
entirely of iron, and think may add that for conye-
nience and beauty OF arrangement it viii be without
rival The workmanship is Of the admirable quail
and when we look at it as it stands, and reflect
that consists Of more than ten thousand separate pieces
Of aggregate weight Of four hundred TONS and that
was planned in Washington and executed in New York
more than two hundred miles from the hall in which it
to be placed and when that every part of it
fits together with the precision of cabinet work.
at loss whether to sscrbe honor and praise to the
genius and taste Of the architect who conceived and mark
ed out the design, to the skin and fidelity of the con-
tractors who performed the work.
The damage done TO the outside of the front
the Capitol by the fire Of December 1851 which was
more extensive than at first supposed has been
from blemish as before the accident occurred
Houses for Me Ecc President and Cabinet.
Before closing this my last annual report feel impe
led by of public duty to invite your attention
to another subject to which, under different circum
stances, would not have alluded
refer TO the propriety Of appropriation by Con-
gress Of sum sufficient TO erect and furnish suitable
houses for the accommodation Of the Vice President Of the
United States and the members Of the Cabinet At the
time Government went into operation and the salaries
of those officers fixed by law, they adequate
for their comfortable support But in consequence Of the
great increase Of the supply Of the precious metals and
the expansion Of the currency by Of banks the
atve value Of money has been much reduced that six
thousand dollars now Is not worth much than three
thousand at that time The cost of house rent pro-
Visions fuel and indeed Of all the necessares Of life in
washington, has risen TO such degree require the
most rigid economy to enable the members OF the Cabinet
ana the wee President to live within their incomes As
Tar as my observation has extended few IL any of them
have been able TO do This evil is increasing every
year and II measures adopted to arrest IT, the
day Is not Tar distant when Of moderate means but
In all respects htted to serve the public in high and
sponsble places, will be deferred from accepting them by
the heavy pecunary loss TO which they must inevitably
be subjected. far from wishing 10 see ertrnyacnnt
salaries paid 70 public officers But think the laborer
is worthy Of bis hire; and sure the American peo-
pie would not desire to the public functionaries inn
poverished in their service They are willing that they
shall receive such compensation will enable them 10
live in style becoming their position without invading
their private The high offices Of the country
should be open to the poor well TO the rich but the
practical effect of the present Of compensation will
be to exclude from the Executive councils all who
have not ample independently Of their ofcia
salaries
After much reflection, have come to the conclusion
that the best Of remedyng the evil viii be TO erect
suitable houses for the Vice President and the member,
Of the Cabinet and provide them with the necessary fur