Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-12-18

| The correspondence of the late Secretary o
State with the Peruvian charge daffars relative t
the Lobos Islands was communicated to Congress
towards the close of the last session. Since tha
time, on further investigation of the subject, th
doubts which have been entertained of the it'll
of Peru to those islands have been removed; anC
have deemed it just that the temporary wrong
which have been unintentionally done her, from
want Of information should be repaired BY
an umeserved acknowledgment of her sover
eighty.
| have the satisfaction to inform YOU that tn,
course pursued by Peru has been creditabe to th'
liberaty of her government. Before it wa
known by her that her title would be acknowledged
at Washington, her Minister Of Foreign Affair
had authorized our charge d'afiairs at Lima L
announce to the American vessels which had gone
to the Lobos for guano, that the Peruvian Gov
eminent was willing to freight them on its owT
account This intention has been carried into ef
feet by the Peruvian Minister here, by an arrange
ment which is believed to be advantageous to the
parties in interest.
Our settlements on the shores of the Pacific
have already given great extension, and in some
respects new direction, to our commerce in that
ocean. A direct and rapidly increasing inter
course has sprung up with Eastern Asia. The
waters of the Northern Pacific, even into the
Arctic sea, have been frequented by our whale
men. The application of steam to the general
purposes of navigation is becoming daily more
common and makes it desirable to obtain fuel
and other necessary supplies at convenient points
on the route between Asia and our Pacific shores
Our unfortunate eountrymen who from time 20
time suffer shipwreck on the coasts of the eastern
seas are entitled to protection. Besides these spe-
cic Objects the general prosperity of our States on
the Pacific requires that attempt ptshould bemade
to open the opposite regions of Asia to a mutual
ly beneficial intercourse. 1t is obvious that this
attempt could be made by no power to so great
advantage as by the U. S., whose constitutional
system excludes every idea of distant colonial de-
Tendencies. | have accordingly been led to order
an appropriate naval force TO Japan, under the
command of a discreet and intelligent officer OF
the highest rank known to our service He is in
structed to endeayor to obtain from the govern
ment Of that country some relaxation of the in
hospitable and anti-soca system which it has pur-
sued for about two centuries
lie has been directed particularly to remon-
strate in the strongest language against the cruel
treatment to which our shipwrecked mariners
have often been subjected, and to insist that they
shall be treated with humanity. He is instructed
however at the same time to give that govern
ment the amplest assurance that the objects Of
the u. S. are such and such only as | have indi-
Gated, and that the expedition is friendly and
peaceful, Notwithstanding the jealousy with
which the governments of Eastern Asia regard all
overtures from foreigners, / am not without hopes
of beneficial result Of the expedition Should
it be crowned with success, the advantages viii
not be confined to the IT, S. but, as in the case OF
of China, will be equally enjoyed by all the 9th
er maritime powers. | have much satisfaction
in stating that in all the steps preparatory to tins
expedition the Government of the U. S. has been
aided by the good offices of the
King of the Netherlands the only European
power having any commercial relations with
Japan.
In passing from the survey of our foreign rela-
tions, invite the attention of Congress to the con-
dition Of that department of the Government to
which this branch of the public business is en-
trusted. Our intercourse with foreign powers has
of late years greatly increased both in consequence
Of our own growth and the introduction Of many
new states into the family of nations. In this way
the Department of State has become overburden-
ed. 1t has, by the recent establishment Of the
Department Of the Interior, been relieved Of some
portion of the domestic business. II the residue
Of the business Of that kind, such as the dis
iributon Of Congressional documents, the keep
ng publishing and distribution Of the laws Of
.he U. s.. the execution Of the copyright law, the
subject of reprieyes and pardons, and some other
subjects relating to interior administration, should
be transferred from the Department of State it
would unquestionably be for the benefit Of the
public service | would also suggest that the
building appropriated to the State Departments
not reproof, that there is reason 10 think there
are defects in its construction, and that the ar
,hives Of the Government in charge Of the De
partment, with the precious collections of the
manuscript papers of Washington Jefferson, Ham
lton, Madison, and Monroe, are exposed to de-
'truetion by fire A similar remark may be made
IF the buildings Appropriated 10 the War and Ma
" Department.
The condition Of the Treasury is exhibited in
he annual report from the Department.
The cash receipts into the Treasury for the
iseal year ending the 30th June last exclusive Of
rust funds, were $40, ,72s,3s6 50, and the expen-
litures for the same period, likewise exclusive Of
rust funds, were S46,0O7, ,s96 30, Of which
s9,455,sl5 SO was on account Of the principal and
interest of the public debt, including the last IN
lemnity to Mexico, under the treaty Of Gusda-
upe Hidalgo, leaving balance Of sll,632, 1876 81
n the Treasury on the frst day of July last
Since this latter period, further purchases Of the
principal of the public debt have made to the ex-
ent Of s2,456,547 40. and the surplus in the
Treasury viii be applied TO that object whenever
he stock can be procured within the limits, as to
,rice, authorized by law.
The value Of foreign merchandise imported
ldrng the last fiscal year was s2O7 FAC, ,Iol; and
he valae Of domestic productions exported was
'l49,se1, oil; besides Sl7,2O4.026 Of foreign
merchandise exported making the aggregate Of
he entire exports sl67. ,e37; exclusive Of the
ibove there were exported sf2. .507.2s5 in specie;
md imported for1n foreign ports s5,2e2.s4S.
In my first annual message to Congress called
our attention 10 what seemed b me some defects
n the present tariff, and recommended such mod