The daily union., 1852-12-11


and Texan commissioner the duty will be
carefully investigate the gonnds OF youf own opinions,
fairness OF The claims which they viii induce you up
on the part United States, advocate their adoption
lhe provisions teae As IL would not be consistent
with the established prime pes o the advance
any pretensions The pa OF the United States not ound
ed ia strict iarness aud Justice, it will be equally essen
tia admit the part Of Texas any claim not found
ed Ia the same prlnelple.
Again:
The President confidently relies upon your prudence
and judgment upon the hearty cooperation olhe UNI
sonay Attend Direct and assist Ia the performances OF
his duties Tor The proper advocacy OF The rights ana nte
obliged lie more 10 conide ia your discretion scrutiny
aud patriotic zeal from the impossiblly oil fofeseeinY
whether any and If any what may arise, and
from the consequent Necessity OF leaving you, in great
degree TO exercise your IN Tue discussion ana SC
lotion ot Them"
From these quotations il is obvious that the treaty OF
1888 was construed by Mr. Forsyth precisely lis coun
,erpart has been by Mr., Buchanan, Mr. Ewing and
myself.
That he Mexican government has also understood it
in the same way manifest from The fact that i, has de-
volved the dulles OF commissioner and surveyor upon the
same individual, Gen. Salazar II Mexico had regarded
the surveyor as associate commissioner, II - hardly
to be supposed that she would have been willing 10 dis
pense with his services and 10 conde her interests TO
single commissioner, while the United States had two
on the ground
Understanding the claim set up by Mr. Gray to inva
date the action OF The commissioner by withholding his
signature from the agreement entered INTO between men,
necessarily involving right on his part TO exercise
supervisory and controlling power over The commission
er, deemed il my duty, IN conformity with what ap-
peared 10 be the true Interpretation OF me treaty ana le
unbrok chain OF precedanis under various admnsra
tons, to express my dissent from his prelensions.
With regard to the question whether the point az
which the Rio Grande ssrkes the southern boundary OF
New Mexico" has been correctly established or not
have not felt myself called on to express an opinion
The treaty has conferred upon me no Jurisdiction over
the subject Ii an has been committed, ] have no
power to correct it, or it. the other hand, it has been
correctly asceraned, expression OF opinion by me to
that effect could add anything 10 its validity Having
done all that conceived had the power to do officially
on the subject be referred TO other departments
OF the government 10 devise and adopt such further meas
in regard TO il the interests OF the country may re-
quire.
deem it my duty, however, request you to recon-
mend 10 Congress modification of The .provso 10 the
last appropriation at an early day. so as TO relieve the per-
sons attached to the commission from the embarrass
men to which they have been subjected by the want OF
money pay them, and also to relieve the government
from the discrei which has been brought upon Il by
the protest OF the drafts OF its accredited agents fVe
months have elapsed since the close OF the last hsca
year, during all which time the officers and employees
Of the commission have been diligently engaged IN Inc
discharge OF their respective duties in the full confidence
that Congress would make the necessary appropriations
TO deray their expenses and compensate them Tor 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 povisloa having
been made by law Tor their support where they are now
stationed, and with means furnished TO enable them
20 return TO their families. They subsisting on
funds borrowed their individual credit, or raised on
drafts drawn by the commissioner and surveyor before
notice OF the provso TO the appropriation several oil which
have been presented 10 the department and protested Tor
non-payment. This is which calls for prompt ac-
ton the part of Congress- and cannot permit myself
10 doubt that your Recommendation 10 that effect Will be
responded 10 without delay.
IL will also be necessary to make further provision by
law for running and marking the residue OF the line be-
the countries in accordance with the terms OF
the treaty of Guadalupe Hdago.
THE EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL RECONSTRUCTION OF
THE LIBRARY
The work upon the extension Of the Capitol has ad-
vanced with much rapdi,y was 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 spandres
filled with ami btick, and the whole overlad by
pavement upon which the tiling 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 the material for
the exterior surface of the edce The arrangements for
the new library room are also nearly comPeied WIN ,he
exception OF the painting and gliding. The galleries,
pers alcoyes, columns DOORS salrways, shelving, cell
ing, consoles and indeed all of the fixtures, of
iron The russes OF the roof also OF iron, covered
with copper so that no combustible material is used IN
any 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 aud the execution OF them was ntrnsed
to Messts. Beebe Co, OF New York. When completed
IL will present the FIRST specimen OF room constructed
entirely OF iron, and think may add that for conve-
nence and beauty of arrangement il will be without
rival. The workmanship is Of the most admirable quail
fy; and when look at il as Il stands and reflect
that consists OF more than ten thousand separate pieces
OF aggregate weight OF four hundred tons, and that II
was planned in Washington and executed 10 New York,
than two hundred miles from the hall 10 which i
to be placed and when that every part o II
fits together with the prtc sion OF cabinet work. we
loss whether 20 ascbe most honor and praise 10 the
genus aad taste OF the Architect who conceived and
marked out the design, or to the skill and fidelity OF the
conIac who performed the work.
The damage done TO The outside OF The western front
OF the Capitol by the fire Of December $751; which was
extensive than nj first supposed, has been re-
paired, and the building rendered permanent aud Tree
from bemish as before the accident occurred.
HOUSES roR THE vIcE PRESIDENT AND CABINET.
Before closing this, my last annual report, feel i'm
PEELED by o public duty 10 invite your attention
10 another subject 10 which, under different circum-
stances, would not have alluded
refer 10 the proprieiy OF an appropriation by Con-
gress oil sufficient 10 erect and furnish suitable
houses for the accommodation OF The Vice President Of
the Uned 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 oi the supply Of the prtc Gus metals and
the expansion OF The currency by ot banks, the rel
alive value Of money has been much reduced that six
thousand dollars is not worth much Than three
visions fuel and indeed OF all the OF lie in
Washington, has risen such degree to require the
most rigid economy to enable the members Of The cabi
net and the Vice President to live within their incomes
AS far my observation has extended few, II any Of
Them have been able 10 do This evil - increasing
every year, and If not adopted TO arrest
II, the day not Tar distant when men OF moderate