Year: 1862

ROCKY mountains. 1ne Dtat6 OF ml0-
nessota has suffered great injury from
this Indian war. A large portion of her
territory has been dspopulated, and a
severe loss has been sustained by the
destruction of property. The people of
that State manifest much anxiety for the
removal of the tribes beyond the limits
of the State as guaranty against further
hostilities. The Commissioner of Indian
Affairs will furnish tull details.


Isubmit for your especial consideration
whether our Indian system shall not be
renodeled. Many wise and good men
have been impressed with the belief that
this can be proftably done.


submit statement of the proceed
ings of the Commissioners, which shows
the progress that has been made. in the
enterprise of constructing the Pacific
Railroad, and this suggests the earliest
completion of the road, and also the ia
vorable action of Congress upon the
projects now pending before them for
enlarging the capacities of the great ca
nails in New York and Illinois, as being
of vital and rapidly increasing Importance
to tho whole nation, and especially to the
vast interior region hereinafter to be
noticed at some greater length. l pro
pose having prepared and laid before you
at an early day, some interesting and
valuable statistical information upon this
subject. The military and commercial
importance of enlarging the Illinois and
Michigan Canal, and improving the Hi
nois River, is presented in the report of
Col. Webster to the Secretary of War;
and now transmitted to Congress. [ re-
spectfully ask attention to it.


To carry out the provisions of the act
of Congress of the 18th of May last, |
have caused the Department of Agrcul-
ture of the United States to be organized
The Commissioner informs me that within
the period of few months this Depart
ment has established an extensive system
of correspondence and exchange, both at
home and abroad, which promises TO
effect highly beneficial results in the
development of correct knowledge of
recent improvements i'll agriculture, in
the introduction of new products, and in
the collection of the agricultural statistics
of the different States. Also, that it will
soon be prepared to distribute largely
seeds, cereals, plants, and cuttings, and
has already published and literally diff
fused much valuable information ih an
ticipation OF a more elaborate report,
which will in due time be furnished, em.
bracing some valuable tests in chemical
science now in progress in the labratory.
The creation of this Department was for
the more immediate benefit of large
class of our most valuable citizens, and |
trust that the liberal basis upon which it
has been organized will not only meet
your appreciation, but that it will realize
at no distant day all the fondest antci-
pations of its most saDguine friends, and
become the fruitful source of advantage
to all our people.


On the 22d day of September last,
proclamation was issued by the Execu-
tive, copy of which is herewith sub
mitted. In accordance with the purpose
expressed in the second paragraph of
that paper, now respectfully call your
attention to what may be called "Com-
pensated Emancipation" A nation may
be said to consist of it's territory, its peo-
pie, and its laws. Ths territory is the
only part which is of certain durability.
One generation passeth away and another
generation cometh, hut the earth abideth
forever. 1t is of the first Importance to
duly consider and estimate this ever en-
during part. That portion of the earth's
surface which is owned and inhabited by
the people of the United States is well
adapted to be the home Of one national
family, and it is not we'll adapted for two
or more. It's vast extent and its variety
of climate and production are of advan-
tage in this age for one people, whatever
they might have been in fermer ages.
Steam and telegraphs, in intelligence,
have brought these to be an advantageous
combination for ono united people.


In my Inaugural Address, l briefly
pointed out the total inadequacy of dis
union as a remedy for the differences be-
tween the people of the two sections. |
did SO in language which I cannot i'm
prove, and which, therefore, l beg to
repeat "One section of our country
believes Slavery is right and ought to
be extended, while the other believes it
is wrong and ought not to be extended
This is tho only substantial dispute
The Fugitive Slave clause of the Con
and the law for the suppression
of tie African slave-trade are each as
well enforced, perhaps, as any law can
ever be in community where the moral
sense of the people imperfectly supports
the law itself The great body of the
people abide by the dry legal obligation