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About Oregon sentinel. (Jacksonville, Or.) 1858-1888 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1862)
;, ziMJEUirxamMjmMm)axmMuwimnrTixi MiijjMmi.immwmtwi.wMmnim.yTj'nrv.rTwri'Tjnm n i'miimi" nsiancial w i in riajai $5 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE. JACKSONVILLE, WEDNESDAY, DECExMBER 10, 1SC2. , VOL. VII NO. 65. n-rr ? - ir- T he mMin&l. rMti THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, Fellour-citizens of the Senate and Home of Representatives. Since your IiibI assem bling, unnthcr year of health ntul bounti fill harvests lias passed, and while it has not pleural the Almighty to blew us with a return of pence, we cannot but press on, guided by the best light He gives tie, trusting that in Ills own time and wise way nil will be well. FORKION RRLATIONB SATISFACTORY CONBID RHINO TDK OinCUMSTANCEH OF TIIK COUNTRY. The correspondence touching Foreign A (Fain, which has Inken place during the last year, is herewith submitted, in com filiance witli a request to (hut effect mndu ty the House of Representatives, near the. clcafl of the last sct-sion of Congress. If the condition of ojir relations with other nations is less gratifying than it has usu ally been at other periods, it is certainly more satisfactory than a nation so unhap pily distracted tin we are might reasonably Jiave apprehended. In the month of June lust, there were some grounds to expect that the maritinc powers which, at the beginning of our dontestic difficulties, Vo unwisely and so unncrosurily (us we ililiiKJ recognized llic insurgents as n lielllgerent power, would soon recede from that position, which has proved only jess injurious to tlicuiselves than to bur own country ; but the temporurv re verses which afterwards bcfcl tho national arms, and which were exaggerated by our own disloyal citizens abroad, have hither to delayed that act of simple justice. The civil war, which has so radically changed, for tho moment, the occupations and habits of the American people, has necessarily disturbed the social condition und effected very deeply the prosperity of the nations "with winch we hare earned on a commerce, that had been steadily increasing through out a period of half a century. It has. at the same time, excited political ambitions and apprehensions, which have produced a profound agitation throughout t'ae civil izid world. In this unu'ual agitation, wo Imvo for liorne taking part in any controversy be 'tween parties and ructions in any States. In such Slates we have attempted no propugundism, and acknowledged no rev olution, and we have left to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of its owu ulluirs. Our struggle litis been, ol course, contemplated by foreign nations 'with reference less to its own merit tlian to its supposed, and often exaggerated effects iand consequences resulting to Ihoiie nu- tions themselves. Nevertheless compluints on the part of this Government, even if they were just, would be unwise. The tieaty with Great Urituin for the suppres sion, of the slave trudc has been put into operation with a good prospect of com plete success. It is nn occasion of real pleasure to ndcnowledgo that tho execu tion of it, on the part of her Mujesty's Government, bus been marked with a jeal- o'is respect for 'the authorities of the United States and the rights of their mor ul and loyal citizens. The convention with Denmark for the abolition of the Sound dues has becncur-j ried into full effect under tho Act of Con Kress for that purpose. JUEBTIONSWITII FOHEIQNER9 ARISIKO TROM TIIK Ul.OCKADE, 1'1101'OSKD TO UK BURMIT TKU TO MUTUAL-CONVENTIONS. A blockade of -3,000 miles of seaeoast could not be established und vigorously en forced in a season of great -commercialsc-tivity like the present, without committing occasional mistakes and inflicting uuinten tional injuries upon foreign nations and 1bcir subjects -; .a civil wur occurring in a country where foreigners reside, and carry on a trade under treaty stipulations, is aieo warily fruitful of complaints of the viola lions of neutral rights. All snch-collisions lend to excite 'misapprehensions, and pos aibly to produce-recriminations between na tions that 'have common interest in pre ' serving peace and (friendship. In clear cases of these 'kinds, I have, so 'far as possible, heard and -redressed com plaints which have been 'preferred by for eign powers. There is, however, a large and augumenung numoer or aououui cases upon which it is impossible to ugree with the 'Governments whoso protection istie--manded 'by itlie cluimants. There are, moreover, many cases in which the 'United is tales or their -citizens suffer from 'the na wal or military authorities -of foreign na lions, -which the .governments of tliooe States are not prepared toredress. I have proposed to some of the foreign ministers. thus interested mutual conventions to e.xam-, ine and adjust such complaints. This prop-' wiuon has been made especially to ureal jRritaio, to France, to Spain ami to Pros fin. In each case it bus 'been kindly rc ccived, but has not yet been formally adopted, I deem it my duty to recommend an appropriation in behalf or the owners of the Norwegian burk Mniral P. Toicicm Iliola, which vessel was, in Mny, 1861, prevented by the commander of the block ading lorces off Charleston, South Caro lina, from leaving that port with a curgo, notwithstanding n sitnilur privilege hud shortly beloru been granted to an Knglish vessel. I have directed the Secretary of State to cause the papers in the case to be communicated to the proper committees. AS TO TKK COLONIZATION OF FRBK NKOKOFS. Applications huve been madu to me by many Tree Americans of African descent to fuvor their emigration, with a view to such colonization ns was contemplated in recent ucts of Congress. Other parlies at home ur.d abroad, some from interested mo tives, others upon patriot ie principle, nnd Mill others influenced by philanthropic sen timents, huve suggested similar measures; while, on the other hund, seveial of the Spanish American Republics have pro tested against the sending of such colonists to their respective territories. Under llirso circumstances, I have declined to give any such colony to uny State with out first obtaining the consent of its gov ernment, with an agreement on its part lo receive and protect such emigrants in all their rights as free men ; ami I have, at the samu time, offered to the several Slates situated in the tropics or having colonies there, to negotiate with them, subject to the advice und const nt of the Senate, to favor the volunlury removal of portions of that class to their respective territories, upon conditions which shall bo equal, just and humane. Liberia nnd llayti areas yet the only countries to which colonists of African descent Irom hern could go with n certainly of being received nnd adopted us citizens, nnd I regret to say that such persons contemplating colonization do not seem so willing to cmigruto to these coun tries as to some others, nor so willing to emigrate us I think their interests demand. I believe, however, that the sertiment is improving, and that ere long there will bo an augumented and considerable emigra tion to both these countries from the Uni ted States. FURTHER ON TIIK COMMERCIAL AND POMTI CAL RELATIONS WITH FOHKIflN POWERS. The new commercial Irenty between tho United States and lite Sultan of Turkey has been carried into execution. A com mercial and consular treaty hus been nego tiated, subject to the Senate's consent, with Liberia, and a similar negotiation is now pending with llayti. A considerable im provement of the national commerce is ex pected lo result from these measures. Our relations with Great Urituin, Franco Spain, Portugal, Russiu, Prussia, Den murk, Sweden, Austria, tho Netherlands, Italy, Rome and tho other European States, remain undisturbed. Very favor able relations continue lo be maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China and Japan During the lust year there has not only been no change of our previous relations with (he Independent States ol our continent, but more friendly relations than have hereto fore cxibted uru believed to be entertained by these neighbors, whoso safety and pro gress are so intimately connected with our own. This statement equally applies to Mexico, Costa Rico, Nicaragua, 'Hondu ras, Peru and Chile. Tho Commission un der the Convention with the Republic of New Grenada closed its srssion wilhout having audited and passed upon all the claims which were submitted to it. A proposition is pending lo revive the con vention, so that it may be able to-do more complete justice. Tho Commission be tween the United Slates and the 'Repub lic of Costa (Rica has completed its labors and submitted its report. I havp favored the project of connect ing lbs United States with Europe by an Atlantic telegraph, and a similar project to extend the telegraph fiomfjan 'Francisco, to connect, by a Pucific telegraph, with the wire that is being extended across the Russian Empire. TIIK MINERAL RESOURCES OF TIIK TERRI TORIES A SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION BUd OESTKD. The territories or the United States, with unimportant exceptions, have remain ed undisturbed by the civil -war, and they are exhibiting such evidence of prosperity as justifies an expectation that some of them will soon be in a-condition to be or ganoid as --States, and bo constitutionally admitted intothe Federal Union. The immense mineral resources of some or theso Territories ought to be -developed as rapidly as possible. .Every step in that direction would have a tendency 'to im prove tho resources ol tho Government and diminish tho burdens or the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration whether some extraordinary measures to promote that end cannot bo adopted. The measure which suggests itself ns most like ly to bo effective, is a scientific explora tion of the mineral regions of theso Terri tories, with a view to the publication of its results. at home and in .foreign coun tries ; results which cannot fait to bo au spicious. FINANCK8 A CIRCULATING MEDIUM OP POSED TO A NATIONAL DANK OF ISSUE. The condition of the finances will claim yotir most diligent attention. The vust expenditures incident la the naval and mil itary operations required for the suppres sion of tho rebellion have hitherto been met with a promptitude certainly unusuul in similar circumstances, and the public cad it has been fully maintained. The cnntlnuence of the war, however, and the increased disbursements made necessary by the augumented forces now in the field, de-" mnnd your best reflection as to the best ineuns of providing the necessary revenue without injury to business and with the least possible burden upon labor. The suspension of specie payment by tho banks, toon after the commencement of your Inst session, made large issues of United Stales notes unavoidable ; in no other way could the payment of tho troops and other just demands be so economically, or as well provided for. The judicious legislation of Congress securing Iho rc-ceivubility of these notes for loans and internal du'ties, and making them n legal tender for other debts, has mndo (hem u universal currency, and has sulisficd, partially, at least, and for the time, the long felt want of a uni form circulating medium, saving thereby to tho people immense sums in discount nnd exchange. A return to specie pay ments, however, nt the earliest period com patible with a due regard to all interests, should ever be kept in view. Fluctuations in (he value of currency arc always inju rious, und to reduce these fluctuations to tho lowest point, will always bo a leading purpose in wise legislation. Prompt and certain convertibility into coin is generally acknowledged to bo tho best and surrs't means against such fluctuations, and it is extremely doubtful whether n circulation of United Stales notes, puynble in coin nnd sunicientiy large for the wants ol the peo ple can be permanently, usefully and safely maintained. PLAN OF PRIVATIt RANKS OF ISSUE RUfi OK8TKO. Is there any other niodo in which the necessary provision for the public wants cun bo made, nnd the advantages of a safe and uniform currency secured? I know of none which promises such certain results, and nt tho samu time so unobjectionable, as the organization of banking institutions under u general act of Congress, well guarded in its provisions. To such asso ciations the Government might furnish cir culating notes on the security of United Stales bonds deposited in tho Treasury. These notes, prepared under the supervision of tho proper officers, being uniform in ap pearance and security, and convertible always with certainty, would at once pro tect labor against the evils of a vicious currency, and facilitate commerce by cheap and safe exchanges. A moderate reserva tion of the interest of tho bonds would compensate- the United Stales lor the prep aration and distribution of the notes, und a general extension of tho system would lighten the burden of that part of the public debt employed ah securities. The fmblic credit, moreover, would bo greatly mproved, and tho negotiations of Joans greatly facilitated, by the steady oYmnud lor Government bonds, which I lie. adoption of the proposed system would create. It is an udditionul recommendation to the measure, of considerable weight in my judgment, that it would reconcile, ns fur as possible, nil existing Interestu.'by the opportunity offered to existing institutions to substitute a uniform national circulation for the local and various circulations, se cured and unsecured, now issued by them. TREASURY RECEIPTS. The receipts into the Treasury from all sources, including loans and bu lances from the preceding year, for the fiscal year end ing on the 30lh of June, 1862, were 8583. 885,247 0G.; or which sum 849,098.392 62 were-derived from customs ; 31.795,331 73 from the 'direct tax from public hinds; 8152,203 77 from miscellaneous sources; 8931,78!) G4 from loans in all forms; 8529.092,360 '50 (Here occur an omission in telegraphing. The remain der, 8257(065 50. was the baluneo from last year. The disbursements during the same period were: 'For Congressional, Executivo and Judicial purposes, 850,939, 009 29.; 'for foreign intercourse, 81.239, 710 35.; 'loans, post office and deficiencies in the collection of revenue and oilier dike charges, -SlA.'HZftfOi-; far expense under the Interior Department, 83,102,985 52-; under the Wur 'Department, 8381.308, 307 38 ; under the Navy Department, 842,571,589 69 ; for interest on tho pub lio debt, 813,190,334 45; and for the payment or tho public debt, including reimbursements of temporary loan nnd re demption, 896.096.923 09, making nn aggregate of 8570,841,700 25, and leav- ing a balance in the Treasury on the first day or July, 1861, or 813,013, 446 81. It should be observed that tho sum of 890,096. 923 09, expended for re imbursements und redemption of the pub lic debt, being included also in the loans imulCj may be properly deducted both from the receipts and expenditures, hiving the nctuul receipts for I he year 8187,788,324 97; and Iho expenditures, 8174,744.788 16. Other information on the subject of the finances, will be given in tho report of the Secretary of tho Treasury, lo whose stutcsments und views I invito your most considerate attention. REPORTS FROM TIIK WAR AND NAVY DE PARTMENTS. Tha reports of thu Secretaries of the Navy and War are herewith transmitted. These reports, though lengthy, are scarcely mora tlian brief extracts of the very nu merous nnd extensive transactions nnd op erations conducted through these. Depart ments; nor could I give u summary of them here upon any piiuciplo which would admit of its being much shorter than the reports themselves. I therefore content myself with laying the reports before you, und asking your uttcntion to them. TIIK POSTOFFICB DEPARTMENT. It gives mo pleasure to report u decided improvement in Iho financial condition of the Postofficc Depai tincnt us compared with the several preceding years. The re ceipts for the fiscal year 1861 amounted to 88.319.296 40, which embraced the reve nue from till the Slates or the Union far three-quarters or lliut year, notwithstand ing the cessation of revenue from tho so called Confederate States during tho last fiscal year. The increase of tho corre spondence of the loyal States has been sufficient to produce a revenue during the Hume year of 88.299,820 90, being only 850,000 less tln.n was derived from all the Slates of the Union the previous year. The expenditures show n still more favora ble result. Tho umount expended in 1861 was 813,606,789 11. For tho lust year thu amount has been reduced to 811.125. 364 13, showing a difference of about 82, 781,000 in the expenditures ns compared with tho preceding year ; about 83,750,000 us rompured with the fiscal year or 1860. Deficiency in the Department for tho pre vious venr was 81,551,966, 98; far the last iHcul year It wus reduced to c-!,ll-'.-814 57. These results are, in fact, owing lo the cessation of the mail conveyance in the insurrectionary States, und in part to a careful review of all thu expenditures in that Department, in the interest of econo my. The efficiency of the postal service, it is believed, has also been much improved. proposed improvements in tiif. foreign MAILS. The Posfmaslcr-General has also opened a correspondence, through thu Department of State, with foreign Governments, propos ing u Convention of postal representatives for (he purpoto of simplifying tho rates of foreign postage, und tocxpedito the foreign mails. This proposition, equally important to our adopted citizens nnd to the commer cial intercuts of this country, has been fa vorably entertained nnd agreed to by all tho Governments from whom replies Imvo been received. I ask tho attention of Congress to the suggestions of the Postmaster-Gen-crul, in his report respecting tho further legislation required, in his opiuiou, for the benefit of UiePostuI Service. - .LAND RALE8 THE HOMESTEAD LAW. The Secrclury of the Interior reports as follows, in regard to public lands : The .public lands ceased to be a source of reve nue from tho 1st of July. J861, to the 30th of September, 1602. Tho entire cash re ceipts, from iho sales of public lands were 8137,477 26, a sum much lc6s than the expenses of our laud flystem during tho same period. Tho Homestead law, which will lake effect on tho 1st of January next, offers such inducements to settlers that sales for such cannot be effected to an extent sufficient to meet tho expanses of tho gen eral land office .and -cost of surveying and bringing the land into market, ff'he -discrepancy between the sums here stated as arising from the sales or public lands, and the sum derived from the eamn source, as reported from the Treasury Department, arise, bb T understand, from the fact that, the periods or time, through apparently so, were not really-coincident at the beginning point. 'The Treasury report Includes a con siderable sum now which had previously been reported from the-Interior.Department, sufficiently 'large to overreach tho sum derived fiom the three months now reported hy the Interior and not by .tho Treasury Department. INDIAN RELATIONS TIIK OUTBREAK IN MIN NESOTA. The Indian tribes ou our frontier have, during the past year, manifested a spirit of insubordination, and at several point have engaged in open hostilities against the white settlers in their vicinity. The tribes occupying the Indian country south of Kan sas revoked their allcgiunce -to the United States and entered into n treaty will) tha insurgents. They who remained loyal to tho United States were driven from thu country. The chief of the Cherokccs has visited this city lor the purpose of restoring the former relations of tho tribo with the United Stale. He alleges that they wero constrained by superior farces to enter into treaties with the insurgents, nnd that tho United Stutcs neglected to furnish the pro tection which their treaty stipulations re quired. In the month of August last, the Sionx Indians in Minnesota attacked the settlers in their vicinity with extreme ferocity, killing indiscriminately men. women und children. This nttack was wholly unex pected, nnd. therefore, no defense had been prcpurcd. It is estimated that not less than 801) persons were killed by the Indians, and a Urge amount of property was destroyed. How this oulbreuK was induced is not deiluitefy known, and suspicious which may be unjust, nerd not be stated Information was received by tho Indian Hurenu from different sources about the same time hos tilities were commenced, thnt a siinultancouit attack was to be mndn upon the white set tlements by all the trikes between tho Mis sissippi river and tho Rocky Mountains. The State of Minnesota has suffered great injury from the Indian war. A lurgo por tion of her territory has been depopulated, and a severe loss been sustained by tho de struction of property. The people of that State manifest great nnxiely for tho remo val of the tribes beyond the limits ol thu borders ,nB a cnarnnteo against more hostil ities. Tho Commissioner or Indian Affuirn will furnirh full details. I submit for your special consideration, whether our Indian system shall not bu remodeled. Many wise and good men have been impressed with the belief that this can be profitably done. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS TUB PACIFIC RAILROAD CANALS IN NEW YORK, JLLINOlf, ETC. I submit a statement of tho proceedings of the Commissioners, which shown the pro gress that has been made in iho enterprise of constructing tho Pucific Railroad, and this suggests the earliest completion or the road, and also the favorable action of Con gress on the piojoct now pending befora them, far enlarging the -opacities or the great canals in New York nnd Illinois, as being or vital and rapidly increasing impor tance to tho whole nation, ovccially to the vast internal region hereinafter to be men tioned nt some greater length. I propose having prepared nnd laid before you at an eaily day, somo interesting and valuable statisical information upon this subject. Tho military and commercial importance of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan canal, nnd Improving the Illinois river, is present ed in tho report of -Col. Webster, to tha Secrelnry of War, nnd now transmitted to Congress, to which I respectfully -claim your attention. TIIK NEW DEPARTMENT OF AflniCULTt'RK. To carry out the provisions of the Act of Congress of tho lfith of May lat, I have rnused the Department of Agriculture of tho United States to bo organized. Tin Commissioner Informs mo that within tho period -of a few mouths this Department lias established nn extensive system of cor respondence and exchanges, 'both nt homo and abroad, which promises to effect highly beneficial results in tho development of n correct knowledge of recent ImprovemcntH in agriculture, in tho introduction of new products, and in tho .collection of agricul tural statistics of thoidifl'ercnt States ; also, thnt it will soon be prepared to distribute 'largely, seeds, cereals, plants and cuttings, nnd linsaireauy putnisiieu and uuerniiy dif fused much valuable information, in antici pation of u more claborato report, which will in duo time Ihj furnished, embracing somo valuable tents in chemical rclenci-, now in progress In tho laboratory. Tho cre ation of this Department vas for tho imme diate benefit of a largo class of our most -valuable citizens, nnd I trust that the lib eral basis upon which it has been organized will not only meet your approbation, but that it will realizo at no.distant day all tho fondest anticipations of its most sanguine friends, and become tho fruitful source of advantage to all our people. TUK -CONDITION OF TIIK COUNTRY " COMPEN BATKn EMANCIPATION "POLITICAL NKCEH--8ITV -OF UNION THK qUESTION WftTSKKD. On tho 22d day of September Inst, a proc lamation was issued by tho Executivo, a eopy .of which 'is herewith submitted. In accordance with -tho .purposo expressed In the second paragraph of thnt paper, I now respectfully recall your attention to what may bo called compensated emancipation. A nation may bo said to consist nt Us terri tory, its people, and its laws. Tho territo ry is the only part which is of.cerlaln dura bility. One generation passeth uwuy aud another generation comcth, but the earth nbldeth forever." It is of tho f!it Impor tance to duty consider and cMimalo this ever-enduring part. Thnt portion of the earth's surface which Ih owned and inbab.it cdby.tbd people, oj" the United States in well adapted to be the homo of ono nation Cvnclution o; foui th fagc- h t r