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About Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1852)
wjr ww" "","'' v -"hm t t" j- " - -wT"' "w tpi s-A ! j..- .i'-.-jjr: &JJ$X ! J ' . -V ttev v fk t? te l-v 1 ' If V n E.5- m. wl m w i I li. I ft BsaaKiybud iMMkrrliif '' wey'ae MMfMil iht estimates, " In thus Marring to tho estimate.) ex. assnerluree an aocouht of our newlyac spires Territories, I may express iho fsee lhat Congress will concur with me ' In lb desire that liberal court of pol icy may ba pursued toward them, ana" that every obligation, express or implied, ' MlaiW into in oooiMueacc o( their a c. a,qMtos), ahall no fulfilled by tho moat lib eral fprMrieikm for thai purpose. The valae of our domestic exports lor the last ftseel year, aa compared with taeae of the previous year, exhibit an In crease of 8,646,wa. At first Maw tMe cendUloa of oor trade with foreign nations would mm to present tho moat nawenng nopea or i: luture prosperity. Aa examination of the deiella of our ex , parte, however, will ahow that the locrra aed valea of our exnorta for the W fi el year la to ba found In lhe high price of eajtot) which prevailed .luring the firat Mf of thai year, which price has ainco deoHaadboe.hir. Tba value of our exports of breadstuff's aadororieJen, which it was supposed the muomiTo a a tow term and large tmpor. talloaa (ram abroad would hare greatly neasafstod, has felloe from 8,701,031, 11947, to 18,031,373 lo 18M, and to a)tl.at,wM, la IWt, with a strong prob ' abttty, afltaejnUag aiobtt to a certainty, T a asm farther redaction in tba current year. Tare aaarrtiratt valnea of rice axoorl - M .ad daring tba last teaeoJ year, aa eeBpoadauthorixad any one to receive this stock, as waa Use pea v Iowa year, alo exhibits a aVersaaa siasanilag it) 460,917, which. with decline la the values of exports of teseoeo for tba aaast period, make an aa- gmrato decrease in theee two articles of 1,150.731. Tba polley which dictated a low rato 1 ai aaiiaa on foreign merchandise, it was thought by those who promoted and eg. tablished it, woald lend to benefit tba fa tsiag population of this country, by In creasing the demand and raising the price of agricultural product a in foreign mar kets. The foregoing facts, however, seem to show iocontsstlbly thsl no such result has followed the adoption of thia policy. On tba contrary, notwithstanding tho repeal of the restrictive com laws of England, tba foreign demand for the products of taa American farmer has ateacily declin. ail, ainoa tha abort crops and consequent Jaoina in a portion of Europe have been happily rapUoed by full crops and com parative buadaaoe of food. It arfll ba seen, by recurring to tha aamnssreial statistics for the past year, swat tba valna of our domestic exports has baa increased In tba alette item of raw i ay wvijmv.wv over we vaiue oi i expert tar taa year preceding:, i ins leaeti tauat to ear increased senarai de. teatatf for that article, bet to the abort crop ,f tba preeediag year. .Should tho cot. ..saa erp now getag forward to market bo only eeiaal la quantity to that of the year preceding, and a sow at tba present prt. aaa, then there would ba a filling osTio the valna of ar exports for the preseat fiscal year of at least t0,000,000. compared wka tbo amount exported lor the year en diagSsMbJuaf.lsil. Tba radaction of gold in California for the past year seems to promise a large eapply of that metal from that quarter for some unto to oome. ibis large annual increase of the currenoy of tho world rnu st ba attended nrith Its usual results. These have been already partlaly dlsclo. aed in the enhancement of prices aud a ri sing spirit of speculation and adventure, tendiog to overtrading, aa well at home as abroad. Unless aomo salutary ohsok shall be given to these tendencies, it is lo ee teared mat importations ot lorelgii goods beyond a healthy demsnd In this country will lead to a sudden drain of the preoioas metals from us, bringing with it, ask has done in former timeVtlio most disastrous consequrncM o tho business and capital of the American people. The exporlsof specie lo liqiidstc our foreign aeoi curing ins past fiscal year bava been 24,903,971) over tho amount of specie imported. Tho exports of spe. cte during the first quarters ofthe'prestnt fisoal year have been 14,031,837. Should epecle continue to be exported at this rato for the remaining three quarters of this year, It will draja from our metallic cur. renoy during the year ending 30ih June, 168 the enormous amount off 38, 007, 309. The present prosperous condition of ilia national finances. It will beoome the duty of Coagreaa to consider lhe best modo of paying otTlbaputillo debt, ir the present aad anticipated surplus in the Treasury eboeU not be absorbed by appropriations pfaa'eatraordinary character, tbla sur plus should be employed in such way, aad under such restrMoos, as Congress nay epsct, in cxtlngutahlng the oulstsnd bigdebtoflhe nation. By refereaoe to tbo not ofCongrcss ap proved 9tb September, 1830, it will b 'aaen thai, h eeestderatlon of certain com ..assslana by the State of Texas,' h Is prorl. stasl thai tha "United Mates shall pay to fbe tftateof Texas the sum ol,. len mill- Jcaepf dollars) in a stock bearing five v'psr aeat. (ntsreat, and redeemable at the 'aed of fourteen years, the Interest pay. able half yearly, at the Traasury of the TTaUaJ Sb.f. l..'Ja tba' same section of lhe law It' Is for. tastovlds "that i more than fito mil rw . illi ff U aiJL .X.11 t (.-....! ..all ''HsVffMtFI MtlllOn wMII Ml JHUOU UIIIII v;ttaaariiinri of tbejkatf 'holding bonds v bbb mammr tmwumamtmm at ooi oi i eiu. .r'vrv'rr v " . -r r aa.a mmm m n i . i matmm mhaj..... 'um m iimwm ammMM m wd.b Bi.au. b. .-. . . I. ' l--Wr-T- , rat Me at the Trees talea' releases of all "United Stales, fur or Solids' or eertl Aoates, In prescribed by the rr, awi annruirfi UsVMadSuiea." tkaa aravitleal'.for jK aVarttarrofl the Treasury of the Treasury and approv ed. It has been published in all tlio lea. ding newspapers in the commercial cities ol tho United States, and all persons lid ding clslms of the kind specified in tho foregoing proviso were required to (Ho their releasee (In the form thus prrscrlb rd)in the Treasury of the United Slates on or before the lstdsyif October, 1931. Although this publication has been con tinued from the Will day of March, 1931, yet up to the 1st ef October last compar atively lew releases had been filed by tho creditors of Texas. The authorities ol the Slste of Texas, at the request of the Secretary of the Treasury, have furnished a schodule of tba publlo debt of that State created pri or to her admission into the Union, with a copy of the laws under which each class waa contracted. 1 have, from the documents furnished by the Slate of Texas, dctormincd the classes of 'claims whloh in my judgment fall within the provisions of tho act of Congress of the Oth of September, 1830. On being officially Informed of the ac ceptance by Texas of the propositions contained in the acrreferred to, I caused the stock lobe prepared, and tho five mil lions which aro lo Lo issued uncondition ally, bearing an Interest of five per-aent. from the 1st day of January, 1831. have been for some tJrae ready to bedclivorcd to the State of Texas. The authorittaa of 1 Texas, no to the present time, have not aad, it remains in tuo Treasury Depart- nil, vuvjroi to iuo oruvr 01 icxas. The release, required by law to bo dc- posited in the Treasury, not having been filed there, tbo remaining five nfllllons have not been issued. This last amount of the stock will be withheld from Texas until the conditions upon which it is to bo delivered shall be complied with by the creditors of tint Slate, unless Congress shall otherwise direct bv modification of the law. I? my last annual message, to h Inch I respectfully refer, I stated briefly tho rea sons which induced me to recommend s mollification of the present tariff, by con- Toning iuo mi Taiorem imo a spciiuu uu ty, nhcrovcr the articio Imported wss of, ucn acnaracter as to permit it, ami llul.ests have onirascu tho attention ol Lon- uch a discrimination should bo made, in ajjyroi tnoiuuustriai pursuits oi our own tdlntry, as to encouratre homo produc' tioh without excluding foreign competl. lion. The numorooa frauds which continue to be practlsod upon tho revenue, by fslse invoices and undervaluations, constitute an unanswerable reason for adopting spe cific instesd of ad valorem duties in all eases where the nature of tho commodity does not forbid it. A striking illustration of theso frauds will be exhibited in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the custom house valuation ofar. tides imported under a former law sub ject to specific duties, when thern was no Induoement Jo unditrveluatioo, and the custom-house valuations of tho same arti cles, nndertho present system of ad valo rem duties, so greatly reduced as to lsavo no doubt of the exls'cnce of iho most (Is- frant abusea under the existing laws 'his practical evasion of the present law, combined with the languishing condition of some ef the great interests of tho coun try, caused by over importations and con sequent depressed price, anl with the fai. luro in obtaining a foreign i.iarkrt for our Increasing surplus of breadstuff and pro visions has induced mo again to recom mend a modification of the existing tariff. The report of tho Secretary of the In terior, which accompanies this communi cation, will present a condensed statement of tho operations of that important de' partmem of the Government. It will be seen that the cash sales of the public lands exceed thoio of tho pre ceding year, and that there is reason to anticipate a still further increase, notwith stsnding the largo donations which have been made lo many of the Slates, and the liberal grants to inditidusls as a reward for military services. This fact furnishes scry g.-stlfying evidence of tho growing wealth and prosperity of our country. Suitable measures havo been adopted fur commercing the survey of tho publiu lands in California and Oregon. Survey ing parties have been organized, and some progress has boen insda in establishing: tho principal base and meridian lines. nut lurtner legislation and addition! ap propriations will be necessary, bsforo lhe proper subdivisions can be made, and the general land aystem oxtended over tboso remote parts or our territory, 00 the 3d of March last an act was passed providing for tho appointment of three commissioners losettlo privatoland claims In Calilornia, Three persons wore immediately appointed, all of whom, how ever, declined accepting the oflioe, in con sequence of Iho insdequscy of Iho com pensation. Others were promptly selec ted, who, for tlio same reasoil, also declin ed; and it was not until late in the sea son that lhe services of suitable persons could bo secured, A majority oft. the commissioners convened, in Ibis olty, on Iho 10th of, September last, when detailed instructions wero given to them in regard to their duties. LTbelr first meeting for the transaction of business will be held In San Francisco on the 8th day of tho present month. - 1 havo ibought It proper to refer to these facts, irol wily lo explain the causes of the delay In filling Ins commission, but to call your allentjou in lbs propriety of increasing the compensation or lhe commissioners. The pfltoe Is one ofgrnaf labor and responsibility, and ibo compen sation should Jso suoh as lo command men of a high order of talents and (he most unquestionable Integrity. ' Tho proper disposal of the mineral laooa oijueniorniaiaa subject aurfotui f ff ffirj.'w"""M,,,,f! and sale of them in small paroeta,)Rider such restrictions aa would efleotuilly guard ugalasl monopoly and apeoulatlon. Uul upon further Information, ami In def. erence lotho opinions of persona familiar with the subject, t am inoflnod to change thsl recommendation, and advise that they bs permitted to remain, aa at present, a common field, open to the enterprise and industry of all our ciliaens. unlit further experience shall have developed the best polioy to be ultiinatdty adoptceWa regard to thorn. It Is safer to suffer the Incon veniences thsl now exist, for a short period than by premature lestalatlon. te fosten on the country a aystsm fnunJed In error whloli may ptsoe tho wholo subject beyond the control of Congress. Tho agricultural lands should, howev er, bo aurveyed and brought into. markM wiin as tune delay as potsibls, mat the titles may become aetlled, and the Inhsb. itanta stimulated lo mako permanent im provements, and enter on the ordinary pur. suits of life. To effect these objects it Is desirable that the necessary provision be nisie by law lor tho establishment ol land offices In California and Oregon, aad for lhe efficient prosecution of the aurveya at an eariy aay. Poma difliaultlcs have occurred 4a or aniline- the Territorial covtrnmentro New Mexico and Utah: and, when more accurate information ahall be obtained of the causes, a further communication will be made upon the subject. In my lest annual communication to Congress I rrcommended the establishment ol an Agricultural ilureau. and I tako this occasion again to invoke your favora ble coniUdralion or the subject. Agriculture may iuttly lie retarded aa the great Interest of our people. Four, fifths of our scllve population are employ, ed in (ha cultivation of the soil, anJ the rapid expansion of our settlements over new territory is daily adding to the num ber of those encased in that vocation. Justice and policy therefore, alike rrqulro mat the uovernmeot should uss sil the means authorized by the Constitution to firomoto tho interests and welfare of that mportant class of our fellow. citlrens. AnJ yet it is n singular fact that, white tho manufacturing and commercial Inter jgreas during a li Isrre portion of every 8es. ion,anu our statutes suounu in provis ions for their protection and encourage ment, liillehasyet been done directly for tlio advancement! of agriculture. It is tune thst this reprosch to our legislation MHUUII r hope Tiejvil tMso should be removed: and 1 sincerely hoi that the present Uongress win not their labors without adopting elfil meaus to supply the omissions of who have preceded them. An Agricultural Uureau, charged with the duty of collecting and disseminating correct informatioit as to lhe best mode of cultivation, and of the mist effectual means of preserving and restoring the fer tility of the soil, and of procuring and dis tributing seeds aud plants and cl he veg etable productions, with Instructions In re gard loihe soil,. climate, and treatment best adapted to their growth, could not (ail to bo. in the. language of Washington, in his last annus! message to Congress, a 'very cheap instrument of immense na. lional benefit." Regarding tho act of Congress appro ved 33ih September, 1830, grsntlng boun ty lands to persons who have bo en enga ged in tho rrilitary scoiooofthe country, nsa groat measure of nations! justice and munificence, an anxious desire lias ' been felt, hy the officers entrusted with lis immedialo execution, lo ulvo pro.npl effect lo its provisions. All tlio means within their control were, therefore, bro'l Into requisition tn expedite lhe adjudica. tlon of claims, and I am gratified lo be able tns'nte that near one hundred 'thou sand applications havo boen considered, end alwnt atvunly thousand warranH is sued within tho fthort spaci of nine mqnths. If adequate provision he msde by kw to csrryinto rflcct the rcoommendstlops of tho Department, it is confidently exapoted thst, before the close of the nxl lisoal year, all who aro entitled tn the benefits of tho act will havo received their war rants. ' The Secretary of tho Interior has suit. gested in his report various amendments of the laws relating to pensions andiboun- ty land, ror the purpose ot morn euncuy allv siiardlnir airainst abueesTHSsVfreiids on the (jovernmont, to all of which I in ito your particular attention. Tho large accessions to our Indian pop ulation consequent upon tho acquisition of New-Mexico and California, and the ex. leusiot of our settlements Into Ulab.-snd Oregoq, have given inoreascd interosl and Importance to our relations with tho abo. tiglnal race. No material chango lias taken place, within tlio last ytar in the condition snd prospects ol ll0 inulnn tiliics who rcsiue in tho Northwestern Territory and wost of the Mlslilppi Itlver. Wo are at peaco with all of llmm; snd it will Im a sourco of pleasure toyou tolrarn that they are gradually udvancing In civilization and tho pursuits of social life. Along the Mexican frontier, and In Cal ifornia and Oregon, llicro have been oo coslonal manifestations of unfriendly feeding, and somo depredations committee!. I am satisfied, however, that Ihey resulted moro from the destitute and starving con dition of Iho Indians than from any aet lled hostility towarda the whites. As the settlements of our citizens progress toward lln-m the gamo upon whloli ihoy mainly rely for subsistence Is driven w or destroyed, and the only alternative left to thorn is starvation or plunder. It be. comes ua lo consider, In view of this con dition of things, whether luitloe and hu cnaniiy, aa welliiaaaalighienod econo myto not require leat, Instead of seek ina lo puitkb tliu fcfWR' Whloli are the result of our afjejjMltiasWMrd tl d'oot pranSfRUair i wants and encourage them In engago In agriculture, and to rely on their labor, in stead of tho chaso, for the means of sup port. Various Important treaties have been nrantlafed with different tribes durlns tho year, by which their title to laruoaml al. uable tracts of country hss been extin guished, all ef which will, at tho proper time, be submitted to the Senate for rati fication. The joint commission under the treaty of Quadatupe Hidalgo hat been actively engaged In running and marking tho boundary lino between the United States and Mexico. Il waa atatrd, in the last an nual report of the Secretary of lhe Interl. or, thai the Initial point on the I'aclflo and lhe point of the junction of the Cilia with he Colorado riter had been dotormlned, and the Intervening line, about one bun drcd and fifty miles in length, run and marked byttemporary monuments, Since that tiiiio a monument of marble haa been erected at the Initial point, and permanent land mirks of iron havo been placed at suitable distances along the line. The initial point on the llto Grande has also been fixed by tho comtnlsloners at latitude 33 deg. 'It inln., and at tha aato or the last communication the sur I the line had been made thenoe west ward about one hundred and fifty miles lo tho iietghborhoo I of the copper mines. The commission on our pari was al first organized on a scale which experience proved lo be unwieldy and attended with unnecessary expense. Orders hate, therefore, been Issurd lor tho reduction of the number or persons employed within the smallest limits, consistent with the safaty of lliose engsged in the service, and tho prompt and efficient execution oftlicir iinporiant duties. Returns have been received from all the officers rngsped in taking tho census in tho Stales and Territories, except Call fornia. Tho superintendent employed to make tho enumeration In that .Stats has not yet made his full report, from causes, at he alleges, beyond bis control. Tins failure Is intieh to l recrellsd, as It has prevented Iho Secretary of the Interior Irom making the decennial apportionment ' ol representatives nmong the states, as required by the set approved May 3.1, 14.M1. Il is Imped, however, tint the re. turns vll noon bo received, and no time, will thtu belnit in unking the necessary apportionment and In trinsmitting',thn cer tificates required hy law. The superintendent of Iho seventh cen sus Is diligently employed, under the di rection oflhe Secretsry of the Interior, in o'asstfying, and arranging, In tabular form, all the statistical Information deriv ed from the returns of tho marshals, anl il is believed lhat when the work shall be completed it will exhibit a more perfect view of tho population, wealth, occupa tions, and social conditions of a great country, than has ever been presented to the world. The value of such a work, as tha basis of enlightened legislation, can hardly he over-estimated; and I earnestly hope thai Congress will loso no lime in msking the appropriations necessary to complete the classifications, and lo pub lish the results In a style worthy cf the subject and of our national character." The want of uniform foe bill, prescri bing lhe compensation le be allowed dis trict attorneys, clerks, marshals end com missioners In civil and criminal cases, Is the causo of much vexation, Injustice and complaint. I would reoommen ' Ihor ousli revision oi the laws on tin whole subject, and lhe adoption of a tariff of lets winch, as fur ns practicable, stinuhl be uniform; and prescribe a specific coin, pensjtlon for every service which llm of. licer may be required lo perform. This subject will bo fully presented in iho re port or llm Secretary nf the Interior. In my last annual message I gave brief ly my reasoin for believing thst you pos sessed constitutional power to improto lhe harbors of our great lakes and 'ocoast, and the navigation ofour principal rivers und recommended lint appropriations should he inado fur completing such wnrks as hid already boen commenced, and for commencing such others ss miht seem to lhe wisdom of Congress to bo of publlo Iod general Importance. Without re. ealin tho teasons thou ureed, I deem il 'ny duty again to call your attention to this imiortant subject. Tho works on many of tho heritors wero left In an un finished slate, anl consc'iucnlly exposed to tho action of tho elements, which is fait destroying them. Groat numbers ol lives and vast amounts of properly are annually lost for want of safe and convert, inn barbers ou the lakes. None but those who havo been exposed lo that dan gerous navigation can fully appreciate the importance of this subject. Tho whole Northwest appeals lo you for re lief, and I trust their nppoat will receive duo consideration al your hands. The same is In a measuro Iruo In ro. gard lo somo of tho harbors and Inlets on the seacoast. Tho unobstructed navigation of our large rivers Is of equal imtiortanco. Our settlements aro now uxtonuingtotho sour ces of tho groat rivers which empty Into, and form a part of tha Mississippi, and Iho vslue of tho publlo lands in (boss regions would bo greatly onhsnocd by freeing the navigation of those waters from obstruc tions. In view, therefore, of this great interest, 1 deem it my duly sgoln lo urge upon Congress lo mske sucli appropria tions for these Improvements ss they may deem necessary. The survey of the Delta of the Missis sippi, .with view to the prevention of Iho overflows that havo proved an disastrous to that region of country, havo been near ly completed, and the reports thereof are now In courjo of preparation, and will shortly ba laid before you. lhe proteouou or eur southwestern tier,, anu ei ma- aujaoont Mexican against the laulisn tube within our border, haa elalmod my earnest and constant attention, uongrese having isu ed at lhe last session, to adopt my recom mendallon that an additional regiment of mounted men specially adapted to that servloo should be reined, all that remain- ed lo bo dono was lo make the beat use of lhe means at my disposal. Aucordingly, all Iho troops adapted o that service that could properly bo spared from other uuar lera has beeu concentrated on lhat fron tier, and officers of high reputation selec ted lo command them, A new arrange, menl of the military posts has also been msde, whereby the troops are brought nearer lo the Mexican frontier and lo the tribes Ihov aro Intended to overawe. Sufficient lime has not yet elapsed to realize all tho benefits that are expectod lo result from these arrangements, but I have every reason lo hope that they will effectually check their marauding expe ditions. The nature, ol lhe country, which furnishes little for Iho support of an army and abounds in places of rofuge and concealment, Is remarkably well adapted lo this predatory warfare; and wo can scarcely hope that any military force combined with tlm greatest vigilance, can entirely suppress it, Hy the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo we are bousd to armed lhe territory of Mexico against the Incursions of the sav. aae tribes within our border "with sousl diiigcnco and energy" as Ifthesams warn made within our territory or asalnsl our cllirens. I base endeavored to comply, as far as possible, with this provision of me treaty, u filers Ituvo been given to I lie utiicers commanding on that frontier, lo consider iho Mexican torritory and its Inhabitant, as, equally with our own, en. tilled lo their protection, and lo make all their plans and arrangements with a view In the attainment of lids object. Instruc tions have alu beeu given lo the Indian commissioners and aguuts among thsse tribes, in all treaties to mako Iho clauses designed for the protection ofour own cit izens apply also lo those of Mexico. I have no reason to doubt that theso iustruo. Hunt have been fully carried Into offset. Nevertheless, ills probable that, in spite of all our efforts, soma of the nrlglrbor- lug blates ol .Mexico may hate suffered, usmiruwn bate, from depredations by the Indians. To the difficulties of defending our own torrllor,as above mentioned, are super added, iu defind'ng that of Mexico, those that arise from lis remoteness, from the fact that wo have no right to station our troops within herlimlls, and that there is no efficient military force on the Mnilcan side to co operate with our own. So long as this shall continuo to be tho case, the number and activity ofour troopa will rath er increase than diminish the evil, as the Indians will naturally turn towarda that country where they encounter the least resistance. Yet these tro'pt are necessa ry to aubdue them, and lo compel Ihem te make and observe trestles. Un'll this shall' hsva ln dene, neither country will enjoy any security from their atlacka. The Indians In California, who had pre viously appeared of a peaceable charac ter, end disposed to cultivate tho friend ship of iho whites, have recently commit ted rovers! acts of hostlll y. As a large fnrtion of the reinforcements sent lo lhe . lexlcsn fron'ler wero drawn from the I'aclfio, the military force now statlonsd Inereis const lered entirely Inadequate to its defence. Il cannot bo Incrsased, how. ever, without an increase of iho army, and I again recommend lhat measure as indispensable to the protection of iho fron. tier. I Invito your attention to the sugges tions on this subject, snd on others' coimeo Iod with his department, in the report of the Secretary ol War. The appropriations for the support ef ha army during iho current fiscal year, ending tlOth Juno next, wero reduced far below the rstiinale submitted by the lie parlmenl. The consequence of this re. ducliou is a conaidurablo deficiency, lo which I invito your osrly attention. The expenditures of that Department, for tho )ear ending SUih June last, were 9U,0il,308,0S. The estimates for the year commencing 1st July next, and ending Juno 30, 1833, are 97,808,770,83 ; show, lug a reduction nf $1,1 II 1,403,76. Tlio Hoard of Commissioners, lo whom tho management ef tbbaUalrr of the Mill, tary Asylum, orcated by tho act of 3d March last, was entrusted, have setroted a sits for Iho establishment ol an Asylum In iho vlclitlly of this city. The report of iho Secretary of the Navy will exhibit tho condition of tho public servlco under the auperxerslon of that Department. Our naval forca afloat dur. Ing tho present" year, has been actively employer! In giving protection to our wide ly extended and increasing commerco and intorests in Iho various quarters of tho globe. The expedition commanded by Meut. Pellaven, despatched in search of Ilrillsli commander, Mir John Franklin, and his companions, in tho Arctic Seas, relumed to Now York in the month ofOctobor, after having undergone great paril and suffering, froth an unknown aud danger ous navigation, and tho rigors of a north urn climate, without any aatisfaolory information of the objects of their search, but with now contributions to eolenoe and navlgatioa, fiem the unfrequented polar regions. The officers and msn or the rxpedillon, hsvingbsen all volunteers for this service, and having so conducted II aa to meet the entire approbation of the government, It' Is suggested, as an act of raCo and generosity, mat Ilia lamo al. owaucea of extra pay aud emoluments be cxlendod to them, lhat were mado lo the olDcors and men of like rating, In the ox. ploring expedition te the South Soas. I earnestly looommend to your alien, lien, tho neossslty of re-organlzing the Naval rietabllshmenl, appointing and fix. pg the number of osvkeri In each grade, providing some mode of promotion ta the higher grades of the navy, having refer ence to merit and capacity, rather than seniority or date of entry Into the serf ice, and for retiring from the effective list, upon reduced pay those who may bo In. competent to tha performance of active duly. Tho determination of the questions nf relative rank between Ike sea effioere and civil oftloere ef the navy, and between officers of the army and navy, In the varloua grades of each, will also merit your altsntion. The failure to provide any substitute, when corporal punishment was abolished for officers In the navy, haa ocoaslonrd lhe convening efnumsrous courts-martial, upon the arrival of vsessls in port, and it Is believes) to have had an injurious effect upon the discipline and sltiolenoy of the service. It la hoped that Congress will establish such modes ef de. termlnlng guilt, and such gradations of punishment as are conslstsnt with kuma- nity and lhe personal rlghta of IndivMu. als, and at tho same time shall ensure Ibe most energetic and efficient performance of duty, and the suppression of crime in our ships of war. i ne atone hoc a in the navy yard al N. York, whloh was len years in Droeeea of onstruetlon, haa been so far finished aa to be surrendered up te the authoriliee of lhe yard. Tha dry dock at Philadelphia Is reported as complsled. and Is oxneeted soon lo be tested and delivered over la the agents of tho government. That at Ports. mouth, N. II., is'also nearly ready foru delivery ; and a contract has been con. elude', agreeably to tho act of Congreea al Its Isst session, for a floating deck on the bsy ol Ran Francisco, I Invite your attention le tho reoommendatiea of the Department, touching lhe establishment of n navy yard in conjunction with this lock on the I'aclflo. Such a station la highly necessary lo lhe convenience and effectiveness of our fleet In lhat ocean, which must be expected to Increase with, the growth of oomn erce, and the rapid extension of our whale fisheries over its waters. The Naval Academy, at Annapolis, under a revised and Improved aystem of regulntlons, now affirds opportunities of education and instruction lo tha pupils, qulto equal, il la believed, for professional Improvement, to those enjoyed by Iho cadet e in tho Military Academy. A largo class of acting midshipmen wss received al Ihn commenoement of iho last acade mic term, and a practice-ship has been attached to llm institution, lo afford the amplest means for regular Instruction In seamanship, aa wall as for cruises during the vscstions of three or four months In each year. The advantages ol science In nautical affairs, have rarely been more strikingly illustrated, than in the fsct stated In the report of the Navy Department, Ibat, by means of the wind and current charts, projected and prepared by Lieutenant Maury, the Superintendent of the Naval Observslory, the psssage from lhe Allan, lio to the Paelfio porta ofour country has been shortened by auout lony days. The estlmstes for the support of the Navv and Marine Corns, the ensuln Aa. ral year, will be found to bo 1,830,47!i m, me estimates ter Iho current year being 3,000,031. The estimates for speclat objects under lhe control of this Department amount to 3,084,330 80, against 91,310,080 for the present year, the increase lielns occasion. ed by the addilionat mall service on Iho I'aclfio coaat, ami the construction or Iho deck In California, authorised al lhe Isst sen lon of Congress, and some slight ail ditlons under the head of Improvements and repairs In navy yards, hulldlogs, anl machinery. The report of the Postmaster flensrst, herewith communicated, presents an in teresting view of the progress, opsrations, and condition of his department. At the olose of the last fiscal year, the length of mail routes within Ihn II. Statea waa 100,300 miles ; the annual transpor tation thereon 03,379,933 miles ; and tho annual cost of auch transportation, 93,. 43I.7M. Tho length of the foreign mail routes is estimated at 18,849 miles ; and the an. nual transportation thereon, at 91,479,187 of which 9448,037 Is paid by the Poet Offico Department, and 91,031,330 le paid through the Navy Department. Tho annual transportation within lhe United Stales, (excluding the service In California and Oregon, whloh la now, for lhe first lime, rerorted and embraced In lhe tabular statements of tho Department) exceeds lhat oflhe preceding year 0,103, 803 miles, at an inoreasrd Lost of 9347,. 110. The whole number of post offices in the United Slates, on Iho ROlli day of Juno last, was 10,700. There were 1,008 post ' offices established, and 380 dlacontinusd, during tho )sar. Tho grass revenues of iho Department for tho fiscal year, Including the anbro. prlallnns for Inn franked mailer of Cong., oftho Departments, and officers sf Gov. eminent, and excluding lhe foreign pea. tagos, collected, for and -payable to the nfltlsh peat office, amounted to 0,737,. 896,78. ' , Tbe expenditures for the samo period, (excluding 30,600,49, paid under an award of the Auditor, in pursuance of a resolution ef the last Congress, for mall sorvico on the Ohio and Mississippi 7lvera In 1839 and 1833, and lhe amount paid to lhe British post oflloo for foreiaa nostaaea oolleotcd for and payable lo thatofnee) amounted to 90,034,600 70 ; leafing a halanoe of revenue over ibe proper ex. Mjndliuresofihoysarof708,8M 99. The receipts for posiaae durlna the year (excluding the foreign postages ool. looted for and payable le tha British past offioe) amouDledtes),t4,747 M, belag an incrsaaaof 97lfr79, or 19,M, 109 t i . -ina 9 I t I 0 t I ' TTF T i 'vyj Ltji.sA iiiy V'Wsr i ,, -.in. .i;-'-c,i ;'l-f.'Vi-