The New York Herald Newspaper, December 12, 1848, Page 2

or, and it was paid, incladt principal and interest, puactusliy, withous failure euspe palo: Again. 1810, wae $1 terest of reven per ern:; only fully paid to 1 Dut the covernmen mebts, bad acurpjus le: O44 O1, whch was deposited with the States for Kerpipg, WLe may be cs'led upom to retura it to th goverumer the clore of the war of 1812, our debt, in 34 003 74, a portion of 1 Dearing aa ii debt also was mot 1 acipal and interest, ater iiquidatiog all ite eagage- in he treasury of $48 LOl,- | and cever test power ia the aud its co thilated by block nd embargces lation thea was 8 675 00, us quenity, according to population, the debt | t date would be equivaient tos d ‘at ths ore- | , of Upwards of three huadred and eight do.lers, oF neorly five thmesas great a8 oar debi, Yet that debt of 1816 wat mot only | Punctually prid within twenty years thereafcer, bat & surplus, a We have seen. of more thaa twenty-cigat millions of doltars, deposiced with the States, It thea, | im twenty years, under such ciroumsiances, and with | & popula ion and such resources, we could pay a debt of that magnitude, aud have las of twenty eight miliions, within how short a period may we liqai- date our present epgagements? By referenoa to cis table. it will be secu that, from 1790 to the present pe riod, including the reimbursement of treasury mot ‘we bave paid a public debe, including interest, amouat- | ing to a tc tality of upwards of five hundred mill ons of | dollars. By refereuce to the same table, it appears thet our revenue during the same period, derived trom resources other thao loans or treasury notes, was up- | wards of eleven hundred amd thirty-six millions of dol. | Jars, It will be perceived that our present debt,inciading | the whole of the loan yet to be paid i purchase, directed by this nt, of $500,000 of the public debt. withim the dast be about $65,275,450 41. ‘The debt due on the ari 1845, per table hereto annexed, was $17,789,700 62, deducting which from the present debt. as above stated, leaves the increase of debt, since that date, $47 43%, 660 79, including the loans yet to be paid im, to which may be added about $26,000 for Mexioan and bounty land scrip. The principal of the public debt paid since the 4th March, 1845, is about $1,892.813 95 Our whose debt, including the loan yet to be paid in, is not a sixtieth part of the debt of Great Britain, aad less than one-half the ey’ cording to a table Land Office, hereto annexed. it appears ti whole public dowain unsold amounts to $1442- | 217,887 acr nt minimum price of $1 25 per value of $1,802,7 Regarding them however, inciuding our mineral lands at twenty-five conts per acre, they would yield $360,564459. Large as is this sum, ouc wealth'as a bation would be more rapidly increased by the eales of all our agricultural lands at low rates, not exceeding twenty-five cents per acre, in small farms, | to actual settlers and oultivators, and thus, by enlarged | products and exports, insuring imcreased imports and | augmented revenue | As it is obvious, even with liberal appropriations, | that our revenue from lands and customs will enadis us to pay the public debt before its maturity, 1 pre: | rent the following suggestions for the consideration of Congress. The great mass of our public debt, exelu- sive of treasury {five per cente, deemable in 1853; of six per sents, redeemable in 1853, 1862, 1867, and 18; of tix per cents, and the military bounty land scrip, bearing six per cent interest, re- | deemable at the pleasure of the government. Of this sum, the department, as at pesemt authorised by law, ean purchase at its discretion, whea the means will rmit, the five per cents, the six per cents redeemabjs in 1866, 1562, and is6s. The military bounty land scrip bears six per cent interest, and is redyemavio at the pleasure of the government. is givcm to the Secretary of the Trea: this debt, although Congress may authorise thy de; ment to liquidate it at any tims without psyi remium or advance, and | advise such authority be given, to iake effect at any time after the Ist July next, "As regards the debt of twenty eight millions of dollars, arising from treasury notes and stook autno ised. by the act of 28th Jan’, 1847, the Soretary of ta» ‘Treastiry has no authority to purcuase treasury no or stock, except at par. When this act was peadi before the two houses of Congress, this department re- commended that this debt should be pluced upon tne ame footing er those whieh preceded, by delegating tho authority to the Treasury to purchase c jf it, including the treasury notes, ut t above or below par. Among other reasons wh fluenced the department in this recommendation, wae the fact thar euch a provision would mats the debt more valuable to the purchaser when it should be sold by the Treasury, and thorefyre increas the premivis which could be obtained by enlarging the number of bidders for it hereatter, namely, the Largest, probably, of all purebarere, the government itself; and | the abecnce of this provision diminiebed the premiucs | the department was enabled to ebiain upon this loan Itis obvious that if we have the means to purchase the | public debt before its maturity, ij should be done, | rather than pay the interest; and it is also clear | that as the amount which can be purchacod by the government is increased, especially to the great extent of twenty-cight millions of dollars, the ‘Trearury can make the purchase uprm better terms, by enlarging the number of competitors who could sell toit ovr own stock. Under these ciroumstances, | recommend that the Treasury Departmeat bs xutho- riged to purchase at the market rate, at any tims when its meaps willallow, after the first of July next, any ortion of the debt of twenty eight millions, authorized y the act of 2bth of January, 1847, inciuding Trea- sury notes, if any should remnin unfunded. ais the more necessary, as the sales of the public lund: have been ret epart by this depertment, as directed by that act, for the payment of the interest and purchase | of the principsi of this stock, which is impossible at prerent. the right of puretase being lim‘ted to par. | Uniers, then, authority should be given to purchase this stock. at the market rate, # considerable sum must remain in the Treamry, on the Ist of July next, of these rales, which can be used for no purpose ever, As soon as it was ascertained, in the et ofthe reveral departments, that the governmes'! the meeve to purchase a portion ef its debt, and ar- {| rest the interest, the department considered it to be ite duty to make the purchase, Upon losking iuto these estimetes, and compsring them with our means it was found that there would be a balance of $2 $53, Sd4imthe Trearury on the Ist ef July, 1849. and a ba- lance of $6 040,542 11 om the 1st of July, 1850. There was also at that date, by the latest returns, a copy of which is hereto aunexed, $5,408 804 45 in rpesie, in the reveral to whe eredit of the Hreasurer cf the United States, after deducting all Grafts unpaid aud outstanding; and since the pur- chare of this stock, there remained, by 1a! turns. $3 661.746 89 in specie, subject to t ofthe Treasurer, after deducting all drafts unpaid wad outstandil Under these circamstances, it was ra- solved to make the purchase to the amount of $500.00), thus usimg a part of the premium obtainedon the deans by this department, in liquidating to that extent the debt incurred, and by the rise of the stozk since that purchase, had it been delayed uatii the present period, the government would have been compelled to pay a much bigher price. [t was essential to success (unless by largely advancing the premium) that tho purchase sould be made by a confidential agent; and directions fer the purchase were accordingly given to C. W. Lawrence, the Collector at New York, in whom the whole community in which he resides justly repose unbounded confidence, and who had executed every truet with fidelity. A full statement of all the details of this purchase which was wade at the lowest market rates, is being pre- pared and will be placed promptly before the committee of ways and means of the ilouse, andof finance ia the Senate. That the debt should bo Hiquidated as rapidly $e the means of the treasury will permit, x0 as to arrest the running of interest, will mot, it is presumed. be doubted; but the government ehculd have its option to purchase any of its stocks, ro a3 to le:sen the pro- | mium which it would be compeiled to pay, and the | urchare should be very gradual and progressive, for if it were forced too repialy, the premium would become exorbitant. In view of the uncertainty which attends | all calculations of accruing revenue, it will probably not be regarded gs judicious to make any farther pur- chase until a period succeeding the Ist of July next, when esiimates both as to receipts and expenditures will be tested by results, and when it will bo knowa with certainty what means will be at the diaporal of the department to redeem the public indebtedness As an evidence of the progrers of the country In weaita and credit, it may be useful to contrast the @uddeducting the | tis | much below the increase of Jadith and Cape May. Delaware Bay has been finish- ed, and the chart of the bay and river published. The c bas been lated ith of the Vir- gisia line, and both thisand tl iter coast will bs in from two to three years from pre- ent time. | The topography of this seation, which was commenced in 144, is advancing to compl-tion, and, except the off-shore work, one t! of bydrozra- phy ie finished. The shores of Albemarle Sound, and most of its tributaries, bave been surveyed ; the tri- argulation extending, also, over stot Roanoke the h: greatly advanced. A oisance hat been made of part of the Carolina, Georgia, Fiorida, Alabams, d Texas,;and the operations founeed mepeed in South Carolina Mississippi, ana Loi triangulations have advanced nearly from Mobile to Lake Borgne ; the topography of ¢ shores of Mississippi Sound, and of the a islands, has been nearly completed, graphy of the entrance to Mobile Bay, Miseissippi Sound, and of Catand shi bors, and their approaches, hi survey of Galvi he at d the hydro and part of p Inland hi been finished. 1 2 (upper and lower) 7, hi considerable progress. Four base lines have been measured in Massachusetts, Maryland, North Caroli- na, and Alabama ; and two others ha for mearurement. Two of the base lin: sured with a most useful apparatus, combining ni | features, the invention of the superintendent. astronomical stations have been occupied in Maine, w Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- necticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary- jand, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mis | sissippi and Texas, a part of which observations wore made with new and improved instruments, idegnetic cbservations have been made with the instrumen’ cently introduced upon the survey at eighty thr. ; While improved gradetic instruments ha: | imtreduced upon the work, the principles of the mo- dern wathematics have been extendedgo every part of its results, The electro-mognetic telegraph has been used for determining the difference of longitude of cardinal points in the work, and with a degree of pi cision not hitherto attainable by other methods, The Galf Stream has been explored as far south as @ sec- tion across it at Cape Hatteras, and the law of the ocean temperature, ascertained, Twenty four sheets of chart, remarkable for their arrangement, accuracy, and style of execution, have been published and distributed to literary aud scien- | tific institutions, at home and abroad, and placed with agents for cale, at prices merely oovering the 0: printing and paper. Ten more sheets are in var! stages of progress of engraving. While the rcals of operations hus been enlarged to embrace the wholeex. tensive coast of the United Stat benefits of it to every part of the coast as rapidly as possible, the economy of the work has steadily vanocd, tho augmented expenditures required falling work done. Whiie so much that is eminently useful to com- merce and navigation, and to our foreign and coast- wise trade, has been accomplished by this great work, it has recsived the commendation of men of science in Europe and America, and advanced the scientitio character of the country. On the Pacific, where this department has already ried the work, and where it will beso useful in ob- | taining information aud publishing charts of our Wentern coast, I have entrusted to it the losation of the buoys, and the selection of sites for light-houses in Oregon. The department has proceeded to carry into execu- tion the reveral acts of Congress, passed at its last ression, making appropriations for light-houses, light-boats, buoys, beacons, Ke. It has also car- | ried the laws into effeot, providing surf boats, | rockets, carronades, life boats, and other neosstary ap- paratus, for the better preservation of lify and pro- | perty from shipwreck ; calling to its aid the under. writers and Chamber of Commerce of New York, and the Humane S-ciety for proserving life, of Massa. chusetts. Important improvements may be introduced into our light-house system, To conduct it property, ro- quires an accurate knowledge of our coast and mavi- | gation—the proper sites—the character of the building and mode cf sorstruction--the proper apparatns hting—the different elevatious, color, ngvishing properties of the ‘lights, | and whether stationary or revolving—the necessary | preparations to guard against accidents, or the ex- tinguisbing of alight—adequate regulations to secure the accountabilityand attention of keepers, and all the administrative duties pertaining to the system. | Phere is iuvolved in all this, a varied amount of know. ledge, practical and scientifle, possessed by no one | individual; end to aid the department in the execa- tion of these laws, it has heretofore rugge:ted to Con. | grees, and again respectfully re its recommenda tione, for the organization of a board, creating no expense, under the supervision of the Treasury, coa- isting of the Fifth Auditor, the Superintendent of the ‘Survey, two officers of the nary, an ofllcer of the ‘as also cf the Topographical Carps. who te the requisite knowledge, and enable the | depsrtment to conduct ail the operations of the sys. tem, upon cur extensive lake and with increased efficiency and eo The department hss alo p ed to carry into exeontion, as far as practicable, the various laws for the erection of marine bospitals. on the rivers and | lanes of the West, availing itself of the valuable servi- | ces of the Topographical Bureait | “Copies of standard weights and measures have been | distributed to the States. with the exception of the four | moat recently admitted into the Union | The standards for those States and for the oustom- | houses of older States not yet supplied, are inf the course | of preparation. The attention of the States is ealledin the report of the Superintendent of Weights aad Mea- | sures, received in June last, to the necessary steps for | preparing county standards, so a3 tosecure Uniformity in the weighte and measures in common use, Fifteen jances for regulating standards have beon supplied | to five States, and set up by an agent from the office of weights and measures, Two more ects, six in number, | have been supplied to two other States, Twenty-nine | were on band on the 1:t of January last, ready for di tion. The establishment prodaces at the rate of balances of the first class and three of the second, of the second, or four ef aritime frontier, | in my opinion, provisional, and has been so consider: | ed by statesmen and menof scienco, Amore general | uniformity, extending to different nations, was looked ) | forward to by Jefferson and John Quincy Adams, as | one day attainable, and was recommended in my last annuaireport, The time, in my opinion, has come for the cerious consideration of this subjsct by Con- New standards are about to be made in Eng. The reorganization of the Germanic confede- will givea grest extension to whatever system of weights and measures they may adopt; and the poll- | tieal ges going on in other parts of Europe are favorable to the introduction of uniformity. The sus- | cess of our coins shows that it is practicable to break | up the old system and to introduce another, new and | entire. One standard of lengths, ono standard of weights, one standard of capacity, with suitable muiti- pice and subdivisions, would be promotive of conven- ence, and of economy of time in the business of life and the intercourse of nations. The adoption o the decimal eystem would also, in my opinion, plify and facilitate computation; and I recom that authority be given to this department to t necersary ateps for obtaining international yj action as to uniformity of coins, and wi meneurer. During the past yesr, the third of » rate reports of investigations on sugars ters, under the direetion of Professor A perintendent of weights and measures, J. MeCulloch. melter and refiner of ti delphia. has been presented to the Di tranmmitted to Cougress, by whom it h to be printed, with a collection of th This report completes the sudj ters. as fr as is neceneary to,make the ol d in the use of the instrument at the and standard instruments and s manu prepared for ‘These extra official cherged by these gentlemen without « My last report recommended the grant o} of Innd for schools in every quarter town gon. This grant, in each of the new S section ofthe public landsin cach townsh signed to secure the benefit of educatio children of that township. This object ba: great exteht, ne section in theo township, rix miles equare, is too distant from other sections, to farnish a school to which all can resort, and because, a8 a pecuniary provision, it is in- adequate, The grant, however, of one section for every quarter township would be sufficient, whilst the sales of the government stocks and treasury notes doring and immediately succeeding the war of | 112, with fimilar rates during and immediately | + eceeding the wer with Mexieo. By the report © the committee of ways and means of the House of Representatives of Congress, of the 18h of April, 1830, it appears that. for the loans of the war of 1812, foreighty millions of dollars, In stock and treasury notes, the government obtained but $34,000,000 after deducting discounts and depteciation, being a loss of $40,000,000 upon its transactions; whereas, in the loans of the ar with Mexico, this department obtained or forty-nine millions of doliars borrowed, on stock nd triarury notes, $49.555 511 £0, including a pre- Mivm of $565 611 29 upon these traneactions, having obtained $10,655 611 GY more for forty-nine millions of stock and triarury notes sold by this department, for loans growing out of the war with Mexico, than was received for forty-eight millions of stook and treasury notes roid during and immediately sneoeeding the war with Great Britain, ths being reyuired by me under | the constitutional treasory, and pa the | stock and treasury notes sold | in by no one more fully than by the pre of this department. who bas had an op ferving all the difficulties by which they were « rounded. and Low impossible i unéer thore clreumetances, to have msde tho o tion on better terms than waa effected by t b | the facts are stated a2 a most gratifying proof of the | wonderful advance of the wealth of the couctry, and of the government credit, | ‘The ecast survey, under the charge of the supsrin- | tendent, Professor A D Bache, is making great and | repid progrers. Dur he past year, eix sections of the coast on the Ailaotic and Gulf of Mexico bave beep under survey, ond computations, drawings, Bnd engtavir ge of olerts, have kept pace with the field work, Within the eame period, rix new shoals have been discovered and coast, and one in Chesapea 8 in regard to the p 6 been derived from the coast eucvey reports, W this work is conduc’ed om the highest relentitic pringl- ee it is chown ina letter from the superintendeat | hat the land work costs less than the masiaum pard | for the rurvey (conducted with Fo much economy) of | the public lands. In reviewing the progress of this work forthe past | four years, the resnit in most striking. A part of tho | ‘tiont hax beea fed from the south went part ot Khoce aine, and the whole land work | hasbeen completed, from Poin a Ty fudented coast ; the by A both the fand and wa ted. Much work of | done betwoen Voint | was for any Sesretary, | ie known on the Fast of Boston barbor b wersfoution and ult ceniral location would be adjacent to every other sec= | tion in such quarter township, bringing the school houte within the immediate vicinage of every child within its limits. Congress, to some extent, adopted this recommendation, by granting two school sections in each township, instead of one, for edu: Ore- gon; but it is respectfully suggested that even thus ext-nded, the grant is Jatt equate in amount, whilst the location is inconvenient, and too remote for a school which all can att This subject is again presented to t ntion of Congross, with the re- commendation that it shall be extended to Califorsia New Mexico, and also to all the other new states ani territories containing the publie domain. Even as a question of revenue, such grauts would more than | refund their yalueto the government. As each quar- ter township is compesed of nine sections, of which the central section would be granted for schools, an: ch of the remaining eight sectio: ould be adjacent to that granted, these elght sections, thus loceted, and each adjoining a school rection, would be of greater yalue than when separated by many miles from such opportunities; and the thirty. two rections of one entire township, with their benefits, would bring @ larger price to ihe government, than thirty-five sections out of thirty-eix, when one section only, so remote from the rest. was granted for such @ purpore. The public domain would thus be eettled aan eariier period, and, yielding larger products, thus soon augment our ex- ports and our imports, with @ correepondant increase of revenue from duties, ‘The greater diffasion «fe tu- ld inereare the power of mind and know- ledge applied to our industrial purevits, and augment, in this way also, the products and wealth of the axtion. ech State is deeply interested ia the welfare of every other ; for the representations of the whole, regniato by thelr votes the measures of the Union, which must be more happy and proeperous in proportion as its councils are guided by more enlightened views, resulting from the wore universal ditfasion of light, and knowledge, and educrtion. The attention of Congr: ention wor is respectfully invited to the condition of the public lands in California, The officiel reports of the great mineral wealth of that region, prerent importent questions for your consl- deratior That go! kailver exist to a great extent in Californi laced beyond controversy. This g aire the establishment of a branch United States at San Francisco, The quicksilver is not oaly important as connected with the mining of the precious metale with health, and the arts, bat still more with the advance of setenee, and the progress of discovery in physion ‘The mines of gold, snd, perhaps, of other minetale. wou'd seem to be located eblefly on the publia lande They belong to the government, as a trasten for the people, ‘whose Tutereste should bs proteoted and tte commission to maks | of this city, out of the varied and important duties, constently augmentin, ssigned by law to this department, ren. dere it necessary that | should reserve for a few day: and for 9 rpecial report to Congress, the warehousiag qpstem 1a advance of that report, § would remark, at is time, that new instructions are prepared by this department. ‘and the forms nearly compieted, among other regulations extending a wore free competition for the storage of foreign imports The progress of the system has been mort satisfactory and successful the value of foreign goo rehoased ia our ports, passage of the law in 1846 up to the 30h Sep- tember last, baving amounted to the very large sam of about forty. five millions of dollar In soon retiring from this department and from pub- lie tife, in which | have served so long, with inferior abilities to many othere, but with equal solicitude to promote the best interests of my bsloved couatry, [ submit, with the utmost deference to the suparior wis- dom of Congress, ays gud experience as regards the orgeuizstion of the Treasury Department. [ts varied aad important duties, with the rapid insrease of ovr own business and popu n promptly and properly performed by any ons Seor. tary. Yet, in detaching any of its daties from thie de- partment, the greatest care must bo taken nob to im- ir the unity, simplicity, and eficiency of the system 'o take from this department its supervision over the commerce and finances, or over any of the accountiag officers of the Treasury, the two comptrollers, the six auditors, the treasurer, the rolicitor or register, the assistant treasurers or ‘collectors, the revenue mar the coast survey. the mint, the weights and measure the marine hospitals, or the light-houte system, woald create confusion and be most prejudicial to the pavlio tervice, But there are important public duties, having no ne- cessary connection with commerce or finances, that coud be most advantageonsly separated from the ‘Treasury, and devolved upon a new departneat of the government. Among these, are the isnd office, land titles, and surveys ceaected therewith, Meal and geological The business of the laod cflice occupies a very large portion of the time of the Secretary of the treasury every day, and his duties connected therewith must be groatly increased by the accession of our immense domain in Oregon, New Mexico, and Califoruia, exoesially in cou- nection with their valuable mineral lands, thoir pri a all di te land claims, pre emt entries or purchases of public domsin, an ‘0 the Secretary of the T'reasury, This is but ch of these duties; and yet, as'some evidence of the amount of labor devolved upon hia from th source, | bave pronounced judgment in upwards of five thousand cases, involving land titles, since the tenth | of March, 1845 | These are generally judicial questions, and not financial; requiring often great labor and ri search, and having no necessary connection with the Guties of the Treasury department. The daily corre- ndexee of this department with the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Surveyors General, the Re- gisters and Receivers, and other persons connected with the system, is most voluminous The supervisory power now exercised by the Secr tary of the Treasury over the expenses of the courts of the United States, and other duties connected ther: with, through the marshals and clerks of these courts, gives rise to a very considerable daily correspondence with[tbese officers; and having no necessary connection with the fioances, should also be detached from the Treaeury Department, as well as from the State De- partment, the duties of these marshals in connection with the sus of the United States. Having transferred the laborious duties enumerated from the Secretary of the Treasury, Congress should authorize him to appoint an assistant Secretary, who should be a man of great talents and experience, with ae salary not less than $3,000 @ year, who shoull ex: amine all letters, contracts and warrants, propared for the cignature of the Secretar: d to perform such other duties, not requiring the signature of the Secretary, as might conveniently be devolved upoa him by the department. Yo maintain the unity and efficiency of the system, he should be appointed by the Secretary, and subject’ to bis direction. He would want one abl and efficient clerk, with a salary not Jess than $3,700 per annum ‘The office of Comptroller of the Treasury should be ‘ded, and that great and augmenting portion of his duties relating to the receipts trom customs, and tae accounts of Collectors and other officers of the cus tomsconnected therewith, should bo devolved upon the head of & new bureaa, to be called the Comuis- sioner of Customs, whose duties would be various aad important. The first Comptroller should retain all the other duties now performed by him, and erpeciaily kis de- cision upon claims and accounts, which would ocoupy the whole time of the head ofa bureau Combined as now are under the first Comptroller, the Guties appertaining both to receipss and expendi: tures of the public moneys, accounts, and claims, the oflice is overburdened with business, which cannot promptly and properiy be performed by any one inai- vidual, however able and laborious. The duties now performed by the Commissioner of Indian Affsirs are most numerous and important, and must be vastly increased with the great number of tribes scattered over Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, and Celifornia; and with the interesting progress of 60 many of the tribes in Christianity, knowledge, and ci- yilization, There duties do not necessarily appertain to war, but to peace, and to our domestic relations with thore tribes, placed by the constitution uader the charge of this government ‘This mo-t impertant bureau, thon, should be de- teched from the War Department, with which it has no necerrary connection. ‘The duties of the Patent Office, s they now are, must necessarily increase with the progress of light and knowledge, the developments of the wonderful inventive genius of our countrymen, and the researches of s0 many enlightened minds in this country into machinery. the physical scienses, and the arcana of nature. This burend has no neces- ary cr proper connection with the State Departmont, and ought to be separated from it. ‘The Pension Office should also be detached from the War Department, inaemuch no military orders are given to pensioners, 6s such, by the Secretary of War, nor by the Navy Department, much less to the widows and beirs who receive these bounties from the govern- ment. ‘There is another rearon why the Pension Office, as well asthe Indian Bureau, should be detached from the War Department, and placed under the supervision of the same recretary to whom the Lind Office would be entrusted, namely: under our system of revolutionary and militery bounties, and land warrants, as well as nder treaties end vations with Indian tribes, Dany questions arite in relation to eur public lands and private Isnd claime, connecting themselves fre- quently aud intimately with our general land system, and with decisions upon Isad titles made by the Com- rissloner of the General Land Office, and. therefore, reat and important | all thore bureaus whore duties are #0 intimately con: nected with the publiclands, as well as with private ought to be placed under the supervision jepettment, or conflict of decision and nd does, in fuct, take place. S@etached the Patent Ofiice from the State, the Land Office from the Trea- rvisory duties, in connection uding their connection with the census; having © detached from the War Department the Indisa jureau and the Pension Office, the samo supervisory ‘authority as regards them, all now exercised respective- ly by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the I'rea- bury, and the Secret War, sbould be entrusted to the Head of « new D E, to be called the Se. erotary of the Interior, his duties would ¢ sere mpt discharge of eral Tpertments and bu. Cereb Sve of tims ye great ind pletion, at an early day, cf the Treasury bu idiaz, 50 as to recure fire-proef rooms to all our bur-wus. free from rent, as well as accommodate and inclut edifice the Sti partment, with its i archives. The department hat purchared, for the eum ap- priated by Congress, Loth the bridges within this trict over the eastern branch of the Potomac, wuich are now free of toll, as designed by the wise andlibe- ral legislation ef Congress; and in consummatin: this reeult, valuable ald was rendered to me by the Mayor ‘The various recommendations of this, my last financial report, aro rerpectfully eubmitted to the en- lightened consideration of the two houses of Congress. ‘They are believed to be such as would best the true interests of the Amer! and for my country, and ber glo promote ‘or them fed sracy of 3. | tually become the dispensers of the blessings which | event, become the great highway of the nations of | the earth, all of which would be tributary to us. sovereign and United States, l invoke the coatinusd Diessings of Heaven. May her union be harmoniow rr gresely perpetual! May her career be ono of onor, peace, end glory—of equity. justice, and food faith! May each succetsive administration, in all time to come, in faithfully discharging the arduous duties of its exalted trust, receive the support and approbation of the people! Guided by conscious reo- titode, may they be commended and sustained in every ¢ficrt to promote the public good, and even their ernore—whieb are the lot of humantty—be regarded with indulgence, and overruled by a benigaant Prov! dence for the advancement of the harpiness and wel- fare of our belo country! R. J. WALKER, Secretary of the Treasury. Hon. RC. Wintnor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Navat.--The U. 8. store ship Fredonia, Lieut commanding F. A. Neville, sailed from this port yesterday morning, for San l’ranciseo, Calif rnia. ‘This fire slip takes out a very large cargo of go- vernment stores for the navy, army, and revenue service on that station. ‘The following officers are attached to the Fre- donia:-~ Lieut commanding. F A. Neville; acting master, Abner Road; passed midsbipmen, A. F. Montes, L. U. Lyne, Edward Renshawy eaestant surgeon, James V’. Harrison; acting purser, Joeeph Gideon; aoting assis: tant rorgron, Lafayette Ringgold; mastut's mate, Ko. bert W hearbey; carpenters, Gvorge W Biliott,“and James Ling; acting guaner, Jobn Dents; purserts clerk, Benjemin Duffield, Paseerger—Rev, William Norwood, of Kichmond, Va, NEW YORK HERALD. Northwest corner of Fulton and Nassau sts. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. PARK TBEATRE-Rrewan Ul—Linexry. ROWERY THFATRE, Bowery—Mureo P. Low Cemex—Danowe asp Live S8ratuns—Tas Mu.ae | fxn His Maw, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway—Txe Hoxonsacn— Manni Raxe, NATIONAL THEATRE, Chat oxnvxa—Wanvgaine By m Square—Kiwe reRiEs AND Mis, BUBTON’S TOFATRE, Chambers ptreet—Breacn or Pao- sose—Were's Bannua—Tkacwoy Quamn, BROADWAY CIRCUS, neat Spring stree!—Eqvestaan. ism, Bo, MECHANICS’ HALL Broadway, noar Broome—-Canuny’s ovesn xLe—ErHioriaw SINerN@. MBLODEON -Vincw1a Senexavens, SOCIETY LIBRARY—Camporit’s Miwsra ety PANORAMA HALL, 693 Broadway—Dionama ev Bom- sanpwent oF Vana Chus, ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Bowery—Vax Ammunon’s Rand Men aGEnix. STUYVESANT INSTITUTE, Broadway, near Blosoker streot —New OnLeans Searsapens# Eruorian Conceats, TABERNACLE, Broadway—Das Corton ann Borwron’s Exvin rion o Evxcrao-Maoveri? TRLeGRaPH, AND THE PamsminG oF Tax Court oy Deatit. BROOKLYN INSTITUTE, Brooklyn —Guno's's Tarny Con- curr. “New Yorm, Tacsday, December 12, 1848. " Actual Circulation of the Herald, Deo. 11, Monday. . 20.496 copies. ‘Tho publication of the Herald at 20 menced yeaterdsy minutes past 2 o'clock. and finished at 3) minutes past 6 o'eloek. Dirculation ef the other Leading Morning Journals, Courler and Enquirer, (daily) Journal of Commere wily Ex) es Teibanes ss + 4,800 4800 Aggregate . oes oe 0 24,600 Errors in the above estimate will be corrected on adequate authority. The Report of the Secretary of the Treasury. Our readers will find in this day’s paper, the report of Mr. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, in full, Under the head of Washington corres+ pondence, one of our letter writers gives his opi- nion on its metits and contents ; but we shall defer givmg our views on it until we have ex- amined it in a Wallstreet light, which we shall do in a day or two, at our leisure. The Steamship Canada. This steamship had not arrived when we went to press this morning. She is now in her seven- teenth day. Sheisanew ship, and it may be that some part of her machinery has given way, or that it1s yet too stiff for speed. If she does not arrive in a day or two, her news will be anticipated by the Niagara, which will be due at Boston to-morrow or next day. The Gold Mines of California—Rallroad to the Pactfic. If the accounts which we are daily receiving from California, concerning the gigantic mineral discoveries in that region, and the offietal reports published by the government on the same subject, are to be reed upon—and we certainly have no reason to doubt them—the western portion of our territory will, ina few years, rival the Atlantic coast in opulence, in population, the extent of its commerce, and in all the advantages which, to a great extent, are confined to the eastern division of the continent at present. A great revolution—a wonderful change in the commerce of the world, and especially in that of the United States—will be the immediate result ; but in order that we may avail ourselves of our been exercwed by a corporation im any ceuntry, would be in magnitude what a mosquito bite ie to | the bite of a crocodile, to the extent of the power — ‘hat a corporation, or an individual, controlliag such a proposed communication. would exercise | over the interests of our people and country. For | these and other reasons, the work of effecting such a communication as the one we have pointed out, and of controlling it after it was completed, should | be vested in the government, and in the gevern- | ment alone, and should pass from administration | to administration on every change of the govern- ment, as the White House at Washington, or the office of President itself, does. That Congrees has the ability to carry out this work if it had the will, we presume there can be no question. It 1s estimated that from sixty to seventy millions of dellars would complete a rail road the whole distance—a sum which, in propor- | tion to the magnitude of the benefits that would Certainly be derived from it, is as nothing. We have millions and millions of acres of land on the route, now lying idle, and utterly worthless, which, agsoon as the work was commenced, would be brought into a state of cultivation, and be open to settlement. This would add to the revenue and wealth of the country, and tend to swell its agricul- tural productions, as well as stimulate emigration to our shores. Although the necessity’of a rail road would appear to be immediate, in order to avail ourselves of the benefits of the great changes which are about to be made, Congress may be startled at the magnitude of this undertaking. A little reflection, however, if their minds are strong enough to encounter an investigation of the sub- ect, will convince them of the great benefits which would certanly flow from it. We trust, therefore, hat this important matter will not be overlooked duning this session; or that, at all events, an ap- ropriation will be made to have the route sur- veyed. Let it be undertaken, and Canton, in China, will he but thirty days distant trom us, while it 1s now four or six months, 1n point of time. Conaress anp 11s Doinas.—Congress has now been a week in session, but it is hardly yet fairly on its legs. This may be excusable tor a few days longer; but we hope and trust that our highly res. pectable legislators will proceed at once, without further procrastination, te their practical duties, Some of the members have been already oflering Tesolutions, and cutting out work for future action, This business may be continued for a few weeks longer; yet we cannot help thinking that the wisest course for them to adopt would be to take up, without delay, such particular branches of legisla- tion as are most required, and absolutely necessary, for the welfare of the country at large. One of the most pressing and important points which claim their immediate attention, 18 un- | doubtedly the organization of a new governmen; for California. That territory promises, in every point of view, to be the most important and valua- ble that has ever been acquired by this country, and its present condition 1s so anomalous and dis. organized, as to require the most instantaneous and decided action of the legislature. We are in hopes that the wonderful discoveries lately made in that territory, and its immense importance ina comniercial point of view, together with the con- sequences it is destined to have, not only on this country, but the whole world, will impel Congress to legislate immediately with regard to it, and to take steps forthwith to organize a government for that distant region. In the Senate, a plan has been proposed for this purpose by Mr.{Douglass, a® a basis of action for both houses of Congress, and for the President. It1s supposed by gome that the question of the organization of a government for California will bring up the Wilmot proviso, with all its disturb- ing excitements. We are of opinion, however’ geographical position, and secure to this couatry the advantages that will result from this new order of things, we must expedite communication be- | tween that distant part of our territory and the Atlantic coast. The trade of Asia sd China is, and has been for a long series of years, mono- polized by England, and that trade 1s, to a great extent, an exchange of the precious metals for the teas and silks of that portion of the world. It is carried on, too, with disadvantages which we, from our geogtaphical position, would be exempt from, provided we availed ourselves of the facilities which the God of nature has bestowed upon us so liberally. We have the gold and silver on the spot, a8 is proved by the recent discoveries in Cali- forma. In this respect we enjoy an advantage over England ofno common xind; and 1n another, an advantage of still greater,importance—-that 1s, 1n the facilities which we possess of uniting the east- em and western shores of our territory by railroad, As matters now stand, we are distant trom San Francisco nineteen thousand miles ; to all intents and purposes we, in New York, are no nearer to that part of our territory than Liverpool 1, for ves- eels from both ports must double the Cape, thereby encountering the well-known perils of that danger- ous navigation, in addition to making the voyage of the duration of from four to five moaths. By the proposed union, therefore, fully sixteen thousand miles in the distance between New York and San ncisco would be saved ; fora railroad from the ssippito California,through the RockyMoun- Great South Pass—which,by ay, ve been excavated by nature for the ex. purpose of a railroad from the eastern to the m shore of the American continent—would longer than twenty-five hundred miles. Tie Intages of such a union never were more appa- than they are now. It is clear and evident that if this communication were formed, and these mines of gold and silver in California are as pro- lific as they are represented to be, we would have the means within ourselves of controlling the com- merce of the whole civilized world. We would ercome the dangers and delays of navigating und the Cape, and we would possess the basis Jl commerce in an unlimtted degree. We ould assume the position which we are geogra- phically entitled to, that of the entrepot of exchange and commerce between Asia and Europe, and vir- atiend upon commerce to the whole civilized world. The proposed communication would, in euch an | The United States would then, indeed, fulfil its deetiny, and work changes the like of which the world has never dreamt of. Let that communica- tion be made, and the vista of the future would be so stupendously and overcomingly magnificent, that at the bare attempt to penetrate it, the human mind would be paralyzed. Cities, villages, towns, manufactories, ships, steamers, and every other evidence of industry, would start into existence as | if by the wand of the magician; the busy hand of Jabor and trade would triumph over the solitude of the desert; the inhabitants of the great East would be as familiar to us as those of Europe are, the wealth of the most extensive markets in the known world would be thrown open to us; in a word, as we have before stated, we would become the entrepot of the commerce of the whole world; and become the greatest nation of ancient qr mo- dern times, to which all others would render homage and pay tribute. In the present position of the world, and keep- ing in view those grand mineral discoveries in Califorma, the question of effecting a rapid and speedy communication between the eastern and western shores of our coatinent is the most im- portant, by inconceivable odds, of any mater that could engage the attention of the American public, or of the Ameriean Congress, Nothing can up- proach itin the imtensity of its importance. Con- gress should at Once take it in hand; but the enterprise should not and ought not to be of a private or corporate nature, or con- fided to any agents but those of the goveru- ment. We have seen the ill effiets of vest. that the discovery ofthe gold mines in California | will have the effect of laying the Wilmot proviso | flat on its back. The number of adventurers who | are already preparing to go out there, and the im- | mense white emigration which will. nour into | San Francisco, must soonoverwhelm all attempts to make the Wilmot proviso a topic of disturbance or annoyance. When the inhabitants of the terri- | tory wiil be nearly all white, and the emigration thither of the same character, there need be very little apprehension entertained with regard to the bringing up of the Wilmot proviso. The best way, | however, to arrange this vexed question, would be to organize California on the same basis as Ore- gon was last session. But whatever course the two houses may pur- sue in this important question, it 1s absolutely necessary that immediate action should be taken upon it by the legislature. Generat Tayror anv mis Cantyer. are almost inundated, from all quarters, with acticles, suggestions, communications, and letters» relative to the inaterials of the new Cabinet to be selected by the President elect. We have already given a number of names of those who were most prominent in contributing their aid to the great victory lately achieved by the people. Bat we do not think it necessary or useful to recom- mend particular individuals for particular depart- ments, in the present crisis of public affairs. In our opinion, the Cabinet under General Tay- lor will not be such a political conclave as the po- hiticians generally suppose. General Taylor wil; be found a very different man from Gen. Harrison —a very different man from Captain Tyler—a difierent man from, any who have preceded him in the Presidency since the days of General Jackson. We believe that the President elect will choose his Cabinet from the best names and the most effi- cient statesmen he can get ; but if any indiv.dual of his Cabinet, or it even the whole ot it, should attempt to rule the roast, or to upset, the general pmnciples he may lay down for the guidanee of his government, he will at once get md of them, as easily as General Jackson did, and will appoint a new Cabinet, if necessary, every six months, The responsibility of the Cabinet, as wisely re- gulated by the constitution, rests upon the Prest- dent's shoulders. The members of the Cabinet are only the heads of the several departments over which they are placed, and responsible merely for the discharge of the duties attached to their res- pective offices. Should it happen that any of the subordin .tes of General Taylor do not concur in his general views and measures of government, we have not the slightest doubt but he will remove them with the same ease and promptness as Ge- neral Jackson did during the eight years of his | administration. is Apverrtisina ny Te Government.— We con- cur in the opinion of a cotemporary, that the go- vernment at Washington should extend its system of advertising, on the plan that was adopted two orthree years since by the Post Oilice Depart- ment. Hitherto, the advertisements emanating from the various departments at Washington, generally appeared in the mere party organs there, which, it is well known, have neither circulation nor influence, nor means to give them the requi- site publicity to the country. Two or three years ago, some good genius applied the common sense Intelligence from the West Indice—frrival | of the Stoamsaip Forth. The Royal West India matt stzamer Forth, under the command of Capt. Sturdee, arrived Saturdey morning, at a very early hour, from Bermada and St. Thomas. Her accounts trom the former place are to the 7th, and from the latter to the Ist inst, The British mail steam packet Great Westerm Teft Bermuda (from the Gulf of Mexico) for Eng. land on the 7th, with a freight of about two and @ half millions of dollars. Files of the Bermuda Herald and of the &. Thomus Tulende were received up to the latest date. Gen. Hanren, Governor-in-chief of the Danish West India Islands, arrived at St. Croix on the 23d. The Spanish troops sent to St. Croix some time since, left for Porto Rico on the 27th.— ‘The following letter, from our corregpondent, will be found of interest ina commercial point of view : Sz. Tuomas, Nov, 80, 1848, of the steamer urch, from ived @ file of your valuable jour: By bes arrivi most joyfal and bas been the uoiversal tatk Meet cue ee Topean Dews per sume steamer has sunk into insige nificance; und we all feel assured that his election will bave its apticirated effect of keeplag at peace with the whole world. ‘The negroes are quiet here, and it mast be attrie buted altcgether to the very firm and determined: steps taken by Judge Berg, the acting Governor, whe skes them toe the mark. Our sister roix, bas been now and thi though of too smali account to make mention 4, had Governor Oxho!m acted as prompt aod decisive as be ought wo have done. no troudle would | have arisen. ‘Che new Governor General has arrived, | with four hundred tro»ps.and no doubt, things will now be inquired into and settled; and once more the planters be at rest. | “AW the telauds around promise abundant and pro- ductive crops, to windward as well a3 leeward, though low prices must naturally follaw, when Wes (audia produce is so very low ia the Uaited Stal which at present is the only market good for anything, evea at the very low rates. American provisions, in the windward islands, are @ complete glut, and prises truly ruinous. Barbadoes flour, $6!;; Antigua, $634; idad, $7; duty to come at $1% to $13¢ per basrel At Demerara the L wail 1th The wo'e place has been inundated with every kind of Auerio:m produce, and ail Kinds of toreiga arti 12s; ead this ime | terregnum of duties abolished has thrown an immense amount out of the honds of the government, Porto Rico and st Doming» alike glatted wita pro " and our market flooded with cargoes from windward and United States The cargo per bark Hyp:r oa, efter going to all windward, was sold a day or two since, at ruinous prices. Flour, $534; prime pork, $944; prime bread, $3; butter, 1c, A cargo per @ French thip trom New York, 600 barrels flour, sold at $6, We cannot expect for an improvement whea cat; after cargo arrives, and is sold at such ruinous prices, ‘rhe business to all the West Indies has and is over. done, and now no more voyages of coining doubloont &re made as heretofore, and we must all around bs coutent with a little. Exchange on England $4 90> $5; op United States. 1 per cent prem. By the way of B.lumore, aad by the Forth also, we have copies of the Kingston (Jamaica) Joure nal to the 20th inst. Mejor Gen. Banbury, the new commander of the forces, arrived on the 15th, and was received with all the military honors. A young man named Vaugh came to his death ina singular manner, on the 2d of November. He was going from Kingston to Old Harbor, and on his way met in the road a drove of cows, when the soimals at- oe him in 8 body, and actually butied him to be Journal announces the death of Mrs, Darling, wife of the Governor of St. Lucia, of yellow fever. The Journal of the 20th contains the following in- formation from Barbadces: The Barbadoes Legislature was opened on the 10th oe Weed by the new Governor, Sir William Cole- ocke. Tae yellow fever bad not only not left the 66th regi. ment, at St. Avn’s garrison, but to it had been added the distressing disease of inflammation of the eyes, which bad laid up large number of the men ia hos- pital. The fever was, however, on the decline. Im the 72d, the loss of life is said not to be.so frequent, owing, {t is supposed, to the more sedentary havits of the men. ‘On the cultivation of ground provisions, ths Barbas dian observes :— © It is wonderful to think how vast a quantity of ground provisions may be procured from our land, where industry is oxercised and the weather favora ble, Here we bave been this year feeding our popule- tion almort entirely from our own cultivation, besides supplying the wante of the neighboring coloan Large quantities of sweet potatoes are exported every week, chiefly to Demerara. ‘The demand is so great that we cannot imagine that our p'anters can now say they are not worth planting. Indeed, we have heard cf eeveral pereons. even in distant parishes, ha- ving derived contiderable profit from their ground pro- visions.”” Too leme proper, speaking ofthe weather, says: — “The weather will, it is said, in the language of the planters ‘crown the crop’ We trust lt will, We can Paly wish tha: Sstttr pricor could be obtaiaed for their sugar’ If they do nov, *8°Y are working for novbirg. Hic laber, hoc opus est. ‘Tne ..'* TOP Must have reas ed, if it has not fexesceded, 3) (60 ho, "aes, inoluding the quantity consumed in the island.”? ‘The principal topic of disenssion among the prperd appears to be the difficulty which has existed for s»ne time between the people of the colony and the hone government, through their mutual represe atatives, the Assembly on the one hand, and Governor and Couaoil on the other. It seems that the people have for so ne time complained of the neglect of the home govern- ment, and insist that measures be takon for the relief of the people, ‘The Governor and his Council refuse todo 0, and the Assembly, by way of retaliation, re. fuses to vote the supplies At the last accounts, the House was tusy on a Dill to redace the tariff on imperts of breadetuffs, The g:y-rowent has of- fered to guaranty a loan, to the extent of half a mil- lion pounds, for the uso of the several colonies which deeiro the means of carrying out permanent improve- ments of a general nature, and this cfr has been communicated tothe Asrembly. As tts nothing has in respect to it, except perl voting th Governor's mersage communicating tt, a breach of the privileges of the House Tur West Invia Maw Steamer Forta.—This veeeel, under command of E. T. Sturdee, Esq., came up at an early hour, yesterday morning, looking much finer and in better order than when she was lust here. She has been painted, and re- novated thoroughly, presenting, as she now lies” off the Battery, a very fine appearance. To Cap- tain Sturdee and his gentlemanly officers, we beg to tender our thanks for their attention in forward- ing our despatches, Inalate copy of the St. Thomas Tidende, wa find the annexed complimentary card from th® passengers of the Forth to Captain Sturdee, and his answer, which we give, in justice to the Cap- tain and his gallant officers : Cart. E. T, Srunore, Toyai Mail Steam Packet Forth. Drax Six:—Our pasrago having now terminated, le “sesociation with you being now about to ovare, we take pleasure in presenting to you our warm thanks for your kind and attentive deport- ment towards us, during our recent trip from Now ork. In all cases we have found ourselves well cated for, an abundant and weil provided table, enjoying the luxuries at tea afforded on land y Steam Packet Com- pany in having thus ertabiished a line, long desired be- tween New York and the West Indiew, as mote speedy, much safer and more convenient comaunication for travellers than heretofore, and we trast that Wort India Atlantic travellers may extend their libera! pa- tronage towards it. Under every olrotmrtance we have found you » thorough, skilful navigator, and a gentleman. ‘To the officers connected with you, we ales desire our thanks for aiding our p’easant pss:aze, and believe them worthy of the confidence you repose in them. In conclusion, allow us to wish you « long life, good th and prorperity, and trusting that some of ua may again enjoy your company, We ars your friends and prrsongers. Rovas Mart. Steam Packer Forti, Off St. Thomas, 24th Nov.. 1848, Lapins ann Genrienen:—It is with the utmost learure | received your address, and can Tifeet proud to think my endeavors to mas! comfortable as I could, have been #0 unanimously ap- preciated. It would have afforded @ much satistaction to have riol and I trast at pleasure @ Company which I have the honor to rerve will find it to their advantage to con- tinue the line of packets between New York and the ‘West Indies, as the traffic developes itself. They have determined to give it » fair trial. On behalf of myself and officers, I beg to offer you my best thanks, and in return, wish you all health and Prosperity. 1 am, ladies and gentieme: prineiples of practical life to the advertising of the Post Office ; and the advantages of advertising in the papers of the largest circulation have been ex- hibited in the great increase that has since ac- crued to the revenue. Why not, therefore, adopt the game course with regard to the other great de- partments of the government! This is a favorable time to carry suck ameasure into eflect, and we trust that the present govern- ment will see the propriety of introducing such a reform before their retirement from office ; but should they neglect to do so, we hope that the new admimstration, under the auspices of Ge- netal Taylor, will not fail to apply the principles of common eense, and not of party spirit, to every department of the government, Tur Inon Sreasee Magpanena, built in this city, and plying on the miver of that name, we ing great power in corporations in this country, to cour cost; but the greatest power that has ever learn by dn arrival at this port, burst her boilers and killed four or five persons, Yours faithfully, E. Sues Commander. To the mow ay wate : } We are requested to state shat the Forth leaves again for Bermuda, St. Thomas, and so on to Chagres, on Wednesday, at noon, precisely. Tux Goin Exerremeyt.—The wildness of the gold mania, as it now rages in this city, will be better understood when we state the fact that no Jess than fifteen vessels are now load ng for Cali- fornia ; four more are under negotiation, and will probably fall into the list for the same destination: Each of these take out provisions, clothing, manu- factures, and gold hunters in any number, At Boston, Baitumore, Salem, and Newburyport, aro algo vesee|s up for the gold regions. New Orleans is likewise in the market for this region. The office of Messrs. Howland & Aspinwall has been inundated every day, for more than a month, with appheoations for passage, and with persons seeking 9