The New York Herald Newspaper, December 11, 1852, Page 7

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. HOME AFFAIRS. Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior, Derantaxnt or tHe Ivrenion, Dee. 4, 1853. Sin—In antic! ipation of the approaching session of Con- grees. I respecifully submit the follewing report of the operations of the Department of the Int ‘Whe general nature of the duties of thi department has ‘been fully explained in my former reports, and withoa: Tepeating what has been said, L will proceed to exhibit, under appropriate heads, a condensed view of its eondi- tion and want ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATION, To cnable you to make a comparison of the estimates for the next fiseal year, with those for the present, | sub. mit the following tabular statement: — 1854. $25 230 00 1,077,069 55 1,015,735 50 985,816 68 ‘tates Courts . 672.053 €0 672.900 00 Publie buildings - 418,504 71 1,107,663 00 Penitentiary of the District of Columbia . 9.210 00 8,890 00 5500 00 7,700 00 10 000 00 10,000 00 160.000 00 — 200,000 00 -— $5,695,328 04 $4,921,025 71 ‘It will be ceen from the foregoing table that the aggre. te fer the next year is less by $774,302 33 than that for the present. It is preper to remark, however, that the estimates for the lend and Indian service are incom- plete, for want of precise information at the time they were , of the amounts which will be required for those objects in California, Oregon, and other remote parts of the country. ‘The variations in regard to the department proper and judicial expenses are too small to require detailed expla- ns. ‘ Large balances of the pprvepriahione for pensions will remain unexpended at the close of tha present fiscal year, The amount estimated for that service during the next year is, therefore, less by $580,193 34 than for the present. The estimate for bio buildings exceeds that Of the prerent year $689,158 20. ‘This is caused by the introduction of an item of $600,000 for the extension of the capitol, for which object no estimate was made for the.present year. The residue of the excess is for other new objects in the city of Washington, which will be fully caine in the report of the Commissioner of Public The expenses of the penitentiary have been again re- duced, hag the judicious management of the present inspectors len. ‘The estimate for agricultural statistics has been in- creased $2,200. This consists of two items, viz: —For ey librarian $1.200. and for the purchase of addition: books $1.00. No estimates have been submitted for the census, or Mexiean boundary turvey, because the sums which may be required will depend upon the action of Congress on the recommendations contained in other parts of this report. PUBLIC LANDS. The report of the Commissioner of the General Land Offiee exhibits much diligence and activity in that bramch of the public service, and contains important recommen- dation Lio ae by experience, to all of whioh I invite your atten ‘The northern boundary of the State of Towa has been run and marked with unprecedented dispatch; and a full report of the survey will be submitted at an early period of the session of Congress, ‘The quantity of land sold during the last fiscal year, is 11,568,071 acres, being 208 776 acres less than the preceding rs ‘The quantity located with bounty land warrants, 8.201.814 acres, being an increase on the previous year cof 747,814 sores. ‘The quantity reported under the swamp. lend grants is 5.219188, sod’ that selected for railroads, Ko. it 3,025,020 acres, The aggregate of all the public Jands disposed of during the last fiscal year is 13,116,175 eres, being an increase over the previous year of 8.342.372 acres. In consequence of the more advantageous terms upor which lands can be located with bounty land war- rapte, the sales for cash have been diminished; the quan- tay eela during the first quarter of the Present fiscal year, 1g but little over one-half the quantity sold during the corresponding quarter of the prerent year. In the first quarter of the present fiscal year, there were BOD fOr CAEN... ....- cere cess ceee ee 243.255 acres. Locate@with bounty land warrants, a Located with other certificates, .. 1 ed Reported under swamp land grants, 12,485,233“ Making the aggregate quantity disposed of during the quarter,........006.es0-++4 131,258 “ ‘If the appropriations by means of sale, locations of ty land warrants, and selections of swamp lands, and fer railroad purpores, &c. should continue in the fame proportion during the remaining three quarters, the | egeregate quantity of land dispored of during the pre- sent year will be sixteen and a half millions of acres. ‘The whole number of bounty land warrants issued un- Ger the acts of February 11. 1847, September 28, 1850, and 22d of Mi and called for by them is 22428.400 acres. Of these warrants, 121,026 have been located, covering 14 802.040 ecres, and there are yet eutstanding 101.081 warrants, whiob will cover the further quantity of 7,626,360 acres. fA table accompanying the Commissioner's report pre- ‘Bents a comprebensive view of the condition of the pub- Jands in the several States. It ebows the evtire area in the quantity of land surveyed, and the quantity which Femains yet to be surveyed; the number of acres which Shave been offered for sale; the number sold; the quan- tity embraced in donations; grants for schools, universi- ties, asylums for the deaf and dumb; for interaal impreve- ments; to individuals and companies; for seats of govern- ‘arch, 1852, is 223,007, and the qaantity ef | uare miles of each State, | served to the end of the war, only 1,168 were of tbat number 128 still on rolis, but been paid during the first and second quar- resent year. ‘The system of revolutionary pensions was greatly ex- tended by the sot of 7th June, 1832, At the date of my | Jast report 32 086 persens had received the benefits of that ac’, of whom, 4 813 then continued on the rolls. Bidoe that Mate eighty new pensioners bave been adds making the aggregate mumber of persons who have been | pensioned under that law 33,066. Of these, 4.328 remain on the rolls, but only 1405 have reecived pay ment in first and second quarters of the year, from which it m: be fairly inferred that large number have died within the year. WIDOWS OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER: Under the law of 4th July 1836, 5,163 peysons have been pensioned, of whom 978 remain on the rolls. The act of 7th July, 1835, extended the pension laws to wido: of revelutionrry roldiers who were married prior to 1704, Under it, 11 400 bave from time to time been enrolled, ‘but only 152 have been paid during the firet and second quarters of the year. ‘The number pensioned under the act of 2d January, 1848, is 6.000; and under the act of 29th July, 1848, which extended the period of maniege te the year 1800, the number pepsioned was 975. There are now on the rolls, under both these acts, 6 280 pensioners, of whom 4 200 were paid {during the first and second quarters of the ear. Se At the date of my last report the number on the rolls was 5.254 If, therefore, we assume the payments during the year as the basis for estimating the pumber who sur- vive, it has been reduced to the extent of 1,046. MEXICAN WAR PENSIONS The whole number of pevsions granted under the vari- ous acts for the benefit ot the widows and orphans of sol- dlers who were killea in battle, or died from diseaso con- tracted in the Mexican war, is 1,890, and the number now on the rolls is 1.123, being 627 than at the date of my last repert. NAVY PENSIONS. A detailed statement of ths navy pensions sccompa- nies the Commissioner's report, from which it will appear that there are now on the rolls 726 invalids, who receive anpually $45,046 96. There are slso 514 widows, who annually receive $101,490, apd 48 orphans, who receive $6,138. VIRGINIA HALF PAY COMMUTATION CLAIMS. The balf-pay claims examined and allowed under the act of 5th July. 1882, since the date of the last report. amounts to $15,964 It is supposed that few vali claims of this character are now outstanding. Some, however, have been presented, which, for various causes, have been suspended. All claims for commutation pay continue suspended by my order, until the further pleasure of Congress shall be | made known on the subject. This order, by its terms. will remain in force until the close of the next session of Con- ress, If in the meantime. ne action shall be taken by grees, it may become the duty of the department to make euch disposition of them as justioe may seem to’ require, MILITARY LAND nOUNTIER, During the year ending 25th Ostober, 1852, land war- rants have issued on account of revolutionary claims as follows. viz z= 8 for lieutenants, of 200 acres each.... 600 acres. 12 for non commissioned officers and soldier Of 100 acres €aCh......c.cesesecseeseeeeee 1,200 acres, 135 warrants of 160 acres each, issued under the acts of Congress of December 24, 1811, and January, 1512... oe +e eee +21,600 acres, And 7 warrants of 320 acres each, issued un- der act of Congress of December 10, 1814, equal to,... seeeetereececcerene 2,240 aorea, There have been issued in the same period 39 new cer- tificates of right to locate land warrants of 160 acres each, which issued under acts of 24th December, 1811. and 11th January, 1812, but for which no patents have heen grant- ed, 6,240 acres. Also. two new certificates of right#to locate land war- rants of 820 acres each. under act of December 10, 1814, upon which no patent bad issued, 640 acres ‘The aggregate of warrants thus irsued for revolutionary service, amd service in the war of 1812, is 82,520 acres, MEXICAN WAR BOUNTY LAND ACT. ‘The claims under the act of 11th February. 1847, known as tho Mexican land bouaty law, which were filed prior to the 31st October last, amount to. Filed for scrip im cu of land bounty. Number of land warrants issued... Issued for money and ecrip.... Leaving suspended, for various reasoms...... 7,402 | The operations during the year under the same act are | a8 follows, viz:— Applications for land | For ecrip or money, | Worrants iseued for land. | Do. for scrip or money, + 8,485 — 2308 | Suspended claims.......- 7,207 The umber of appropriati f 11th | February, 1847. has increased in contequemce of the re- | | peal ef the last proviso of the#th scotiom by the passage | of the act ef 22d of March. 1862 | meunty Lanp Laws oF 281m serrenseR, 1850, axv 220 mancn, 1862 | The exeoution of these laws has been steadily pro- ment and public buildings; for military services; the segreesd reserved for salines; for the benefit of Indians; Vv covered by confirmed private elaims; the amouat of Pega | lands granted to each State; the quantity granted for railroad purposes; and the total ares sume sold and unappropriated ‘The report of Dr D. D. Owen, on the geology of Wis- ocnei ial and Minnesota, is now in press, in accord. ance of Ker 6 6 Will be delivered car)y in the session. It is be lieved that the work itself, and the style of its publiea- ‘tion. will be satisfactory to the public. ~The final report of Mesers Foster & Whitney, on the geology of the Leke Superior region, will probably be Subuiited to Congress during its session. No progress bas yet been made by the department iz the execution of the act of Cor of the last session, providing for the redemption of Virgiaia land warrants with United States scrip, receivable in payment for the public lands, the State of Virginia not having yet exe- » puted the deed of relinquishment, &e, required by the law. Bhortly after the ps eof the act, I addressed ‘the Governor of Virginia om subject, and in reply was informed that it would be brought to the atention of the Legislature, which is now in session. As soon as the de- partment shall have been officially advised that the State or Mia ed has complied with the terms of the law, Prompt measures will be taken for ite execution. In consequence of the allczations made in the year 1837, of errors and imperfecta: of the public pera in the Greensburg district. in ‘ie State ot Louisiana, the land office for that district since that period. Many of 1! re surveys authorized by the act of 29th of August, 1°.’ heving beem completed, the necessary steps have be: recently taken to bring hore lands into market ata: ly a day as practicable. Bufficient progress having }»-0 made in im the public surveys in California and Or: ..n, I respectfally reeom- mend the extension of the p:. ent land aystem over the agricultural lands, and the «- lishment cf land offices for their disposal. With rey, i to the mineral lands in California, I beg leave to rep-. ‘he recommendations con- tained in my last annual re; ©c, with the modification that the privilege of mining »- restricted to citizens of the United States, or those eons who may have elared their intention to be- .¢ such, BENMON | FICK, The report of the Commi: ‘oaer of Pensions contains full and exact information |, regard to the transactions of that cffice, with many yo). ble suggestions of amend- mente of the laws which (: «rve the serious eonsidera- tion of the legislative depar: went of the government. ‘This bureau has hl of the bountics conferred by #8 on those who Rave been engeged in the military wervice of the country. whether given in land or money. Pensions or pecuniary bounties have been granted to atx classes ef persons, First, to soldiers of the revolutionary war; second, tc widows of revolutionary soldiers; third, to imvalid sol- diers; fourth, to widows aad orphans of soldiers in the Mexican war; fifth, to certain clases of persons in the Maval rervice; sixth, Virginia half pay and commutation claimants ‘Phe whole number of pensioners now en the rolls, ex- elusive of navy pensioners ie 18,868, being 748 lees than the number reported in 1851. The number added to the rolls since the last annual tio 2.011, of which & large proportion consists of im- valid peasioners and the widows and orpbans of those who died of wounds or disease contracted in the Mexican wor. The deaths of 623 pensioners of various classes have Deen repozted within the leat year, ‘The expenditure on account of pensions since the last report, as far as it-can be ascertained from the Treasury Department. is about $1,600,000, embracing many claims allowed before the close of tise Last, but paid within the present yaar. The expence of the system continues nearly the same as in former yoars, nor is It likely to be diminished until af been virtually closed Congres i. by further legislation apply the corrective to many of its abuses. Tn my lat rt led your attention to the pro- oPrie #08 b> confine the benefits of the jon red the service, ‘and to the widows and minor childrem of such as e dead; aleo to the necessity of adopting more efficient measures to prevent frauds under the various pension laws As was done by Congress iu reference either of these suljects, I respectfully preseat them again to your notice. ré.certainly ea be no sufficient reason for giving | to adult children or eollateral relatives.ot a decessed sol- ier » bounty for his military rervioss. The policy of the Jaw should be to assume, to some extent. the natural ob- ations of the deceased soldier to ru his fe and minor children im the vent of his each in the publie service; but there can be no vaiid ciaim on the justice or donnty of the government to go further, apd make pre vieion for those whom he sas under no obligation to.sup- ‘The enactment of moro stringent laws to provent the ea of frends on the government, also demands prompt and serious attention of Congress. Soatcely month ela) wichout the detection and exposure darest attempts at Imposition by fraud, porjary, some parts of the country the business has been reduced to a system. amd bodies of men have confederat- ed for the purpose of carrying inte effect their nefarious echemes, by means 60 artful as to reader detection almost jo offort has beon epered by the Department and tha Pension Office to discover ‘nd frurtiate the Purpose of | ‘hess miscreants, but in consequence of the de’eets im the law, it is not always possible to bilog them to justies. | REOLUTIONARY PERBONERS, } ‘iduals, companies and corporations; the area | ing un | ith the directions of bps Fie nda large nomber | grersing. Up to the present time, the number ef cases Teceived and registered amount to 200,008. Of which there have been admitted 140,058 Now on the files for examization 4.681 Buspended for future proof. 55,111 fox, te Basins sseqs% 6608 199,700 | _ Warrants are issued daily for all admit | number of new applications smounts te about one hun- dred per day. | The quantity of land required to satisfy the warrants | | Issued up to the Ist of November. 1852, amounts to | 9.035.820 acres, which, at the minimum price of $1 25 per | acre, would be worth $12.419.160. | Under the act of 22d March, 1852, there have been re- | osived and r ‘ed 7,065 of which there have { been admitted 2.341, leaving still to be acted on 5,314. | To +atisfy the claims issued under this act, 143,600 acres | of land will be required. The report of the commissioner contains some impor- | tant suggestions in regard to propored changes in the | laws relating to pensions. In addition to those alreagy | alluded to, I would invite your particular attention to the propriety of re-enacting &® provieion requiring biennial | examinations, by competent medical officers, of allinvalid | ocr and @ report as to the condition of their | ealth, The law of 1819 coptaived a provision of this | kind which was found to work well im practies, but it was | inoautiously repealed by the act of 4th July, 1832. Some | such measure is indispensable to protect the government | ageinst imposition ‘No material reduction has been made in the clerical | force of the Pension Office since the date of my last re- | port ; but as the bounty land cases will soon be dispored | of, the services of many of the olerks can be dispensed | with at an early day. + INDIAN AFFAIRS. For detailed information in regard to the condition of | our Indian relations I rerpeetfully refer to the report of | the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, In my last annual communication I explained, some- | what at large, my views of the policy which should regu- | late our intercouree with the tides. It was in substance, | civilization, and the amelioration of their condition, | rather than to measures of coereiom. It is not only more sce and humane, but more economical, to win them by indness, and to emcourage them to engage in pastoral | and sgricultural purewite, and relinquish their nomadic | od The and predatory life, than te subdue and restrain them by | Me military foree I still adhere t0 these opinions, and re- spectfally refer to my last report for a more detailed | exposition of them, 1¢ amendments to the treaties with the Sioux Indians | in Minnesota, which were proposed by the Senate, have been rubmitted to the preper authorities of the tribes, ‘and acceded to by them, and their title to a valuable dis- | trict of country has thereby been extinguished. | In consequence of the rejection of all the treaties which | had been negotiated with the Indian tribes resident in California and Oregon, our relations wich them are of a ‘very unsettled and precarious character. It is believed that those treaties were rejected, not so much on account of objections to their detaila, as to the leading principies embraced in them. which secured particular districts of country for the exclusive oceupancy of the Indians. Until the Senate shail have announced some Line of pts the triote of . Or, stricte o country within their limits, more remote from the nettle | mente of the whites are to be set apart for them, it ie preper that Congress, which is alone invested with the power of dispesing of the public domain, should make the neoerrary provisions on the subject. | The department has endeavored assiduoual: ate the Indians by hindmcss, and to prevent ‘ties which we had just exuse to apprehund ft ‘been in a great measure successful. There is fear, ho that if measures are not speedily ww whet is to be the extent of rig) Indians, and to protect them from ag. grersion, collisions and bloodshed will onsee. | The removal of the remnant of the tribe of Semin pared no pains to accom- experience of the oost of blood and treasure which must attend the repetition of the at- tempt to expel them military force, it wos theught to be more copristent with humanity and sound policy to | try tho effect of peaceful measures, A special agent was | therefore employed to go among them and ravor te induce them to emigrate voluntarily. | To give greater force to his representations of the be. | | mefite lukely to ensue from such a measure. he took wi him a delegation of Seminole Indians who had proviously removed tothe country west of the Missiéippl. Their | united persuasions have had the effect whioh was antici- | ted, and recently xeveral of the principal chiefs of the ‘loride tribe virited Washington, and while here acknow- ledged im writing their obligation to remove Late ad. | vices from the special agent assure us that they still ad- here to their engagement; that a meeting of the tribe has been called to make the ne Preparations; and that their removal may be confidently expected at an carly | day. Zach & result will be a matter of much Interest to t] people of Florida, as it will not ouly relieve them from apprehension of danger to their Lot pew and Bropecty, but willopen an extensive district ef country for settle- ment and cultivation. | cornet. The repert of the Buperintendent of the Census will | settlement ef our country. when the population was thin- | the ection of Congress on the subject at its last session, scattered over a wide extent of territery, but few coun- mp te parent yng ora ge Jini ite at rr ee of the earliest opportunity to communicate to you all wided until. at’ the prese When. therefore uated, by reference te its condition cessive decennial census, furion, and will naturally lo taining the rubdivisiony which have tak: lace, and the counties, or parts of counties, which e been taken from thos which were originally established, and the if the successive divisions. 8 a condensed bistory will also furnish gre ties in tracing the titles to lands, Im the State ainia. for example, it would be easy to refer to counties which bave been recently formed whose land titles ar be found scattered through the records of ten or more | different counties, of which it has from time to time eon- stituted a part. ‘The laws of most of the States require conveyances to be recorded in the county in which, for the time being, Ip the various changer which have taken place by the formation of new counties, # tract of land the land lies. ulation increased, and the public convenience mg it meeeseary. these counties were divided and day, many of them do not embrace one. twentieth part of their original territory. This procest must continue to go on for many years to attempt is made to ascertain rogresa in wealth and population of any county ‘each Fuo- the inquirer is involved in con- Il! confidence in the ao- curacy of the returns, unlers he has the means of ascer- opp’ 7 that has been done, to enable you to lay it before Oon- Before proceeding to prerent more in detail the views of the department in reference to the various questions arieivg out of the survey of the boundary, I feel it to be due, alike to myself and the publics. to correct am inacou- racy which accidentally oecurred in my last report. in regard to the latitude of certain points referred to, whieh wastccarioned by an crror of the clerk, who was request- ed to fill two blanks in the original draught of the report, But, although the error was tvo palpable to mislead any one and susceptible of ready correction by referense to the map. I evail myself of the earliest opportunity to put the matter right upon the record. Phe mistake oceurs in the following paragraph: —~ “Difiouities also existed in regard to the point where By the map it appers to be at latitude 31 minutes, whereas the true position grees 45 Intitude 32 degrees to 22 minutes. ‘The facts of the case are as follows :—The southern line of New Mexico is laid down on th of Distur- arly scan be ascertained by measurement, in , 82 deg. 2234 min. and the town of Kl Paso are. by similar measurement. to be in latitude N. 32 the Rio Grande strikes the southern line of New Mexieo, | nature ef am award. which neither party can set anide; and accor¢inaly by the terms of the treaty it is expresely stipulated that ™ the result agreed on by them shall be deemed a part of this treaty and shall have the same force ax if it were inserted therein” Tn view of thie clear and distinet provision, for the ob- servance of which the national faith has been solemnly pledged the Department of the Loterior has not olnimed ecmmissioners. It bas expressed ho official opinion as to the correctness cr incorrectness of the point agreed upon | by the commissioners ax to the beginning point on che Kio Gratde of the southern Ine of New Mexico, and if 1 had been satisfied (hat their decision was clearly errone- ons, Laid not conceive that it was competent for me to alter or modify iu any porticular what bad beem dene by them With the distinct declaration of the treaty before me, that “the result agreed upon by them shall be deemed a part of this treaty, and shail have the same force as if it were inserted therein,’ it would have ben strange if I had asserted any such right But it bas been contended that the letter to Mr. Gray necessarily involves such a pretension. I certainly had no such purpose in writing that letter ; on the contrary, my objec arly to intimate to Mr. Gray that be had neith qual powers with the commissioners, nor supervisory control over thelr action, and that, although his signature might be necessary for the formal authentl- may bave been embraced at different times by ten or more different counties. Every successive conveyavee of this land must come- quently be reeorded in the office of the county in which at the date the land was situated. In seeking. therefore, to investigate the title to a tract of land at the present day it often beccmes necessary not only to assertain in what county the land was situated at the date of the pa tent, but to trace all its divisions and subdivisions through a long series of years, step by step, to the pre. ent time, in order to ascertain whether the intermediate eonveyances have been properly executed and recorded. This information cannot readily be obtained, and the ef- fort to procure it is sometimes attended with great labor and expense. The introductory notices of the counties which itis propored to prefix to the census will furnish it at aglance, and I am persuaded tha’ there is no por- tion of the work which will be more acceptable to the publlest large It will certainly reecue from oblivion and perpetuate in aconvenient and useful form much valuable informa- tion beasing on the history and progress of our country. Gre at psins have been taken to secure perfect aceuracy in this branch of the work, It ie propored that in every instance the notice of each county shall be tranrmitted not only to the clerk of the county, with a view toa compariton with his official re- cords, but also that it shall be carefully revised by the proper executive officers of the State. Objections have also been taken to the publication of to eppe: ier. 153g min,. and longitude 27 deg 85 min. wi Washington This would make the line, according the map. about seven minutes (or reven geographical miles) north of #1 Paso, or @ fraction ef a minute zo of 32 deg. 22 min., ‘as agreed om by the Commis. mers. By actual observation, however, it was ascertained that Hl Paso is erroneously placed on the map, both in rerpect to latitude and longitude, ite true position Doin gin latitude N. 81 deg. 45 min., or a fracti south of its position, as marked by in longitude 29 deg. 40 min., instead 35 min. west of Washington, or two de- d five minutes west of its position, according to than half a de Disturnell, propri following words :— “ For runping and marking the boundary line betw: the United States and Mexico, under the treaty of dalupe Hidalgo. one hundred and twenty thousand dol- lare; provided that no part of this appropriation shall be used or beg. gna until it shall be made satisfactorily 10 President of the United States that the Southern boundary of New Mexico is not established by the commissioner and surveyor of the United States further north of the town called Paro than the same 4 rm down in Disturnell’s map, which is added to the eaty. After mature deliberation, I came to the conclusion an of the last session of Congress jon for the continuation of the sury appear tot more of to cation of the convention between the two commissioners, it was not eesential to ite validity. in like manner as the siguature of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United Btates may be necessary to a formal certificate of a judg- ment of the court to an inferior tribunal ; and yet the absence of that signature does not in anywise affect the validity of the judgment itself. ‘The objection to the action of the department proceeds upon the idea that the commission contemplated by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo consisted of four mambers, viz.:—two commissioners and twb surveyors, all possexs- ing equal powers. If such be the true construction of the treaty, then I acknowledge I have, in common with the late Beerctary of State and his predecessor, (Mr. Buchanan,) misunderstood its provisions. Tt will be recollected that the treaty of Guadalupe Hi- dalgo, which was proclaimed on the 4th day of July. 1848, was negotiated and concluded under instructions issued by Mr. Buchanan. The commisrion to run and mark the boundary line was organized under bis immediate super- vision, by the sppointment of Mr. Weller as commission- er atid Mr Gray as surveyor. That Mr, Ruchapan did not regard the surveyor as pos- sessing eqeal powers With the commissioner, or as being ‘an associate commistioner, is Sbvious trom the fact that all his instructions a6 to the mode of performing that uty were addressed to the commisioner alone, and not to the commistioner and surveyor jointly. The language of the instructions tends also strongly to repel such a presumption, In bi. letter to the commissioner, under the ceneus on the plan proposed. expense which it would involve. on the score of the large sgrest misapprebension seems to have prevailed on this subject, I have thought it expedient to institute that, under the terms of the proviso to this appropria- tion, no part of the money appropriated could be used or expended, and on the 11th day of October, 1852 [ made & report to you to that effect, in which conclusion you date of February 13. 1549, he says :— “As you will be held responsible for the able and faith- ful execution of the important trust confided to you by this article of the treaty, the President deems It proper inquiries to ascertain, first, what would bet he actual cost of publishing the entire work in the comprehensive form proposed by the Superintendent, and in astyle creditable expressed your concurrence b report, dated 13th October, 185: A copy of that report and endorsement are appended an endorsement on the toleave to you the organization of the commission Again he eays in the same letter:—In organizing the commission, you are referred for any information which to the government ; and, second, what would be its cost ae compared with the publication ina greatly inferior 6 of the meagre returns of the sixth census. y reference to the Treasury Department, it has been accertained that the cost of the publication of the sixth census was as follows :— To amount paid Blair & Rives for publiching 10.000 copies of statistical returns of the Bixth COUBUS......csseeseeeseseseesseeee $197,816 To amount paid Blair & Rives, and Allen & Co , for 30.060 copies of compendium..... 24,773 Cost of binding. . 16712 Aggregate cost of publication, Lippincott & Uo, now propose to see $178,803 umes of one thourand well bound with Russia backs, for the agg $49,600, being THE PATENT OFFICE, The report of the Commirsioner of Patents, whish is made directly to Congress, will contain full and detailed statements of the operations of that bureau. The eastern wing ef the noble structure, erected and ultimately to be used for purposes connected with the in- dustrial pursults of our country, will soon be completed and ready for oceupation. Some pregress has also been . and alarge quantity of material bas been collected with a view to the vigorous prosecution of the work next spring. The im- proved by dressing the rough stone of which it was built, 80 as to make it conform im its general appeatance to made upon the basement of the western wi basement of the principal building bas been great! similar portions of the newly erected building. ‘There is probably no bureau connected withthe gov- | public at large fool | It is | ineeparably aerociated with every interest of our coun- | try. The mechanic, the merchant. the manufacturer, and the farmer. are all concerned in everything which di- ernment.in whoge operations the adeeper interest than thore of the Patent office. wublish-10,000 copies cf the statistics of the seventh census, in two folio vol- ges each, on fine type and paper, regate sum of than one-third of the amount paid for the publication of the eixth ceneus. The objection, there. fore, on-the score of expente is proved to be unfounded, to thir communication, On the 15th October I addressed a letter to the Com- missioner, encloiing a copy of the report and of your endorsement and informed him that it would not be proper for aim to make ey further drafts on the De periment, as the available funds had been exQausted. it us I knew that large amounts of provisions had been tent to Previdio Del Norte, Eugle Pass and Fort Brown Opposite Matamoros, for the use of the surveying parties 64 | along the course of the Rio Grande, aud as the Commis- gg | sioner end Major Emory were in possession of funds 97 | raised upon dratte previously drawn upon the Depart- ment, I left it to their discretion whether it would be best to disband the Commirsion at once, or to continue their operations on the river as long as the means at their dirporal would enable them to maintain their respective parties in the field a7 | in its posession, But, as there could be no controversy in relation to that part of the line, I considered it very desirable not to arrest the survey of it. Peremptory in- structions were, however, given to the Commissioner to Giscontinue sli further operations on the southern and ‘western lines of New Mexico, which constitute the dispu. ted portion of the boundary, until farther action should be tuken by Congrces, A copy of that letter also accom- panies this report. As there has been some misunderstandivg in regard to point on the Rio Grande. and the line thence, westward, which constitutes the southern boundary of New Mexico. I deem it proper to give a full history of all that has been done by the Department in regard to it, and an explana; tion of the reasons which have controlled its action, The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provides that— “The boundary line between the two republics shall commence in the gulf of Mexico, three leagues from land, epporite the mouth of the Rio Grande, otherwise called the Kio Bravo del Norte, or opposite the mouth of its deepest branch, if it should have more than one branch emptying directly into the sea; from thence up the mid- dle of that river, following the deepest channel, where it winisbes the labor of production in any of the depart- | har more than one, to the point where it strikes the ments of ind ustr, Our people are eminently ‘and ingenious. ‘hey are constantly emplo; are striki of the snecees which ended their efforts. ractical im the | Ciscovery of new means of accomplishing importent re- | | sults at @ diminished oott of tims. labor and money. The steam engine, the cotton gin, and the magnetic teiegraph 1K and imperishable memorials of the usorss has In the | southern boundary of New Mexico; thence westwardly, along the whole houthern boundary of New Mexico, which runs north of the town called Paso.) to its western termination; thence northward along the western line of New Mexico, until it intersects the first branch of the niver (er, xf it should not intersect any branch of that river, then to the point on the said line nearest to On this point it was impocsible for the Department to | form a satisfactory opinion with the limited information | the course of the Department on the subject of the initial | ou may deem neoesrary to Andrew B, Gray, Esq., who as been appointed suryeyor,! After the uransfer of this service from the S‘ate Depart- 1e Department of the Interior, my predecessor, Mr. Ewing, following the interpretation which bad boen given tothe treaty by the Department of State, directed | all bis instructions to tne commissioner alone. and not to | the commistioner and surveyor jointly; and I have con- tinued to pureue the same coure. ‘The records of the department contain nothing to show while Mr. Weller held the office of commissioner was any claim set up by the surveyor to bo an as- sosiate commissioner. or to have power to revise and an- nul the official acts of the commissioner by withholding his signature from the record of them. The ords show that the surveyors did not participate in the deli perations of the joint commission. They performed none of the functions of commissioners and gave no votes upon any controverted questions. The commissioners atone | decided upon every question involving the exereise of | judgment, and the surveyors were the operative agents to run and mark the line. in conformity with the principles established by the commissioners ‘The eurveyors did not even attend the sessions of the commission. except when their preeence was required to give information to the commissioners. or to authentieate | the necessary records as required by the treaty. | In confirniation of this view of the relative duties of the | commistloner and surveyor, it 1s proper to remark that the clause in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which rovides for a commission to run avd mark the dividing | Tine between the two ecuntries, is a literal transoript, ex- cept as to names, of the convention for marking the boundary between the United Staves and Texas, con- cluded on the 25th of April, 1838. The provisions of that treaty are as follows :— © Art. 1, Each of the contracting parties shall appoint a.commirsioner and surveyeyor, who shall meet before | the termination of twelve months from the exchange of | the ratification of this convention at New Orleans, and proceed to run and mark that portion of the said bound- ary which extends from the mouth of the Sabine, where that river enters the Gulf of Mexico, to the Red river. They shall make out plans and keep journals of their proceedings, and the result egreed upon by them shail be considered as part of this convention, and shali have the fame force as if it were inserted therein. | \Dhe two governments will amicably agree respecting the necessary articles to be furnished to those persons, also as to their respective escorts, should such be jeemed mecestary.”” | Without farnishing some evidence of this fact im the form early period of our history, when population was sparse and the prices of agricultural productions higy, the ls- bor of the country was directed mainly to the cultiva- tion of the soll. But, as population p:ogressively in and the invention ct machinery, by which ths work of many may be accomplished by @ few. Nota day pases of applications for patents for important inventions and th th end define: euch brench, and thence in direct line to the same;) | thence dowm the middle of said river, until it empties into t&é Kio Colorado; then across the Kio Colorado. following the division line be- creases, more attention is devoted to mechanical pursuits. | tween Upper and Lower California. to the Pacific ocean. “The southern and western limits of New Mexico men- 988 branch and of loned in thi tied * May rticie are those laid down in the map by various acts of the Congress of the United Mexican States. as organized id re- Under this convention, John H. Overton was appointed commissioner, snd John K Conway surveyor on the part of the United States; and Nemucan Hunt commissioner, and G. W. Smyth, (and subsequently Andrew B. Gray,) | Surveyor cn the part of Texas ‘The following extracts from the instructicns given by Mr. Forryth, then Secretary of State of the United States, to “John H. Overton, Eeq., commissioner for marking the boundary line between Texas and the United States,” will en. dircoveries. The mecbapical interest has therefore be- come on great magnitude, and it i« justly entitled te all the protection assistance which can be heetowed by Congress, consistently with the provisions of the con- | stitution. | The general principles ef our patent system seem te | have met with universal approbation, and to hs attesded with beneficent results in practic: Orgapization of the office, in 1836, it has Coubled fo make all the preimtassy inv epal o make reliminary were required to ascerteln titled to a patent; but such has been the increase of the | made in the year 1782, 4 on Juan Pantoga, second business. six principal examiners and as many assist- muster of the Spanish fleet, and published at Mad- ante are not mow able to keep pace with it ber ‘voyage of the | of models in the office on the lst day of was 1.069. In increased to 17.257, and they will fall but littl ¢ clone of the present ort of 23,000. population, by t amount te 150.000, oe, ‘0 | ade age nst this contingency, as well as te comp! prepsred for publication « careful analy' beem patented. drawings which will fally explain the principles tical operation of the subject of the patent. Th tages of such ® publication would be ulmost incaicul le. It would not only perpetuate the invention oF discovery 2 | might be sent the benefits of the Patent Office. In mush thas ous effvets shionid be directed to, thett | th5 iesger number of onles, the nessutlty of preserring | and displaying the models would be obviated. ‘The pages | of the publiehea report would be a safer and more conve- | nient deporitory for them than the cabinets of the Patent Office, and they would be accessible to every b tora in remote parts of the country would om am equal footing with thore residing government. ticular cles of machi: make ‘& journey to Wi grees bad been made by others, Under the present system it not unfrequently hap- | pene that Ingenious persons having conceived what they lieve to be @ new idea, which, when carried into pras- tice, will be of great value, employ much cf their time, | Javor, and money in perfecting their invention. end when filled with the hope of those rewards which crown the labors of the suc- it is finished they come to Washi cessfal inventor. Their application for a patent is Bixee the need with rk’? was pplicant was en- by January, 1836, of the year i851, they had year If they should continue to increase in this proportion. making no allow- anee for the Cp pre consequent on the increase of ¢ close of the present century they will , and the whole of the present patent office edifice will net be sufficient for their convenient h other important results, I respectfally propose that the Commissioner of Patents be requi to have tical and descrip- tive index Of all discoveries and inventions which have accompanied by accurate henons nga and | rac moar the seat of ben their thoughts were turned to a par- | line. which , Instead of being compelled to | ington to see what had already m done In that department of the arts, they could at nce turn to the analytical index and ascertain what pro- y mite, and, constructed according to the best authori. jen: 1evited edition, published at New York in 1847, by J. Disturne:,” of whieh map a copy is added to thi 'y, beoring the signatures and teals of the under- signed pienipetentierics; and in order to preclude all difficulty in tracing upon the ground the limit separetic | Upper from Lower Osifornia, itis agreed that the raid | limit rbell comsist of a straight line drawa from the mid dle of the Rio Grande, where it unites with the Colorado, to ® poimt on the cuast of the Pacific ocean, distant one ue due routh of the southermost point of the port of Sam Diego, according to the plan of sald port, Vid jm the year 1802, in the atlas to sebooners Sutil and Mexicana, of Sea eats cops. is hereunto added, signed and’ sealed by lenipetentiaries, thoritative maps, and to establish upon marks which shall show the limits of both republics, as deselibed in the present article, the two governments shall each appoint a commissioner and the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, thall meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed tor and mark the said boundar, mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte. They shall keep journals, and make out plans of their operations, and the result agreed upon by them shall be deemed a part of this treaty, and shall bave the rame force as if it were inserted therein. The two governments will amicably agroe re- gardi ag what may be necessary to these persons ‘and also as to their respective escorts, should such be necessary. “ The boundary line established by this article shail be religiously respected by each of the twe republics, and no change ball ever be made therein, except by the express “4 | and free consent of both nations, lawfully given by the rk | constitution ” In pursusuce of these stipulations, after baving com- pleted the rurvey of the line from the Pacific coast to the junction of the Gila and the Colorado rivers, the joint Commiseion reaseembled at El Paso in December, 1850. In- | So for as this Department is advised, the southern ody. be placed boundary of New Mexico was, at the date of the treaty Hidalgo, a mere imaginary geographical | of Guadalu id never been surveyed or marked under the authority of the Mexican government. The point where | this line strikes Rio Grande bad never been designated with precision, amd it could therefore be ascertained onl. | by determining its relative porition to other points whic! | were known and determined Much controversy arose on this subject, and rericuy a prebensions were at one time entertained whether the Commissioners could come | toapy satisfactory ment, Finally, however, they agreed that it should be ostab- 24th April. 1851, the Commissioners, and other persons | attached to the commision, aseembied on the ground, pre- | and it was publicly proclaimed that that should be the sented and submitted to an experienced and skilfalex- | initiel point of boundary on the Rio Grande, and a | aminer, who promptly refers the auxious applicant to « bee! ticipated by amoth id red ied $y parties | m anticlpat y er, an juced to practice Cy ommissioners the aay eae bas thoes one bate taken Sad signed by the two Commissioners and by the sur. piss to inguire imto the subject can form an adequate ides of the amount of time, money and labor which is uselesely wegen under circumrtasces like these. to aay ¢ anxiety of mind and heart, siekening dis- appointment, all ef which might be saved if such a de- ecriptive index as T propose were rendily socossible tothe The publication of it would also tend to stimu- jate the Inventive genius of the country, and lead not only to the developement of new agemts and processes, | mission: wut to valuable improvements upon those —— one > it is hard ly necessary to add that such a work would be of great courts of justice of legal | drawing or a model, which shows him that years before. nothing of ublic ready been brought into practical eperation. value in the investigation by controversies involving the rights of patentess When the index is completed up to the close of the pre- | seut year, it will be easy by an annval publicacation of an | appendix to the ordivary re ries of each sudcersive year. To be of value, sua an index should be prepared by a person fully competent to the tank, and illustrated printe, and bound im style worthy of the subjec of the nation, It would doubtless be attended petuatingend diffusing the knowledge of t isting cordition of the mechan‘ ‘branches of eeience i» our count try. The report.of Mr. Stansbury on the London Industrial | Exhibition of 1861, to which allusion was made in my | fast report, has been delayed by causes beyond is It.will be ready to be laid before Jongress | in the course of « few weeks, and wild doubtless be a va- Tuable and interecting document, MEXICAN BOUNDARY. isd eempleted Much survey of the Rio Gramie. port:from the Patent Office to | from the C 4 fuynish a complete record of the inventions and discove- an the Commatestones ithe | large expense, but it could readily be paid out of the paten! fund, without encroaching on the national trea- sury, and I can conceive of no purpose to which that fund could be applied which would be more seceptable y _ to inventors, and in all respects so are ~ inten, | effect the deoisiome of the commissioners, and to authen- and presenting te the public a fall description of the ex- | ie arts and the Kindred | » strong anal @ lattt advices from the Commissioner eontain the ify ing intelligence that the eurvey of the rivor Gila, its confluence with the Colorado te the poiat whore | it strikes the wortern Soundary of New Mexico. has becm | regress has also been made in the When last heard from, the | | ‘monument was erected to mark the spot. | A written convention to that effect was also drawn up | Yeyor on the part of Mexico, and by Lieut. A. W. Whip- At the date of this convention, Mr A. B. Gray. who had beem appointed surveyor on behalf of the United States, hud not arrived at El Paro, and, to avoid the delay and inconvenience which would ensue from await- | ing bie arrival. it was agreed by the two Commissioners that Lieut, Whipple, who was the acting surveyor, should officiate im bis plac, When Mr Gray joined th bout the 19th of July, 1661, he was requested mer Bartlett, out of abundent caution, to ‘is signature to that convention, All porsible chjection which might be raised te the agree- ment, on the gronnd that it bad not been authenticated i act conformity with the words of the treaty. Mr. y. however. refused to sign the agreement, and that fact was communicated to department by 8 despatch As I foresaw thet any difficulty which might arise on | this point would necessarily affect our relations with Mexico, I felt it to be my duty to bring the subject to the attention of the late Secretary of State. (Mr. Webster.) and to ask his advice as to what course it was bad nad for | me to pursue, We examined the provisions of the treaty | together, and concurred in the opinion that the commis. sioners alone were empowered to decide upon all disputes which might ariso in regard to the boundary, and that the ‘ors were mere ministerial agents to oarry into a ticate them by their signatures. We regarded the relati functions of t commissioners and surveyors as a to the duties of & commissioner | surveyor appaii d under an order of court, to mal artition of and between two joint owners. It of the commissioner to decide where the hall run and of the surveyor to run aud mark it in cowformity with his decision. The signatures of beth, however, are very properly re. | quired to authenticate the report, and to show that it cor- reetly sete forth the action of both. | this View of, the subject, the Secretary of State adyived | me to be rae Mr. Gray to sign the agreement fixing the initial point, and a Tettor to that effect wae accord. ingly addressed by me to Mr. Gray on the Sist day of October, 1861 As the object of thin letter seems to have been misun ¢ respective | In order to designate the boundary line with due pre- | a surveyor, who, before the expiration of one vear from | in_its whole course.to the general government of each. in conformity with its own | lirhed im latitude N. 32 degrees 22 minutes, and on the | ple, the Lee | surveyor on the part of the United States. | 60 as to remove | In conformity with | show what the Depastment then understood to be th nature and oxtent ef the powers of the commissioner and surveyor:— “Upon yourrelf, jolatly with the Texan commissioner, will devolve the duties of conducting the proceedings of the commission, of instructing the surveyers on both sides as to their actual operations in the field, and of as- | fgping to the clerks the duties propeady appertaining to | their offices. If any question should arise from conilict- ing views between yourself and the Texan commissioner, the duty will be yours carefully to investigate the grounds of your own opinions, and when fully convinced | of thelr correctnors, of the fairness of the claims | which they will induce you to ret up on the part of the United States, to advocate their adoption by every pro- | per argument drawn from the letter and spirit of the pro- visions of the treatios, As it would not be consis:ent | with the established principles of the government to ad vance any pretensions onthe part of the United States not founded in atrict fairness and justice, it will be ‘equally esrential not to adinit, on the part of Texas, any claim not fousded on the same principle Again. “The President confidently relies upon your pru- | the United States surveyor, who, in turn you are expect- ed perronally to attend, direct, and assist in the per- formance of his duties, for the proper advocacy of the rights and interests of your country as secured by the treaties, He is ebliged the more to confide in your dis- cretion. serutiny, and patriotic xeal from the impossibi- lity of forereeing whether any, and if any, what questions d from the consequent necessity of leaving you, in a great degree, to exercise your judgment in the | @ircussion and solution of them ” | _ From there quotations it is obvious that the treaty of 1888 was construed by Mr Forsyth precively as its coun- terpart hes been by Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Ewing, and my- self That the Mexican government has also understood it | im the same way, is manifest from the fact that it has devolved the duties of commissioner and surveyor upon the same individual, General Salazar If Mexico had re- | garded the surveyer as an associate commissioner, it is ardly to be suppored that she would have been willing to dispenre with bis services. and to confide her interests to single commissioner, while the United States had two on the ground Understanding the claim eet up by Mr. hide to invalf- date the action of the commissioner by withholding his | signature from the agreement entered into between them, | as neceerarily hyvetving & right on bis part to exorcise a | supervisory and controlling power over the commissioner, I deemed it my duty, in conformity with what appear to be the true interpretation of tho troaty and the un- | broken chain of precedents under various administra. tiens, to exprees my dissent from his pretensions. With regard to the question whether the point at which the Rio Grende “ strikes the southern boundary of New | Mexico” has been correctly established er not, I have mot | felt myself called on to express an opinion. The treaty | bas conferred upon me no jurisdiction over the subject, | Ifan error bas been coramitted, [ have no power to correct | it, or if, on the other hand, it has been correotly ascertain- ed, no expression of opinion by me to that effect could add anything to its validity, Eaving Sane all that I con- ccived 1 bad the power to do, officially, on the subject, it waust be referred te other departments of the government to derive ard adopt such farther measures in regard to it | as the interests of the country may require. T deem it my duty, however, to request you to recom- mendto Congress @ modification of the priviso to the last appropriation, at an early day, so as to relieve the per- fons attached to the commission from t he embarrassment to whieh they have been subjected by the want of money to pay them, and also to relieve the government from the | discredit which has been brought upon it by the of the drafts of its accredited agents. Five months have bas since the close of the last fiscal year, during all | wbich time the officers and employees of the commission have been diligently engaged inthe discharge of their respective duties, in the fall confidence that Congress would make the necessary appropriations to defray their ‘expenses and compensate them for their services. This just expectation bas been disappointed. No part of the appropriation for the eurrent year can be applied to their payment, | They are left in the wilderness, many of thom two thourand miles from home, without any provision having deen made by law for their support wi they are now stationed. and with mo means furnished to enable thom to return to their families. They are now subsisting on funds borrowed on their individual credit, or on drafts drawn by the commissioner and surveyor before moties of the proviso to the appropriation, several of which have been presented to Department and pro- tested for non-paymer This case which calls for prewpt action on the part of Congress, aud I cannot per- mit myself to doubt that your reqom that effect will be respomded to without ye? | It will also be to make further provision by Jaw, for running and marking the reei f the line be- tween the two countries, in accordance with the terms of | the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. | THE EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY. ‘The work upon the extension of the Capitol bas sd- vanced with as much rapidity as was consistent with its proper execution, The massive fow ioms have been completed; the arches between the inside walls of the sub basement have all beem turned; and the spandreis show that the greater part of the labor of compiling and ties, onder the Smmediate command of Majer Emory, | derstood vo oe Perrons whore opinions are entitled to | filled with eement and brick, amd the whole overlaid by a claseifying the returns has been completed; and the pub- had flmished the wark, from the point agreed om by the | rerpect, I deem the prosent a suitable ocossion to remove | pavement, upon which the tiling will rest. A large part Ileation ean now be eommencod, ax the readuecan be Commirstoners a the beginning’potnt on the river to all doubts onthe subject. Ip my judgment neither the of the granite work been and portions of finished and placed in the hands of the publisher from Engle Pasa; and it le preenmed ha by this time the sur. | Department of the Interior, nor the Executive, nor Com- | the Is of the pri: basement have batit of the time to time a6 he may require. | yey bas been completed at lesat two-thirds of the distance bap have any power to regulate or control the action of | beautiful marble which was selected aa the materal for It Ss eetimated that an additional appropriation of fifty | down the couree of the river, officers designated by the treaty of Guadalupe Hi- | the exterior surface of the edifice. The arrangements for thourand dollars will be necessary to prepare the entire I not aware that any (erther p: has been | dal 0 to perform the ducy of asseriaiaing and marking _ thenew library room are also near'y eompleted,-with the ‘Work, comleting of two large volumes, for the press Frade tn the aurrey of thoes portions of the line which | op the rurthce o€ the earth the line between the two | exception of the painting snd ae paecinn, An rome 0) have urged to that ofthe | lie between the Rfo (i ‘and the (lila, and whieh con. | eountries. | alcoves, columms, doors, } Oeil. Plan which contemplater a the geo | stitute the southern weaterm bounderies of Now These officers derive their authority from the treaty and Indeed all of the sew fixtures, are of yeh te GO od beg lave Mexico. A 4 Tae bocs openers pers, for that berg hh ia the ae two contract | = banda gla the roof are also of ren, covered reasons whieh have led m: purpose; am pooril at @ been employ | tira. not from rer pective govermmenta. | With copper; ro Ro combustible material is used in Weve it would be eminently useful. In the realy | 54 Je that service before (he Commlatenes wae edvizeu © | fonctions are those of arbitrators, and their deeision is in | ary pert of it, or exercieed any right to interfere with the action of the | pence and judgment, as upon the hearty co-operation of | ‘The plan of this work was and specifieations in detail were prepared oy Mr Thomas U, Walter, the arebitect of the extension of the Capitol, and tre execution of them was entrusted te Messrs. Beebe & Co., of New York When completed tt will pre- | tent the first «pecimen of @ room construsted emtiresy of fron. and I think I may add thet. for convenience aad beauty of arrangement, it will be withoutertval, The Workmanship is of the mot admirable quality; amd whem we look wt it as ic now stands aud reflest that it eonsiata of more than ten thousand separate picces, of am agere- gate weight of four hundred tous, and thatit was plaoned im Washington and executed tm New York, more than two hundred miles trom the hall im whieh it was to bo Placed. and when we see Ubal every part of it Atetogether with the precision of eubiuet work, we are at @ lose whether to ascribe most hopor wud praise to the genius and taste of the architect who coscetved and marked out the deriga. or to the skill apd fidelity of tae eoatracters who performed the work ‘The damage done to the outside of the westarnfront of the Capitol, by the fre of December, 1861, which was more extensive than was at first supposed, has beam re paired, and the building rendered as permanent and free from blemish a6 before the acci teat occurred. HOUSEA FOR THE TICK PReMDENT AND Caumer. Before cloring this, my last amnuai report, I fes! iq pelled, by # senre of public ddty to invite your stteatio to ancther subject, to which under dilferemt circum stances, I would not have s#liuded. I refer to the propriety sh envemecentiee by Congret of a sum sufficient to erect faraish suitable houss for accommodation of the Vice President of the United St and the members of the Cabimet. At the time our go ent went into operation aed the sala- ries of those officers were fixed by law, they were adequate for their comfortable support Bat in consequence of the great increase of tbe supply of the precious metals and the expansion of the currency by means of banks. the re- lative value of money has been +e much reduced that ox thousand dollars now i* not worth much more than three thourand was et that time. The cost of house rent. re vislons, fuel, and indeed of ali the necessaries of in Warhington, bas risem to such a degree as to require the most rigid economy to eweble the members of the Vabinet and the Vico Presid live within their income. Asfaras observation hes extended, few. if any of them, hat mm able to do ee. This evil is increasing ed Year, and if mescures are wot adopted to arrest It, the day is not fer distant whem men of moderate m: te fittes to rerve the public in bigh Feeponsible places, will be deterred from sceepting them by the heavy pecuniary lovs to which they must inevite- bly be subjected. Iam tar from wishing to see extrava- | ow salaries paid to public officers: I think the la- rex is worthy of his hire, and I am sure the American ‘tre $0 age the public famctionsries impoverished im their service They are Wi that they thall receive such compensation as will ei them to live in @ style becoming their position. without invading their private resources. ‘Tae igh offiees of the country should be open to the poor as well as to the rich; but the practical effuet of the present rate ef compensation will swoon be to exclude from the exeontive councils all who bave not ample resources independently of their official en, After much reflection, I have come to the coaolusion that the best means of remedying the evil will be to ereet suitable houses for tae Vice Presidest and the members of the cabinet, and provid» them with the necessary fur- niture, fuel. and lights. There are many reasons whieh might be urged in favor of this measuse, but it will am- awer my put barely to allude tos few of them. Upon every change of administration, or in ense of the death or resignation of members of the cabinet, their successors, often from remote parts of the country, find themselves embarrarsed in obtaining, evem at am exor- Ditant pri uituble residence for themselves and their families ‘They are then compelled to oxpend at ralary in furnishing their establish: it, ently, obliged to dra the means of subsistem bat in all res} people would not 4 least one year’s and are, conse- tion is oscupled by these domestic concerns which might be more profitably devoted to the public interests. At the close of their terms they are forced to dispose of theit household effects at # ruinous secrifiee. ret cy their homes impoverished in fortum racious reflection that while ¢ ‘ime and talents to the pubile serviee, their oeuntry had refused them eves the meana of support. It may be eaid in reply that there iz no obligation ow any one to accept there positio id. if they do so, they ot theirown sets. In true, There is mo legal obligation any one to acvept an official position. But there i high moral and patriotic obiigati ery citizen to contribute his service to his country when it mey be re- quired. and there is a reciprocal obligation om the eoun- try not to allow him to sulferim his private fortune by that service. By furnishing the heads of departments and Vice- President with houses, thelr prevent sslaties will be ade- quate for their support. They will be freed from the cures and cost of fitting up an establishment fora mere | temporary use and be enabled te devote their whole time to the duties of their offices They will be placedin so condition of comparative independence, by being relieved from the prospect of a heavy sacrifice by the sale of their effects upon the termination of their official connection with the government. ‘The heads of department, instead of being scattered over the city will be brought nearer te each other, and to the President and be enabled to con- fer together without inconvenience. And at the close of their terms they will leave the seat of government with the knowledge that if they buve not added to they have ‘at least not been obliged to subtract from their private resourcer. From estimates which I have caused to be made, I am satisfied that lots could be bought and eight substantial, Plain. and tasteful houses erected farmished, and Otted up for occupation for the sum of $300.00. And as the near approach of the close of my own official term relisves | me from all surpicion of being influenced by or | party considerations in preventing the subject to your notice, I earnestly recommend {t to your favorable regard, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. In former reports, I bave earacatly invited your atte, tion to the interests of the District of Columbia. aud eq deavored to explain the peculiar claims whieh it hassi the fostering case of Congress Without repeating:4t reasons heretofore urged, I beg leave agaim to presey the subject to your favorable motice, and to sj som of the articular objects im regard to which leglelationk require The introduction of an ample supply of pure wateriati the city of Washington and Georgetown, is a measureo_ great public interest. At the Last session of Congress am appropriation wa> made to defray the cost of the necessa- ry surveys, &., to determine the bert mode of ascomplish- ing this object. Am officer of ths engineer corps was de- tailed for this duty. amd rome progress has already been made in the work. but mot enough to enable mato exprees sp opinion as to the plan which should be adopted A fall report will, however. be made and submitted to Congress in time for its action during the appreaching session; and | Lhope the necessary appropriation will be made to com- | mense the work withenut delay. If additional arguments to those heretofore submitted were deem might refer to the recent the Capitol as an emphi of the public buildin, copious supply of wat I deem it my duty. alse. to eall your attention to the urgent necessity which existe for the erection of bridges scroes the Potomac. to rapoly the place of those | which were destroyed by the floods in the early part of the present year. ‘The interruption of the travel and commercial inter- course with the oppssite side of the river has proved @ serious evil to the residents of the district and publie generally. And during the winter whea navigation may be obstructed by ice the incomveniengs will be greatly augme I therefore recommend Bt am appropria- tion be arked for to make the meceseary surveys aad pre- pare suitable plans and estimates for the construction of Ope Or more permanent bridges, which may be adapted not only for the accommodation of the ordinary travel and trade, but also for the safe and convenient passage of railway trains. The rapid extension of the system of railways throughout the whole country, forbids the idea ‘that the imtercourse by mail between the North and the Bouth. should continue longer to be delayed and inte rupted as it has hitherto been at partiealar seasons) the year, by the eyes of roaring the Potemac. the Commiselonnr of Pobitc inet in his report, ruggeste: 6 propriety ef a grant by Congress of a tio of the public lands in aid of public schools ii rie | District of Columbia. This proposition commands a; cordial approbation ; and I would be happy to see adopted, with an amendment extending its benefitet the charitable institutions of the district. The popula- tion of the district is eomposed of citizens of every State in the Union. This f.ct creates a general interest im its prosperity and welfare; and I know of no disposition of a | ‘tion of the public domain whioh would be more strictly in accordance with the spirit of the trusts reposed in Jom gress, OF More ureful im iteelf. than am appropriation of a reasonable portion to instruct the ignorant seform the vicious, end relieve the distressed inhabitants of the sy of the he pus stike 'n former reports I have ght to your ni many ether subjects. which I regarded as of public foiseesk, Among there were the establishment of an Agricultural and Statistical Bureau; « revision of the laws relating to the fees of mer-hals attorneys and clerks of the circuit and district courts of the United States: an increase of the salaries of the judges of the district courts of the United States; the enlargement of the fanetions of the Attorney-General so as to make him the head of partment of Justice; and the trausfer to that depert- ment of all matters connected with the of justice; the construction of a nstional through our own territory to the Pacific, the cice definition of the duties of the several departmants; and that provirion be made for the point ment of a solicitor to the Department of the On all these subjeets my opinions remain w and without repeating the reasons by which they were sustained. I beg leave egain to commend them te your favorable consideration i Tha She boner te Pe 7 Weel your ebedient, wevant, ALEX. H H STUA i? Beoretary. To the President of the United States, After the ic eee pop beg of Jam sale be forever prohibited in Virginie, ytd A giant. by the name of Ai MoKas! Nova Scotia, has arrived in New opin y feet nine inches high, and weighs four hundred pounds: On the 3d inst., the La Republic Samuel Snoddy, a beg rast pean of va stabbed through the heart by Alexender Maine, highway, about one mile beyond Heuvelton, stanly from the wound. been arrested. arth ete eves meee OL ee mean Barnesville, on the Macon “ni Weestern oa hotel of Daniel Hightower, with the in them, were consumed by fire The low is estimated $18.000. The houses were owned insured only for $3.00, The goods tiie Sr ateeancine Stes inge r prevented by the most petive exertions. No less than fifty. three of mail matter ecived by the Northern and Western mails at office im Savanseh. om the 7th inet, e8 fF Ft i i ie Fries fg £ i ‘The slaves of Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon are in Hartford. The