1853.] 32D CONG.....2D SESS. APPENDIX TO THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE. for they respectively sink into relative insignificance when compared with our internal and coastwise commerce, and with the home market. There are no records which will enable the Department to give the correct amount of our internal and coastwise trade; but some idea may be formed of its vast extent when it is recollected that the annual value of the agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing productions of the country is not less than three thousand millions of dollars, ($3,000,000,000,) as shown by the statistical returns of the late census; a large portion of which is transported by river, canal, or coasting vessels, or on railroads, and which in the course of trade changes hands several times before reaching the domestic consumer; making in the aggregate an amount of traffic counting by thousands of millions; whilst the whole amount shipped to foreign countries is but $150,000,000, being only one twentieth part of the entire production of the country, which thus finds an outlet in foreign markets. The single article of coal annually transported coastwise, and in canal boats, or on railroads, is of sufficient bulk to furnish full cargoes for four times the quantity of all the American tonnage employed in foreign commerce, and probably affords the means of livelihood to a greater number of persons than the latter. The coastwise trade to and from the American ports in the Gulf of Mexico is of itself probably nearly equal, in point of value, to the entire export of American productions to foreign nations. A striking difference between the magnitude and importance of the home market and the foreign of one, is to be found in the statistics of exports what is familiarly called the famine year of 1847. There was some difficulty at that time in procuring sufficient shipping, including both American and foreign, to convey our breadstuffs to the famishing nations of Europe; and yet our entire exports during that year of the two principal articles of foodIndian corn (maize) and flour-were only about three per cent. of the former, and about ten per cent. of the latter, estimated on the whole crop produced in the United States; leaving ninetyseven per cent. of the Indian corn and ninety per cent. of the wheat crop for the supply of the home market, where it was actually consumed. Our exports of breadstuffs at present are only about one third of what they were during the above year of unusual demand; exhibiting in a still more striking contrast, the immense difference between the home and foreign markets in favor of the former. The mere tolls collected by the canals and railroads on the transportation of merchandise for the internal trade of the country, exceeds in amount the total value of all the breadstuffs purchased from us by foreign nations. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury. -,) for the fiscal year ending 30th June last, amounted to... The exports for the same period were, of domes ..$207,109,738 tic merchandise......$154,930,447 Total exports.. 12,037,043 -$166,967,490 The imports of specie, during the same period, were.... And the exports of the same................... $5,503,544 42,674,135 In tobacco, (table T,) the exports show an increase in quantity of 41,152 hogsheads, and of value of $812,032, having been in 1851, 95,945 hogsheads, valued at $9,219,51; 1852, 137,097 hogsheads, valued $10,031,283. The exports of rice were 119,733 tierces, valued at $2,470,029-being an increase in quantity of 14,143 tierces, and of value, $299,102, as compared with the previous year. The exports of breadstuffs and provisions amounted to $25,856,337; being an increase of $3,907,686. The aggregate exports of domestic merchandise show a decrease, as compared with the previous year, of $24,349,585. The exports of specie show an increase of $13,201,383, and an excess of exportation over importation of $37,170,591. (See table.) MINT. The operations of the Mint, particularly at Philadelphia, at which point the greater portion of all gold dust and bullion concentrates for assay and coinage, have been conducted with a remarkable degreee of promptness and dispatch, such as to remove all cause of complaint on the part of depositors, notwithstanding the enormous amounts of gold dust which have been and still continue to be received at that institution. The coinage at the Mint for the year ending $51,505,638 50 847,310 00 51,620 94 $52,404,569 44 The full returns for the last quarter of the year have not been received from the branch Mints, but the probable amount of their coinage will be about $4,700,000, of which the proportion at the branch Mint at New Orleans will be $3,800,000, and the remainder about equally divided between the branch at Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dahlonega, Georgia. In accordance with the act of last session, proposals have been invited by public advertisement, both here and in California, for the erection of a Mint at San Francisco, in accordance with plans The annual value of the crop of Indian corn, of wheat, and of hay, each respectively, is fully equal || to the entire value of our productions exported to foreign countries. The annual amount of the manufactures in the States of New York or Pennsyl-prepared with great care under the direction of vania, in either of those States, greatly exceeds the value of such exports; and even those of the comparatively small State of Massachusetts is fully equal to all the productions of the country consumed by foreign nations. The latter State probably consumes breadstuffs that are produced in the middle and western States to a greater amount than is shipped to all Europe, with the great additional advantage of this being a regular and uniform demand, not depending on European crops or the caprices of foreign Governments in the regulation of their commerce and the assessment of arbitrary and ever-varying duties, according to their own actual wants and circumstances. Yet all these immense agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing interests, which are almost exclusively connected with the internal trade of the country and the home market, receive greatly less attention and consideration from the community than the comparatively small amount of our foreign commerce. My views of the beneficial results which would follow a tariff with fixed and reliable, rather than with sliding, and consequently uncertain rates of duties, have undergone no change. I now recur to them as a duty imposed upon me by the acts establishing the Treasury Department. The importations of foreign merchandise, (table this Department. 1, however, have great doubts whether any proposals will or can be made for the erection of a suitable building, and the supply of the needful machinery, for the sum of $300,000, to which amount Congress has restricted the expenditure, including both of these objects. Even, however, should proposals be made which would be satisfactory, and could be accepted by the Department, no progress could be made with the work until Congress authorizes the purchase of a site, and makes the needful appropriation therefor, as, from the best information now in possession of the Departmeut, none of the public reserves in that city afford proper and eligible locations for this building. By the act of the 30th September, 1850, making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1851, Congress authorized the appointment of an United States assayer for California, and directed a contract to be made by this Department with the proprietors of some well-established assaying works, for assaying gold and forming it into bars and ingots, under the supervision of the assayer. A contract was concluded, and ample security required for its faithful performance, and the contractors were limited in their charges for the services rendered by them, to the rate fixed by HO. OF REPS. the Legislature of California in establishing a State assay office. The Department was induced, with a view to furnish, so far as it had the power, a safe and convenient currency to the people of California, to authorize the receipt of the issues of the assay office thus established, for public dues, especially as they have all the essential requisites of coin, and as this was believed to be the object of Congress. The general appropriation act of the last session contained a provision, by which the further receipt of these issues was prohibited; and in obedience thereto, the instructions under which they had been received were revoked. The Department has reason to believe, from petitions addressed to it by a public meeting of the merchants of San Francisco, and from information received through other reliable sources, that much inconvenience and embarrassment has resulted from this legislation. It remains with Congress, however, to say what relief shall be extended, and the subject is submitted to their considera tion. The inconvenience arising from the scarcity of silver coinage still continues, and to such an extent as calls loudly for some legislative action to which silver bears, in comparison with gold, arises remedy the evil. Whether the present premium from the continued heavy influx of the latter and its consequent depreciated value, or from a special and unusual demand in Europe for silver, or from both causes combined, is not very material to discuss at present; for if it arises from either or both of these causes, there is no reason for believing that there is any present prospect of either being removed so as to create any reduction in the value of silver. If, as I believe is the fact, this difference in the relative value of the two metals arises from the immense and increased supply of gold which has been furnished from California and Australia, there can be but little doubt such difference will continue to increase, as there is no present indication that there will be a reduced supply from those sources, but, on the contrary, every prospect of a still further increase. This state of things has banished almost entirely from circulation all silver coin of full weight, and what little remains in the hands of the community consists principally of the worn pieces of Spanish coinage of the fractional parts of a dollar, all of which are of light weight, and many of them ten to twenty per cent. below their nominal value. I see no remedy for this great existing evil but the adoption of the principle embraced in the bill which passed the Senate during the last session, making a new issue of silver coinage, of such reduced weight as will allow it to circulate with the gold coinage of established weight and fineness. The principal objection which has been urged against the proposed new silver coinage is, that it could not, without a violation of contracts, be made a legal tender for the payment of debts, and that gold would therefore hereafter be the only legal tender. It is true that heretofore the laws of the United States have recognized the coin of either metal as a legal tender; and if it was at the option of the creditor to select which he would receive, there would be a very serious objection to changing either the weight or standard fineness But this is not the of any portion of the coin. fact, as it rests with the debtor to say with which and the description of coin he will pay his debts; natural and inevitable consequences of the premium which silver now bears have been to establish, practically, gold as the only legal tender. Nor can any legal or equitable objection be advanced to continue gold as a legal tender, as it is not proposed to reduce either the weight or the fineness of that description of coin; so that every creditor will continue to receive precisely the same quanNor does the presmay have made his contract. tity of gold for any given sum as at the time he ent, or any future increased depreciation in the value of gold form any just reason against its weight and fineness; for such depreciation in its being continued as a legal tender, at its present actual value, if not in its relative one as regards silver, has been progressing gradually for some centuries, and all that can be said is, that the depreciation is more rapid at this time than formerly, 32D CONG.....2D SESS. and it is but a natural result of the uncertainty and want of stability in human affairs. In the present state of things, as connected with this subject, not only the public service, but also the wants and convenience of the entire community, require that some measure should be adopted to furnish a silver currency; and the subject is, therefore, respectfully but earnestly recommended to the prompt attention of Congress. I would again call the attention of Congress to the subject of making Mint certificates receivable in all dues to the Government, and dispensing with the present bullion fund, which is maintained at an annual expense of from $350,000 to $400,000, which might be saved in interest by the application of that fund to the redemption of the public debt, besides the great advantages to the business community and the general trade of the country, by throwing the amount of that fund into circulation, instead of keeping it constantly as dead capital in the vaults of the Mint. The amount of the bullion fund during the last year has been nearly $7,000,000, and it has been applied to the immediate redemption of Mint certificates, so soon as the deposits of gold dust were assayed and their value ascertained, which has generally been in from twenty-four to forty-eight hours after such deposits were made; and the bullion fund was then made good so soon as such assayed gold could be worked into coin, to be again employed in the redemption of other certificates. The plan which the Department would recommend would be, to issue certificates under the authority of Congress, to be duly registered and signed at the Treasury, to the needful amount, say six or seven millions of dollars, in sums of $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 each, payable to the order of the Treasurer of the Mint, || to be distributed in due proportions to the Mint and its respective branches; and so soon as any deposit of gold bullion was assayed and its value ascertained, to pay the amount to the depositor in the above certificates, except the fractional part of one hundred dollars, which would always be paid in coin. These certificates being receivable in payment of dues to the United States would at all times command their full par value, and would promptly and cheerfully be received on deposit as cash by the banks and held by them as specie capital, until their customers required them for the payment of duties or lands. They would accumulate principally at the great marts of commerce in the Union, and could be transmitted by mail by the different receiving officers to such points as the Treasury might direct, avoiding all the risk and expense which now attends the transfer of public funds in specie from points where it is collected and not required for public expenditures. As these certificates were paid in at the large commercial seaports, the gold, so soon as coined, could be sent to such points from the Mint or the branch which may have issued the certificates, and the latter would then be returned to the Mint or its branch for the purpose of being again issued to new depositors. The expense of transmitting gold coin to the points where it might be required in indiscriminately and generally received at all The remedy for this would be, to make the the custom-houses and land offices on the Pacific. chartrain, and nearly all the hydrography b been completed, and an examination made of delta of the Mississippi. Galveston bay has be surveyed, excepting a small portion of the hydre vicinity of Matagorda bay. Preliminary charz have been published of Galveston and Mobile ban of the Mississippi delta, St. Mark's, Cedar Ke Key West, Cape Canaveral, Mosquito inlet, St. Andrew's shoals, and these will soon be fr. lowed by others. On the western coast, in c quence of the extraordinary difficulties in secur hands and means, owing to the discoveries of g the survey did not fairly get under way till three years since. A very good preliminary n connoissance has been made of the whole from San Diego to the Straits of San Juan de Fu and of nearly every important harbor, embra San Diego, San Simeon, Santa Barbara, San dro, Point Conception, the harbor of Coxo, Luis Obispo, Point Pinos, and the harbor Monterey, Santa Cruz, Catalina Island, includ both anchorages, Cuyler's harbor, Prisoner's bor, San Clemente, Mare Island straits, Tri and Humboldt bays, and entrance of the Col bia river. Charts of all these harbors have bee furnished and distributed, excepting the harbor Santa Barbara, which is now in the hands of engraver. Charts of the coast from Monterr the mouth of the Columbia river, published we years since, and that from San Diego to San Fr cisco, are now undergoing the last revision. T charts of the surveys north of the mouth of th Columbia river are daily expected, and v published as early as practicable. Besides t coast, several of the harbors have been caref If the present system is to be continued, and a bullion fund of seven millions is to be maintained, the balance in the Treasury cannot conveniently be reduced below twelve millions of dollars, as the system of an Independent Treasury cannot be conducted with a less available balance than five millions, so as to have the needful amount at all times at the numerous points where the public ex-examined. In addition to this, good progress penditure is made. SURVEY OF THE COAST. been made in the survey of the waters of S Francisco bay. A plan of the city has been pe lished, to which will soon be added the ad It gives me great pleasure to refer to the prog- topography. The triangulation embraces the v ress of this important work during the last four ters of San Francisco and Suisun bays, exte years. The whole coast is divided into elevening from Mare Island straits to the entrance, sections, and in ten active operations have been for several miles up and down the coast. T carried on during this whole period. With only one topography has been completed for a chart of Sr link of twenty-six miles south of the Chesapeake Francisco bay, and the hydrography will be ere to be filled up, an unbroken triangulation now cuted the coming winter. The triangulation extends from the mouth of the Kennebec river, in the Columbia river has been extended thirty-thre Maine, to the harbor of Beaufort, in North Car- miles from its mouth. olina. The topography and hydrography have made corresponding progress. The harbors of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Newburyport, Ipswich, Gloucester, Salem, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and others, have been surveyed. New shoals have been discovered and sounded out in the vicinity of Nantucket. The dangerous shoals along the seacoast of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, Hatteras shoals and Frying-Pan shoals, have been made known to the navigator in excellent preliminary charts. The survey of the Chesapeake bay is now nearly completed, and that of the rivers flowing into it has been commenced. Some of the most important harbors on the southern coast, as Hatteras inlet, Ocracoke inlet, Beaufort harbor, Cape Fear entrance, Roman Shoals, Charleston harbor, North Edisto river, Tybee entrance, and the order to redeem the certificates which had been reSavannah river, have been surveyed, and the charts ceived by the public officers, would of course be are, or soon will be, published. The survey of paid by the United States, and would require but a Georgetown harbor, in South Carolina, and of the small sum, probably not the twentieth part of the entrance of St. John river, Florida, have been amount which would be annually saved in interest commenced. The triangulation and reconnoisby applying the present bullion fund to the redemp-sance of the vicinities of Cape Fear entrance, tion of the public debt. Georgetown harbor, Cape Roman, Charleston, North Edisto, Savannah, and entrance to the St. John's, are gradually and steadily advancing. In a few years an unbroken series, with points welldetermined by astronomical and other observations, will cover the coast from the Penobscot river in Maine, to the St. Mary's in Florida. The progress of the survey on the Florida reef and the shores of the peninsula is entirely satisfactory, in view of the limited appropriations, compared with the vast extent and variety of the whole work. The entire reef and western shore has been examined in a preliminary way, and nearly one half of the survey of the reef has been made. The important harbor of Cedar Keys, on the western shore, has been examined. A reconnoissance has No objection could be urged to this plan on the ground that it would be a paper currency, for it is merely a certificate for an amount of gold already actually in possession of the Government. These certificates would not be intended for circulation, nor would they circulate from hand to hand, but would remain with banks, bankers, or individuals until required for a payment to the Government; and the receiving officer should not be permitted to reissue, but only to hold them until they are replaced with the gold in legal coin from the bullion for which they were originally issued. These certificates should likewise always be redeemable at the Mint after a reasonable time being allowed for the coinage of the gold bullion, which might be fixed at not exceeding twenty days after the bullion had been assayed. It is not proposed that the certificates thus issued by the Mint and its different branches should be been made of about one half of the distance between of St. Mark's river. The triangulation and topog- A commencement has also been made survey of the Santa Barbara Islands, inc the land surveys, by the geodetic method. Incon nection with this rapid progress of the survey this coast, observations have been made for ist and longitude, and the magnetic variation. T geographical position of the coast, from the Str of San Juan de Fuca to San Diego has been esta lished; the latitude and longitude of the mos portant headlands having been determined by sufficiently numerous and reliable preliminary servations. The latitude of seventeen stations, the longitude of nineteen stations, and the netic variations of seven stations, have been t determined. On the Atlantic and Gulf coast usual attention has been given to the same sub Magnetic observations have been made at thi three stations. Sixteen longitude and seventee latitude stations have been occupied, and ten ba lines measured. A great extension has been gre to the method of determining the longitudes of e dinal points by using the electric magnetic fe graph-a method admitting of a degree of pres ion not hitherto attainable by other means. The exploration of the Gulf stream has been continued Great progress has been made in publishing th results of the survey. Forty-two charts, elaborate and highly finished, and forty-two prelimin charts have already been published, and twenty seven sheets are in various stages of engraving The geographical positions determined by the str vey from its commencement to July, 1851, have been published. The latitude and longitude over three thousand two hundred points have the been given to the public, and furnishing informs tion of great value for general and local purposes Many special examinations have been made to de termine the proper sites for lights, light-boats, het cons and buoys, along the whole coast from Maite to Texas; and, as regards the western coast, the and been performed by the Coast Survey. It gives entire duty of selecting sites has devolved up me great pleasure to acknowledge the promptitude 53.1 32D CONG.....2D SESS. APPENDIX TO THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE. th which this duty has been performed, and my fidence in the results thus reached. It has been an arduous and responsible duty, reiring in each case a personal examination, and many cases accurate surveys of the localities. uch valuable information has also been furnished connection with the river and harbor improveents, greatly expediting the plans for prosecug these works, and making available the results the surveys and the personal examination of superintendents to this branch of the public rvice. In view of the very extensive correspondence hich necessarily appertains to such extended and ried operations, it is respectfully recommended at the same authority as to receiving or sending icial communications connected with the survey, w exercised by the several bureaus of this Dertment, may be extended to the Superintendent the Coast Survey, and to the assistant in charge the Survey Office, the Superintendent being ecessarily absent in the field much of his time. he duties of franking now thrown upon this Dertment are extremely onerous, while it proaces delay incompatible with that prompt disatch of the business of the Survey always to be sired. MISCELLANEOUS. In pursuance of the act of 31st August last, auorizing the formation of a Light-house Board, me officer of engineers of the Army, and one of e Topographical Engineers, two naval officers of gh rank, and two civilians of distinguished scitific acquirements, have been designated by the resident to form this Board, and one officer of the avy and one of the Engineers as secretaries. The Foard so constituted immediately organized, and ntered upon the duties assigned them by law. "he clerks employed upon the light-house business eing one temporary clerk from the office of the ecretary of the Treasury, and four from the "ifth Auditor's bureau, were, as required by law, ansferred to the office of the Light-house Board. The Board has been assiduously engaged in the From the practical roper duties assigned it. nowledge and high professional and scientific ttainments combined in the eminent gentlemen omprising it, there is no reason to doubt that all The benefits contemplated by this new organizaion of that branch of the public service will be Fully realized. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury. of the custom-house buildings at San Francisco, Within these limited appropriations in many The contract for the extension and reorganization of the Baltimore custom-house building has been concluded, in conformity with the act of the last session. The great distance and consequent difficulty and delay in communicating with Oregon has prevented any definite progress being made in the erection of the proposed building at Astoria. The operations of the Department arising out of the provisions made for sick and disabled seamen, are becoming daily more onerous and extended. In consequence of the rapid expansion of our commerce, both foreign and domestic, the funds arising from the monthly contributions of twenty cents from the parties for whose benefit this truly beneficent system has been established, are insufficient for their relief, without the addition of direct appropriations by Congress. The previous appropriations from the Treasury for the relief of sick seamen have amounted to $969,069 34, besides $928,319 20 for the purchase of sites, the erection of hospital buildings, furniture, repairs, &c. The Department recommends a continuance of A detailed report of the operations of the Board, comprising such changes and improvements in the appropriations for the relief of sick seamen and he present system as in its judgment have become boatmen, to the needful extent for supplying the deficiency in the amount received from the hosnecessary, is submitted with the present report. Under the act of the 31st August last, providing pital fund; but it is not at present prepared to advise the erection of more marine hospitals. The For the construction of not less than six revenue cutters, the Department advertised for proposals experience of the Department induces me to believe that it is in every way preferable to make an For the building of six vessels of designated size arrangement for the care of sick seamen with local and finish. Proposals have accordingly been received, and the contract for the whole number has hospitals of high standing, which are under the been awarded to the lowest bidder, under ample immediate and vigilant supervision of citizens of security for its faithful execution. The appropria-the highest respectability, at the respective places. tion made will be sufficient for the construction of Such arrangements exist at New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and at some other points, at a said vessels, and their perfect equipment for serfixed weekly rate for each seaman, the cost of vice. which is greatly less than it would be in a public hospital, and where the care and attention which the patients receive are fully equal to what they could possibly obtain in a Government institution, and their medical treatment is also under the direction of the most eminent professional talents and experience. In all places where a similar arrangement can be made, I am of opinion it should be preferred, rather than erect other marine hospitals in addition to those already authorized, as I believe both the comfort of the sick, and economy of expenditure, would be promoted by the adoption of the former plan. Of the several custom-houses authorized, or in course of construction, that at New Orleans has progressed as fast as circumstances would permit; that at Savannah has been completed and occupied; at Charleston the foundation is progressing with all possible dispatch. Sites have been purchased, and proposals publicly invited for the erection of custom-house buildings at Mobile, Norfolk, Bangor, Louisville, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Sites have been selected at Bath and Waldoboro', Maine, and Wilmington, in Delaware; and their purchase will be completed when the cession of jurisdiction shall have been obtained from the States in which they are respectively situated, in accordance with the requirements of the joint resolution of September, 1841. A site has been selected for the building authorized at Richmond, Virginia. So much of the appropriation, however, will be absorbed by its purchase that it has been deemed advisable to delay for the present any steps towards the erection of the building, with the view of requesting from Congress an additional appropriation and the removal of the existing restriction as to the amount of expendiContracts have been made for the erection ture. Under the system which has been so long and so steadily pursued by the Government as regards this useful, but generally improvident class of men, there is probably no instance where so much relief is granted, and so generally distributed, and with so much advantage to the parties interested, as that by the marine hospital fund under its present regulations. While the benefit of this fund is extended to almost all the collection districts of the United States, hospitals are completed and in full operation at Chelsea, near Boston, Massachusetts; Nor HO. OF REPS. folk, Virginia; Ocracoke, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Louisville and Paducah, Kentucky; Natchez, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Key West, Florida. Appropriations have been made, and buildings authorized to be erected at Napoleon, Arkansas; St. Louis, Missouri; San Francisco, California; Evansville, Indiana; Portland, Maine, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Estimates of appropriations for the completion of the buildings at St. Louis, and for the fencing and heating of buildings, and work necessary for their protection at Chicago, in Illinois; Cleveland, in Ohio; Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania; Louisville, have been submitted. in Kentucky; Paducah, Napoleon, and Natchez, These estimates are based upon a careful calculation of the amount and quantity of work to be done, and are deemed indispensably necessary for the buildings and grounds referred to. A contract has been made for the buildings at San Francisco, and those at Napoleon and St. Louis are nearly completed; that at St. Louis has been delayed, awaiting a further appropriation. A site has been purchased at Evansville, but the balance of the appropriation is not sufficient to erect a suitable building, and an additional appropriation of $20,000 is respectfully submitted." A site has been selected for an hospital at Portland, Maine, but the Department has not yet taken pointed to select it. final action on the report of the commissioners ap The following statements connected with the subject accompany the present report, viz: Statement T'exhibits the whole amount received from the monthly contributions of seamen under the act of 16th July, 1798, up to 1st July, 1852. Statement U, exhibiting the amount appropriated by Congress for the purchase of sites, erection of marine hospitals, furniture, &c., designating the respective points and the amount of appropriations for each place. Statement V, exhibiting the present state of the hospital fund arising from the monthly contributions of the seamen, and the appropriations by Congress for their relief. The Supreme Court, in the case of Lawrence vs. Caswells, decided that no return of duties time of making the entry entered a written protest could be claimed by parties who had not at the declaring specially the grounds on which they objected to pay the duties; and the Department has declined to refund any duties alleged to be illegally felt itself bound by that decision, and has since assessed, except in cases where such written protest was made at the time, or where it evidently arose from a clerical error. This course involves great hardship in many cases where even the same parties, having in certain entries made a regular protest, have received back the duties erroneously assessed, agreeably to legal decisions; whilst in other cases, precisely similar in every respect, but where the formality of a protest was not observed, no return can be made under the above decision of the Supreme Court. I would recommend these cases to the favorable action of Congress, by investing in the Treasury Department the power to return duties in all cases which may be similar to those on which the Supreme Court may have made decisions in favor of the claimants, even if no protest has been made at the time by the parties. The attention of Congress was called at the last session to the necessity of a law-and one was framed for the purpose but not acted on-to check the multiplicity of suits against the collectors of the customs for duties alleged to be improperly collected, by obliging the same parties to consolidate all their suits of a similar kind in one action; and also where one party had already entered a suit that no others involving the same principle should be instituted, on the Treasury Department agreeing, upon notice from other claimants, that the decision of the suit which may have been already entered, should govern in the settlement of the others. As it now is, the same parties, vexatiously and with the view to increase their costs, will enter separate and numerous suits, all precisely similar in the facts and circumstances. It is also essential that in all suits against collectors there should be the right of appeal to the 32D CONG....2D SESS. Supreme Court without regard to the amount, as there are numerous decisions made in the lower courts, involving important principles, which would probably be reversed, were an appeal granted, but which the amount involved does not admit of an appeal under existing laws. Congress at its last session having appropriated the sum of $10,000 for locating surf-boats on the coast of the United States, the Department called upon the Superintendent of the Coast Survey for a report showing the points where they could be most advantageously employed for the purpose of saving life and property from shipwreck. This report has lately been received, giving twelve points on the coast of Maine and Massachusetts as suitable locations; and orders will immediately issue for the supplying the same with the requisite boats and their appurtenances; and as soon as other suitable locations along the coast are furnished this Department from the Office of the Coast Survey, measures will be immediately taken for furnishing them likewise. Numerous reports have been made to the Department of the great saving of life and property on our coast by means of these boats; and I would respectfully suggest that a further appropriation of $10,000 be made for this laudable object, and that power be granted this Department to expend, from time to time, such portions of it as may be required to keep the boats and fixtures in repairs for immediate use, and compensate persons for taking care of them. The subject of the fisheries being one of high importance, and having recently attracted great and general attention, I transmit herewith a highlyinteresting and valuable report prepared for this Department by Lorenzo Sabine, Esq., embracing: 1. A report on the fisheries of France, Spain, and Portugal, in the American seas. 2. A report on the fisheries of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward's Island, Magdalen Islands, Bay of Chaleurs, Labrador, and New Brunswick. 3. Report on the fisheries of the United States. 4. Review of the controversy between the United States and Great Britain as to the intent and meaning of the first article of the Convention of 1818. The following statements accompany the present report, viz: A. Statement of duties, revenues, and public expenditures, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852, agreeably to warrants issued, exclusive of trust funds and Treasury notes funded. B. Statement of duties, revenues, and public expenditures, for the first quarter of the fiscal year, from July 1 to September 30, 1852, agreeably to warrants issued, 'exclusive of trust funds and Treasury notes funded. C. Statement of advances from the Treasury on account of the expenses of each custom-house in the United States during the year ending on the 30th June, 1852. D. Statement of the number of persons employed in each district of the United States, for the collection of customs, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852, with their occupation and compensation, per act 3d March, 1849. E. Statement of the public debt on the 1st January, 1853. F. Statement of the redemption of Treasury notes during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852. G. Statement exhibiting the total value of imports, and the imports consumed in the United States, exclusive of specie, during each fiscal year from 1821 to 1852; showing, also, the value of the domestic and foreign exports, exclusive of specie, and the tonnage employed during the same periods. H. Statement exhibiting the value of imports annually, from 1821 to 1852, designating separately the amount of specie, free and dutiable goods, respectively. I. Statement exhibiting the value of certain articles imported during the years ending on the 30th of June, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852, (after deducting the reëxportations,) and the amount of duty which accrued on each during the same periods, respectively. K. Statement exhibiting the amount of coin and bullion imported and exported annually, from 1821 to 1852, inclusive, and also the amount of import Colonization in North America-Mr. Cass. ation over exportation, and of exportation over importation during the same years. L. Statement exhibiting the quantity and value of wines, spirits, &c., imported annually, from 1843 to 1852, inclusive; and also showing the foreign cost per gallon under specific and ad valorem duties. M. Statement showing the value of goods remaining in warehouses at the close of each quarter, from the 30th of September, 1847, to the 30th of June, 1852, as exhibited by the quarterly returns of the collectors of the customs, under the provisions of the act of the 6th of August, 1846; and also the amount of duties payable thereon. N. Statement exhibiting the value of dutiable merchandise reëxported annually, from 1821 to 1852, inclusive; and showing also the value re exported from warehouses under the act of August 6, 1846. O. Statement exhibiting the value of foreign merchandise imported, reexported, and consumed, annually, from 1821 to 1852, inclusive, and also the estimated population and rate of consumption, per capita, during the same periods. P. Statement exhibiting the value of merchandise and domestic produce, &c., exported annually from 1821 to 1852. Q. Statement exhibiting the quantity and value of cotton exported annually, from 1821 to 1852, inclusive, and the average price per pound. R. Statement exhibiting the aggregate value of breadstuffs and provisions exported annually, from 1821 to 1852. S. Statement exhibiting the quantity and value of tobacco and rice exported annually, from 1821 to 1852, inclusive. All of which is respectfully submitted, Hon. LINN Boyd, COLONIZATION IN NORTH AMERICA. DEBATE IN THE SENATE, On the Resolutions of Mr. Cass, relative to colonTUESDAY, January 15, 1853, ization in North America. The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to consider the joint resolution declaratory of the views of the United States respecting colonization on the North American continent by European Powers, and respecting the Island of Cuba; which is as follows: "Be it resolved, &c., That the United States do hereby declare that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any Europeau Power.' And while 'existing rights should be respected,' and will be by the United States, they owe it to their own safety and interests' to announce, as they now do, that no future European colony or dominion shall, with their consent, be planted or established on any part of the North American continent." And should the attempt be made, they thus deliberately declare that it will be viewed as an act originating in motives regardless of their interests and their safety,' and which will leave them free to adopt such measures as an independ ent nation may justly adopt in defense of its rights and its honor. "And be it further resolved, That while the United States disclaim any designs upon the Island of Cuba inconsistent with the laws of nations and with their duties to Spain, they consider it due to the vast importance of the subject, to make known, in this solemn manner, that they should view all efforts on the part of any other Power to procure possession, whether peaceably or forcibly, of that island, which, as a naval or military position, must, under circumstances easy to be foreseen, become dangerous to their southern coast, to the Gulf of Mexico, and to the mouth of the Mississippi, as unfriendly acts, directed against them, to be resisted by all the means in their power." The question pending was on the following amendment offered by Mr. HALE: "And be it further resolved, That while the United States, in like manner, disclaim any designs upon Canada inconsistent with the laws of nations, and with their duties to Great Britain, they consider it due to the vast importance of the subject to make known, in this solemn manner, that they should view all efforts on the part of any other Power to procure possession, either peaceably or forcibly, of that Province, (which, as a naval or military position, must, under circumstances easy to be foreseen, become dangerous to their northern boundary, and to the lakes,) as unfriendly acts directed against them, to be resisted by all the means in their power." Mr. CASS. Mr. President, the question of the SENATE recolonization of any part of this hemisphe the European Powers has occupied the atte of the American people for many years. r more or less interest, as passing events see render the effort more or less probable. The eral subject, as well as the principles invo it, has been so often discussed that I do n pose to enter into a very full examination rights and condition connected with this inter topic, but rather to present the general comme tions belonging to it. Two Presidents of the United States hare solemn public acts, in their messages to Cor declared and maintained the principles restes American exemption from European don which are laid down in the first of the res before us, and have distinctly and satistar established not only our right but our duty so, as one of the great elements of our i safety and prosperity. Mr. Monroe, in said:" "We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the am lations existing between the United States and those to declare that we should consider any attempt on te to extend their system to any portion of this heme dangerous to our peace and safety. With the ere onies or dependencies of any European Power webs interfered, aud shall not interfere. But with the ments which have declared their independence and tained it, and whose independence we have, on greate eration and on just principles acknowledged, we es view any interposition for the purpose of oppress or controlling in any other manner their destiny ma ropean Power, in any other light than as the ma of an unfriendly disposition towards the United Sar Mr. Polk, in the same spirit, in 1845, said: "The people of the United States cannot, theries, r with indifference attempts of European Power with the independent action of the nations on th The American system of government is entirely of from that of Europe. Jealousy among the difers eigns of Europe, lest any one of them might becomet erful for the rest, has caused them anxiously to desi tablishment of what they term the balance of pow cannot be permitted to have any application on American continent, and especially to the United Sas must ever maintain the principle, that the people continent alone have the right to decide their own Should any portion of them, constituting an inde State, propose to unite themselves with our Conte this will be a question for them and us to determ out any foreign interposition. We can never EEuropean Powers shall interfere to prevent such 1 because it might disturb the balance of powe they may desire to maintain upon this continent quarter of a century ago, the principle was distemi) nounced to the world, in the annual message d predecessors, that The American continent, and independent condition which they have astrol 'maintained, are henceforth not to be considered 'for future colonization by any European Powe principle will apply with greatly increased force. any European Power attempt to establish any new in North America." In some remarks upon this subject in the Se a few days since, I alluded to, rather than ca ered, the general grounds upon which this co of independent action for the nations of the Ar ican continent rested for its assertion. Isha repeat those views, contenting myself with s that this right of exclusion results from the tion of this continent, and from those genera ciples of the public law of the world, by w protects the interests and safety of nations varying circumstances in which they may placed. The history of that code shows the has a power of adaptation to the advancing tions of nations, and that rigid inflexibilny s one of its attributes. The changes introdu it by the discovery of America in the esta ment of the principles of occupation and sette are familiar to all, and furnish an illustratio this progressive improvement. The right of colonization would necessarily lead to the rene indeed, to the perpetual domination of Eur Powers, and their colonies, wherever p would become parties with the mother countrie all their wars, though far beyond the true sp of their causes and objects. We should thus find ourselves in juxtapos it might be, and at any rate within the reac the action of communities, rendered enemies the disputes, too often frivolous, and almost aleyk indifferent, of nations on the other side of the lantic. Such a state of things, bringing was our coast, to our inland boundaries even, and terrupting the peaceful and profitable avocatio a whole continent, to gratify the pride or jealoess | or some other equally unworthy passion of isters or mistresses, where these are the depos 32D CONG.....2D SESS. ies of power, would be " dangerous to our peace nd safety." But I do not know that the general principle of his claim of exemption is contested. Certainly cannot be upon any just grounds. Our Execuive Government has assumed it upon full considration, and the history of our negotiations with England, to be found in the interesting account iven by Mr. Rush, our able and faithful repre- | entative, of his mission to that country, proves eyond doubt, that although the British Ministry vere opposed to our anti-colonization doctrine, lest might interfere with ulterior objects of aggrandzement on their part, yet, they entirely concurred n the application of the principle to the recentlymancipated Spanish Colonies, which in fact, coneded the right of the United States to extend the ame policy to any portion of the continent not hen actually possessed by a European Power. And Mr. Monroe distinctly announced this fact, aying: "It is gratifying to know that some of the Powers with whom we enjoy a very friendly intercourse, and to whom hese views [concerning the condition of the Spanish-Amerean States] have been communicated, have appeared to icquiesce in them." When Mr. Canning announced to Mr. Rush hat" England could not see the transfer of any bortion of them (these same States) to any other Power with indifference," she acted upon considerations much more applicable to our condition han to hers, and which are coextensive with the continent. There is great force in the remark of chat eminent British statesman upon our situation and political duties: "It concerned the United States under aspects and inerests as immediate and commanding, as it did or could iny of the States of Europe. They were the first Power on that continent, and now confessedly the leading Power. They were connected with Spanish America by their position, as with Europe by their relations. And they also stood connected with these new States by political relations. Was it possible they could see with indifference their fate decided only by Europe? Could Europe expect this indifference? Had not a new epoch arrived in the relative position of the United States towards Europe, which Europe must acknowledge? Were the great political and commercial interests which hung upon the destinies of the new Continent Eo be canvassed and adjusted in this hemisphere (Europe) without the coöperation or even knowledge of the United States?" Colonization in North America—Mr. Cass. satisfactory answer to this question. Though there is no doubt but that these Executive declara tions were beneficial in their operations, and aided in checking schemes of aggrandizement, which, had they gone on, would have changed the political aspect of the country south of us, and greatly to our injury, still they have not been wholly regarded, as events upon the La Plata and in other regions have practically demonstrated, and occurrences now going on in Central America, and which, from day to day, occupy the earnest attention of the Senate, showing the steps by which the merest shadow of possession becomes a claim, and a claim a title, which carries with it dominion and sovereignty, treaty or no treaty. These occurrences announce that our declared policy of exclusion will be still further disregarded, unless authoritatively reaffirmed in the name of the American people. An experiment is making upon our forbearance, or rather upon our apprehension, and as it is resisted or submitted to, it will be abandoned, or pushed to results which no nation now ventures openly to avow. It is but a few years since, that a principle looking to an American balance of power, was announced by the French Prime Minister, Mr. Guizot, in the Chamber of Deputies, in relation to occurrences at Buenos Ayres, utterly inconsistent with the true American doctrine; and no doubt our own negligence, or rather our timidity, has encouraged this spirit of presumption, and led to the belief that we do not intend to carry out our own principles, and that, therefore, they may be safely disregarded by other nations. I repeat, that the nature of our Government furnishes a satisfactory solution of this course of foreign policy. The annunciation of our views upon this subject was intended to warn the Powers of Europe of our policy, and thus to prevent the violation of its principle. But upon this, as upon many other occasions, we halted in our course, and did not come up to our work. We did not keep on the line of political knowledge. We should have added the solemnity and the force of a legislative concurrence to these Executive declarations. Such annunciations, when made by the head of a European State, are made authoritatively, because, he who uses them, has the power to enforce them. They become settled maxims of These words of wisdom of one of the most en- policy, and other nations are aware that they ightened men of England, commend themselves, cannot be interfered with, except at the hazard of by their justice and liberality, to the consideration war. But it is far different here. Great principles of every true American, and they are not the less of national conduct depend essentially upon public ust and liberal because they were urged with a sentiment, and can only be enforced in the last review to induce our Government to become a party sort by the action of Congress. Public sentiment o a European Congress for the arrangement of has, I believe, with almost unexampled unanimity, American affairs. It was wise to reject the pro-approved this principle, but Congress has never, posal; it is not less wise to acquiesce in the docrine which led to it, and to make it ours by its practical enforcement in our own way, as a quesion of American policy, beyond the just sphere of European interposition. When such statesmen as Mr. Monroe, Mr. Polk, and Mr. Canning, anite in their general views of our rights and dues, those of us who believe in this salutary docine, and in the expediency of enforcing it, may well bear the censures, and sneers, and ridicule, nd reproach, which our efforts encounter from ome, because we go too far, and from others, beause we do not go far enough, while the cautious nd the timid see in every assertion of national ghts and honor, a fearful cloud impending over ur country, ready to burst upon us, and sweep way our prosperity, if not our existence. One third of a century has passed away since hese diplomatic discussions, and if our position nd circumstances, being the oldest of the family f nations in the western hemisphere, conferred pon us at that time, such rights, accompanied by ich duties, how much stronger is the appeal of his policy of continental independence to our arnest attention now, when time has developed ur strength and our danger, and when our Amercan interests are primary, and those which conect us with Europe but secondary in importance, nd when, from day to day, this disparity is inreasing. This, then, being our settled plan of policy, and aving been so announced to the world by two Chief Magistrates of our country, why, it may be ked, does it become necessary for Congress to terpose, and by a legislative declaration, reaffirm ? The nature of our Government furnishes a by action or declaration, given to it the sanction of its authority. That decisive measure should have been taken when the Executive first promulgated the doctrine. The claim, therefore, has rested barren among our archives, only to bear certain fruit when the Legislature of the Republic adopt as its own. An able and distinguished Senator from Ohio, now no longer among us, (Mr. Allen,) seeing the importance of this policy, and foreseeing the necessity of making it our own, and respected as such, by a more signal public act, attempted, some six or seven years since, to press the subject on the consideration of Congress, but his exertions, which deserved a better fate, were fruitless, and we compromitted alike our honor and our interests, by shrinking from a responsibility not less noble, in my opinion, than it was important. The Senate, if I recollect aright, refused even to consider the subject. We would not denounce interference, because that would be to interfere. And we should thus be led, but how I know not, into entangling alliances, the bugbear of American politics, which raises its spectral front, whenever it is proposed to take a decided step in our foreign intercourse. This national timidity never did any good, and never will. There are positions in the progress of a people, when firmness is not only wisdom but safety; and one of these we have now reached. Mr. Monroe, when he first announced this policy, considered the occasion proper for the assertion of "a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved." If the circumstances to which he referred justified this great and untried measure at that day, much more do the circumstances in which we are now placed SENATE. justify the most solemn declaration of our adherence to it. Some of the independent States of Spanish origin seem to be hastening to dissolution, and almost all of them are weak, unquiet, agitated, and with elements of destruction in more or less active operation. The most important in extent, in population, and in natural resources, and the one which, from its coterminous position, has the most intimate relations with our peace and interests, is precisely the Power whose fate appears to be the most doubtful. Its internal agitations announce one of those catastrophes, whose consequences are beyond the reach of human sagacity. It is impossible but that this state of things should have attracted the attention of European statesmen, and have given rise to schemes, more or less matured, for turning the circumstances to the advantage of the two great Powers most likely to interfere, because most interested, and most capable of making their interference felt. We cannot disguise from ourselves that our progress and prospects, while they are a reproach to many of the Governments of the Old World, have excited their enmity by the contrasts they exhibit, and by the dangerous example they offer to the oppressed masses, inviting them to do as we have done, and to become free, as we are free. He who does not know that there is not a Government in Europe, which is a friend to our institutions, has much to learn of the impressions that our past, and present, and probable future, are producing among them. And while we should watch their designs with constant, even with jealous care, it does not become us to magnify either our own danger or their power. I have no fear of a direct attack upon this country. I do not believe that such a project is even among the reveries of the most dreaming statesman now on the stage of action. But what we have to apprehend is plans for arresting our extent and prosperity, the seizure of positions by which we might be annoyed and circumscribed, and the creation of an influence, and of schemes of policy, offering powerful obstacles to our future advancement. Motives have always existed and been in operation for checking our progress, but recent events have added as well to their number as their gravity. We have acquired an extensive territory upon the shores of the great ocean of the west, and our flag waves in the breeze that comes from the islands and continent of Asia. Think you, Mr. President, there is a maritime nation in Europe which does not desire that every possible obstacle should be interposed in the way of all communication between the eastern and the western portions of this magnificent republican empire? Not one; and Nicaragua routes, and Panama routes, and Tehuantepec routes, and all others, if there are any others, to be used by us, are so many abominations in their eyes, to be tolerated only till they can be closed upon us by the occupation of commanding positions whenever opportunities can be found, or made for seizing them. Considerations of this nature, far more than their intrinsic value, give importance to Honduras, to the Colony of the Bay of Islands, to Sonora, to Chihuahua, and to other points where European intrigues have been at work to obtain possession. All we want is a fair and equal field for exertion, and if we have not industry and enterprise enough to hold our own way in the great career of advancement, we deserve to fall behind our rivals and cotemporaries, and ought to find no one "to do us reverence." But I have no fear of this, nor indeed has any one else. It should, therefore, be a cardinal maxim of our policy, to preserve, as far as we can, the integrity of the cisatlantic Republics, for it is almost as much for their interest as it is for ours, that these great lines of communication should be opened to all the world, and free to the competition of every nation. There has recently been an attempt to wrest Sonora from the Mexican dominion, which at first attracted some attention in this country; but it has apparently failed, and the effort seems now rather to be ridiculed than condemned. The circumstances connected with the origin of that movement, are obscure, but public rumor at first assigned it indirectly to French agents, made with a view to the extension of the jurisdiction of their country over that region. There are strong reasons for believing that this conjecture was correct, though |