SPECIAL MESSAGE.

MAY 8, 1848.

To the Senate of the United States :

I COMMUNICATE, herewith, a report of the secretary of war, together with the accompanying documents, in compliance with the resolution of the senate of the 25th of April, requesting the president to cause to be sent to the senate a copy of the opinion of the attorney-general, with copies of the accompanying papers, on the claim made by the Choctaw Indians for five thousand dollars, with interest thereon from the date of the transfer, being the difference between the cost of the stock and the par value thereof transferred to them by the Chickasaws, under the convention of the 17th of January, 1837.

SPECIAL MESSAGE.

MAY 29, 1848.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States :—

I LAY before Congress the accompanying memorial and papers, which have been transmitted to me, by a special messenger employed for that purpose, by the governor and legislative assembly of Oregon territory, who constitute the temporary government which the inhabitants of that distant region of our country have, from the necessity of their condition, organized for themselves. The memorialists are citizens of the United States. They express ardent attachment to their native land, and in their present perilous and distressed situation they earnestly invoke the aid and protection of their government.

They represent that "the proud and powerful tribes of Indians," residing in their vicinity, have recently raised "the war-whoop, and crimsoned their tomahawks in the blood of their citizens;" that they apprehend that "many of the powerful tribes, inhabiting the upper valley of the Columbia, have formed an alliance for the purpose of carrying on hostilities against their settlements; that the number of the white population is far inferior to that of the savages; that they are deficient in arms and money, and fear that they do not possess strength to repel the "attack of so formidable a foe and protect their families and property from violence and rapine;" they conclude their appeal to the government of the United States for relief by declaring: "If it be at all the intention of our honored parent to spread her guardian wing over her sons and daughters in Oregon, she surely will not refuse to do it now, when they are struggling with all the ills of a weak and temporary government, and when perils are daily thickening around them, and preparing to burst upon their heads. When the ensuing summer's sun shall have dispelled the snow from the mountains, we shall look, with glowing hope and restless anxiety, for the coming of your laws and your arms.'

In my message of the 5th of August, 1846, communicating "a copy of the convention for the settlement and adjustment of the Oregon boundary," I recommended to Congress that "provision should be made by law, at the

earliest practicable period, for the organization of a territorial government in Oregon." In my annual message of December, 1846, and again in December, 1847, this recommendation was repeated.

The population of Oregon is believed to exceed twelve thousand souls, and it is known that it will be increased by a large number of emigrants during the present season. The facts set forth in the accompanying memorial and papers show that the dangers to which our fellow-citizens are exposed are so imminent, that I deem it to be my duty again to impress on Congress the strong claim which the inhabitants of that distant country have to the benefit of our laws, and to the protection of our government.

1, therefore, again invite the attention of Congress to the subject, and recommend that laws be promptly passed establishing a territorial government, and granting authority to raise an adequate volunteer force, for the defence and protection of its inhabitants. It is believed that a regiment of mounted men, with such additional force as may be raised in Oregon, will be sufficient to afford the required protection. It is recommended that the forces raised for this purpose should engage to serve for twelve months, unless sooner discharged. No doubt is entertained that, with proper inducements in land bounties, such a force can be raised in a short time. Upon the expiration of their service, many of them will doubtless desire to remain in the country and settle upon the land which they may receive as bounty. It is deemed important that provision be made for the appointment of a suitable number of Indian agents, to reside among the various tribes in Oregon, and that appropriations be made to enable them to treat with these tribes, with a view to restore and preserve peace between them and the white inhabitants.

Should the laws recommended be promptly passed, the measures for their execution may be completed during the present season, and before the severity of winter will interpose obstacles in crossing the Rocky mountains. If not promptly passed a delay of another year will be the consequence, and may prove destructive to the white settlements in Oregon.

SPECIAL MESSAGE.

JULY 6, 1848.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:· I LAY before Congress copies of a treaty of peace, friendship, limits, and settlement, between the United States and the Mexican republic, the ratifications of which were duly exchanged at the city of Queretaro, in Mexico, on the 30th day of May, 1848.

The war in which our country was reluctantly involved, in the necessary vindication of the national rights and honor, has been thus terminated, and I congratulate Congress, and our common constituents, upon the restoration of an honorable peace.

The extensive and valuable territories ceded by Mexico to the United States constitute indemnity for the past, and the brilliant achievements and signal success of our arms will be a guaranty of security for the future, by convincing all nations that our rights must be respected. The results of the war with Mexico have given to the United States a national char

acter abroad which our country never before enjoyed. Our power and our resources have become known, and are respected throughout the world, and we shall probably be saved from the necessity of engaging in another foreign war for a long series of years. It is a subject of congratulation that we have passed through a war of more than two years' duration, with the business of the country uninterrupted, with our resources unexhausted, and the public credit unimpaired.

I communicate for the information of Congress the accompanying documents and correspondence relating to the negotiation and ratification of the treaty.

Before the treaty can be fully executed on the part of the United States, legislation will be required.

It will be proper to make the necessary appropriations for the payment of the twelve millions of dollars, stipulated by the twelfth article, to be paid to Mexico in four equal annual instalments. Three millions of dollars were appropriated by the act of March 3, 1847, and that sum was paid to the Mexican government after the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty.

The fifth article of the treaty provides that, "in order to designate the boundary line with due precision upon authoritative maps, and to establish, upon the ground, landmarks which shall show the limits of both republics, as described in the present article, the two governments shall each appoint a commissioner and a surveyor, who, before the expiration of one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, shall meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the said boundary in its whole course to the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte."

It will be necessary that provision should be made by law for the appointment of a commissioner and surveyor, on the part of the United States, to act in conjunction with a commissioner and surveyor appointed by Mexico, in executing the stipulations of this article.

It will be proper, also, to provide by law for the appointment of a "board of commissioners" to adjudicate and decide upon all claims of our citizens against the Mexican government, which by the treaty have been assumed by the United States.

New Mexico and Upper California have been ceded by Mexico to the United States, and now constitute a part of our country. Embracing nearly ten degrees of latitude, lying adjacent to the Oregon territory, and extending from the Pacific ocean to the Rio Grande, a mean distance of nearly a thousand miles, it would be difficult to estimate the value of these possessions to the United States. They constitute of themselves a country large enough for a great empire, and their acquisition is second only in importance to that of Louisiana in 1803. Rich in mineral and agricultural resources, with a climate of great salubrity, they embrace the most important ports on the whole Pacific coast of the continent of North America. The possession of the ports of San Diego and Monterey, and the bay of San Francisco, will enable the United States to command the already valuable and rapidly-increasing commerce of the Pacific. The number of our whale-ships alone now employed in that sea exceeds seven hundred, requiring more than twenty thousand seamen to navigate them, while the capital invested in this particular branch of commerce is estimated at not less than forty millions of dollars. The excellent harbors of Upper California will, under our flag, afford security and repose to our commercial marine, and American mechanics will soon furnish ready

means of ship-building and repair, which are now so much wanted in that distant sea.

By the acquisition of these possessions, we are brought into immediate proximity with the west coast of America, from Cape Horn to the Russian possessions north of Oregon, with the islands of the Pacific ocean, and by a direct voyage in steamers we will be in less than thirty days of Canton and other ports of China.

In this vast region, whose rich resources are soon to be developed by American energy and enterprise, great must be the augmentation of our commerce, and with it new and profitable demands for mechanic labor in all its branches, and new and valuable markets for our manufacture and agricultural products.

While the war has been conducted with great humanity and forbearance, and with complete success on our part, the peace has been concluded on terms the most liberal and magnanimous to Mexico. In her hands the territories now ceded had remained, and it is believed would have continued to remain, almost unoccupied and of little value to her or to any other nation, while, as a part of our Union, they will be productive of vast benefits to the United States, to the commercial world, and the general interests of mankind.

The immediate establishment of territorial governments, and the extension of our laws over these valuable possessions, are deemed to be not only important, but indispensable to preserve order, and the due administration of justice within their limits; to afford protection to the inhabitants, and to facilitate the development of the vast resources and wealth which their acquisition has added to our country.

The war with Mexico having terminated, the power of the executive to establish, or to continue, temporary civil governments over these territories, which existed under the laws of nations, while they were regarded as conquered provinces, in our military occupation, has ceased. By their cession to the United States, Mexico has no longer any power over them, and, until Congress shall act, the inhabitants will be without any organized government. Should they be left in this condition, confusion and anarchy will be likely to prevail.

Foreign commerce, to a considerable amount, is now carried on in the ports of Upper California, which will require to be regulated by our laws. As soon as our system shall be extended over this commerce, a revenue of considerable amount will be at once collected, and it is not doubted that it will be annually increased. For these, and other obvious reasons, I deem it to be my duty, earnestly to recommend the action of Congress on the subject at the present session.

In organizing governments over these territories, fraught with such vast advantages to every portion of our Union, I invoke that spirit of concession, conciliation, and compromise, in your deliberations, in which the constitution was framed, in which it should be administered, and which is so indispensable to preserve and perpetuate the harmony and union of the We should never forget that this union of confederated states was established and cemented by kindred blood, and by the common toils, sufferings, dangers, and triumphs, of all its parts, and has been the ever-augmenting source of our national greatness and of all our blessings.

states.

There has, perhaps, been no period, since the warning so impressively given to his countrymen by Washington, to guard against geographical divisions and sectional partics, which appeals with greater force than the

present, to the patriotic, sober-minded, and reflecting of all parties, and of all sections of our country. Who can calculate the value of our glorious Union? It is a model and example of free government to all the world, and is the star of hope and haven of rest to the oppressed of every clime. By its preservation we have been rapidly advanced, as a nation, to a height of strength, power, and happiness, without a parallel in the history of the world. As we extend its blessings over new regions, shall we be so unwise as to endanger its existence by geographical divisions and dissensions?

With a view to encourage the early settlement of these distant possessions, I recommend that liberal grants of the public lands be secured to all our citizens who have settled, or may in a limited period settle, within their limits.

In execution of the provisions of the treaty, orders have been issued to our military and naval forces to evacuate without delay the Mexican provinces, cities, towns, and fortified places, in our military occupation, and which are not embraced in the territories ceded to the United States. The army is already on its way to the United States. That portion of it, as well regulars as volunteers, who engaged to serve during the war with Mexico, will be discharged as soon as they can be transported or marched to convenient points in the vicinity of their homes. A part of the regular army will be employed in New Mexico and Upper California, to afford protection to the inhabitants and to guard our interests in these territories. The old army, as it existed before the commencement of the war with Mexico, especially if authority be given to fill up the rank and file of the several corps to the maximum number authorized during the war, it is believed will be a sufficient force to be retained in service during a period of peace. A few additional officers, in the line and staff of the army, have been authorized, and these, it is believed, will be necessary in the peace establishment, and should be retained in the service. The number of the general officers may be reduced, as vacancies occur by the casualties of the service, to what it was before the war..

While the people of other countries, who live under forms of government less free than our own, have been for ages oppressed by taxation, to support large standing armies in periods of peace, our experience has shown that such establishments are unnecessary in a republic. Our standing army is to be found in the bosom of society. It is composed of free citizens, who are ever ready to take up arms in the service of their country when an emergency requires it. Our experience in the war just closed fully confirms the opinion that such an army may be raised upon a few weeks' notice, and that our citizen-soldiers are equal to any troops in the world. No reason, therefore, is perceived why we should enlarge our land forces and thereby subject the treasury to an annual increased charge. Sound policy requires that we should avoid the creation of a large standing army in a period of peace. No public exigency requires it. Such armies are not only expensive and unnecessary, but may become dangerous to liberty.

Besides making the necessary legislative provisions for the execution of the treaty, and the establishment of territorial governments in the ceded country, we have, upon the restoration of peace, other important duties to perform. Among these I regard none as more important than the adoption. of proper measures for the speedy extinguishment of the national debt. It is against sound policy and the genius of our institutions, that a public debt