EXTRACTS FROM PRESIDENT TAYLOR'S MESSAGE.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 427, 18 May 1850, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM PRESIDENT TAYLORS MESSAGE.

A contract having been concluded with the State of Nicaragua, by a company composed of American citizens, for the purpose of constructing a ship canal through the terntory of that State, to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceuni/ I have directc the nego-

ciation of a treaty with Nicaragua, pledging both Governmenti to protect those who »hall engage in, and perfect the work. All other nations are invited by the State of Nicaragua to enter into the same treaty stipulations with her ; and the benefit to be derived by each from such an arrangement will be the protection of this great inter-oceanic communication against any power which might seek to obstruct it, or to monopolize its advantages. All State,i entering into such a treaty will enjoy the right of passage through the Canal on payment of the same toll. The work, if constructed under these guarantees, will become a bond of peace instead of a subject of contention and strife between the nations of the earth. Should the great maritime States of Europe consent to this arrangement (and we have no reason to suppose that a proposition so fair and honorable will be opposed by any), the energies of their people and ours will co-operate in promoting the success of the enterprise. I do not recommend any appropriation from the National Treasury for this purpose, nor do I believe that such an appropriation is necessary. Private cnterpriie, if properly protected, will complete the work, should it prove to be feasible. 'I he paities who have procured the charter from Nicaragua for its construction, desire no assistance from this government beyond its protection ; and they profobs, that having examined the proposed line of communication, they will be ready to commence the undertaking whenever the protection shall be extended to them. Should there appear to be reason, on examining the whole evidence, to entertain a serious doubt of the practicability of constructing such a Canal, that doubt could be speedily solved by an actual exploration of the route.

Should such a work be constructed, under the common protection of all nations — for equal benefits to all— it would be neither just nor expedient that any great maritime State should command the communication. The territory through which the Canal may be opened ought to be freed from the claims of any foreign power. No such power should occupy a position that would enable it hereafter to exercise so controlling an influence over the commerce of the world, or to obstruct a highway which ought to be dedicated to the common uses of mankind.

The routes across the Isthmus at Tehuantepec and Panama, are also worthy of our serious consideration. They did not fail to engage the attention of my predecessor. The negotiator of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was instructed to offer a very large sum of money for the right of transit across the Isthmm of Tehuantepec. The Mexican government did nit accede to the proposition for the purchase of the right of way, probably because it had already contracted with private individuals for the construction of a passage from the Guasacualco river to Tehuantepec. I Bhall not renew any proposition to purchase for money a right which ought to be equally secured to all nations on payment of a reasonable toll to the owners of the improvement, who would doubtless be well contented with that compensation, and the guarantcee of the maritime States of the world, in separate treaties negotiated with Mexico, binding her and them to protect those who should construct the work. Such guarantees would do more to secure the completion of the communication through the territory of Mexico, than any other reasonable consideration that could be offered ; and as Mexico herself would be the greatest gainer by the opening: of this communication between the Gulf and the Pacific ocean, it is presumed that she would not hesitate to yield her aid in the manner proposed, to accomplish an improvement so important to her own best interests.

We have reason to hope that the proposed Railroad across the Isthmus at Panama will he successfully con■tructed under the protection of the late Treaty with New Granada, ratified and exchanged by my predecessor on the 10th day of June, 1848, which guarantees the perfect neutrality of the Isihmus and the rights of sovereignly and property of New Granada over that territory, "with a view that the free transit from ocean to oceun may not be interrupted or embarrasied" during the existence of the treaty. Jt is our policy to encourage every practicable route across the Isthmm, which connects North and South America, either by railroad or canal, which the energy and enterprise of our citizens mny induce them to complete ; and I consider it obligatory upon me to adopt that policy, especially in consequence of the absolute necessity of facilitating intercourse with our possessions on the Pacific.

The position of the Sandwich Islands, with reference to the territory of the United States on the Pacific ; the success of our persevering and benevolent citizens who have repaired to that remote quarter, in christianising the natives, and inducing them to adopt a system of government and laws suited to their capacity and wants ; and the use made by our numerous whale ■hips of the harbours of the Isl.mds as places of resort for obtaining refreshments and repairs, all combine to render their destiny peculiarly interesting to us. It is our duty to encourage the authorities of those Islands in their efforts to improve and elevate the moral and political condition of the inhabitants ; and we should make reasonable allowances for the difficulties inseparable from the task. We desire that the Islands may maintain their independence, and that other nations should concur with us in this sentiment. We could in no erent be indifferent to their passing under the dominion of any other power. The principal commercial States have in this a common interest, and it is to be hoped that no one of them will attempt to interpoie obstacles to the entire independence ot the Islands. The receipts into the Treasury for the fiscal year ending on 30th June last, wcie, in cash, .#48, 830,097 50c. ; and in Treasury notes funded, #'10,833,000— making an aggregate of ; and the expenditures for same time were, in cash, -546,798,667 82, and in Treasury notes funded, 51 0,833,000— making an aggregate of <5'57,631,GG7 82.

The accounts and estimates which will be submitted to Congress in the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, show that there will probably be a deficit, occasioned by the expenses of the Mexican war and Treaty, on the lit day of July next, of #5,828 121 66, and on the Ist day of July, 1851, of. 810,51 7,092 73— making, in the whole, a probable deficit, to be provided for, of #16,375,214 39. The extrordinary expenses of the war with Mexico, and the purchase of California and New Mexico, exceed in amount this deficit, together with the loans heretofore made for those objects. I therefore recommend that authority be givea to borrow whatever sum may be neceisary to cover that deficit. I recommend the observance of strict economy in the appropriation and expenditure

of the public money. No civil government having been provided by Congress for California, the people of that Territory impelled by the neceisities of their political condition, recently met in convention, for the purpose of forming a Constitution and State Government, which the latest advices give me reason to suppose has been accomplished ; and it is believed they will shortly apply for the admission ol CalilornU into the Union us a sovereign State. Should such be the case, and should their constitution be conformable to the requisitions of the Constitution ol the United States, I recommend

their application to the favourable consideration of Congress. A Collector lias been appointed at San Francisco, under the Act of Congress, extending tli3 Revenue Laws over California, and measures have been taken to organise the Custom Houses at that and the other porti mentioned in that Act, at the earliect period practicable. The Collector proceeded overland, and advices have not yet been received of his arrival at San Francisco. Meanwhile it is understood that the Customs have continued to be collected there by officers acting; under the military authority, as they were during the administration of my predecessor. It will i think be expedient to confirm tile collections thus made, and direct the avails (after such allowances as Congress may think fit to authorise) to be expended within the Territory, or to be paid into the Treasury, for the purpose of meeting appropriations for the improvement of its rirers and harbours. A party engaged on the coast survey was despatched to Oregon in January last. According to the latest advices they bad not left Calfiornia ; and directions have been given them as soon as they shall have fixed on the sites of the two lighthouses and the buoys authorised to be constructed and placed in Oregon, to proceed without delay to make reconnoisunces of the most important points on the coast of California and especially to examine and determine on sights for lighthouses on that coast, the speedy erection of which is urgently demanded by our rupidly-increasing commerce. I recommend the establishment of a branch mint in California, as it will, in my opinion, afford important facilities to those engaged in mining, as well as to the Government, in the disposition of the mineral lands. In order that the situation and character of the principal mineral deposits in California may be ascertained, I recommend that a geological and mineralogical exploration be connected with the linear surveys, and that the mineral lands be divided into small lots suitable for mining, and be disposed of by sale or lease bo as to give our citizens an oppoitunity of procuring a permanent right of property in the soil. This would ( seem to be as important to the success of mining as of agricultural pursuits. The great mineral wealth of California, and the advantage which its ports and harbours, and those of Oregon, afford to commerce, especially with the islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the populous regions of Eastern Asia, make it certain that there will arise, in a few years, large and prosperous com. munities on our western coast. It therefore becomes important that a line of communication — the best and most expeditious which the nature of the country will admit, should be opened, within the territory of the United States, from the navigable waters of the AU lantic or the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific. Opinion, as elicited and expressed by two large and respectable conventions lately assembled at St. Louis and Memphis, points to a railroad as that which, if practicable, will best meet the wishes and wants of the country. But while this, if in successful operation, would be a work of great national importance, and of a value to the country which it would be difficult to estimate ; it ought also to be regarded as an undertaking of vast magnitude and expense, and one which must, if it be indeed practicable! encounter many difficulties in its construction and u«e. Therefore, to avoid failure and disappointment— to enable Congress to judge whether, in the condition of the country through which it must pass, the work be feasible, and if it be found so, whether it ihould be undertaken as a national improvement or left to individual enterprise; and in the latter alternative, what aid, if any, ought to be extended to it by the Government, I recommend as a preliminary measure a careful reconnoisance of the several proposed routes by a scientific corps, and a report as to the practicability of making such a road with an estimate of the cost of its construction and support. By an Act of Congress, passed August 14th, 1848, provision was made for extending Post-odice and mail accommodation to California and Oregon. Exertions have been made to execute the Inw, but the limited provisions of the Act, the inadequacy of the means it authorize?, the ill adaptation of our Post-office Laws to the situation of that country, and the measuio of crmpensation allowed for service by those laws, compared with the price of labour anil rents in California, render those exertions in a great degiee ineffectual. — More particular and efficient provision by law is required on this subject. The Act of 1845, reducing postage, has now, by its operation, during four years, produced results fully shewing that the income from such reduced postage is sufficient to sustain the whole expense of the service of the Post-office Department, not including the cost of transportation in mail steamers on the lines from New York to Chagres, and from Panama to Astoria, which have not been considered by Congress as pro* perly belonging to the mail service. It is mbmitted to the wisdom of Congress whether a further reduction of Postage should not now be made, more particulaily on tho Letter correspondence. This should be relieved from the unjust burden of transporting and delivering the franked matter of CongreßS, for which public service provision should be made from the Treasury. I confidently believe that .i change may safely bs made, reducing all single- letter postage to the uniform rnte of five cents, regardless of distance, without thereby imposing any greater tax on the Treasury than would constitute a vt-ry moderate compensation for tbi* public service ; and I therefore respectfully recommend such a reduction. Should Congress prefer to abolish the franking privilege eptirely, it seems probable no demand on the Treasury would result from the proposed reduction of postage. Whether any further diminution should now be made, or the result of the reduction to 5 cents, which I have recommended, should be first tested, is submitted to v<>ur derision.