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of the Constitution and laws within its limits. In order to effect this purpose, I appointed a new governor and other federal officers for Utah, and sent with them a military force for their protection, and to aid as a posse comitatus, in case of need, in the execution of the laws.

With the religious opinions of the Mormons, as long as they remained mere opinions, however deplorable in themselves and revolting to the moral and religious sentiments of all Christendom, I had no right to interfere. Actions alone, when in violation of the Constitution and laws of The United States, become the legi timate subjects for the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate. My instructions to Governor Cumming have therefore been framed in strict accordance with these principles. At their date a hope was indulged that no necessity might exist for employing the military in restoring and maintaining the authority of the law; but this hope has now vanished. Governor Young has, by proclamation, declared his determination to maintain his power by force, and bas already committed acts of hostility against The United States. Unless he should retrace his steps the territory of Utah will be in a state of open rebellion. He has committed these acts of hostility notwithstanding Major Van Vliet, an officer of the army, sent to Utah by the commanding general to purchase provisions for the troops, had given him the strongest assurances of the peaceful intentions of the Government, and that the troops would only be employed as a posse comitatus when called on by the civil authority to aid in the execution of the laws.

There is reason to believe that Governor Young has long contemplated this result. He knows that the continuance of his despotic power depends upon the exclusion of all settlers from the territory, except those who will acknowledge his divine mission and implicitly obey his will; and that an enlightened public opinion there would soon prostrate institutions at war with the laws both of God and man. He has therefore for several years, in order to maintain his independence, been industriously employed in collecting and fabricating arms and munitions of war, and in disciplining the Mormons for military service. As superintendent of Indian affairs he has had an opportunity of tampering with the Indian tribes, and exciting their hostile feelings against The United States. This, according to our information, he has accomplished in regard to some of these tribes, while others have remained true to their allegiance, and have communicated his intrigues to our Indian agents. He has laid in a store of provisions for three years, which, in case of necessity, as he informed Major Van Vliet, he will conceal, "and then take to the mountains, and bid defiance to all the powers of the Government."

A great part of all this may be idle boasting; but yet no wise Government will lightly estimate the efforts which may be inspired by such phrensied fanaticism as exists among the Mormons in Utah. This is the first rebellion which has existed in our territories; and humanity itself requires that we should put it down in such manner that it shall be the last. To trifle with it would be to encourage it and to render it formidable. We ought to go there with such an imposing force as to convince these deluded people that resistance would be vain, and thus spare the effusion of blood. We can in this manner best convince them that we are their friends, not their enemies. In order to accomplish this object, it will be necessary, according to the estimate of the War Department, to raise four additional regiments; and this I earnestly recommend to Congress. At the present moment of depression in the revenues of the country I am sorry to be obliged to recommend such a measure; but I feel confident of the support of Congress, cost what it may, in suppressing the insurrection and in restoring and maintaining the sovereignty of the Constitution and laws over the territory of Utah.

I recommend to Congress the establishment of a territorial Government over Arizona, incorporating with it such portions of New Mexico as they may deem expedient. I need scarcely adduce arguments in support of this recommendation. We are bound to protect the lives and the property of our citizens inhabiting Arizona, and these are now without any efficient protection. Their present number is already considerable, and is rapidly increasing, notwithstanding the disadvantages under which they labour. Besides, the proposed territory is believed to be rich in mineral and agricultural resources, especially in silver and copper. The mails of The United States to California are now carried over it throughout its whole extent, and this route is known to be the nearest, and believed to be the best to the Pacific.

Long experience has deeply convinced me that a strict construction of the powers granted to Congress is the only true, as well as the only safe, theory of the Constitution. Whilst this principle shall guide my public conduct, I consider it clear that under the war-making power Congress may appropriate money for the construction of a military road through the territories of The United States, when this is absolutely necessary for the defence of any of the States against foreign invasion. The Constitution has conferred upon Congress power "to declare war," "to raise and support armies," "to provide and maintain a navy," and to call forth the militia to "repel invasions." These high sovereign powers necessarily involve important and responsible public duties, and among them there is none so sacred and so imperative as that of preserving

our soil from the invasion of a foreign enemy. The Constitution has, therefore, left nothing on this point to construction, but expressly requires that "The United States shall protect each of them [the States] against invasion." Now, if a military road over our own territories be indispensably necessary to enable us to meet and repel the invader, it follows as a necessary consequence not only that we possess the power, but it is our imperative duty to construct such a road. It would be an absurdity to invest a Government with the unlimited power to make and conduct war, and at the same time deny to it the only means of reaching and defeating the enemy at the frontier. Without such a road it is quite evident we cannot "protect" California and our Pacific possessions "against invasion." We cannot by any other means transport men and munitions of war from the Atlantic States in sufficient time successfully to defend these remote and distant portions of the republic.

Experience has proved that the routes across the isthmus of Central America are at best but a very uncertain and unreliable mode of communication. But even if this were not the case, they would at once be closed against us in the event of war with a naval power so much stronger than our own as to enable it to blockade the ports at either end of these routes. After all, therefore, we can only rely upon a military road through our own territories; and ever since the origin of the Government Congress has been in the practice of appropriating money from the public treasury for the construction of such roads.

The difficulties and the expense of constructing a military railroad to connect our Atlantic and Pacific States have been greatly exaggerated. The distance on the Arizona route near the 32nd parallel of north latitude, between the western boundary of Texas on the Rio Grande and the eastern boundary of California on the Colorado, from the best explorations now within our knowledge, does not exceed 470 miles, and the face of the country is, in the main, favourable. For obvious reasons the Government ought not to undertake the work itself by means of its own agents. This ought to be committed to other agencies, which Congress might assist, either by grants of land or money, or by both, upon such terms and conditions as they may deem most beneficial for the country. Provision might thus be made not only for the safe, rapid, and economical transportation of troops and munitions of war, but also of the public mails. The commercial interests of the whole country, both east and west. would be greatly promoted by such a road; and, above all, it would be a powerful additional bond of union. And although advantages of this kind, whether postal, commercial, or political, cannot confer constitutional power, yet they may furnish auxiliary arguments in

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favour of expediting a work which, in my judgment. is clearly embraced within the war-making power.

For these reasons I commend to the friendly consideration of Congress the subject of the Pacific railroad, without finally committing myself to any particular route.

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury will furnish a detailed statement of the condition of the public finances and of the respective branches of the public service devolved upon that department of the Government. By this report it appears that the amount of revenue received from all sources into the treasury during the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1857, was 68,631,513 dollars 67 cents, which amount, with the balance of 19,901,325 dollars 15 cents, remaining in the treasury at the commencement of the year, made an aggregate for the service of the year of 88,532,839 dollars 12 cents.

The public expenditures for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1857, amounted to 70,822,724 dollars 85 cents, of which 5,943,896 dollars 91 cents were applied to the redemption of the public debt, including interest and premium, leaving in the treasury at the commencement of the present fiscal year on the 1st July, 1857, 17,710,114 dollars 27 cents.

The receipts into the treasury for the first quarter of the present fiscal year, commencing 1st July, 1857, were 20,929,819 dollars 81 cents, and the estimated receipts of the remaining three quarters to the 30th June, 1858, are 36,750,000 dollars, making, with the balance before stated, an aggregate of 75,389,934 dollars 08 cents for the service of the present fiscal year.

The actual expenditures during the first quarter of the present fiscal year were 23,714,528 dollars 37 cents, of which 3,895,232 dollars 39 cents were applied to the redemption of the public debt, including interest and premium. The probable expenditures of the remaining three quarters, to 30th June, 1858, are 51,248,530 dollars 04 cents, including interest on the public debt, making an aggregate of 74,963,058 dollars 41 cents, leaving an estimated balance in the treasury at the close of the present fiscal year of 426,875 dollars

67 cents.

The amount of the public debt at the commencement of the present fiscal year was 20,060,386 dollars 90 cents.

The amount redeemed since the 1st of July was 3,895,232 dollars 39 cents, leaving a balance unredeemed at this time of 25,165,154 dollars 51 cents.

The amount of estimated expenditures for the remaining three quarters of the present fiscal year will, in all probability, be increased from the causes set forth in the Report of the Secretary. His suggestion, therefore, that authority should be given to supply any

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temporary deficiency by the issue of a limited amount of treasury notes is approved, and I accordingly recommend the passage of such a law.

As stated in the Report of the Secretary, the tariff of March 3, 1857, has been in operation for so short a period of time, and under circumstances so unfavourable to a just development of its results as a revenue measure, that I should regard it as inexpedient, at least for the present, to undertake its revision.

I transmit herewith the Reports made to me by the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, of the Interior and of the PostmasterGeneral. They all contain valuable and important information and suggestions, which I commend to the favourable consideration of Congress.

I have already recommended the raising of four additional regi. ments, and the Report of the Secretary of War presents strong reasons, proving this increase of the army, under existing eireum. stances, to be indispensable.

I would call the special attention of Congress to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy in favour of the construction of 10 small war steamers of light draught. For some years the Government has been obliged on many occasions to hire such steamers from individuals to supply its pressing wants. At the present moment we have no armed vessel in the navy which can penetrate the rivers of China. We have but few which can enter any of the harbours south of Norfolk, although many millions of foreign and domestic commerce annually pass in and out of these harbours. Some of our most valuable interests and most vulnerable points are thus left exposed. This class of vessels of light draught, great speed, and heavy guns would be formidable in coast defence. The cost of their construction will not be great, and they will require but a comparatively small expenditure to keep them in commission. In time of peace they will prove as effective as much larger vessels, and more useful. One of them should be at every station where we maintain a squadron, and three or four should be constantly employed on our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Economy, utility, and efficiency, combine to recommend them as almost indispensable. Ten of these small vessels would be of incalculable advantage to the naval service, and the whole cost of their construction would not exceed 2,300,000 dollars, or 230,000 dollars each.

The Report of the Secretary of the Interior is worthy of grave consideration. It treats of the numerous, important, and diversified branches of domestic administration intrusted to him by law. Among these the most prominent are the public lands and our relations with the Indians.

Our system for the disposal of the public lands, originating with

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