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judgments final may not properly be given to the court； reserving the
right of appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court； with such
other provisions as experience may have shown to be necessary。
I ask attention to the report of the Postmaster general； the
following being a summary statement of the condition of the
department：
The revenue from all sources during the fiscal year ending June 30；
1861； including the annual permanent appropriation of 700；000 for
the transportation of 〃free mail matter；〃 was 9；049；296。40； being
about 2 per cent。 less than the revenue for 1860。
The expenditures were 13；606；759。11； showing a decrease of more than
8 per cent。 as compared with those of the previous year and leaving
an excess of expenditure over the revenue for the last fiscal year
of 4；557；462。71。
The gross revenue for the year ending June 30； 1863； is estimated at
an increase of 4 per cent。 on that of 1861； making 8；683；000； to
which should be added the earnings of the department in carrying free
matter； viz。； 700；000； making 9；383；000。
The total expenditures for 1863 are estimated at 12；528；000； leaving
an estimated deficiency of 3；145；000 to be supplied from the
treasury in addition to the permanent appropriation。
The present insurrection shows； I think； that the extension of this
District across the Potomac River at the time of establishing the
capital here was eminently wise； and consequently that the
relinquishment of that portion of it which lies within the State of
Virginia was unwise and dangerous。 I submit for your consideration
the expediency of regaining that part of the District and the
restoration of the original boundaries thereof through negotiations
with the State of Virginia。
The report of the Secretary of the Interior； with the accompanying
documents； exhibits the condition of the several branches of the
public business pertaining to that department。 The depressing
influences of the insurrection have been specially felt in the
operations of the Patent and General Land Offices。 The cash receipts
from the sales of public lands during the past year have exceeded the
expenses of our land system only about 200；000。 The sales have been
entirely suspended in the Southern States； while the interruptions to
the business of the country and the diversion of large numbers of men
from labor to military service have obstructed settlements in the new
States and Territories of the Northwest。
The receipts of the Patent Office have declined in nine months about
100；000。00 rendering a large reduction of the force employed
necessary to make it self…sustaining。
The demands upon the Pension Office will be largely increased by the
insurrection。 Numerous applications for pensions； based upon the
casualties of the existing war； have already been made。 There is
reason to believe that many who are now upon the pension rolls and in
receipt of the bounty of the government are in the ranks of the
insurgent army or giving them aid and comfort。 The Secretary of the
Interior has directed a suspension of the payment of the pensions of
such persons upon proof of their disloyalty。 I recommend that
Congress authorize that officer to cause the names of such persons to
be stricken from the pension rolls。
The relations of the government with the Indian tribes have been
greatly disturbed by the insurrection； especially in the southern
superintendency and in that of New Mexico。 The Indian country south
of Kansas is in the possession of insurgents from Texas and Arkansas。
The agents of the United States appointed since the 4th of March for
this superintendency have been unable to reach their posts； while the
most of those who were in office before that time have espoused the
insurrectionary cause； and assume to exercise the powers of agents by
virtue of commissions from the insurrectionists。 It has been stated
in the public press that a portion of those Indians have been
organized as a military force and are attached to the army of the
insurgents。 Although the government has no official information upon
this subject； letters have been written to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs by several prominent chiefs giving assurance of their loyalty
to the United States and expressing a wish for the presence of
Federal troops to protect them。 It is believed that upon the
repossession of the country by the Federal forces the Indians will
readily cease all hostile demonstrations and resume their former
relations to the government。
Agriculture； confessedly the largest interest of the nation； has not
a department nor a bureau； but a clerkship only； assigned to it in
the government。 While it is fortunate that this great interest is so
independent in its nature as not to have demanded and extorted more
from the government； I respectfully ask Congress to consider whether
something more cannot be given voluntarily with general advantage。
Annual reports exhibiting the condition of our agriculture； commerce；
and manufactures would present a fund of information of great
practical value to the country。 While I make no suggestion as to
details； I venture the opinion that an agricultural and statistical
bureau might profitably be organized。
The execution of the laws for the suppression of the African slave
trade has been confided to the Department of the Interior。 It is a
subject of gratulation that the efforts which have been made for the
suppression of this inhuman traffic have been recently attended with
unusual success。 Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade
have been seized and condemned。 Two mates of vessels engaged in the
trade and one person in equipping a vessel as a slaver have been
convicted and subjected to the penalty of fine and imprisonment； and
one captain； taken with a cargo of Africans on board his vessel； has
been convicted of the highest grade of offense under our laws； the
punishment of which is death。
The Territories of Colorado； Dakota； and Nevada； created by the last
Congress； have been organized； and civil administration has been
inaugurated therein under auspices especially gratifying when it is
considered that the leaven of treason was found existing in some of
these new countries when the Federal officers arrived there。
The abundant natural resources of these Territories； with the
security and protection afforded by organized government； will
doubtless invite to them a large immigration when peace shall restore
the business of the country to its accustomed channels。 I submit the
resolutions of the Legislature of Colorado； which evidence the
patriotic spirit of the people of the Territory。 So far the
authority of the United States has been upheld in all the
Territories； as it is hoped it will be in the future。 I commend
their interests and defense to the enlightened and generous care of
Congress。
I recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress the interests
of the District of Columbia。 The insurrection has been the cause of
much suffering and sacrifice to its inhabitants； and as they have no
representative in Congress that body should not overlook their just
claims upon the government。
At your late session a joint resolution was adopted authorizing the
President to take measures for facilitating a proper representation
of the industrial interests of the United States at the exhibition of
the industry of all nations to be holden at London in the year 1862。
I regret to say I have been unable to give personal attention to this
subjecta subject at once so interesting in itself and so
extensively and intimately connected with the material prosperity of
the world。 Through the Secretaries of State and of the Interior a
plan or system has been devised and partly matured； and which will be
laid before you。
Under and by virtue of the act of Congress entitled 〃An act to
conf