State of the Union | Page 4

short
period after the time required by the treaty, and was there joined by the
commissioner on the part of Mexico. They entered upon their duties,
and at the date of the latest intelligence from that quarter some progress
had been made in the survey. The expenses incident to the organization
of the commission and to its conveyance to the point where its
operations were to begin have so much reduced the fund appropriated
by Congress that a further sum, to cover the charges which must be
incurred during the present fiscal year, will be necessary. The great
length of frontier along which the boundary extends, the nature of the
adjacent territory, and the difficulty of obtaining supplies except at or
near the extremes of the line render it also indispensable that a liberal
provision should be made to meet the necessary charges during the
fiscal year ending on the 30th of June, 1851. I accordingly recommend
this subject to your attention.
In the adjustment of the claims of American citizens on Mexico,

provided for by the late treaty, the employment of counsel on the part
of the Government may become important for the purpose of assisting
the commissioners in protecting the interests of the United States. I
recommend this subject to the early and favorable consideration of
Congress.
Complaints have been made in regard to the inefficiency of the means
provided by the Government of New Granada for transporting the
United States mail across the Isthmus of Panama, pursuant to our postal
convention with that Republic of the 6th of March, 1844. Our charge
d'affaires at Bogota has been directed to make such representations to
the Government of New Granada as will, it is hoped, lead to a prompt
removal of this cause of complaint.
The sanguinary civil war with which the Republic of Venezuela has for
some time past been ravaged has been brought to a close. In its
progress the rights of some of our citizens resident or trading there have
been violated. The restoration of order will afford the Venezuelan
Government an opportunity to examine and redress these grievances
and others of longer standing which our representatives at Caracas have
hitherto ineffectually urged upon the attention of that Government.
The extension of the coast of the United States on the Pacific and the
unexampled rapidity with which the inhabitants of California especially
are increasing in numbers have imparted new consequence to our
relations with the other countries whose territories border upon that
ocean. It is probable that the intercourse between those countries and
our possessions in that quarter, particularly with the Republic of Chili,
will become extensive and mutually advantageous in proportion as
California and Oregon shall increase in population and wealth. It is
desirable, therefore, that this Government should do everything in its
power to foster and strengthen its relations with those States, and that
the spirit of amity between us should be mutual and cordial.
I recommend the observance of the same course toward all other
American States. The United States stand as the great American power,
to which, as their natural ally and friend, they will always be disposed
first to look for mediation and assistance in the event of any collision
between them and any European nation. As such we may often kindly
mediate in their behalf without entangling ourselves in foreign wars or
unnecessary controversies. Whenever the faith of our treaties with any

of them shall require our interference, we must necessarily interpose.
A convention has been negotiated with Brazil providing for the
satisfaction of American claims on that Government, and it will be
submitted to the Senate. Since the last session of Congress we have
received an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from that
Empire, and our relations with it are rounded upon the most amicable
understanding.
Your attention is earnestly invited to an amendment of our existing
laws relating to the African slave trade with a view to the effectual
suppression of that barbarous traffic. It is not to be denied that this
trade is still in part carried on by means of vessels built in the United
States and owned or navigated by some of our citizens. The
correspondence between the Department of State and the minister and
consul of the United States at Rio de Janeiro, which has from time to
time been laid before Congress, represents that it is a customary device
to evade the penalties of our laws by means of sea letters. Vessels sold
in Brazil, when provided with such papers by the consul, instead of
returning to the United States for a new register proceed at once to the
coast of Africa for the purpose of obtaining cargoes of slaves. Much
additional information of the same character has recently been
transmitted to the Department of