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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
confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes；〃 approved
August 6； 1861； the legal claims of certain persons to the labor and
service of certain other persons have become forfeited； and numbers
of the latter thus liberated are already dependent on the United
States； and must be provided for in some way。 Besides this； it is
not impossible that some of the States will pass similar enactments
for their own benefit respectively； and by operation of which persons
of the same class will be thrown upon them for disposal。 In such
case I recommend that Congress provide for accepting such persons
from such States； according to some mode of valuation； in lieu； pro
tanto； of direct taxes； or upon some other plan to be agreed on with
such States respectively； that such persons； on such acceptance by
the General Government； be at once deemed free； and that in any event
steps be taken for colonizing both classes （or the one first
mentioned if the other shall not be brought into existence） at some
place or places in a climate congenial to them。 It might be well to
consider； too； whether the free colored people already in the United
States could not； so far as individuals may desire； be included in
such colonization。
To carry out the plan of colonization may involve the acquiring of
territory； and also the appropriation of money beyond that to be
expended in the territorial acquisition。 Having practised the
acquisition of territory for nearly sixty years； the question of
constitutional power to do so is no longer an open one with us。 The
power was questioned at first by Mr。 Jefferson； who； however； in the
purchase of Louisiana； yielded his scruples on the plea of great
expediency。 If it be said that the only legitimate object of
acquiring territory is to furnish homes for white men； this measure
effects that object； for emigration of colored men leaves additional
room for white men remaining or coming here。 Mr。 Jefferson； however；
placed the importance of procuring Louisiana more on political and
commercial grounds than on providing room for population。
On this whole proposition； including the appropriation of money with
the acquisition of territory； does not the expediency amount to
absolute necessitythat without which the government itself cannot
be perpetuated？
The war continues。 In considering the policy to be adopted for
suppressing the insurrection I have been anxious and careful that the
inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a
violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle。 I have therefore in
every case thought it proper to keep the integrity of the Union
prominent as the primary object of the contest on our part； leaving
all questions which are not of vital military importance to the more
deliberate action of the Legislature。
In the exercise of my best discretion I have adhered to the blockade
of the ports held by the insurgents； instead of putting in force by
proclamation the law of Congress enacted at the late session for
closing those ports。
So also； obeying the dictates of prudence； as well as the obligations
of law； instead of transcending I have adhered to the act of Congress
to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes。 If a new
law upon the same subject shall be proposed； its propriety will be
duly considered。 The Union must be preserved； and hence all
indispensable means must be employed。 We should not be in haste to
determine that radical and extreme measures； which may reach the
loyal as well as the disloyal； are indispensable。
The inaugural address at the beginning of the Administration and the
message to Congress at the late special session were both mainly
devoted to topics domestic controversy out of which the insurrection
and consequent war have sprung。 Nothing now occurs to add or
subtract to or from the principles or general purposes stated and
expre