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all of them similar in materials and structure to the first floor. To this extent, therefore, there is no difference between either plan; all differences will exist in the character of the superstructure above the basement.

The plan No. 2 could be erected in the least time, and would cost the least. It is, however, exposed to the objection of not being completely fireproof against deliberate design, as its combustible parts may be reached by removing the plastering or paving.

The plan No. 3 fulfils all the ideas of a fireproof building, being equally protected by its materials against design as well as accident. It has, on this account, a preference, in my judgment, over No. 2, and, also, over No. 4, because it will cost less, will be equally efficient, can be completed and occupied in less time, loses less space by massive dead masonry, its walls having to sustain no lateral thrust, and it admits, with greater facility, of modifications, in the connexions and sizes of the rooms of the upper floors, which future convenience may require. There is no doubt with me that a building of this kind may be completed and occupied during the course of the next year, if an appropriation should be granted in time to make a judicious beginning in the present, and to secure a delivery of the requisite materials for its continuation on the opening of the ensuing season.

The plan No. 4 is that of an undoubted fireproof building, of massive brick-masonry. It will be much more costly than either of the others, and will take much longer time before it can be completed, and be in a condition to be occupied. To these objections, it may be added, that it wastes valuable space by its massive walls, and admits, with extreme difficulty, of any future modification in the connexions and sizes of the rooms.

The plan No. 3 may be so arranged as to throw, at a future day, the whole of one side of a story into one room, if it should ever be desirable, at a trifling cost, and without injury to the strength of the building or of its fireproof character.

But, as it is extremely doubtful if any greater extent of the building can be put up during the present season than the basement and its groin arches, and as this much is common to all the plans which have been spoken of, might it not be advisable that the law should not contain any other specifications than that the building should be fireproof, and the superstructure, above the basement, be according to some one of the plans submitted, as the War Department should decide, after a full investigation of the details of each. In the meantime, the necessary drawing of the building in plan and elevation, and the details of every story, upon a suitable scale, could be made.

Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

J. J. ABERT,

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1st Session.

OHIO CURRENCY, &c.

RESOLUTIONS

OF

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIO,

In relation to the currency, &c.

JUNE 3, 1840.

Read, and laid upon the table.

Preamble and resolutions relative to the currency, instructing Senators and Representatives in Congress, &c.

Whereas, the original States of the Union having, prior to the adoption of the Federal Constitution, fully experienced the evils of a paper currency, intended to provide against the possible recurrence of those evils; and, to this end, they expressly declared in the Constitution, that Congress should have the power to coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin; to provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; also, expressly declared that no State should coin money, emit bills of credit, or make any thing, except gold and silver coin, a tender in payment of debts: And whereas, notwithstanding these plain, indisputable, and positive provisions in the Constitution, and the manifest object of, and necessity for them, yet the people and the Government of this Union have ever been exposed to, and at this time are suffering, in the highest degree, the evils against which these wise provisions were intended to protect them: And whereas, the establishment of the first and second Banks of the United States, the receipt of their notes, as also the notes of the State banks, as moneys, in payment of the public dues, and the deposite, by the Government, of its whole revenue thus received, in the custody of those banks, as an additional fund for their traffic, and, by consequence, as an additional stimulus to the increase of their number, and to the expansion of their circulation, have been among the chief and most manifest causes of the exclusion of the precious metals-of the substitution for them of an unmixed paper currency, and far above all, of that fearful connexion of the banks with both the State and National Governments, which has, within the last ten years, prompted those corporations to claim, as irresumable political rights, the privileges which had thus been improvidently granted to them as temporary favors, and even to aspire to the sovereignty of the country; with this view, employing their immense resources and united energies in a general effort to subject men and States, Govern

ment and people, to their absolute dominion: And whereas, these important subjects have recently engaged the full attention of the American people, by whom the evils of the banking system are well understood, and the dangers therefrom, to be apprehended, have been amply and generally discussed: And whereas, the people of Ohio have, for themselves, once and again decided, in the authentic and solemn form of the ballot, that this connexion ought to be totally and for ever dissolved, and, likewise, that the system itself ought to be fully and radically reformed; Therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That our Senators be instructed, and Representatives in Congress be requested, to vote for, and support such measures as have for their object the dissolution of the connexion which has hitherto subsisted between the Federal Government and the banks, and the restoration of the financial action of the Government, strictly within the limits of the Constitution, and particularly to vote for, and support the measure which is usually called the Independent Treasury Bill.

Resolved, That his excellency the Governor, be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress; also, to the President and Vice President of the United States, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

THOMAS J. BUCHANAN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN,

JANUARY 31, 1840.

Speaker of the Senate.

SECRETARY OF STATE'S Office,

Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 1840.

I certify the foregoing resolutions to be a true copy from the original

roll, on file in this department.

CARTER B. HARLAN,

Secretary of State.

1st Session.

Executive.

MINERAL LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

IN REPLY TO

A resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 6th of February last, concerning the mineral lands of the United States.

JUNE 6, 1840.

Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

To the House of Representatives:

I here with submit a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the progress made in complying with the requirements of a resolution, passed February 6, 1839, concerning the mineral lands of the United States. The documents he communicates contain much important information on the subject of those lands; and a plan for the sale of them is in a course of preparation, and will be presented as soon as completed. M. VAN BUREN. JUNE 4, 1840.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 4, 1840. SIR: A resolution was adopted by the House of Representatives, on the 6th of February, 1839, " that the President of the United States be requested to cause to be prepared, and presented to the next Congress, at an early day, a plan for the sale of the public mineral lands, having reference as well to the amount of revenue to be derived from them, and their value as public property, as to the equitable claims of individuals upon them; and that he, at the same time, communicate to Congress all the information in possession of the Treasury Department relative to their location, value, productiveness, and occupancy; and that he cause such further information to be collected, and surveys to be made, as may be necessary for these purposes." It was sent to this department on the 9th of February, 1839, and referred, on the same day, to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, with instructions to collect the information therein requested, and imbody the same in a report, as well as prepare the plan desired for a sale of the mineral lands. I have the honor herewith to submit the report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office,

stating the measures adopted by him to procure the information called for by said resolution, and the results. To avoid further delay, this communication, accompanied by the report of Dr. David D. Owen, (the gentleman appointed to superintend and conduct the examination and survey,) and the papers connected therewith, imbodying the information called for by the latter branch of the resolution, is presented in advance of the plan for the disposal of the mineral lands, which is now in the course of preparation, and will be laid before you at an early day. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, LEVI WOODBURY, Secretary of the Treasury.

The PRESIDENT of the United States.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE, June 3, 1840.

SIR: In reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives, passed on the 6th of February, 1839, in the following words: "Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be prepared, and presented to the next Congress, at an early day, a plan for the dispo sal of the public mineral lands, having reference as well to the amount of revenue to be derived from them, and their value as public property, as to the equitable claims of individuals upon them; and that he at the same time communicate to Congress all the information in possession of the Treasury Department relative to their location, value, productiveness, and occupancy; and that he cause such further information to be collected, and surveys to be made, as may be necessary for these purposes;" and which was referred by you to this office on the 9th of the same month, with instructions to collect the information, and prepare the report, &c.: I have the honor to state, that on examination of the files of this office they were not found to afford any satisfactory information on the subject of the resolution, other than what is imbodied in the report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, communicated by the President to the House of Representatives on the 28th March, 1824, pursuant to a call of that House bearing date 8th February, 1823, and which report forms document No. 128 of the 1st session of the 18th Congress, and to which I would beg leave respectfully to refer. But in view of the very extensive regions of country abounding in mineral resources to which the United States have acquired title, and over which the public surveys have been extended subsequent to the date of that report, the information which it affords was deemed insufficient to meet the enlarged requirements of the resolution now referred to; and the application which was immediately made to the Department of War, which has hitherto had special charge of the selection and management of the mineral lands under the existing laws, having resulted only in a reference to former reports on the subject from the Ordnance Department, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, heretofore communicated to Congress, and printed among the public documents, (none of which were found to afford the desired information.) it was deemed indispensably necessary to appoint a special agent, under the authority given in the last clause of the resolution, to cause further information to be collected and surveys to be made.

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