HOUSE....No. 158. MESSAGE. Council Chamber, April 6th, 1852. To the Speaker of the Bouse of Representatives Sir,—I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives, for the use of the legislature, the following communications, which have been made to this department of the government: 1. A communication from the Governor of Maine, covering certain resolves passed by that State, in support of a memorial to Congress, asking assistance from the United States govern- ment, in behalf of the European and North American Railway. 2. A communication from the Governor of New Hampshire, inviting the attention of the government of this State to obstructions created in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers, within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, which prevent the free passage, up and down said rivers, of salmon, shad, and other fish. 3. A communication from the Governor of Alabama, cover- ing certain resolutions of that State, in reference to the con- struction of a ship-canal across the peninsula ofFlorida. 4. Joint resolutions of the State of Indiana upon the African slave trade. GEO. S. BOUTWELL. 2 N. A. AND EUROPEAN RAILROAD, [April, State of Maine. Executive Department, Augusta. April 1, 1852. Sir,—I herewith transmit to you resolves relating to the North American and European Railroad, passed at the present session of our legislature, and I would solicit your attention to the same. Respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN HUBBARD. His Excellency, the Governor of Massachusetts, Boston. RESOLVES In support of the memorial to Congress asking assistance from the United States Government in behalf of the European and North American Railway. Resolved, That the commercial position of Maine authorizes her to aim at a leading share in all the great business move- ments of the age. While Maine is the natural sea-coast for the Canadas, and of the larger part of New England, having the finest harbors of the whole country, she is in the direct route of the principal commerce between Europe and America, and the bringing together of two great lines which connect us with Canada and the whole of the United States to a point of junction in Maine, one from Montreal on the north, and the other from New York on the south, when they shall form one grand trunk line, to be extended from the valley of the Ken- nebec to the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, is the work that shall make Maine known and felt as a leading State in the confederacy. 1862.] HOUSE—No. 158. 3 Resolved, That while the movements toward carrying out the plan of the European and North American Railway have aroused the British Ministry to the adoption of measures calcu- lated to counteract the exertions in its behalf, by the proffers of assistance toward building the Halifax and Quebec Railway entirely through British territory, it is a source of sincere gratification to know that the provinces will not forego the. advantages of the European and North American Railway for the sake of the Quebec line, and that there is now every encouragement to prosecute exertions in behalf* of the enter- prise we have in view, in the assurance that the line will be met by the provinces at the river St. Croix. Resolved , That a trunk line of railway from Halifax to Montreal, through Maine, in connection with the lines now built or in process of construction, is the only measure that can offer proper inducements for the employment of capital, or that can satisfy the wants of the people of the provinces. Over such a route the traffic and travel of Canada and the West would find its easiest outlet, and the increasing tide of trans- atlantic travel, seeking the shortest possible sea voyage, would give it advantages, insuring cheaper conveyance than over any other route between the commercial capitals of Europe and America. Resolved, That the application made to the United States government in behalf of the European and North American Railway, through the executive committee for Maine, deserves support from Congress, and the passage of the bills presented by honorable Mr. Washburn, one entitled “An act, making a grant of land to the State of Maine, to aid the construction of the European and North American Railway,” the other entitled “An act for shortening the transit of the mails between New York and London,” are earnestly pressed upon the considera- tion of Congress. Resolved, That our senators and representatives in Congress are requested to urge the passage of the hills before referred to, and that they ask such other assistance to the European and North American Railway as it may be in the power of Con- gress to grant. 4 N. A. AND EUROPEAN RAILROAD. [April, Resolved, That the interest of Massachusetts in this question, and the extent of her interest in public lands lying in Maine, justifies us in asking at the hands of that Commonwealth similar support, and that the legislature of Massachusetts is hereby invited to unite with us in the foregoing request. Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit these resolves to the President of the United States, and to each house of Congress, and to the Governor of Massachusetts. Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing resolves to each of the senators and represen- tatives of this State in the Congress of the United States. In the House of Representatives, March 25, 1852. Read and passed. G. P. SEWALL, Speaker. In Senate, March 26, 1852. Read and passed. NOAH PRINCE. President. March 27, 1852, Approved. JOHN HUBBARD. Secretary’s Office, Augusta, April Ist, 1852. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original deposited in this office. JOHN G. SAWYER, Secretary of State. 1852.] HOUSE—No. 158. 5 State of New Hampshire. Executive Department, Concord, Jan. 1, 1852. 5 Sir,—In obedience to a resolution of the legislature of New Hampshire, passed at its last session, I would invite the attention of your excellency and of the legislature of Mas- sachusetts to the obstructions created in the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, which prevent the free passage up and down said rivers, of salmon, shad, and other lish. These obstructions, it is believed, have deprived the people of this State of valuable rights, and I would respectfully ask that the subject may receive that consideration from the author- ities of Massachusetts, which is due to the importance of the questions involved in the inquiry, and to the just claims of all concerned. I have the honor to be With great respect, Your obedient servant, SAMUEL DINSMOOR. To His Excellency, George S. Boutvvell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 6 ALABAMA RESOLUTIONS. [April. JOINT RESOLUTIONS, Presented by Mr. Phillips, of Mobile, to the House of Rep- resentatives, in reference to the construction of a Ship Canal across tlie Peninsula of Florida. Be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama in General Assembly convened , That the interest of the States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, as also of those whose products find a market through this chan- nel, is deeply involved in the enquiry, whether the expense, delay, and danger which now burthen the commerce of the Gulf in the navigation of the Cape of Florida, may not be avoided in the construction of a ship-canal across that State. Resolved, That such a work would strengthen the military defences of the country, lessen the political importance now attached to the possession of the island of Cuba, and promote the agricultural and commercial interests of a large portion of the confederacy. Resolved, That our representatives be requested to urge this subject upon the attention of the present Congress; and if such information be not now possessed as to the practicabil- ity of the work as to justify Congress, with the consent of the State of Florida, in at once undertaking it, then to adopt means, by survey or otherwise, to procure the fullest knowl- edge upon the subject. Resolved, That the Governor of the State be requested to furnish copies of these resolutions to each of our senators each of the and representatives in Congress ; and also to gov- ernors of the several States of the Union, with the request 1852.] HOUSE—No. 158. 7 that they’may be laid before their respective State legislatures at as early a period as 'practicable. Approved February 6, 1852. H. W. COLLIER. JOHN D. RATHER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. CHARLES McLEMORE, President of the Senate. Executive Chamber, Montgomery, February 6, 1852. ) Sir,—I have the pleasure of transmitting you, joint resolu- tions of the legislature of Alabama, “ in reference to the con- struction of a Ship-Canal across the Peninsula of Florida,” and most respectfully inviting your cooperation in the pro- motion of this interesting and important object. With sentiments of respect, I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, H. W. COLLIER. 8 SLAVE TRADE. [April, State of Indiana. In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two. A JOINT RESOLUTION On the subject of the Slave Trade, and for the purpose of Colonization. Whereas, Considerations of philanthropy and patriotism alike demand an earnest effort to suppress , the African slave trade, so long a reproach to the Christian world, and a base outrage upon an unfortunate race of our fellow-men; And whereas, the praiseworthy efforts heretofore employed for that purpose have proved ineffectual; Therefore, Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That it is the judgment of said General Assembly that some other and more efficient policy should be adopted on that subject.