On the 12th of February last a treaty was signed at the Indian Springs between commissioners appointed on the part of the United States and certain chiefs and individuals of the Creek Nation of Indians, which was received at the seat of Government only a very few days before the close of the last session of Congress and of the late administration.  The advice and consent of the Senate was given to it on the 3d of March, too late for it to receive the ratification of the then President of the United States; it was ratified on the 7th of March, under the unsuspecting impression that it had been negotiated in good faith and in the confidence inspired by the recommendation of the Senate.  The subsequent transactions in relation to this treaty will form the subject of a separate communication.

The appropriations made by Congress for public works, as well in the construction of fortifications as for purposes of internal improvement, so far as they have been expended, have been faithfully applied.  Their progress has been delayed by the want of suitable officers for superintending them.  An increase of both the corps of engineers, military and topographical, was recommended by my predecessor at the last session of Congress.  The reasons upon which that recommendation was founded subsist in all their force and have acquired additional urgency since that time.  It may also be expedient to organize the topographical engineers into a corps similar to the present establishment of the Corps of Engineers.  The Military Academy at West Point will furnish from the cadets annually graduated there officers well qualified for carrying this measure into effect.

The Board of Engineers for Internal Improvement, appointed for carrying into execution the act of Congress of 30th of April, 1824, “to procure the necessary surveys, plans, and estimates on the subject of roads and canals,” have been actively engaged in that service from the close of the last session of Congress.  They have completed the surveys necessary for ascertaining the practicability of a canal from the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio River, and are preparing a full report on that subject, which, when completed, will be laid before you.  The same observation is to be made with regard to the two other objects of national importance upon which the Board have been occupied, namely, the accomplishment of a national road from this city to New Orleans, and the practicability of uniting the waters of Lake Memphramagog with Connecticut River and the improvement of the navigation of that river.  The surveys have been made and are nearly completed.  The report may be expected at an early period during the present session of Congress.