The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-12 00:00:00

the expedition of the regiment of dragoons into the territory
of the wandering and predatory tribes inhabiting the western
frontier, and living adjacent to the Mexican boundary. These
tribes have bepq litifetttto
.Icyloti 4 it4o44ipilly,liy their
attacks upon our own citizens, and upun other Indians entitled
to the protection of the United States. It became necessary
for the peace of the frontiers to check these habitual inroads,
and I am happy to inform you that the object has been effected
without the commission of any act of hostility. Colonel
Dodge, and the troops ender his comic and haw! acted with
equal firmness, and an arrangement has been made with those
Indians which it is hoped will assure their permanent pacific
relations with the United States and the other tribes of In-
dians upon that border. It is to be regretted that the preva-
lence of sickness in that quarter has deprived the country of a
number of valuable lilies and partieulafly that General Lea-
venworth, an officer well' known and egteriffied tor his gallant
services in the late war, and for his subsequent good conduct,
has fallen a victim to his zeal and exertions in the discharge of
his duty.
The army is in a high state of discipline. Its moral con-
dition, so far as that is known here, is good, and the various
branches of the public service are carefully attended to. It i§
amply sufficient, under its present organization, for providing
the necessary garrisons for the sea-board and for the defence of
the internal frontier, and also for preserving the elements of
military knowledge, for keeping pace with those improvements
which modern experience is continually making. And these
objects appear to me to embrace all the legitimate purposes for
which a permanent military force should be maintained in our
country. The lessons of history teach us its danger, and the
tendency which exists to an increase. This can be best met
and averted by a just caution on the part of the public itself,
and of those who represent them in Congress.
From the duties which devolve on the Engineer Department,
and upon the Topographical Engineers, a different organiza-
tion seems to be demanded by the public interest, and I re-
commend the subject to your consideration.
No import ant change has, during this season, taken place
in the condition of the Indians. Arrangements are in pro-
grass for the removal of the Creeks, and will be soon for the
removal of the Seminoles. I regret that the Cherokees east
of the Mississippi have not yet determined, as a community,
to remove. How long the personal causes which have here-
tofore retarded that ultimately inevitable measure will continue
to operate, lam unable to conjecture. It iecertain, however,
that delay will bring with it accumumulated evils, which will
render their condition more and more unpleasant. The expe-
rience of every year adds to the conviction that emigration,
and that alon', can preserve fi ova destruction the remnant of
the tribes yet living among us. The facility with which the
necessaries of life are procured, and the treaty stipulations
providing aid for the emigrant Indians in their agricultural
pursuits, and in the important concern of education, and their
removal from those causes which heretofore depressed all and
destroyed many of the tribes, cannot fail to stimulate their ex-
ertions and to reward their industry.
The two laws passed at the last Session of Congress on
the subject of the Indian affairs have been carried into effect,
and detailed instructions for their administration have been
given. It will be seen by the estimates for the present Ses-
sion that a great reduction will take place in the expendi-
tures of the department in consequence of these laws. And
there is reason to believe that their operation will be salutary,
and that the colonisation of the Indians on the western fron-
tier, together with a judicious system of administration, will
still further reduce the expenses of this branch of the public
service, and at the same time promote its usefulness and
efficiency.

Circumstances have been developed showing the existence
of extensive frauds under the various laws granting pensions
and gratuities for Revolutionary services. It is impossible to
estimate the amount which may have been thus fraudulently
obtained from the national Treasury. I am satisfied, how-
ever, it has been such as to justify a re-examination of the
system, and the adoption of the necessary checks in its admi-
nistration. All will agree that the services and sufferings of
the remnant of our Revolutionary band should be fully com-
pensated. But while this is done every proper precaution
should be taken to prevent the admission of fabricated and
fraudulent claims. In the present mode of proceeding the
attestations and certificates of judicial officers of the various
States form a considerable portion of the checks which are in-
terposed against the commission of frauds. These, however,
have been and may be fabricated, and in such a way as to
elude detection at the examining offices. And independently
of this practical difficulty, it is ascertained that these docu-
ments are often loosely granted ; sometimes even bank certi-
ficates have been issued ; sometimes prepared papers have
been signed without inquiry ; and in one instance at least the
seal of the Court has been within reach of a person most in-
terested in its improper application.
It is obvious that under such circumstances no severity of
administration can check the abuse of the law ; and informa-
tion has, from time to time, been communicated to the Pension
Office questioning or denying the right of persons placed upon
the pension-list to the bounty of the country. Such cautions
are always attended to and examined. But a far more general
investigation is called for ; and I therefore recommend, in
conformity with the suggestion of the Secretary at War, that
an actual inspection should be made in each State into the cir-
cumstances and claims of every person now drawing a pension.
The honest veteran has nothing to fear from such a scrutiny,
while the fraudulent claimant will be detected, and the public
Treasury relieved to an amount, I have reason to believe, far
greater than has heretofore been suspected. The details of
such a plan could be so regulated as to interpose the neces-
sary checks ssithout any burthensome operation upon the pen-
sioners. The object should be twofold.
1. To look into the original justice of the claims, so far as this
can be done tinder a proper system of regulations, by an examina-
tion of the claimants themselves, and by inquiring in the vicinity4of
their residence into their history and into the opinion entertained
of their revolutionary services.
2. To ascertain in all cases whether the original claimant is
living, and this by actual personal inspection.
his measure will, if adopted, he productive, I think, of
the desired results, and I therefore recommend it to your
consideration, with the further suggestion that all payments
should be suspended till the necessary reports are received.
It will be seen by a tabular statement annexed to the docu-
ments transmitted to Congress that the appropriations for
objects connected with the War Department made at the last
Session for the service of the year 1834, excluding the per-
manent appropriations for the payment of military gratuities
under the act of June 8, 1832, the appropriation of two hun-
dred thousand dollars for arming and equipping the militia,
and the appropriation of ten thousand dollars for the civili-
zation of the Indians, which are not annually renewed,
amounted to the sum of nine millions three thousand two hun-
dred and sixty-one dollars, and that the estimate of appro-
priations necessary for the same branches of service for the
year 1835 amount to the sum of five millions seven hundred
and seventy-eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-four dol-
lars, making a difference in the appropriations of the current
year over the estimates of appropriation for the next of three
millions two hundred and twenty-four thousand two hundred
and ninety-seven dollars.
The principal causes which have operated at this time to
produce this great difference are shown in the reports and
documents, and in the detailed estimates. Some of these causes
are accidental and temporary, while others are permanent, and,
aided by a just course of administration, may continue to ope-
rate beneficially upon the public expenditures.
A just economy, expending where the public service requires
and withholding where it does not, is among the indispensable
duties of the Government.
I refer you to the accompanying report of the Secretary of
the Navy, and the documents with it, for a full view of the
operations of that important branch of our service during the
present year. It will be seen that the wisdom and liberality
with which Congress have provided for the gradual increase
of our navy materiel have been seconded by a corresponding
zeal and fidelity on the part of those to whom has been con-
fided the execution of the laws on the subject, and that but a
short period would be now required to put in commission a
force large enough for any exigency into which the country
may be thrown.
When we reflect upon our position in relation tc other na-
tions, it must be apparent that in the event of conflicts with
them we must look chiefly to our navy for the protection of our
national rights. The wide seas which separate us from other
Governments must of necessity be the theatre on which an
enemy will aim to assail us, and unless we are prepared to meet
him on this clement, we cannut be said to possess the power
requisite to repel or prevent aggressions. We cannot there-
fore watch with too much attention this arm of our defence, or
cherish with too much care the means by which it can pos-
sess the necessary efficiency and extension. To this end our
policy has been hitherto wisely directed to the constant employ-
ment of a force sufficient to guard our commerce, and to the
rapid accumulation of the materials which are necessary to re-
pair our vessels, and construct with ease such new ones as may
be required in a state of war.
In accordance with this policy I recommend to your conside-
ration the erection of the additional dry dock described by the
Secretary of the Navy, and also the construction of the steam-
batteries to which he has referred, for the purpose of testing
their efficacy as auxiliaries to the system of defence sow in use.
The report of the Postmaster-General, herewith submitted,
exhibits the condition and prospects of that Department.
From that document it appears there was a deficit in the funds
of the Department at the commencement of the present year
beyond its available means of three hundred and fifteen thou-
sand five hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ninety-eight
cents, which on the Ist of July last had been reduced to two
hundred and sixty-eight thousand ninety-two dollars and
seventy-four cents. It appears also that the revenues for the
coming year will exceed the expenditure about two hundred
and seventy thousand dollars, which, with the excess of revenue
which will result from the operations of the current half-year,
may be expected, independently of any increase in the gross
amount of postages, to supply the entire deficit before the end
of 1835. But as this calculation is based on the gross amount

of postages which had accrued within the period embraced by
the times of striking the balances, it is obvious that without a
progressive increase in the amount of postages th 4 existing
retrenchments must be persevered in through the year 1836,
that the Department may accumulate a surplus fund sufficient
to place it in a condition of perfect ease.
It will be observed that the revenues of the Post-office De-

partment, though they have increased, and their amount is
above that of any former year, have not fallen short of the es-
timates more than a hundred thousand dollars. This is attri-
buted in a great degree to the increase of free letters, grow-
ing out of the extension and abuse of the franking privilege.
There has been a gradual increase in the number of executive
offices to which it has been granted; and by an Act passed in
March, 1833, it was extended to Members of Congress
throughout the whole year. It is believed that a revision of
the laws relative to the franking privilege, with some enact-
ments to enforce more rigidly the restrictions under which it
is granted, would operate beneficially to the country, by en-
abling the department at an earlier period to restore the
mail facilities that have been withdrawn, and to extend them