Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-01-06
REPORT or THE SECRETARY OF
WAR
[Ab.traclei BY tho D. 8 Gazette.

Tl,s report commence. with a notice. That
some ofthe fndisa. OF sgF north western and
some on The south western boundaries, have
come IN collision with oer troops ~ those
Positions; bat that he general, peace has
been prcservsd.--lt suggest. the rrcprietS 81
having small parties OF soldiers RAGING thre
tho forests, rather than to ma'upy posts.
Deseftioas from ,he army have been no Tess
lrseqent ihao formerly, Notwithstanding the
abortion OF tho ssi,igs;ed penalties; 4 IS now
recommended that past Of tire moGthiy
wages or each soldier be detained until the
tnie ST his enlistment expires, to be gwen TO
hin then with some addition. as reward Tor
good Department, the present mode Of pay
meat is productive Of bad habits, and leaves
the sold,rr at the time Of bis discharge, en-
trely without fGnd,
The experiment., # withholding the wins
KEY rations, has not been fully tested; but
little confidence s placed in H. Ose plan Vt
encoura geing solIiarsis recommended. VIZ
to increase the wages Of non eomm'ssiened
officers, and thus hold cut inducements tor
the soldier 10 earn promotion
Tue benefits Of the lVcst Potet .7cads~y,
are properly SET forth; among which Is emu
meratcd the likelihood OF introducing q uni
form system Of militia duty throughout the
Union The President is allowed TO appoint
100 hreYet ieutcnants: those, 1t ~ presumed,
viii be taken from The West Point sradn-
ates; bot as more Of the young gentlemen
educated at the school, prefer public service,
than might have been expected, seBe din
Guilty arises with reference 10 their attaining
aupojntnents----51 supefnuMerary officers
have been created, and IN Juue next, ptoba-
bly 80 more will he added. which viii make
nj he
nv are about ~ and appointments 10 per
annum: and hence the excess above noted,
aud this excess will cost the country $4,000
year.
Great advantages have resulted to the
country from the Engineer Department during
the last year, especially ia removing the Oh
strnctlon to navigation in the great rivers.
And the secretary recommends that liberal
appropriations be made for a continuance Of
their services, especially on the Ohio -he
thiuks the advantages to result win exceed
costs.
rhe benefits that have already resulted
from tac break water, az the mouth of the
Delaware, fully Justify the expenditures, aud
show the advantages that will be felt from
il when completed
Tue Ordinance Department il progressing
IN arning The militia of the states, and in
furnishing the forts along our frcntiers-tlle
annual appropriations for which, is 100000;
bat rs suggested, that this Appropriation be
increased, that we may be the sooner pre-
pared for war.
The Treaties ,ruh ,he Ipdtm .Nesires are
then noticed. The secretary is OF opinion,
that the nation has no right 10 make any
treaty with these people that will in sav de-
gree interfere with the wishes OF individual
states --ttll that has hitherto been granted to
the Indians has been from courtesy.
Reference is then made TO the treaty
which (he the secretary o. wa) has recently
made with the Choctaws and Chickasaws :.
all which, says, was conducted in the falFest
and most open manner ''Of this" hr sal 5
abundant evidence exists, teliateve,' nay Le
said 10 he contrary"
! He refers the opposition manifested by in
/ dIviouals, TO the removal of the Indians. to
"a mistaken view Of their powers, capacities
and wisioe, and to a Misrepresentation OF the
! power OF the general gvre,nnent He SAYS,
the Indians are indisposed TO manual Dor
and that none among them, except those oi
mixed blood, viii ever make aSricnltuialis 8
He speaks of three divisions of the Choc.
taws, governed by Chiefs assisted by under
officers, called captains One OF these diyi.
slehs Is mat IS called the Christian District
IN which worship is performed, prayer and
| preaching frequent, though, it rs said, they
are not well informed as to the Christian re
hgon.
The report says. that stree the treat, has
been signed. attempts have been made to
create dissatisfaction among the indians; and
that old Aiushulatubee, one OF the chiefs who
signed 1t. has been disposed, and another
nan elected in his p!ace-bu, the secretary
OF war refused to acknowledge the new chief,
upon the grounds that majority had not
sanctioned the choice.
a misunderstanding between the y York
and Green Bay Indians, has been adjusted.
! ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Major General, Q Brigader Generals,
! Adjutant General, > Inspector Generals.
! | Q1artor-master General, ! Quarter Mas
tiers, Commissary- General Of Subsistence,
! COmmiSSaIles | Suraeou. IsnaraI = Co.