The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-08

ing report of the Secretary ofWar
The hostile ncursons of the Sac and Fox Indians
sary led 10 the interposion Of the Government po.
ton Of the troops under Generals Scott and Atkinson
the militia of the State of Illinois, called into the field
country and by the difficulty of procuring subsistence the
Indians entirely defeated the dsaeced band dis
persed or destroyed The result has been credabe the
troops engaged IN the service Severe the lesson to the
Indians waa rendered necessary by their unpovoked
gessions and is to be hoped that its impression will be
permanent and sautary.
This campaign has evinced the efficient organization OF
the Army and its capacity orpromp and active service
Its severed departments have performed their functions with
factory.
Our fellow citizens te frontiers ready they al
ways are in the tender of their services the hour danger
bu more efficient organization OF our militia system is
senal to the security which of the principal objects
ofal governments Neither situation, institutions
require or permit the maintenance of large regular force
History offers too many lessons of the fatal result of such
measure not 10 aganstits adoption here. The
pense oft the obvious tendency employ because
lss and thus TO in unnecessary wars and its ultimate
danger TO public liberty will lead us, trust place our
principal dependence for protection upon the great body of
e cltZens OF the republic If in asserting rights repe
ling wrongs war should upon u.s. regular force
should be increased an extent proporoned 10 The
suchforce could be formed and embodied But for the pur
poses OF defence under ordinary circumstances rely
upon ne electors OF the country Those by whom and for
whom the Government was instituted and is supported will
constitute It's protection in the hour of danger they do IFS
check in the hour Of safety
But il is obvious that the militia System is imperfect
Much ume is lost, much unnecessary expense incurred
and mach public property wasted under the present
ment Little useful knowledge gained by the musters and
drills as now established and the whole subject evidently
requires thorough examination. Whether plan cassiG
cauon remedymg these defects and providing for system
OF instruction. might not be adopted is submitted the
SHERATON OF Congress The Constitution has vested in the
General Government independent authority upon the SUBJ
ect OF the militia which renders its action essential the
Enlistment or improvement of the system. And
mend the matter TO your consideration the conviction that
The state OF this important arm of public defence requires your
attention.
am happy inform you that the wise and humane policy
OF transferring from the Eastern the Western side of the
Msssspp the remnants of our aboriginal tribes, with their
own consent and terms has been steadily pursued
and is approaching trust its By reference
to the report the Secretary of War; and the documents
submitted with it. you will see the progress which has been
made since your last session in the arrangement of the
ous matters connected with Indian relations With
exception every subject involving question of conflicting
Jurisdcton or of peculiar difficulty has been happily dis
posed OF and the conviction evidently gains ground among
the Indians that their removal the country assigned them
by the United States for their permanent residence furnishes
the only hope Of their ultimate prosperity
With that portion of the Cherokees however, living within
the State ofCeorga, has been found impractcabe yet
to make satisfactory adjustment. Such was my anxiety
TO remove all the grounds of complaint and bring
mnaon the difficulties in which they involved thei d.
reeed the very liberal propositions to be made them which
accompany the documents herewith submitted. They cam
not put have seen in these offers the evidence of the strong
est disposition on the part Of the Government deal Justly
ana literally with them. An ample indemnity was offered
ior their present possessions liberal provision their future
support and improvement and full security for their private
and political righa. Whatever difference of opinion NAV
nave prevailed respecting the just claims of these people
there will probably be respecting the beraly of the
propositions and very little respecting the expediency of their
immediate acceptance. They WERE however rejected and
thus position of these Indians unchanged as do the
views communicated in my Message the Senate of Feb
mary, 1881.
refer you the annual report ofthe Secretary of the Ma
Wy which accompanies this Message for detail of the ope
raons ofha branch Of the service during the present year
BESIDES the general remarks Of the transactions
oil our Navy presented the view which has been taken of
our Foreign relations seize this occasion TO invite 10 your
notice the increased protection which has afforded 10 our
ant xrttba
mentaon OF the force in commission In the gradual i'm
povement OF its pecuniay concerns, in the progress
IN the collection of materials suitable for during future
emergencies and the construction of vessels and the build
ns necessary to their and repair the present
state this branch of the service exhibits the fruits of that
vigilance and which indispensable its efficacy
Various suggestions contained the annexed report as
well as others heretofore submitted Congress- are worthy
OF your attention but than that urging the re-
newa for another term of years the general appropra
ton for the gradual Improvement of the Navy
From the accompanying report ofhe Postmaster General
you WILL also perceive that his Department continues
tend its usefulness without mpang its resources lessen
ing the accommodations which it affords in the secure and
rapid transportation of the mail.
beg leave call the attention OF Congress TO the views
heretofore expressed relation the mode of choosing the
President and VcePresdent of the United States and TO
those respecting the tenure OF office generally Still impress
sed with the business of those views and with the belief that
the notifications suggested those subjects if adopted
will contribute 10 the prosperity and harmony the country
earnesuy recommend them TO your consideration this
time
have heretofore pointed defects in the law for punish
ing especially within the District Columbia
has been found almost impossible bring notorious cu
prs to punishment and according decision of the Cour
for this District prosecution barred by aapse of
years after the fraud has been committed II may happen
again. has already happened that during whole two
years. all the evidences of the fraud may be the posses
sion OF the cuprit himself However proper the limitation
may be In relation 10 private citizens. it would that
ought not commence running in favor of public officers
til they go out OF office.
The Judiciary System the United States remains mper
feet Ofthe nine Western and South Western States three
only ENJOY the benefits OF circuit court Ohio, Kentucky,
and Tennessee are embraced the general system but In
diana, Illinois, Missouri Alabama Mississippi and Louisiana
have only district II the existing system be good
one why should not be extended If be bad one why
suffered TO exist The States promised equal
rights and privileges when they into The Union and
such the guarantees of the Constitution Nothing can be
more obvious than the obligation of the General Government
10 place all the States on the footing relation the
administration justice and trust this duty will be neglect
ed no longer.
Onmany of the subjects which your attention is invited
this communication source Of qualification 10 reflect
that the steps 10 be adopted are unnuenced bv The
baassmens enaed upon the country by the wars through
which has passed In regard Of our great inter
Sts we may consider ourselves just starting career
and after sautay experience about TO fix upon perma-
nent basis the policy best calculated promote the
OF the people and facilitate their progress towards the
complete enjoyment of civil liberty On an occasion SO in
eresung and important in history and of such anxious
concern TO the friends freedom throughout the world il is
our mperous duty to lay aside all selfish and local consider
auons ana be guided by lofty spirit ofdevoion the great
principles on which our institutions are founded
mat tins Government may be administered 10
serve It's eieency in promoting and securing these general
opecs should be the only aim Of ambition and
not therefore, too carefully examine its structure order
that we may not mistake its powers those which
people have reserved TO themselves have preferred
assign TO other agents We should bear constantly in mind
the fact that the considerations which induced the trainers
the Constitution to withhold from the general government the
power to regulate the great of the business and
OF the people, have been fully justified by experience and
that cannot now be doubted that the genius Of all nst
uons prescn6es simplicity and economy as the chaacers
tics OF the reform which yet be effected the present
and future execution Of the functions bestowed upon by