Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-11

orm you that the object has been Ell
ected without the commission of any
.ct Of hostility. Col. Dodge, and the
roops under his command have acted
With equal frmncss and humanity, and
IN arrangement has been made with |
hose Indians, which it is hoped will |
assure their permanent pacific relations
With the United States and the other
tribes of Indians upon that border. 1t
IS to be regretted that the prevalence
Of sickness in that quarter has deprived
the country of a number of valuable
lives, and particularly that of General
Leayenworth, an officer well known
and esteemed for his 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 high state of disci-
pine. Its moral condition, SO far as
that is known here, is good, and the va
rious branches of the public service,
are carefully attended to. 1t is amply
sufficient, under its present organIZa.
ton, for providing the necessary gar
risons for the sea. board and for the de-
fence of the internal frontier, and also
for the preservation of the elements Of
military knowledge, and for keeping
pace with these improvements which
modern experience is continually ma
king. And these objects appear to me
to embrace all the legitimate purposes
for which permanent military force
should be maintained in our country.
The lessons of history teach rs its dan
ger, and the tendency which exists to
an increase. This can be best met and
averted by just caution on the part
ofthe public itself, and of those who
represent them in congress.
From the duties which devolve on
the engineer department, and upon the
typographical engineers, different or
ganization seems to be demanded by
the public interest, and | recommend
the subject to your consideration.
No important changes have, during
this season, taken place in the condi-
ton Of the Indians. Arrangements are
in progress for the removal of the
Creeks, and will soon be, for the reno
val ofthe Seminoles. regret that the
Cherokees east of the Mississippi have
not yet determined, as q community, to
remove. How long the personal eau
ses which have heretofore retarded that
ultimately inevitable measure, will
continue to operate | am unable to con-
lecture. 1t is certain, however, that
delay will bring with it accumulated
evils; which will render their condi-
ditlon more and more unpleasant. The
experience of every year adds to the
conviction, that emigration, and that
alone, can preserve from destruction
the remnant Of the tribes yet living
among US. The facility with which
the necossaries oflife are procured, and
the treaty stipulations providing aid
for the emigrant Indians in their agri-
cultural pursuits, and in the important
concern feducation, and their removal
from those causes which have hereto.
fore depressed all and destroyed many
of the tribes, cannot fail to stimulate
their exertionS and to reward their in
dustry.
The two laws passed at the last ses-
sion of congress on the subject of Indi-
an affairs have been carried into effect,
and detailed instructions for their ad-
mnistration have been given. 1t will
be seen by the estimates for the present
session, that great reduction will take
place In the expenditures of the de-
partment in consequence of these laws.
And there is reason to believe that
their operation will be salutarv, and
that the colonization ofthe Indians on
the western frontier, together with iu-
dlclous 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 recently
developed, shelving the existence orex.
tenslve frauds under the various laws
granting pensions and gratuitles for
revolutionary services. 1t is impossi-
Bile to estimate the amount which may
have been thus fraudulentIy obtained
from the national treasury. am sat
lshed however, it has been such as to
justify re.examination of the system
and the adoption of the necessary
checks in its administration. All will
agree that the services and sulrerinrs
OF the remnant Of our revolutionary
band, should be fully compensated. -
But whilethis is done, every properpre-
caution should be taken to prevent the
admission of fabricated and fraudulent
claims. In the present mode of pro-
ceedIng, the attestatons and certificates
OF judicial officers ofthe various states,
form considerable portion of the
checks which are intorposed against
the commission of frauds. These
however, have been, and may be. fab.
rICatpd and IN c,trb