Southern telegraph., 1836-12-20

I Port may b6 expected during your Prcsen
Isession.
The difficulties appFehehded in lhe Cher
Iokoo country have been prevented and the
peace aud safety Of that region and iis vi.
ciniiy eifacnmlly secured. by the timely
measures taken by the War Department,
and sid continued.
Tho Discretionary authority given n
General Gaines to cross tho Slbine, and
to occupy position us far west Ms Nacog-
doches, in case he should deem such step
necessary tothe protection ur the frontier,
and to the fulBlnient Df tie stipulations con-
tanned in our treaty with Mexicn, aud the
movement subsequently made by that Off
Ger, have been tllided to in former part
Of this message. At the date Of the latest
intelligence trom NacOgdoches, our troops
were yet atthat station; but the officer who
has succeeded Gen. Gaines has recently
been advised thlt,. from the facts known
atthe seatUfgOvernHenf, there wOuld scent
To no adequate cause for any longer main
tanning thit position; and he was according
" instructed, in case tho troops were not
already Withdrawn under the discretionary
powers before asseSscd by him, To give the
requisite orders fur that purpose Onthe re-
ceipt Ofthe instructions, unl'SS he shall then
have in his possession such infOrmltion as
shIll satisfy him that the mlintainance of
The post is essential tothe protection of our
trohiicrs, aud To the due execution Of our
treaty stiPulatiUns as previously explained
TO him.
Whiis' the necessities existing during the
present year, for the service Of militia and
volunteers, hrvo furnished new proofs Of
the patriotism of our fellow citizens-'hcv
have also strongly illustrated the impor-
tance Of an increase in the rank and fi!e of
The regular army.-'The views Of this sub
cct submitted by the Secretary of War,
IN his repnr, meet my entire concurrence;
and are earnestly commented to the
deliberate attention of Congress. In this
connection It is alsl proper to remind you,
that the defects in OIrprescnt militia system
are every day rendered more apparent.
The duty of makiEg further provision hy law
tr organizing, arming and disciplining this
arm of defence has hcen so repeatedly pre-
scented to Congress by mysolfand my pre-
deccssnrs, that deemit sufli lent on this &C
casion to refer tlthe lust annual message,
and, to former Evecu'ive communications,
in which the subject his been discussed
1t appears from the reports ofthe officers
charged with mastering into service the
vol ntecrs called lor under act of Congress
ot last sossion. that more presented them
selves at the place Of rendezvous in 'Hennes-
see than were sufficient to meet The requiS-
ton which had been made by the Secretary
Of War upon the Governor of that State.
This was occasioned by the omission of the
Governer TO apportionthe requistion to the
different regiments of miltia so as 10 OBJ
tain the proper number of troaps and no
E more. II seems but just to the pltriotic
citizens who repaired TO the general rcn
dczvOus, under circumstances authorizing
them to believe that their services were
needed, and woull be accompanied, that the
expenses incurred by them while abfen
from their homes should lie paid by the
Government. | accordingly recommend
that Inv to this effect be passed by Con
gross, giving them a compensation which
will cover their expenses on the march tC
and from the place ofrendczvous, and while
there;in connection with which, it will alsc
1 he proper TO mike provisions for such othel
equitable claims, growing out of the ser
/, vice Of the miltia, as my not be embraced
in the existing laws.
On the uneXpac cd breaking out Of hos
, tlities in Floridl, Alabama, and Gorogia, Il
beclme Necessary, in some cases, to take
the property of individuals for pablie use
> Provision should he made by law for in
Identifying the owners; and | would also
respectfully suggest whether some proyis
ion may not be made, consistently with the
, principles of or government, for the relie
, of the sufferers by Indian depred dltions, o
by the operations of our own troops. 50
: : No time was lost after the makinG Of thu
requisite appropriations, in resuming thc
great national work Of completing the TN
Z finished fortiReations on our soabolrd, ant
:, of placing th9m in p operstate ofdetence
:. In consequence, however, of the very latC
day at which those bills were passed bu
. little pro-rcsseoald be made during the sea
!, son which has just closed. A very l"rg
& smornt of the moneys granted at your las
session, accordingly, remains unexpende!
but as the work wilibe again assumed =
the earliest momentum the spring, the b,l
} ance of the existing appropriations, and i
several cases, which will he laid before yo
!, with the proper estimates, further sums f.
= The like objects may. be usefuliy cxpcnde
! during the next year,
The recommendations Of an increase j
: the Engineering Corps, and for a rc.orgah
! natlon of the Typographical Corps. submi
: ted to you in my last annual message, dc
u rive additional strength from the great ch
: Larasmcnts experienced during the presel
Il year, in those branches Of the service, an
y under which they are now suffering. SCI
. oral of the most important surveys and eor
! struc ions directed by recent laws, hay
q laau s.,cro4,Jol r,tt,ea..f..-.,c, - az