Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-12-13

ture sales will be more productive
The government, therefore, has no ad.
equate ~pecuniary interest 10 induce j,
to drive these people from the lands
they occupy, for the purpose of selling
them to others.
Entertaining these views, | recon-
mend the passage of a pre-emption law
for their benefit, in connection with
the preparatory steps towards the pra.
duation Of tie price of the public lands.
and further and more effectual proyjs.
ions to prevent intrusions hereafter.-
Indulgence to those who have ser.
tied on these lands with expectation,
that past legislation would be made n
rule for the future, and at the same
time removing the most plausible ground
on which intrusions are excused. and
adopting more efficient mean TO pre.
vent them hereafter. appear to me tie
mos, judicious dispositions which can
be made Of this difficult subject. The
limitations and restrictions to guard a.
galnst abuses in the execution of a nra
elnption law, will necessarily attrac,
the careful attention of Congress but
under no circumstances is it considered
e~xpedient to authorize floating claims
in any shape. They have been here.
to(orc, and doubtless would be heresE
ter, most prolific sources of fraud and
oppression, and instead of operating 10
confer The favor ofthe Government on
Industrious settlers, are often used to
minister to a spirit of cupldity at the
expense of the most m%eritorlous of that
class.
The accompanying report or the Sc.
cretary ofWar, will bringto youry view
the state Of the Army, and all the va.
rious subjects confded to the superin.
tendance OF that officer.
The principal part of the Army has
been concentrated in Florida, with a
view, and in the expectation, Of bring.
ing the war in that Territory to a spec.
dy close. The necessity Of stripping
the posts on the maratime and inland
frontiers of their entire garrisons, for
the purpose of assembling in the field
an army of less than four thousand
men, would seem to indicate the neces.
sity of increasing our regular forces;
and the superior efficiency, as well as
greatly diminished expense of that des.
criptlon Of troops recommend this mea.
sure as one of economy as well as of
ex~pedlency. | refer to the report for
The reasons which have induced the
Secretary of War to urge the re.orga.
nization and enlargement ofthe staff Of
the Army, and of the ordance corps,
in which | most heartily concur.
1t is not, however, compatible with
the interest of the people, to maintain,
in time of peace, a regular force ade.
quate to the defence of our extensive
frontiers. In periods ofdanger and a.
larm, we must rely principally upon a
we'll organized militia and some gen.
raj arrangemnt of this description Of
force efficient, has long been a
subject of anxious solicitude. 1t was
recommended TO the first Congress BY
General Washington, and has been
since frequently brought to your no.
tice, and recently its Importance strong
ly urged by my immediate predeces-
sor. The provision in the Constitution
that renders it necessary to adopt an
uniform system of organization for the
militia throughout the United States,
presents an insurmountable obstacle 10
an efficient arrangement by the elias.
Slication heretofore proposed, and |
invite your attention TO the plan which
will be submitted by the Secretary OF
War, for the organization of volunteer
corps, and the instruction of militia OF.
%ficers, as more simple and practicable,
1t not equally advantageous, as a gene.
raj arrangement of the whole militia Oh
the United States.
A moderate increase Of the corps,
both Of military and Typographical en-
gineers, has been more than once rec.
ommenied by my predecessor and
my conviction Of the propriety, not 20
say necessity, of the measure, in order
to enable them to perform the various
and important duties imposed upon
them, induces me to repeat the recon-
mendatlon.
The Military Academy continues to
answer all the purposes of its estab.
lishment, and not only furnishes well
educated officers TO the Army, but
serves to diffuse throughout the mass
of our citizens, individuals possessed OF
military knowledge, and the scientific
attamments Of civil and military eng,
neering. AT present, the cadet is bouna
with consent Of his parents, or gurdlans
to remain in service five years from the
period of his enlistment, unless sooner
discharged thus ~exacting only one
years service IN the Army after MS
education is completed. This does mol
nroo, a., = n,Qson+ Cnuarnmpnt