Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-12-16

TO b occcpicd By any, they shouA ~
be shrown opent 10 all. That which =
10 all instances, to be IcgaIized. shoah n
made legal. that those who are dspasel
form 10 the laws may enjoy at least es~lS
ileges with those who are not Bat IL
lie. ed TO be the disposition Of Congress /. =
the public lands 20 occupancy without rer,lr
tries and payment OF the Goyernmess ~
as such a course must tend TO worse evils -
credit system, which il was found neopurrs
abolish. Ii would seem, therefore, to Be - =
OF wisdom and sound policy 10 remove, q r.
practicable, tho causes which produce iasnu;
upon the public lands, and then take
stcos TO prevent them in future. WoaA -
gle measure be % effective n removing q ~
siblc grounds for these intrs,sions n The -
ton OF price already suggested A shon -
of industry and economy in any part of o1e
try would enable the poorest citizen o 60
late the means to buy him q home At ~
prices, and leave him without apology for 80
on lands not his own. lf he did MOI, usdr,
circumstances, he would enlist no symps,l, :
his favor; and the laws would be readily En-.
ted. without doing Whence to public opnioa.
A large poat Of our citizens have -;
themselves on the public lands, without aa,kua
ty, siI &C the passage OF the last pre-emp,io. {.
and now ask the enactment Of another 10 -
them to retain the lands occupied, upon pav...I
Of the minimum Government price Thev SI
that " Inch has been repeatedly granted befa,, II
the future may be idgcd Of by the pas,. i'm
harm can nc done to the interests Of the T,c,s
~ by Welding TO their request Upon cri,ieal
examination, is found that the lands said :, a.
public sales since the introduction Of casfr,.
mcnts in 1890, have produced, on an aversc<
the nett revenue Of only six cents nm acre mue
than the minimum Government price, There !
no reason TO suppose that future sales will b
has no adequate pccuni.ry interest to induce ne
drive these people from the lands they occupy, E
the purpose of selling them to others.
Entertaining these views, | recommend d
passage Of presumption law for their bcnc6s, !
connection with the preparatory steps iow ards Il
graduatio of tho price of the public lands, -
further and more eiicctual provisions to psevsn
in,rusions hereafter. Indulgence TO those ~
have settled on these lands with cxpcctaiioassu
past legislation would be made n rule sor ~ +
turc, and at the same time removing the -
plausible ground on which intrusions arc excus1
and adopting more efficient means to prcsa
them hereafter, appears 10 mo the mnsf idic'cs
disposition which can be made Of this difficult Nd
i,c.. The limitations and restrictions 10 grad
apains. abuses in tho execution of pre-enpsia
law. will necessarily attract the careful attsafim
of Congress-; but under no Circumstances Il
cxpcdient to authorize floating claim
in any shape. They have been heretoloee, ~
donbi.css would he hereafter, most prolific sources
of fraud and oppression, aud instead Of operating
to confc. the favor Of tho Government on iadu.
trious settlers, are often used only to minister ,
a spirit of capidity at the expense OF the most =
ritorious oil that class.
The accompanying report OF the Secretary
FL. eensn Of a ,aA
and all the various subjects confidcd to the =.
perintcndcncc of that officer.
The principal part Of the Army has beee
concentrated in Florida, with q view, ard IN ibs
Of bringing tho war in thatTeuiiory
to y speedy close. The necessity Of str4faR
the posts on tho maritime and inland froatn .
Of their entire garrisons, for Tho purpose Of =
scmbiinc in the field army of less than ioa'
thousand men, would seem to Indicate thc neces
sitv Of increasing our regular forces; ana .ae
superior efficiency as well as greatly diminish
ed expense OF that description Of troops, recon
mend this measure as one of economy as well
of expcdiencv. refer TO the report tor the res
sons which have induced the Secretary Of Wa
to urge the reorganization and enlargement
the slaffor the Army, and Of the ordinance COPS
in which fully concur.
/, is not, however, compatible with the inter
est Of the people TO maintain, IN time oil Pc
regular force adequate to the defence Of our q
tensivc frontiers. In periods Of danger aud ai.sn
we must rely principally upon weii-orga"m.
militia; and some general arrangement shas ~
render this description Of force more cfl'e'ea', -
ono beoD subject of anxious so!icitudc. II ~
to the first Congress by Genes
81 has bccn since frequently broogs
10 Your notice and recently its importance sironst
urred by nv immediate predecessor. The Pr
visions in the Constitution that renders It ncces
sarv to adopt an uniform system OF organ'zasN
Or the militia through the United States .prcscn'
IN table obstacle 10 an cincient arfanss
ncnt bv the classification heretofore ProPoee
md invite Your attention TO the plan WIG
" IN be submitted by tho Secretary Of War, ~
he organization Of volunteer corps, and tho y
,truction Of militia officers, as more SIMPLE -
practicable. If not equally ndvaniagco -, ne g
erai arrangement Of the whole militia Of the O'r
ted States.
A moderate increase Of the corps, bo.h 4 ~
,ary and Typographical engineers, mas gee"
han once rccom,nc ndcd by my predecessor;
nv conviction Of the proprie,y, not 70 say "ece
.;;v of The measure, IN order To enable tnem
~ rf,rp the yarious and important du''es u
,oscd mon them, induces me TO repeat the recoe
nc ndatIoD.
Tho Military Academy continues 10 answer /:
he n,rp,scs OF its establishment, and not oes
furnishes weI-educatcd officers to the Army, d
serves 10 diffIxc throughout the mass ot our CT
Izcns. individuals possessed Of military knov
e.,pc. and the scientific aitainmcnfs OF c"' ~
military engineering. Al present, the caoes'
bound. with consent Of bis parent or gaafo'as
to remain in service five years from the Pef'oo
his enlistment, unless sooner discharged; tn"s
acting only ono years service IN inc h1"y
Ter his education is completed. This does
(sOyefnmCnt :