The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-07

that Congress nave passed laws giving acvll seiefa
on the public lands right OF pre-empfion 10 the
tracts occupied by them nj The minimum price.
These laws have in all instances been retrospective
in their operation; but IN few years afcr their
passage crowds OF new settlers have bsen found ON
the public lands, for smier reasons, and under like
expectations, who have been INDUCED with the same
privileges. This course of legislation tends TO inn
pair public respect for the laws ofthe country Either
The laws To prevent intrusion upon the public lands
should BE- executed ii that should b. impractical
BILE or inexpcdent, they should be modified or repeal
ed IL the public lands TO b. considered as open
To BE- occupied by any they should BY law, be thrown
open 10 alt That which Is intended, in all instances,
TO b. legalized should at once BE- made legal that
those who are disposed 10 conform TO the laws may
enjoy az least equal privileges with those who are
not Bun ii is not believed 10 be the disposition OF
Congress to open the public lands 10 occupancy
without regular entries and payment of the Govern
nen price rs such a course must tend TO worse evils
than the credit system which il was found necessary
10 abolish. IL would seem, therefore, TO be the part
of wisdom and sound policy 10 remove, as Tar as
practicable the which produce ntrusions up
on the public lands and then take efficient Steps 10
prevent them in future. Would any single measure
b, SO effective in removing all plausible grounds for
those intrusons the graduation Of price already
suggested? A short period of industry and economy
/ in any part of our country would enable The poorest
citizen To accumulate the means 10 buy him q home
at the lower prices, and leave him without apology
4 for settling on landc OF his own. he did not under
such circumstances, he would enlist no sympathy in
/ his favor; and the laws would be readily executed
| without doing violence TO public opinion
A large portion of our citizens have seated Them
selves on the public lands without authority, since
! the passage OF the last prescription law, and now
ask the enactment Of another to enable them Ia re-
tain the lands occupied, upon payment OF the mini
1 mum Government price. They ask that which has
| been repeatedly granted before. Ii the future may
be Judged of b. the past little harm be done to
the interests of the Treasury by yielding TO their re-
/ quest Upon critical examination, il is found that
the lands sold al the public sales since The introduce
i a.. ha,ra .aI
average, the nett revenue of only six cents an acre
/ more than the minimum Government price. There
is no reason to suppose that future sales Will be more
| productive. The Government, therefore, has no
/ adequate pecuniary interest to induce it TO drive
these people from the lands they occupy, for the pur
| pose of selling them to oilers.
4 Entertaining these views recommend the pass
age Of presumption law for their benefit in con-
neclioa with the preparatory steps toward the gradu
alton Of the price OF the public lands, and further
and more efectual provisions TO prevent intrnsions
hereafter Indulgence 70 those who have settled on
these lands with expectations that past legislation
would be made rule for the future, and at the
i same time removing the most plausible ground On
| which intrusons are excused, and adopting more
efficient TO prevent them hereafter, appears 10
me the most Iudicious disposition which can be made
of this difficult subject The limitations and restric
tions guard against abuses In the execution of
pre-empon law will necessarily attract the careful
attention of Congress; but under no circumstances
is it considered expedent toauthoriZe floating claims
i in any shape. They have been heretofore and
doubtless would be hereafter, most prolific sources
of fraud and oppression and instead Of operating to
confer the favor Of the Government on industrious
settlers are ollen used only to minister to spirit Of
cupidity at the expense OF the most meritorious of
/ that class.
i The accompanying report Of the Secretary of War
will bring to your view the state OF the Army, and all
the various subjects conhdedt to the superintendent Of
that officer.
The principal part of the Army has been concentra
ted in Florida, with view, and IN the expectation, Of
bringing the in that Territory to speedy close
The necessity Of stripping the posts on the maritime
and inland frontiers Of their entire garisons. for the
purpose OF assembling in the field army Of less than
four thousand men, would seem TO indicate the neces
sity Of increasing regular forces; and the superior
efficiency as well greatly diminished expense Of that
! description Of troops, recommend this measure
Of economy well Of expedlency. refer to the
por, for the which have induced the Secretary
of War to urge the reorganization and enlargement Of
the staff Of the Army, and of the ordnance corps, in
i which fully concur.
It is not, however compatible with the interests of
the people maintain in time Of peace, regular force
adequate to the defence Of our extensive frontiers In
periods Of danger and alarm must rely principally
upon wei. organized militia; and general
rangement that will render this description of force
efficient, has long been subject OF anxious solictude
II recommended to the first Congress by General
Washington and has been since frequently brought
your notice. and recently its importance strongly urged
BY my immediate predecessor. The provision in the
Constitution that renders il necessary to adopt
form system Of organization for the militia throughout
the United States presents an nsumouhtable obstacle
efficient arrangement by the classification hereto
fore proposed, and invite your attention the plan
which will be submitted by the Secretary OF War; for
the organization Of volunteer corps, and the instruction
Of militia officers simple and practicable, if not
equally advantageous, general arrangement Of the
whole militia of the United States.
A moderate increase Of the corps, both of military
and Typographical engineers, has been than
| recommended by my predecessor; and my conviction
of the poprey, not to say necessity Of the measure in
order to enable them TO perform the various and i'm
porant duties imposed upon them, induces me TO
peat the recommendation
The Military Academy continues to answer all the
purposes Of its establishment and not only furnishes
well-educacd officers to the Army, but to DIFF
fuse throughout the of citizens, individuals
possessed of military knowledge and the scientific at
tanments of civil and military engineering. At present.
the cadet is bound. with consent Of his parents guar
dams, remain in service Eve years from the period Of
his enlistment, unless discharged thus
ing only years service in the Army after his educa
ton is completed This does not appear 10 snff-
cent. Government ought to command for longer
period the services OF those who educated at the
public expense; and recommend that the time OF
stment be extended to years, and the terms Of
the engagement strictly enforced
The creation Of a national foundry for cannon to be
common to the service Of the Army and Navy Of the
United States, has been heretofore recommended and
appears 10 be required order to place ordnance
an equal footing with that Of other countries, aud to
enable that branch Of the service control the prices
of those articles and graduate the supplies the
Of the Government well to regulate their quality
and ensure their uniformity. The reasons induce
me to recommend the creation OF mandatory OF gum
powder, to be under the direction at the Ordnance Of
flee. The establishment Of mandatory Of small arms
west of the Allegheny mountains upon the plan pro-
posed by the Secretary Of War, will contribute
tend throughout that country the improvements which
exist in establishments of similar description in the
Atlantic States, and tend to a much more economical
distribution Of the armament required in the western
portion of our Union