Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1837-01-04
JANUARY 4, 1887,

4 The discretionary authority o;nou
: to general Gaines to cross the SABINE
and to occupy position as far west =
Nacogdoches, in case he should deem.
such a step necessary to the protect;on
&C the frontier, and to the fultiIment ne
the s..ipulations contained in our treo
ty with Mexico, and the movement
subsequently made by that officer. have
been alluded to in former part Of The
message. At the date of the latest in.
telligence from Nacogdoches, ourtroon.
were yet at that station; but the officer
who has succeeded general Gaines, has
recently beer advised that, from the
facts known at the seat of government.
there would seem to be no ADEQUATE
cause for any longer maintaining that
position; and he was accordingly in.
structed, in case the troops were not
already withdrawn underline discretion.
airy powers before possessed by him. to
give the requisite orders for that pur-
pose on the receipt of the instructions.
unless he shall tken have in his posses.
sion such information as shall satisfy
him that the maintenance ofthe post Is
essential to the protection of our from.
tiers, and to the due execution of our
treaty stipulations, as previously ex.
planned to him.
Whilst the necessities existing dur.
ing the present year, for the service
ofmiIitia and volunteers, have furnish
ed new proofs of the patriotism Of our
fellow-citizens, they have also strongly
illustrated theimportance ofan increase
in the rank and file of the regular ar.
my. The views of this subject sub.
mitted by the secretary of war, in his
report, meet my entire concurrence;
and are earnestly commended to the
deliberate attention Of congress. In
this connection it is also proper to re-
mind you, that the defects in our pres
ent militia system are every day rem
dercd more apparent. The duty for
making further provision by law for or
ganizing, arming, and disciplining this
arm Of defence, has been SO repeatedly
presented to congress by myself and
my predecessors, that deem it suf6-
cicnt on this occasion to refer to the
last annual message, and to formerex-
ecutive communications, in which the
subject has been discussed.
1t appears from the reports Of the Of
icers charged with mastering into ser.
vice the volunteers called for under the
act of congress of the last session, that
more presented themselves at the place
of rendezvous in Tennessee than were:
sufficient 10 meet the rcquisition wh!chl
had been made by the secretary of.war
!. upon the governor of that state. This
was occasioned by the omission afthe
governor to apportion the reopisition.
TO the acknowledgements Of militia, 50
as to obtain the proper number OF!
troops, and no more. 1t seems but just
to the patriotic citizens who, repaired
to the general rendezvous, under cir
cumstances authorisingthem to believe
that their services were needed, and
would be accepted, that the expenses
\ incurred by them while, absent from
: their homes, should be. paid by the 60,
vernmcnt. ! accordingly recommend
e that law to this eject be passed by
!, congress, giving them compensation
l which will coycr:their expenses on the
4 march to and from the place OF rcndez'
! vous, and while there; in connection
y with which,, it, will also be. proper 10
j make provision fos such other cqu!ta'
bic claims, growing out OF the service
$ of the militia, as may not be embrace0
J, in the existing laws.
On the unexpected breaking ou1 OF
! hostilities in Florida, Alabama, & GeoF'
). gia, it became necessary, in some cases
d to take tie property Of individuals ioF
) public use. Provision should be MADE
e by law for indemnifying the owners;
It and l would also respectfully sugssea
e whether some provision may not 0e
e made, consistently with the principles
= Of our government, for the relief Of Inc
IS sufferers by Indian depredations, orOy
N the operations of our own troops.
4 No time was lost, after the making
J. of the requisite appropriations, IN &c,
9, :, suming the great national work OF com.
u pleting the unfinished Notifications. OF
E our seaboard, and Of placing them 'ps
r proper state Of defence. In conss.
Sc quence, however, ofthe very late day
at which those bills were passed, ous
" little progress. could be made dur.ns NV
re season which sjust closed. a .s sS' !,
d. ,,r,. amount Of the moneys gran'e .;n ~
% your last session, acccrd,ng'y, 's ~ :.
=. =, unexpended; but as the work VIII =.
:. a. again resumed at the earliest n'onlen..
" in the coming snrinr the balance "