Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-23

without authority, since the passage OF
the last presumption law, and now ask
the enactment of another, ito enable
them TO retain the lands occupied, upon
payment Of the minimum Government
price.-They ask that which has been
repeatedly granted before. II the fu-
ture may be judged Of oy the past, little
harm can be done to the interest of the
Treasury by yielding to their request
Upon critical examination, it is found
that the lands sold at the public sales
since the introduction of cash payments
in 1920, have produced, on an average,
the net revenue of only six cents an
acre more than the minimum Govern
ment price. There is no reason to sup
pose that future sales will be more pro-
ductive. The Government, therefore,
has no adequate pecuniary interest to
induce it to drive these people from the
lands they occupy for the purpose Of
selling them to others. U a5 ar.
Entertaining these views, l recon-
mend the passage OF pre-emption law
for their benefit, in connection with the
preparatory steps towards the gradua-
tien of the price of the public lands,
and further and more effectual provi-
sions to prevent intrusions hereafter.
Indulgence to those who have settled on
these lands with exceptions that past
legislation would be made rule for the
future, and at the same time removing
the most plausible ground on which in
trusions are excused, and adopting more
efficient means to prevent them hereaf-
ter, appears to me the most judicious
disposition which can be made of this
difficult subject. The limitations and
restrictions to guard against abuses in
the execution of a pre-emption law will
necessarily attract the careful attention
of Congress but under no circumstan-
ces is it considered expedient to author
ize floating claims 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 Co
vernment on industrious settlers, are Of
ten used only to minister to a spirit OF
cupidity at the expense of the most me-
ritorious of that class. a1 .oi
The accompanying report of the Sc
cretary of War will bring to your view
the state of the Army, and all the va.
rious subjects con6ded to the care ol
that officer. ..'t'.a A..
The principal part of the Army has
been concentrated in Florida, with a
view, and in the expectation, of bringing
the war in that Territory to speedy
close. The necessity of stripping the
posts on the maratime and inland from
tiers 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 necessity of
increasing our regular forces and the
superior efficiency as well as greatly d.
minished expense of that description oil
troops, recommend this measure as one
OF economy as well as of expediency.
| refer to the report for the reasons
which have induced the Secretary Of
War to urge the reorganization and en-
largement of the staff Of the Army, and
of the ordnance corps, in which fully
concur .t
tits not, however, compatible with The
interest Of the people to maintain, in
time or peace, regular force adequate
10 the defence of our extensive frontiers.
In periods Of danger and alarm, we
must rely principally upon a we'll or
ganized militia and some general ar
that will render this descrip-
tion of force more efficient, has long
been subject of anxious solicitude. 1t
was recommended to the first Congress
by General Washington, and has been
since frequently brought to your notice,
and recently its Importance strongly |
Urged by my immediate predecessor.
The provision in the Constitution that
.enders it necessary to adopt an uniform
system Of organization for the militia
throughout the United States, presents
IN insurmountable obstacle to an eff
;ient arrangement by the classification
proposed, and invite your
lttenlion to the plan which will be sub
nitted by the Secretary of War, for
he organization of volunteer corps, and
he Instruction of militia officers, IS
more simple and practicable, II not
'qually advantageous, as a ageneral ar
angement of the whole militia of the
United States. ia
A moderate increase of the corps,
'o;h Of military and Typographical en-
orc hos I,es,( ~, r,rs, tbo,,I ~,