The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-12-20


too active or vigilant in preparing and pei
i lecting the means of defence. refer sou
: also, to his report for full statement q
{ the condition Of the Indian tribes within
e our jurisdiction. The executive has aba
l ted no effort in carrying Into effect III
; well established policy Of the government
which contcmplales removal Of all TIT
tribes residing within the limits of the sc
veral states, beyond those limits and i
is now enabled to congratulate the ,uun
try al the prospect of an early cnnsumma
ton of this object. Many Of the tribes
have already made great progress in lh'
arts of civilized life and, through TIT
operation of the schools established anon.
them, aided by the efforts of the piou.
men OF various denomlnaiions-W hu de-
vote themselves 10 the task Of their i'm.
provement-we may foudly hope tina, the
remains Of the formidable tribes wAic
were once the masters Of this country,
will, in their transition from the savage
state TO conditan Of refinement and cul-
tlvatlon, add another bright trophy to
adorn the laboGs Of wcII-dircclcd philan.
Ihropy.
The accompanying report Of the score
tary Of the navy will explain to you the
situation of that branch OF the service.
The present organization Of the depart
ment imparts 10 its operations grea. eff
cheney but concur fully in the propri-
ETY. Of division Of the bereau of Con.
s,ruclion, Equipment, and Repairs, uto
two Bureaux. The subjects, as now ar
ranged, are incongruous, and require. tn
certain extent, Information and qUaliti-
cations altogether dissmilar.
The operations Of the squadron ON the
coast Of Africa, have been conducted with
all due attention to the object which led
to It's organization and | am happy to
say that the officers and crews have en-
joyed the best possible health, under the
system adopted by the officer in command.
1t is believed The United States is the unIy
nation whish has, by its laws, subjected
to the punishment of death, as pirates.
those who may be engaged in the slave
trade. A similar enactment on the part
of other nations, would no, fail to be at.
tended by beneficial results.
In consequence of the difficulties which
have existed in the way of securing titles
for the necessary grounds, operations have
not yet been commenced towards the es.
adjustment of the navy yard at Memphis.
So soon as the title is perfected, no fur
Their delay will be permitted to intervene.
1t is well worthy Of your consideration,
whether congress should no, direct the cs-
Enlistment Of a rope-walk in connection
with the contemplated navy yard, as a
measure not only of economy, but as high
ly useful and necessary. The only es-
Enlistment Of the sort now connected
with the service, is located at Boston 4;
and the advantages Of similar establish
menl, convenient to the hemp-growing re-
gion, must be apparent 10 all.
The report Of the secretary presents
other matters 10 your consideration. of an
important character in connection with
the service.
In referring you 10 the accompanying
report of the postmaster general, it affords
me continued cause Of qualification 10 be
able TO advert to the fact, that the affairs
or the department, for the last four wears,
have been SO conducted as. from its un.
aided resources, TO meet its large expcnd-
lures. On my coming into Office, a debt
of nearly 100000 existed against the de-
partmcnl, which congress discharged by
an appropriation from the treasury. The
department, on the 4th of March next,
will he found, under the management of
the present efficient head, free of debt or
embarrassment, which only could have
been done by the observance and practice
oflhe greatest vigilance and economy. The
laws have contemplated, throughout, that
the department should be sellsuslained !;
NV ~ h") oNIohN VIII bllt
wlsest regard to the public interests, to
introduce amendments and alterations in
the system. There is a strong desire ma
infected in many quarters, so to alter the
tariff of letter postage MS to reduce the
amount OF tax at present imposed Should
such measure be carried into effect to
the full extent desired. it cannot well be
doubted but that, for the first years of its
operation, diminished revenue would be
collected, the supply of which would ne.
eessarlly constitute charge upon The
treasury. Whether such result would
be desirable, i. will be for congress, in It's
wisdom, to determine. 1t may, in gene
raj, be asserted, that radical alterations
IN any system should rather be brought
about gradually, than by sudden changes
and by pursuing this prulpnt policy In