The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-27


Indians whom they met with on their
route, and upon whom they made a
due impression with their military ar
ray, was numerous band Of the half
breeds of the Red River of the North,
who had come from the region Of the
Hudson Bay Company into our lines,
to hunt buffalo. They had even soli-
cited permission to residein the United
States.
The Secretary refers 10 the consid-
erations which had prompted General
Gaines to despatch the volunteers OF
Louisiana TO the camp Of General Tay-
lor. Ample justice is done TO their
gallantry, and Congress is invited to
make appropriation for their compen-
satlon. General Taylor had also &C.
cepted the services of four Texan
companies of mounted men for three
months.
The estimates for the ensuing year
do not greatly vary from those of for
mer years. The item for arming the
Notifications is increased Sl00,000.-
The attention of Congress is directed
to the state Of the fortifcations--to the
armores of Springfield and Harper's
Ferry-to the establishment of ma
tional foundry for cannon-to the
preservation Of the gunpowder belong
ing to the government-to the condi-
ton OF the mineral lands in the North
west. which the Secretary proposes to
transfer from the management Of the
ordinance department to some other,
(the Presidents message suggests to
the land office.)
1t calls the attention of Congress to
the forty-eight forts in process of con-
struction, and to the propriety oferect-
ing new forts at other points. Among
these, as suggested by the reports Of
the engineers, are Notifications of the
narrows at Staten Island and at Sandy
Ho ok, and the condition Of the long
suspended fortress OF the Pea Patch;
an additional work at Sellers Point,
for the protection of Baltimore; and
projected Notifications on the Florida
reefs.
The Secretary speaks with great
consideration Of the School at West
Point, and proposes some improve
ments. He calls special attention to
the report Of the chief of the topograph-
ical engineers-to the Improvement OF
the harbors on the lakes, which are SO
we'll calculated to furnish acconmoda-
tions to the steamers that, in state OF
war, NAV be turned to the most effec-
tive purposes, and to furnish facilities
to commerce that is now estimated
at one hundred millions of dollars an
nually.
The Secretary speaks with enthusi-
asm of the expeditions under Capt.
Fremont, and his valuable services
He refers to the reports of The pension
office, which has now registered upon
its books 28,92l pensioners-2,372 ad-
ded during the last year. l,43a known
to have died. He devotes a consider
able space to the Indian agency and
the Indians; the Pottawatomies, the
Choctaws. and particularly the Chero-
KEGS. He lays before the President
some highly interesting communica-
tons from our Indian sub-agenI in the
territory Of Oregon.
He dedicates the conclusion OF his
report to the organization of the mill
tia. He suggests various alterations;
and, among the rest, submits the ques-
ton whether it might not be advisable
to reduce the period of service from
l8 years Of age to 81, upon the ground
that, although citizens of feighteen years
Of age are not too young to bear arms,
thew are n OF generally IN situation to
equip themselves with arms, as the law
requires.