Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-20

is4I, Is49, is4S, and 1914 was o,364 dollars
and "a cents, while the expenses Of the sys,
lem during the Same period, including salaries
OF superntendents, agents, clerks, and incl
dental expenses, were &c 900 Ill dollars and
II cents; the income being less than / Of
expenses.-To this pecuniary loss may be
added the injury sustained by the public il
consequence Of the destruction Of timber, and
the careless and wastful manner OF working
the mines. The system has given rise TO much
litigation between the United States and indi-
vidual citizens, producing irritation and excite
Inent in the mineral region, and involving the
government in heavy additional expenditures
! II is believed that similar losses and embar-
| easements will continue 10 occur, while the
present system Of leasing these lands remains
unchanged These lands are now under the
superin,endence and care of the War Departs
men,, with the ordinary duties Of which they
have no proper or natural connection. rec
commended the repeal Of the present system
and that these lands be placed under the su.
perintendence and management Of the General
Land Ofice, as other public lands, and be
brought into market and sold upon such terms
as Congress in their wisdom may prescribe,
reserving to the government an equitable per
centage OF the gross amount uf mineral pros
duct, and that the presumption principle be
extended TO resident miners and settlers upon
them, at the minimum price which may be es>
tabished by Congress.
| refer you to tho accompanying report Of
the Secretary Of War, for information res
pec,ng the present situation Of the army, and
its operations during the past year; the state Of
our defences; the condition ofthe public works (;
and our relations with the various Indian
tribes within our limits or upon our borders
invite your attention 10 the suggestions con-
tanned In that report, in relation to these prom>
inent objects Of national interest.
} When orders were given during the past
|. summer for concentrating military force 90
the western frontier Of Texas, our troops were
widely dispersed, and in small detachmsnts,
occupying posts remote from each other. The
prompt and expeditions manner in which an
army embracing more than half our peace es
Enlistment, was drawn together on an emer
gency so sudden, reflects great credi. on the
, officers who were entrusted with the execution
, Of these orders, as well as upon tho discipline
: Of the army itself.
, To be in strength 10 protect and defend the
people and territory Of Texas, in the event
! Mexico should commence hostilities, or invade
her territories with large army, which she
Threatened, authorised the general assigned
10 the command Of the army OF occupation 10
; make requisiteRs to additional forces from
several Of the States nearest the Texan terri-
, tory, and which could most expedi,ousIy fur
} nish them, il, in his opinion, larger force than
!, tina, under his command and the auxiliary aid
z which, under like circumstances, he was au>
, thorized to receive from Texas, should they BE-
v required.
r The contingency upon which the exercise
Of this authority depended, has not occurred
r. The circumstances under which two companies
5 Of State artillery from the city Of New Orleans
were sent into Texas, and mustered into the
d service OF the United States, ars fully stated
n in the report OF the Secretary Of War. rec
o ommend TO Congress that provision be made
S for the payment OF these troops, as we'll as g
}, small number Of Texan volunteers, whom the
commanding general thought it necessary Il
) receive or muster into our service.
}, During the last summer, the first regimen
II outrageous made extensive excursions through
e the Indian country on our borders, part o
II them advancing nearly to the possessions o
l. the Hudson's Bay Company in the north and
o part as far as the South Pass Of the Rocky
n Mountains, and the head waters Of the tributa
}. nv streams of the Colorado Of the west. The
exhibition of this military force among tn,
= Indian tribes in those distant regions, and the
: councils held with Them by the commanders o
r the expeditions, it is believed, will have sal
;, utary Influence in restraining them from hos
b ulities among themselves, and maintaining
d friendly relations between them and the Unitec
d States. Al interesting account Of one Of These
j. excursions accompanies the report Of the Sec
y rotary Of War. Under the directions Of tn,
n War department, Brevet Captain Fremont, o
,r he corps Of the top graphical engineers, ha
y been employed since l84a in exploring tn
e, country west Of the Mississippi, and beyon'
% the Rocky Mountains. Two expeditions hav
At already been brought to close, and the report
If OF that scientific and entsrprsing officer hav
" furnished much interesting and valuable nlor
" nation. He is now engaged in third eXpedi
ton; but it is not expected that this arduou
service will be completed in season to enable
me 10 communicate the result TO Congress a
e the present session.
Our relation with the Indian tribes are OF
e favorable character. The policy OF removing
If hem to a country designed for their perma
n uent residence, west Of the Mississippi, ano
= without the limits Of the organized States aRc
o territories, is better appreciated by them thar
d twas few years ago; while education is now
e attended 10, and the habits Of civilized lie ar.
= gaining ground among them.
d Serious difficulties OF long standing continue
n TO distract the several parties into which tn
# Cherokees are unhappiy divided The effort
,, Of the government to adjust the dfhcu lie
i between them have heretofore proved unsuc
d cessiul and there remains no probability tina
this desirable object can be accomplished with
# out the aid Of further legislation by Congress