Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06

homes and improvements al the public sales at that be-
these combinations, by Of the capital they
mand and their superior ability purchase render mpos
be for the settler TO compete with them in the Market BY
putting down all competition these combinations of capitalists
and spectators are usually enabled to purchase the lands I'M
Guiding the improvements Of the settlers, the
price Of the Government and either them Of their
homes cxtor from them, according their ability to pay,
double quadrupe the paid for them 10 the Govern
menl 1t is to the enterprise and Of the hardy
pioneers Of the West who penetrate the Wilderness with their
families, suffer the Dangers the pryatons and hardsps at
tending the settlement Of country and prepare the way
for the body Of omgrants who In the Of few years
usually follow em that we are In great degree indebted
for the rapid extension and ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of country
Experience has proved that portion Of population
patriotic than tho hardy and brave Of the frontier,
ready obey the call Of their country and to defend
her rights and her honor whenever and by whatever enemy
assaed They should be protected from the gaspng specu
lato and secured at the minimum price Of the public lands
in the humble homes which they have improved by their la
bor With this end in view, all vexatous unnecessary
stcons imposed upon them by the existing pre- emption laws
should be repealed modified II is the policy Of the
Government afford facilities TO its citizens to become the
of small portions Of our vast public domain at low and
moderate rates.
The present system Of managing the mineral lands Of the
United States believed be radically defective More thana
million Of oe public lands supposed contain lead and
other minerals have been reserved from SALE and numerous
leases upon them have been granted to individuals upon
stipulated rent The system Of granting leases has proved to
be not only Improbable the Government but unsatisfactory
TO the citizens who have gone upon the lands and must If
continued lay the foundation Of much future difficulty between
the Government and the essecs According to the official
records the amount Of rents received by the Government for
the years 1884, e42 ls43 and 1914, six thousand
three hundred and fyo dollars and seventy -four cents,
while the expenses Of the system during the period in
Guiding salaries Of supenendents, agents. clerks and incl
dental expenses twentysx thousand hundred and
eleven dollars and eleven cente income being less than
oneouh Of the expenses To this pecunay loss may be
added the injury sustained by the public in consequence of the
destruction of TIMBER and the careless and wasteu
Of rkinrf e he has nrisot In much
litigation between the United States and individual cti
zens producing irritation and excitement in the mineral REGION
and involving the Government in heavy additional expendi
tuTes II is believed that similar losses and enbaassmens
will continue to occur while the present system of leasing
these lands unchanged These lands under
the superintendent and Of the War Department. with
the ordinary duties Of which they have proper natural
connexon recommend the repeal of the present SYSTEM
and that these lands be placed under the superintendent and
management Of the General Land Office other public lands
and be brought into market and sold upon such terms Con-
gross in their wisdom may prescribe reserying to the Govern
mcnt equitable centage OF the amount OF mineral
product and that the presumption principle be extended
sdent miners and settlers upon them, at the minimum price
which may be established by Congress
refer to the accompanying report Of the Secretary of
War for information respecting the present situation OF the
army, and its operations during the past year the state of
defcnccs the condition Of the public works and relations
with the various Indian tribes within limits upon
borders invite your attention the suggestions contained
in that report relation these prominent objects Of national
interest.
When orders given during the past for
ccntrang military force the western frontier of Texas,
troops widely Dispersed and in small deachment
occupying posts remote from each other The prompt and
expeditions which army, embracing than
half peace establishment drawn together
gency sudden reflects great credit on the officers who were
entrusted with the execution OF these ORDERS well upon
the discipline OF the army ITSELF To be in strength protect
and defend the people and territory Of Texas, the event
Mexico should hosties invade her territories
with largo army which she tlrcaencd authorized the Ge
~
make acquisitions for additional forces from several Of the
States the Texan territory and which could most
pcdiously furnish hcm it. in his opinion, larger force than
that under his command and the auxiliary aid which, under
like circumstances, he authorized TO receive from Texas
should be required. The contingency upon which the
else Of this authority depended has not occurred The cir
cumstances under which two companies of State artillery from
the city Of New Orleans sent into Texas and mustered
into the service Of the United States fully stated the
report Of the Secretary of War recommend TO Congress
that provision be made for the payment Of these troops well
small number oeTexan volunteers whom the command
ing General thought necessary to receive muster into our
service.
During the last summer the first regiment of Dragons
made extensive through the Indian country
borders part of them advancing nearly TO the possessions
of the Hudson's Bay Company the NORTH and part
far the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains and the head
of the tributary streams Of the Colorado Of the West
The exhibition Of this military force among the Indian tribes
in those distant regions and the councils held with them by
the commanders Of the expeditions is believed will have
sautay influence in restraining them from hostes among
themselves and maintaining friendly relations between them
and the United States An interesting account of one Of these
excursions accompanies the report Of the Secretary of War
Under the directions Of the War Department. Brevet Captain
Fremont Of the corps of typographical engineers has been
employed since 1912 in exploring the country west of the
Mississippi and beyond the Rocky Mountains Two expc-
dons have already been brought close, and the reports
Of that scientific and entepsng officer have furnished much
interesting and valuable Information. He is engaged in
third expedition but il not expected that this arduons
service will be completed in to enable me TO commu
ncatc the result TO Congress at the present session
Our relations with the Indian tribes Of favorable cha
The policy Of removing them country designed
for their permanent residence west Of the Mississippi and
without the limits Of the organized States and Territories, is
better appreciated by them than il few ago; while
education is attended to- and the habits Of civilized life
gaining ground among them
Serious difficulties Of long standing continue to distract the
several parties into which the Chcrokees unhappy dv
ded The efforts Of the Government to adjust the difficulties
between them have heretofore proved unsuccessu and there
remains probability that this desirable object can be accom-
pished without the aid Of further legislation by Congress
will early period Of your session. present the subject for
your consideration, accompanied with exposition of the
complaints and claims of the several parties into which the
nation is divided with view the adoption Of such
by Congress may enable the Executive to do justice
them respectively and TO put end, if possbe 10 the
disscnsons which. have long prevailed, and still prevail
among them.
refer YOU to the report Of the Secretary of the Navy for
the present condition d that branch Of the national Defence
and for grave SUGGESTIONS having for their object the increase
Of its efficiency, and greater economy in its management
During the past year the officers and men have performed
their duty in satisfactory The orders which have
been given have been executed with prompess and fidelity
larger force than has often formed squadron under our
Gag was readily concentrated in the Gulf Of Mexico, and a