Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-26

doubt, an interesting store of extracts, at a
season of greater leisure. 1t also refers to
theadventures Of another detachment Of tie
Fdra9oons, under the command of Capt. Sum.
mer, nearly to the northern line of the United
States, between Lake Superior and the Lake
of the Woods. Among the Indi ms whom
they met with on their route, and upon whom
they made due impression with their militia.
ry array, was numerous band of the half
breeds Of the Red river Of the North, who h lad
come from the region Of the Hudson Bay
Company into our lines, to hunt buffalo,
They had even solicited permission to reside
in the United States.
The Secretary refers to the considerations
which had prompted General Gaines to des-
patch the volunteers of Louisiana 10 the camp
of General Taylor. Ample Justice is done to
their galIantrv, and Congress is invited 10
make appropriation for their compensation.
General Taylor had also accepted the services
Of four Texan companies of mounted men for
three months.
The estimate for the ensuing year DO not
greatly vary from those of former years. The
item for aiming the Notifications is increased
100000. The attention Of Congress is d.
rected to the stale of the fortiications-to the
armores of Springfield and Harpers Ferry
to the establishment of national foundry for
cannon-to the preservation of the gunpow-
der belonging 10 the government-to the con-
dition of the mineral lands in the Northwest
which the Secretary proposes to transfer from
the management of the ordnance department
to some other, (the Presidents message sug-
I gests to the land office
1t calls the attention Of Congress to the
forty-eight forts in process Of construction,
and to the proprlety of erecting new forts al
other points. Among these, as suggested by
the reports Of the eng neers, are Notifications
Of the narrows at Staten Island and at Sand y
Hook, and the condition Of the long suspended
fortress at the Pea Paach. an additional work
at Sellers Point, for the protection of Ba!u
more; and projected Notifications on the Flo
rida reefs.
The Secretary speaks with great considera.
tons of the school at West Point, and propo-
ses some improvements. He calls special at
tention to the report of the chief Of the corps
! of typographical engineers-to the improve
ments of the harbors on the lakes, which are
So well calculated to furnish accommodations
to steamers that, in a state of war. may be tur
ned to the most effective purposes, and tc
| furnish facilities to commerce that is now
estimated at one hundred millions of dollars
annually.
The Secretary speaks with enthusiasm o
the expeditions of Captain Fremont, and his
valuable services. He refers TO the rep ort
Of the pension Office, which has now register
ed upon its books 28,92l pensioners-2,3
added during the last year, and l,t39 know
to hav. died. He devotes considerable spac
to the Indian agency and the lndians-th
Pottaw otomes, the Choc:aws, and particular
Iy the Cherokees. He lays before the Presi
dent some highly interesting communication
from our Indian sub-agent in the territory {
Oregon.
He dedicates the conclusion of his compre
hensive and very interesting report to sub
ject which is of so profound an importance j
a free government, viz: the organization {
the militia. He suggests various alterations
and, among the rest, submits the quest!o
whether it might not be advisable to redoc
the period of service from Is years Of age
81, upon the ground that, although citizen
of eig hteen years of age not TOO young
bear arms, they are not generally in situ'
ton to equip themselves with arms. as I'll
law requires.