The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-04


and eleven dollars and eleven cents-the income
being less than one-fourth of the expenses To
this pecuniary loss may be added the injury sus-
tanned by the public in consequences of the de-
struction of timber and the careless and wastetul
manner of working the mines The system has
given rise to much litigation between the United
States and individual citizens, producing irritation
and excitement in the mineral region, and nvolv-
ing the government in heavy additional expendi-
lures. II is believed that similar losses and en-
barrassments will continue to occur, while the
present system of leasing these lands remains un-
changed. These lands are now under the super
intendence and care of the War Department,
with the ordinary duties of which they have no
proper or natural connexion. | recommend the
repeal of the present SYSTEM and that these lands
be placed under the superintendence and manage
ment of the General Land Office, as other public
lands, and be brought into market and sold upon
such terms as Congress in their wisdom may pre-
scribe reserving to the government an equitable
per centage of the gross amount OF mineral pro-
duct, and that the pre-emption principle DC ex-
tended to resident miners and settlers upon them,
at the minimum price which may be established
by Congress. 1tb
/ refer you 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 our defences;
the condition Of the public works; and our rela-
limits or upon our borders. / invite your atten-
ton to the suggestions contained in that report in
relation to these prominent objects of national IN
terest. 5a
When orders were given during the past sum
mer for concentrating military force on the
western frontier Of Texas, our troops were widely
dispersed and in small detachments, occupying
posts remote from each other. The prompt and
expeditions manner in which an army, embracing
more than half our peace establishment, was
drawn together on an emergency so sudden, re-
fleets great credit on the officers who were in
trusted with the execution OF these orders, as
well as upon the discipline of the army itself To
be in strength to protect and defend the people
and territory of Texas, in the event Mexico should
commence hostilites, or invade her territories
with large army which she treatened, j author
lied the general assigned to the command of the
army of occupation to make requisites for addi-
tional forces from several of the States nearest
the Texian territory, and which could most expe-
ditiously furnish them if, in his opinion, larger
force than that under his command, and the aux
iary aid which, under like circumstances, he was
authorized to receive from Texas, should be re-
quired The contingency upon which the exer-
else of this authority depended has not occurred.
The circumstances under which two companies Of
State artillery from the city OF New Orleans were
sent into Texas, and mustered into the service OF
the United States are fully stated in the report
of the Secretary Of War. recommend to Con-
gress that provision be made for the payment of
these troops, as we'll as small number of Texan
an volunteers, whom the commanding general
thought it necessary to receive or muster into
service , a,.s. y,s+s .s,. 81. =,
During the last summer, the first regiment Of
dragons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, a part of them adj
vancing nearly to the possessions of the Hudson's
Bay Company in the north, and part as far as
the South Pass of the Rocky mountains, and the
head waters of the tributary streams of the Colo
RADIO of the West. The exhibition of this militia
ry force among the Indian tribes in those distant
regions, and the councils held with them by the
commanders of the expeditions, it is believed will
have salutary influence in restraining them from
hotilties 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 Secre-
tary of War. Under the directions Of the War
Department, Brevet Captain Fremont, of the
corps of Typographical engineers, has been en-
ployed since 1912 in exploring the country west
Of the Mississippi, and beyond the Rocky noun
tans. Two expeditions have already been brought
to close, and the reports of that scientific and
enterprisng officer have furnished much interest
ing and valuable information. He is now enga-
ged in a third expedition; but it is not expected
that this arduous service will be completed in
son to enable me to communicate the result to
Congress the present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes of favora
bic character The policy of removing them to a
country designed for their permanent residence, west
of the Mississippi and without the limits of the or
ganzed States and Territories better appreciated by
them than it few years ago; while education is
now 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 Cherokees
unhappy divided. The efforts of the government
to adjust the difficulties between them have heretofore
proved unsuccessful; and there remains probability
that this desirable object can be accomplished without
the aid of further legislation by Congress. will at
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 to the
adoption of such by Congress may enable
the cutve to do Justice to them respectively and
put end if possible to the dissensions which have
long prevailed and still prevail among them 4F#
/ refer you to the report of the Secretary OF the
Navy for the condition Of 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 promptncss and
fidelity. larger force than has often formed one
squadron under flag readily concentrated in the
gulf Of Mexico and apparently without unusual effort
1t is especially to be observed, that Notwithstanding
the union of considerable force, act COM
mitted that the jealousy OF an irrtatcd power
could construe act of aggression; and that the
commander Of the squadron and his officers, in strict
conformity with their rinstrucons, holding themselves
ever ready for the most active duty, have achieved
Is