Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-12-17


States and the individual ci,!zens, producing
! irriiaiou and excitement IN the mineral re-
gloh, ana involving The government IN heavy
add,iional expenditures. 1T is believed that
similar losses and cnbarrass nents viii con-
tinue 10 occur. Nhi!e the present system Of
leasing those lands remains unchanged-.
These lands are now under the s6pef,nten-
deuce aud care ct HE War Department, with
The ordinary duties of which they have no
proper OF natural conneXlon. ! recommend
: me repeat Oh The present system. ard that
these lands Toe placed under The superin,en-
denee and management OF the General Land
O!Ise, Us other public LANDS, and be brought
Into market and sold upon such terms as Con-
Gress IN thels wisdom may prescribe, rese::-
ing 10 TIE government an equitable per cent-
aye OF tae gross amount Of mineral product,
a"d that the presumption principle be extern
ded 10 resident miners and settlers upon them
at the minimum price which may be esiab-
i!shed by Congress.
/ | refer You to tie accompany report Of
the Secretary o! War, tor information respec-
ing the present situation of the army, and its
. operafiens during the past year; the state Of
] our detences; The condition of the public
wofhs; and our relations with the various
Indian tribes within our limits upon our
BORDERS. invite your attention 10 the sug-
gestions contained in that rep ri, IN relation
+ 10 these prominent Of jecis Of national inter
est.
/ When orders were given during The past
summer tor concentrating IA military force on
The western frontier OF Texas, our roOrs
were widely dispersed. and in small detatt.
m"AtS, occupying pos's remote from each
ether. The prompt and eXpeditious manner
IN which an army. embracing mole Than bali
cur peace establishment, was drawn ,oge her
on an emergency SO sudden, reflects great
crcdi, on the officers who were inlr,.stcd
. =, fita. of OIL
open the discipline Q! The army itself. 10 be
n Strength 10 prot CT and defend the people
and territory ot Texas. IN the event Mexico
s2uu!d commence hostililles, invade her
territories with large army, which she
Threatened, authorized the general ass igned
10 the command o; the army OF occupation TO
make rcquisIIIon for additional forces from
several al the States nearest the Texan terri.
tory, and which could most cxpedi.iously
arnisn :acnl. II, IN his opinion. larger force
Than that under his command. and The aux.
Hurry ana which under like circumstances, he
authorized to receive from Texas, should
be required. The contingency upon which
two companies of State artillery from the
city OF New Orleans were sen, 10 Texas, and
mustered into the service oil the l nited States
folly stated in the report Of the Secretary
OF War. recommend TO Congress that pro-
VISION lie made tor the payment of these
troops. as well as small number of Texan
volunteers, whom the commanding general
thought ii necessary TO receive or muster into
our service.
Durng the last summer, the first regiment
oil Dragons made extensive excursions lhro'
the ladian country our borders, a part of
them advancing nearly TO the possessions Of
the IGdsous Bay Company IN the north, and
part as lar IS the South Pass Of the Rocky
Mountains, and lie head waters Of the ,ribu>
tary streams of tie Colorado OF the VEST
The exhibition Of this military force among
the IudIan tribes IN those distant regions, aud
the councils held with Them by The comman.
ders O! the expeditions. i, IS believed, will
have a sanitary influence in restraining them
from h0stEiteS among themselves, and main.
taIntEg friendly reiatiors haiween ;heui and
the United. States. An Interesting account
0! one Of these excursions accompanies the
report Of the Secretary of War. Under the
direction Of the War Department, Brevet
Captain Fremont. of the corps Of ,opograph-
seal engineers. has been employed since i242
in exploring the country west Of the Missls.
sipPi, aud beyond the Rocky Mountains
Two expeditions have already been brought
10 q close, and the reports of that scientific
a nd enierprisi0g ffcer have furnished much
interesting and valuable information. He Is
now engaged IN third expedition; but II -
not expected tina, this arduous service viii: DO
completed in season to enable me TO commu.
nicate the result to Congress at the present
session.
Oar relations with the Iadian tribes are Of
A favorable character. The policy Of remov.
ing them to country designed for their per-
fnanent residence. ives, of the Mississippi and
without the limits OF The organized States and
Territories, Is better appreciated by them
THAI /, was a few years ago; while education
Is now attended 10, and the habl's Of civilized
life gaming ground among Them.
Serious itficulties Of long standing continue
20 dls'rac, the several parties toto which the
Cherokees are unhappiIy divided. The efforts
OF the government to adjust the d fficu,res be-