The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-12-13

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purchase, der il impossib Bile for the settler to
compete with them in the market. BY putting
down all competition these combinations OF APP
talits and speculators are usually enabled to
purchase the lands, including the Improvements
OF the settlers, at the minimum price OF the gov
eminent, and either turn them out of their
homes or extort from them, &C cordingto their
ability to pay, double or quadruple the amount
paid for them to the government. 1t is to enter
prise and perseverance OF the hardy pioneers OF
the West, who penetrate the wilderness with
their families, suffer the dangers, the pryations
and hardships attending the settlement of a new
country. and prepare the way for the body of
emigrants who. in the course OF few years, u
sually follow them, that we are. IN great de-
gree, indebted for the rapid extension and ag-
grandiZement of oEr country.
Experience has proved that no portion of our
population are more patriotic than the hardy DC
brave men of the frontier, or more ready to obey
the call of their country, and to defend her
rights and her honor, whenever and BY whatever
enemy assaled They should be protected from
the graspiug SPECTATOR, and secured at the MINI
imom price of the public lands, in the humble
homes which they have improved by their labor.
| With this end IN view, all Vexatious or unnece-
| sary restrictions imposed imposed upon them by
the existing pre-emption laws, should be re-
pealed or modified. 1t is the true policy of the
government TO afford facilities TO its citizens to
become owners of small portions of our public
domain at low and moderate rates.
The present system Of managing the mineral
lands of the u. States, is believed to be radically
defective. More than a million of acres Of the
public lands supposed TO con tain lead and other
minerals, have been reserved from sale, and nu-
merous leases upon them have been granted to
individuals upon stipulated rent. The system
| of granting leases has proved to be not only IN.
profitable to the government, but unsatisfactory
to the citizens who have gone upon the lands,
and must if contin ued. lay the foundation OF
much future difficulty between the government
and the lessees. According to the official rec
ords, the amounts of rents received by the GOV
| ernments for the years l84I, 1912, 1913, and
1874, was ST, 1854 IA. while the expenses of the
ystem during the anne period, including sala-
rles OF superlntendents, agents, clerks, and in
cidental expenses. were S26.ill 1.-THE in come
being less than one fourth of the expense. To
this pecuniary loss may be added the injury
sustained by the public in consequence of the
destruction of timber, and the careless and
wasteful manner of working the mines. The
system has given rise to much litigation be-
! tween the U. States and individual citizens.
producing irritation and excitement in the min
eraI region, aud involving the government in
I heavy additional expenditures 1t is bel ieVed
that similar losses and embarrassmentS ill con-
tlnue tn occur while the present syst en- of eas-
! ing these lands remains unchanged. These
lands under the superndence and care
! of the War Department, with the ordinary du-
ties Of which they have proper or natural
connection. l recommend the repeal of the pee
! sent system, and that these lands be placed un-
! der the superintendent and management of the
| General Land Office, as other public lands, and
be brought into market and sold on such terms
as Congress in their wisdom may prescribe, re-
serving to the government an equitable per GEN.
age of the gross amount of mineral product, &
that the pre-empton principle be extended TO
resident minors and settlers upon them, at the
minimum price which may be established by
Congress.
! refer you to the accompanying report of the
Secretary of War for information respecting the
present situation of the army and its operation
during the past year; the state OF our defences.
] the condition of the public works; and our re-
lations with the various Indian tribes within
our limits upon our borders. | invite your
attention to the suggestions contained IN thae
report, IN relation to these prominent objects
of national interest.
When orders were given during the last sum-
mer tor concentrating military force the
western frontier of Texas, our troops were
widely dispersed, and in small detachments, oc-
cupying posts remote from each other. Tho
prompt and expeditions manner in which an
army. embracing more than half our peace
adjustment, was drawn together an emes-
gency sudden, reflects great credit on the Of
ficers who were entrusted with the exec ton of
the orders, well upon dIcipline OF tn army
itself To be in strength to protect and defend
the people and territory OF Texas, in the event
Mexico should commences hostilites, invade
her territories with large force, which she
threat ened, | authorised the General assigned
to the command of the army of occupation to
make requisitions for additional forces from Sc
veral of The States nearest the Texian territory
and which could most expedit;ousy furnish
tn hem, if, in his opinion larger force than that
under his command, and the auxiliary aid,
which, under like circumstances, he was au-
thor sed TO receive from Texas, should be re-
CURED. The contingency upon which the ex-
ercise of this authority depended, has not oc-
CURED. The circumstances under which the
two companies of State artillery from the city
of New Orleans sent.into Texas. and mus
tered into the service of The U. States, are fully
stated in the report of the Secretary of War
recommend to Congress that provision be
made for the payment of these troops, well
a small number of Texan volunteers, whom the
commanding general thought necessary to re-
ceive or muster into our service,
During the last summer, the first regiment of -
dragons made extensive excursions through
the Indian country borders, a part of
them advancing nearly TO the possessions of the
Hudson's Bay Company in the north, and part
as far the South Pass of the Rocky Noun
tains and the head waters of the tributary
streams of the Colorado of the west. The exh-
bition of this military force among the Indian
ribes in those regions, and the councils held
with them by the commanders OF The expedi-
lions. II is believed will have salutary lnlu-
ence. restraining them from hostilites among
themselves, and maint aiming friendly relations
between them and the Uaited States. An inter-
sstng account OF one of these excursions
companies the report OF the Secretary of War.
Under the directions of the War Department.
3revet Captain Fremont, OF the corps of topo-
raphical engineers, has been employed since
843 in exploring the country vest of the Mis-
issippi, and beyond the Rocky mountains. Two
expeditions have already been brought to close
md the reports of that scientific and enterprising
'fficer have furnished much interesting and
aluable information. He is now engaged in
bird expedition; but it is expected that this ar