Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-11

!. tllltles against themselves, and maintaining friendly
relations between them and the United States. An
interesting account of one Of these excursions accom-
panies the report of the Secretary of War. Under the
directions of the War Department, Brevet Captain FIRE.
mont, of the corps of typographical engineers, has been
employed since l842 in exploring the country west OF
the Mississippi, and beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Two expeditions have already been brought to a close,
and the reports Of that scientific and enterprislng ottl-
Ger have furnished much interesting and valuable in
formation. He is now engaged in a third expedition
but it is not expected that this arduous service will be
completed in season to enable me to communicate the
result to Congress at the present session.
, Our relations with the Indian tribes are of a faVora-
bic character. The policy of removing them to a coun-
try designed for their permanent residence, west fthe
Mississippi, and without the limits of the organized
States and Territories, is better appreciated by them
than it was a few years ago; while education is now
t attended to, and the habits of civilized life are gaining
$ ground among them.
Serious difficulties Of long standing continue to dis
tract several parties into which the Cherokees are I'M
happily divided. The efforts of the government to ad-
just the difficulties between them have heretofore pro-
e we'd unsuccessful; and there remains no probability
that this desirable object can be accomplished without
e the aid of further legislation by Congress. | will, at
e an early period of your session, present the subject for
s your consideration, accompanied with an exposition of
n the complaints and claims of the several parties into
which the nation is divided, with a view to the adoption
f of such measures by Congress as may enable the Ex-
G ecutive to do Justice to them respectively and to put an
n end, if possible, to the discussions which have long
prevailed, and still prevail, among them.
: refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Ma
: Wy for the present condition of that branch of the ma
r tiOnal defence; and for grave suggestions, having for
their object the increase of its efficiency, and a greater
economy in its management. During the past year the
d officers and men have performed their duty in a salts
: factory manner. The orders which have been given,
> have been executed with promptness and fidelity, A
. larger force than has often formed one squadron under
n our fag,was readily concentrated in the Gulf ofMexco,
e and apparently without unusual effort. 1t is especially
+ to be observed, that, Notwithstanding the union of so
n considerable a force, no act was committed that even
VI the Jealousy of an irrtated power could construe as an
act of aggression; and that the commander of the
+ squadron and his officers, in strict conformity with their
e institutions, holding themselves ever ready for the most
effective duty, have achieved the still purer glory of
h contributing to the preservation of peace. 1t is belle
e we'd that at all our foreign stations the honor of our
It flag has been maintained, and that, generally, our ships
= of war have been distinguished for their good discipline
and order. | am happy to add, that the display OF mar
e thine force which was required by the events of the
: sumner, has been made wholly within the usual APP
e preparations for the service of the year, so that no ad-
C dltlonal appropriations are required.
The commerce of the United States, and with it the
+ navigating interest, have steadily and rapidly increased
: since the organization Of our government, until, it is
g believed, we are now second but to one Power in the
world, and at no distant day we shall probably be infe-
e rior to none. Exposed as they must be, it has been a
t wise policy to afford to these important interests pro-
n lection with our ships of war, distributed in the great
g highways of trade throughout the world. For more
It than thirty years appropriations have been made, and
: annually expended, for the gradual increase of our ma
e val forces. In peace, our navy performs the important
+ duty OF protecting our commerce and, in the event of
s war, will be, as it has been, a most efficient means of
e defence.
e The successful uoo Of stoam navigation on the ocean
has been followed by the introduction of war-steamers
in great and increasing numbers into the navies of the
principal maritime Powers of the world. A due regard
: to our own safety and to an efficient protection to our
n large and increasing commerce demands a c%orrespon-
II ding increase on our part. No country has greater IA
+ %cilities for the construction of vessels of this descrip-
y ton than ours, or can promise itself greater advantages
d from their employment. They are admirably adapted
n to the protection of our commerce, to the rapid trans
r mission of intelligence, and to the coast defence. In
pursuance of the wise policy ola gradual increase of
g our navy, large supplies of live oak timber, and other
t materials for ship building, have been collected, and
S are now under shelter and in a state of good preserva-
s ton, while iron steamers can be built with great facili-
ty in various parts of the Union. The use of iron as a
S material, especially In the construction of steamers,
which can enter with safety many of the harbors along
our cost now inaccessible to vessels of greater draught,
n and the practicabiity of constructing them in the in
g terror, strongly recommends that liberal appropriations
e should be made for this important object. Whatever
may have been our policy in the earliest stages of the
g government, when the nation was in its infancy, Our
t shipping interests and commerce comparatively small,
our population sparce and scarcely extending beyond
: the limits of the original thirteen states, that policy
must be essentially different now that we have grown
from three to more than twenty millions of people,
n that our commerce, carried in our own ships, is found
IN every sea, and that our territorial boundaries and
e settlements have been so greatly expanded. Neither
5 our commerce., nor our long line of coast on the ocean
and on the lakes, can be successfully defended against
foreign aggression by means of Notifications alone.
These are essential at all important commercial and
S military points, but our chief reliance for this object
must be on a well-organized,e efficient navy. The ben
Gifts resulting from such a navy are not confined to the
1 Atlantic states. The productions of the interier which
:, seek a market abroad, are directly dependent on the
t safety and freedom of commerce. The occupation of
| the Bahze below New-Orleans by a hostile force would
: embarrass, if not s%tagnate, the whole export trade of the
Y Mississippi, and affect the value of the agricultural pro-
ducts of the entire valley of that mighty river and its
tributaries.
1t has never been our policy to maintain large stan
ding armies IN time of peace. They are contrary to
t the genius OF our free institutions, would impose heavy
burdens on the people, and be dangerous to public lib
erty. Our reliance for protection and defence on the
land must be mainly on our citizen soldiers, who will
be ever ready, as they ever have been ready in
times past, to rush with alacrity, at the call of their
country, to her defence. This description of force,
however, cannot defend our coast, harbors, and inland
seas, nor protect our commerce on the ocean or the
lakes. hese must be protected by our navy.
Considering an increased naval force, and especially
OF steam vessels, corresponding with our growth and
Importance as a nation, and proportioned to the increas-
ing naval power of other nations, of vast Importance
as regards our safety, and the great and growing in
terests to be protected by it, | %ecommend the subject
to the favorable consideration of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General herewith COM
municated, contains a detailed statement of the opera
tons Of his department during the past year. It will
be seen that the income from hostages will fall short of
the expenditures for the year, between one and two
millions of dollars. This deficiency has been caused
by the reduction of the rates of postage, which was
made by the act of the third of March last. No prin-
ciple has been more generally acquiesced in by the
people, than that this department should sustain Itself
by limiting its expenditures to its income. CONGRESS-