The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-02

.nb,s Cd In consequence OF the United States con-
tinnng 10 own large quantities Of public lands
within their borders moi liable 10 taxation for The
support Of their local governments.
/ recommend the continuance OF The policy OF
granting PIE emp,ions, in lis most liberal extent, 10
all those no have setled or may hereaf er settle
on The public lands whether surveyed or unsur-
veyed, 10 which the Indian tile may have been
exiinguished at The time Of settlement IL has been
found by experience, hal in consequence OF CON-
binalions Of purchasers and other causes, very
small quantity Of the public lands, when sod al
public auction, commands higher price Than the
rate established by law. The settlers
on the public lands are however but rarely able 10
secure their homes and Improvements ar The public
sales at that rate because these combinations, by
means of The capital they command, and their su-
perior ability 10 purchase, render il impossible for
the settler 10 compete with Them in the market. BY
putting down all competition, these combinations
Of capitalists and Spectators are usually enabled
10 purchase the lands, including The Improvements
Of the settlers al The minimum price OF the govern
ment, and either turn them ou OF their homes or
extort from them according their ability 10 poy,
double or quadruple the amount paid for them 10
The government II is 10 The enterprise and peTse-
verance OF the hardy pioneers OF the West, who
penetrate the Wilderness with their families, suf
Ter The dangers, the privations, and bard>hps al
lending The settlement of new country, and pre-
pare the way for the body of emigranis who, in
The course OF a few years, usually follow them,
that we are, in a great degree, indebted for the
rapid extension and aggrandzement OF our coun-
Try.
Experience has proved that no portion Of our
population are more patriotic than The hardy and
brave men of the frontier, or more ready 10 obey
the call Of their country, and 10 defend her rights
and her honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
assailed They should be projected from The grasp
ing speculalor, and secured, at the minimum price
of The public lands, in the humble homes which
h,t-o hui hair lab, lN,th III and
in view, all vexatious or unnecessary restrictions
imposed upon them by the existing pre- emption
laws, should be repealed or modified. II is the
true policy of the government 10 afford facilities 10
its citizens to become the owners OF small portions
of our vast public domain at low and moderate
rates
The present system of managing the mineral
lands Of the United States is believed to be radi-
cally defective. More than million Of acres OF
the public lands supposed 10 contain lead and other
minerals, have been reserved from sale, and nu.
merous leases upon them have been granted 10 in
dividuals upon stipulated rent. The system of
granting leases has proved To be not only uDproff-
able TO the government but unsatisfactory TO the
citizens who have gone upon the lands and must,
If continued, lay the foundation of much future diff
feuhy between The government and the lessees.
According to the official records, the amount of
rents received by the government for the years
lS4i 1912, l643, and 1914, was six thousand three
hundred and ffy-fonr dollars and seventy four
cents, while the expenses Of the system during the
same period, including salaries of superintend-
ents agents, clerks, and incidental expenses, were
twenty six thousand one hundred and eleven dol
lars and eleven cents--thc income being less than
one-fourih Of the expenses. To,his pecuniary loss
may be added the injury sustained by the public in
consequence of the destruction of timber, ard the
careless and wasieful manner Of working the
mines. The system has given rise 10 much litiga-
lion between The United States and individual ct.
zens, producing irritation and excitement in the
mineral region and involving the government in
heavy additional expenditures. II is believed that
similar Losses and embarrassments will continue to
occur, while the present, system Of leasing these
lands remains unchanged. These lands are now
under the supeTinlendence and care of the War
Department, with The ordinary duties of which
they have no proper or natural connection. | re-
commend the repeal ofthe present system, and that
these lands be placed under the superintendent
and management of the General Land Office, as
other public lands, and be brough, into market and
sold upon such terms as Congress in their wisdom
may prescribe, reserving to the government an
equitable per centage Of the gross amount Of mine
raj product, and that the presumption principle be
extended to resident miners 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 operations
during the past year; the state of our defences
lions with The various Indian tribes within our lin
its or upon our borders invite your attention TO
the suggestions contained in that report in relation
TO these prominent objects of national interest,
3 When orders were given duriag the past summer
for concentrating military force on the western
frontier Of Texas, our troops were widely dis
persed and in small detachments, occupying posts
remote from each other The prompt and expedi-
tous manner in which an army embracing more
Than half our peace establishment, was drawn to-
gelher on an emergency so sudden, reflects great
credit on the officers who were intruscd with the
execution of these orders, as well as upon the dis
cip,ine Of the army itself. To be in strength to
protect and defend The people and territory Of
Texas in the event Mexico should commence
hostilities, or invade her territories with large
army which she threatened, authorized The gen
efaI assigned to The command Of the army OF occu.
patton TO make acquisitions for additional forces
from several of the States nearest the Texan terri
tory, and which could most expedtiously furnish
them, ", in his opinion, larger force than that
under his command and the auxiliary aid which,
under like circumstances, he was authorized 10
receive from Texas should be required The
contingency upon which the exercise of this au-
thoIiiy depended, has NOT occurred. The circum
stances under which two companies of State aril-
ery from The city Of New Orleans We're sent into
Texas and music red into The service Of the United
States, are fully stated in the report Of The Secre-
iary Of War. ! recommend 10 Congress that pro-
vision be made for The payment Of these troops, as
well as small number Of Texan volunteers whom
the commanding general thought il necessary 10
receive or muster into our service.
During The last summer, the first regiment OF
dragons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, par Of them adj.
vancing nearly 10 the possessions or the Hudsons
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 Colorado oil
the West The exhibition of this military force
among the Indian tribes in those distant regions,
and the councils held with them by the command
ers OF The expeditions, ii is believed, will have a
sautary influence in restraining them from hostil
tiles among themselves, and maintaining friendly
relations between them and he United States An
interesting account OF one Of these excursions &C.
companies the report of the Secretary of War
Under the directions Of the War Department, Bre
vet Captain Fremont, Of the corps of Topographic
cal engineers, has been employed since iS42 IN
exploring the country west Of the Mississippi, and
beyond the Rocky mountains. Two expeditions
have already been brought 10 close, and the re-
ports ofthat scientific and eDterprising officer have
furnished much Interesting and valuable iuforna