Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-12-16

~ ihiS PeCuuidFV loss may De auueu me
injury sustained by the public in conse
quence of the destruction Of timber, and
the careless and wasteful manner Of work.
ing the mines. The system has given rise
TO much litigation between the United
States and individual citizens, producing
irritation and excitement in the mineral re
gion, and involving the government in hea
Wy additional expenditures. |, is believed
that similar losses and embarrassments will
continue 10 occur while the present system
OF leasing these lands remains unchanged.
These lands are now under the superinten.
) dence and care Of the War Department,
: with the ordinary duties Of which they
have no proper or natural connexion.
commend the repeal of the present sys
tenn, and that these lands be placed under
the superintendent and management of
the General Land Office, as other public
lands, and be brough, into maket and sold
upon such terms as Congress in their wis.
dom may prescribe, .eserving 10 the gov
eminent an equitable per centage Of the
gross amount of mineral product. and that
the piemption principle be extended to re-
sident miners and settlers upon them, at
tnS uiHishatu piiSC WHiCu INA w cS
iablished Congress.
refer you 10 the accompanying repor'
of the Secretary of War, for information re-
spoctIng the present situation of the army,
and IFS operations during the past year, the
state Of our defence; the condition of the
public works; and oar relations with the va
rious Indian tribes within our limits or upon
our borders. | invite your attention to the
suggestions contained in that report in rela
ton to these prominent objects OF national
interest.
When orders were given during the plst
summer, for concentrating military force
on the Western frontier ofTcxas our troops
were wildly dispersed, and in small detach-
ments, occupying posts remote from each
other. The prompt and expeditions man
ner 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
lnrusted 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 c.
vent Mexico should commence hostilites,
or invade her territories with large army,
which she threatened, authorised the gen.
eral assigned to the command of the army
Of occupation,to make acquisitions addition
al forces from several Of the States nearest
the Texan territory, and which could most
expeditiously. furnish them if, in his opin-
ion, larger force than that under his COM
mand, and the auxiliary aid which, under
like circumstances, he was authorized to re-
ceive from Texas, should be required
The contingency upon which the exercise
OF his authority depended, has not occur
red, 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 pay
ment of these troops, as well rs small mum
Der of Texan volunteers, whom the com
mandug general thought it necessary to
receive or muster into our service.
1t has never been our policy TO maintain
large standing armies in the time of peace.
They arc contrary TO the genius Of our free
instltution-would impose heavy burdens
on the people and be dangerous 10 bubble
Liberty. Our reliance ssor protection and
defence on the land must be mainly on our
citizen soldiers, who will be ever ready as
they have ever been in times past, to rush
with a!acrty, 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. These must be
protected by our navy.
Considering the increased naval force,
and especially of steam vessels, correspond
ing with our growth and importance as a
nation, and proportioned TO the increased
and increasing power Of other nations, of
vast importance as regards our safely, and
the great and growing interests to be protec-
ted by it. recommend the subject to the
| favorable consideration of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General,
herewith communicated, contains the de-
tailed statement ofthe operations of his de-
partment during the past year. 1t will be
seen that the income of the hostages will
fall short of the expenditures for the year
between one and two millions Of dollars.-
This deficiency has been caused by the re-
duction ofthe rates ofpostagc, which was
made by the act of the third of March last.
No principle has been more generally ac-
quicsced IN by the people than that this
department should sustain itselfby limiting
its expenditures TO its income. Congress
has never sought 10 make it source of rev.
enue for general purposes, except for shor
period during the last war with Great Bit.
ain, nor should ii ever become charge on
! the general treasury.
Ii Congress shal. adhere 10 this principle
as think they ought, it will be necessary
either 10 curlail tie present mail servive, so
as to reduce the expenditures, or so TO mod.
| fly the act of The third of March last as to
/ improve It's revenues The extension Of
the mail service, land the additional facilities
which will be demanded by the rapid ex.
tension and increase Of population on west
ern frontier, vii not admit of such curtail.
ment as will materially reduce the present
expenditures. In the adjustment ofihe Ia
riff of hostages the interests of the people
demand that the lowest rates be adopted
which will produce the necessary revenye t.
meet the expenditures of the department