Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-12-04

~-N-A----N
The present system Of managing he miner,
lands oftbe U. s. IS believed 70 Be radically d
fectIve. More than million Of acres Of III
public lands, supposed 70 contain lead and oiile
minerals. have been reserred from sale. ara nd
meruus leases upon them have been granted .
individuals upon stipulated rent. The system
Of granting leases has provedtO Be nes only IN
profitable to the government, but unsafishct0r
to the citizens who have gone upon The lands
and must, if continued, lay the foanaaiicn Q
much future difficulty between the goyernmen
and the lessees. According 70, the csileial re
cords, the amount OF rents received hy the 60
vernment for the years IS4l, ie42, 1913, an.
1874. was S6,354 "a while the e1penresp OF IN
system daring the same period, including sela
ries Of supeFintendenis, agents, clerks AM
incidental expenses were twenty-eix thou
sand one hundred and eleven dollars and ele
ven cents the income being less than one
fourth the expenses. To this peeuniary los:
may be added the injury sustained BY the pub
lie id consequence OF the destruction Of tim.
Der, and the careless and wastetul manner o.
working the mines. The system has given
rise to much litigation between the United
States and individual citizens, producing irri-
tation and excitement in the mineral region
and involving the government IN heavy add
tional expenditures. It IS believed that SINH
lar losses and embarrassments viii continue to
occur, while the present system Of leasing these
lands remains unchanged. These lands are
now under the superinIendence and care Of the
War Department, with the ordinary duties Of
which they have no proper or natural eonnex-
ion, j recommend the repeal Of the present
system, and that these lands be placed Under
the superintendence and management Of the
General land Office, asIother public lands, and
be brought into market and sold upon such
terms as, Congress in their wisdom may pre-
scribe, reserving to the government an eqhita-
bic per cehtage Of the gross amount Of miner
al product, and that the pre-emption principle
be extended 10 resident miners and settlers apon
them, at the minimum price which may be es-
ablished by Congress. i
i refer you She accompanying repoI, of the
Secretary Of WSt,4fof information respecting
the present stusiipp Of The army, and us opsi a.
tons during The past year the stale Of our de-
fences the condition. If the public works add
our relations with ihesSsrious IndIan tribes with.
in our limits or upon oll borders. i inyie y6ur
attention to the Suggestions contained 10 ihal re-.
port, in RELATION 10 these Pkomtnent objects Of ma.
tional interest. p
When orders were given during The past sum
msr for concentrating military t6ree oa The
western frontier Of fexs., onrNroyps acre vide.
~ dispersed. aad in small eeIschmenrs, ticcdpy-
leg posts remote from each oIheh The prom pt
and expedilious manner in winch an army, en-.
braclng more Than half eur pesce esistlIshnis nj,
was drawn Together on an emergency so Sudden,
reflects great Credit the 1fficers, 2ho wefe in
trusted with The exesutiUn Of these erders, as
we u a. upon The discipline If The army jtselE--
To be in strength 10 protect and defend he peo.
pie and territory Of Texas, 10 The event Mexico
snou Id commence hostA:ies, or invade her iprIi.
tories with large army, which she thIeatehed,
authorized the general assigned 10 Tho cons
msnd Of the army Of occupation 10 make requk
stions for additional forces from several Il lbe
States nearest the Texan territory, and which
eouId most expt dliOusy furnish them, If, in his
!. pinion, larger force than thai under has com
tpsnd, and The auxiliary aid uhicb, under like
noes, he vas aulhoIized TO receive
ftom TEXAS, should be required The contingent
ey upon which the exercise OF this authority De.
pended, has mot occurred. The circumsiances
Under which tvo companies OF Stale artillery
G om the cry Of New Orleans we're sent into
Texas, an,i mustered into the service Of The Uni
ted States, are fully stated in the rep, RI Of the
Secretary Of War ] recommend 20 Congress
that rrosison be made for the payment ofihese
aroops, as we'll as a small humber OF Tx an yo.
llnieei., whom lhs andmg general thought
il necessary 10 receive or muster into cur SET
siee
During the iasi summer, the first regiment Of
dragoons made extensive exeatsions through fhe
indian coaHlfy on 0ur borders, part OF them
advancing nearly 10 the possessions Of the Hud-
sons Bay Compshy 10 The north, and part as
~. Q. IF he NAHlFtF R't.F,a
and The head waters Of the tributary streams Of
the Cploradoo Of he West The exhibition of this
military fyfcs among the Indisn tribes 10 those
distant regions, and the councils held with them
by the commanders of The expeditions, il is be.
hssed, wilthav sslutary influence in restrain
Ing Ihem from hostilires among themselves, and
ma hiainirg friendly relations between them and
The United States. An interesting account Of
one Of these excursions accompanies the report
Of the Secretary Of War. Under the. dice
liens Of the War Department, 3Bfeyet Captain
Fremont, Of the corps Of iepoRr phica engineers,
has been employed since 1912, 10 exploring The
county west Of The Mfssissrpp and beyond the
Rocky mountains. Two expeditions have al
,eady been brought 10 . close,land the reports
Of that scientific and ent,rprising officer have
furnished much interesting and valuable inform
alton He is now engaged in third eTpediiipn;
but il is mot expected that this srduous service
gill be completed in season to enable me TO com
municaie the result TO Congress at the present
session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes are Of =
favorable character. The policy Of removing
them TO 4 country designed for their petmsoenI
residence, west Of the Mississippi ard without
the limits Of the organized States and Terrific
Iies, is better appreciated BY Them than il was a
few years sgo While educatiohis now attended
to, and the habits II. civilized life are gaining
ground among Them.
Serious faculties Of long-standihe continue
to distract the several parties into which the
Cherekees are unhsppily divided The efTIs
Of the government 10 ADJUST the difficulties be:
tween Them have heretofore proved unsuccess-
fol; and there remains no probability that his
desirable object can be accomplished without
the id Of further Legislation by Congress. Twill,
at anlesriy period OF your session, present The
subject foI ) our consideration, accompanied wiIh
an exp, sitinn If The complaints and claims O. The
several parties inios which the nation is dfyittt,
with q view TO the adoption Of such measures b5
t:onsress as may enable the Executive TO d. jns-
tice 10 them respectively, and To put an END, If
possible, To The disse1sions which have long pre-
vailed, and still prevail, among them. i'll.
refer you 10 the report Of the Secretary Of
The NAVY, for the present condition OF thai
branch Of the nstional defence ard for grave
suggestians, having for their object the increase
Of its efficiency, and 4 greater economy in rs
management. During ihe past year The officers
and men have performed their duty in sails
factory manner The orders which have been
given, have been executed with piompiness aud
fidelity A larger force than has of,en formed