Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-12-11

mentS al the pubic sales, because t1eSe
combinations, by Of the capital they command,
and their superior ability to purchase render it mpos-
sbe for the settler compete with them in the market
By putting down all competition these combinations
of capitalists and spectators usually enabled
purchase the lands including the Improvements Of the
settlers at the minimum price of the Government,
and either turn them out of their homes, extort
from them according their ability TO pay double or
quadrupe the amount paid for them to the government
II is TO the enterprise and perseverance of the hardy
pioneers of the West who penetrate the wilderness
with their families, suffer the dangers, the pfvations,
and hardships attending the settlement of a new
country. and prepare the way for the body of emf
grants whO in the course of few years, usually follow
them that we are in great degree indebted for the
rapid extension and aggrandlzement of orr country.
Experience has proved that no portion of our popu-
lation patriotic than the hardy and brave
of the frontier, ready to obey the call of
their country and TO defend her rights and her honor
whenever and by whatever enemy assailed. They
should be protected from the graspng specuator and
secured at the minimum price Of the public lands, in
the humble homes which they have improved by their
labor. With this end in view, all vcxatons or IN
necessary restrictions imposed upon them by the exist
ing pre-emption laws should be repealed or modified
II is the true policy ofthe Government to afford faci
ties to its citizens become the owners of small por
tions Of our public domain at low and moderate
rates.
The present system Of managing the mineral lands Of the
United States Is believed 10 be radically detective. fMoTe
than million o Of the public lands supposed to con-
tain lead and other minerals have been reserved from SALE
and numerous leases them have been granted TO ndv
duals upon stipulated rent The system Of antng leases
has proved to be only improbable the government
but unsatisfactory the citizens who have gone upon the
lands and must il continued lay the foundation Of much
future difficulty between the and the leSsees
According to the official records the amount OF rents
ceved by the for the years 1884, 1872 S43
and 1884, 1884 "a while The expenses OF The system
during the period including salaries of supernten-
DENTS agents. clerks and incidental expenses S26l
1.-The income being less than oneouh Of the
To this pecunary loss may be added the injury sustained by
the public in consequence Of the destruction of TIMBER and
the careless and wssteful Of working the mines
The system has given rise 10 much litigation between the
United States and the individual citizens producing irta
on and excitement in the mineral region and involving the
government in heavy additional expenditures is believ
ed that similar losses and embanas menS will continue 10
while the present system of leasing these lands
mains unchanged These lands now under the supern
tendence ard of the War Department with the odi
nary duties Of which they have proper or natural
nexon recommend the repeal of the present system, and
that these lands be placed under the superintendent and
management Of the General Land Office, other public
lands and be brought into market and sold upon such
Congress In their wisdom may prescribe reervng to the
government qutaqe per centage the gross OF
mineral product and the preempon principle be extended
resident miners and settlers upon them. at the minimum
price which may be established by Congress.
refer you The accompanying report Of the Secretary Of
War; for information respecting the situation Of the
army and its operations during the past year; the state of
defences the condition Of The public works and our
relations with the various Indian tribes within limits
upon borders Invite attention the suggestions
contained in that report, in relation to these prominent o5
jecs Of national interest.
When orders given during the past summer f,r
concentrating military force the western frontier of
Texas, troops widely dispersed, and in small de-
tachmen,s, occupying posts remote from each other The
prompt and expeditions manner in which army,
bracng more than half our peace establishment, was
drawn together emergency sudden. reflects great
credit the officers who intrus;ed with the
ton of these orders well upon the discipline Of the
army itself To be in strength TO protect and defend the
people and territory of Texas, in the event Mexico should
Eostlites, invade her territories with large
army which she threatened authorized the general
signed to the command of the army of occupation make
acquisitions for additional forces from several of the States
nearest the Texan territory and which could exped-
tiousy furnish Them IT, in his opinion. larger force than
that under his command, and the auxiliary aid which,
der like circumstances he authorized receive from
Texas should lie required The contingency upon which
the exercise of this authority depended has occurred
The circumstances under which two companies of State
artillery from the city of New Orleans Texas
and mustered Into the service of the United States
fully stated in the report of the Secretary of War. re-
commend Congress that provision be made for the pay
ment of these troops, well small number of Texan
volunteers whom the commanding general thought
cessary TO 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 part of them advancing nearly the pos
sessions Of the Hudsons Bay Company the north and
part as far as the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains
and the head Of the tributary of the Colo
RADIO Of the West. The exhibition of this military for
among the Indian tribes in those distant regions and the
councils held with them by the commanders of the expe-
dIions it is believed will havn sautary influence in
s,rainilg them from hosiics among themselves and
maintaining friendly relations between them and the Uni
ted States An interesting of of these
siOns accompanies the report of the Secretary of War
Under the direction of the War Department Brevet Cap
tain Fremont of the corps Of typographical engineers has
been employed since 1912 in exploring the country
of the Mississippi and beyond the Rocky mountains Two
expeditions have already been brought close. and the
reports of that scientific aud enterpsing officer have fur
nished much interesting and valuable information He is
engaged in third exped ton bat il is not expected
that this arduous service will be completed in
enable communicate the result 10 Congress at the
present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes are of favor
] able character. The policy of removing them to a
country designed for their permanent residence west
of the Mississippi and without the limits of the orga
nized States and Territories is better appreciated by
them than it was few years ago. while education
i is now attended to, and the habits of civilized life
are gaining ground among them.
Serious difficulties of long standing continue to dis
tract the several parties into which the Cherokees
are unhappily divided. Tie efforts of the govern
ment to adjust the difficulties between them have here
toore proved unsuccessful; and there remains pro-
liability that this desirable object can be accomplished
without the aid of further legislation by Congress.
WILL at an early period of your session, present the
subject for your consideration accompanied with an
exposition of the complaints and claims of the
raj parties into which tie nation is divided, with a
view TO the adoption of such measures bv Congress
as NAV enable the Executive to do Justice to them re-
spectvey and to put end if possible. to the dis
sensions 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
tiona defence and for grave suggestions, having for
their object the increase Of Its efficiency, and grea-