Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-12-17

BY whatever enemy assaulted. They should be
protected from the grasping SPECTATOR. aud &C.
cured, at the minimum price Of the public lands,
in the humble homes which they have improved
by their labor. With this end il view, all vexa-
lions unnecessary restrictions imposedupon :hem
by the existing pre-emp,ion laws should be re-
peAed or modified. II is the true policy Of the
government afford facIlities to ITS citizens TO be-
come owners Of small portions Of our vast public
domain at low and moderate rates.
Mineral Lands.
The present system of managing the minera-
lands Of the Uniied States believed to be radical,
" defective. More than million of acres of the
public lands supposed to contain lead and other
minerals. have been reserved from sale, aud nu.
merous leases upon them have been granted TO in.
dIvidaals upon stipulated rent. The system of
granting leases has proved to be not only unprofit-
able to the government, hut unsatisfactory 10 the
citizens who have gnue upon the lands. and must
il continued. lay the foundation of much future DIFF
hcuiiy between he government ard the lessees
According to the official records, the amour: of
rent received By the government for the years 1871
1912, 1S43. aud lS4i, was SIX thousand .ih, ee
hundred and fifty -four dollars aud seventy four
cts. while the exp nses Of the system during
the same peri, d including salaries Of superinen.
dents, aseuis, clerks. AID incidental expenses
rwrrs twenty six ihousaud one HIN red aud eev-
fl cts.-the income being less than one fourth
TIE expenses. L" this p-cu,iuy loss may be
2rd the Injury sustained by the public in conse-
qience of the destruction {" timber, and the care
lsss and wa,iful manner Of working the mines
The system has gwen rise to much litigation be-
tween between the United States aud individual
c'iiz;,ns producing irritation aud sxcitemen, in the
md
heavy additional expenditures Ii is believed that
similar losses aud endorsements will continue To
occur while the present system of leasing these
lands remains unchanged. These lands now
under the sure lntende.ce and care of the War
Department with the ordinary duties of which
they have mo- proper or Natural connection reca-
omend the repeal of the present syslen,and thai
these lands be placed under the -upe ntendence
and mana cement of the General Land Office,
other public lands. and be brought into market and
sold upon such terms Congress in their w,sdom
may Prrscr br, reserving to the government, an O.
quilabl; per centage III the gross amount Of min
sral prnduct and that the preempton principle be
extended to residcn miners and settlers upon
th I'm. al q e minimum price ~hIeh may DO estab-
lishsd by Congress.
Condition Of the Army.
refer you to the accompanying report or the Sec
rotary of War, for information respecting the pres
ent situation of the army, and its operations during
the past year; the state of defences the condi
ton of the public works: and our relations with tbs
various Indian tribes within our limits upon
borders. invite your attention to the suggestions
contained in that report, to these prominent objects
of national interest.
When orders were given during the past summer,
for concentrating military force the Western
frontier of Texas tIoops widely dispersed,
in small attachments, occupying posts remote
&sn each other. The prompts and expeditions man.
q kr in which an army embracing than half
our peace establishment, was drawn together on an
emergency su1den reflects great credit onthe Off
GERS who entrusted with the execution of these
orders, as well as upon the discipline of the army ita
self. To be in strength to protect and defend the
people AMI territory of Texas, in the event.
Mexico should commence hostilities, or invade her
territories with large army, which she threatened,
authorized the general assigned to the command of
the army of occupations to make requsltions for add
tional forces from several of the States nearest the
Texan territory and which could most expeditiously
furnish them if N his opinion, larger force that
der his command and the auxiliary aid which, under
like circumstances, he authorized to receive from
Texas, should be required. The contingency upon
which the exercise of this authority depended has not
occurred. The circumstances under which two COM
panes of State artillery from the city of New Orleans
were sent into Texas, and mustered into the service
of the United States fully stated in the report
of the Secretary of War; Recommend to Congress
that provision De made Tor the payment OF tneSe uO0-
DIS as well as small number of Texan volunteers,
whom the commanding general thought it absolutely
necessary to receive or muster into our service.
During the last summer, the first regiment of drag
oons made extensive excursions through the Indian
country on borders, part of them advancing
nearly to the possessions of the Hudsons Bay Com
pany in the north, and part as the South Pass of
the Rocky mountains, and the head waters of the
tributary streams of the Colorado of the West. The
exhibition of this military among the Indian tribes
in those distant regions, and the councils held with
them by the commanders ofthe expeditions, it is be-
lieved, will have salutary influence in restraining
them from hostilities among themselves, and main
tanning friendly relations between them and the Uni
ted States. An interesting account of one of these
excursions accompanies the report of the Secretary
of War. Under the directions of the War Depart
rent, Brevet Castaln Fremont, of the corps of topo
sical engineers, has been employed since 1912
i sploring the country west of the Mississippi, and
beyond the Rocky mountains. Two expeditions
have already been brought to close and the reports
of that scientific and enterprisiug officer have furnish
ed much interesting and valuable information. He is
now engaged in third expedition but it is not ex
pected that this arduous service will be completed in
season to enable me to communicate the result to
the Congress at the present session.
Condition Of the Navy.
The successful use of steam navigation on the
Ocean has beenfolowed by the introduction of war
steamers in great and increasing numbers, into the