Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-12


raj Land Office. as other public lands, and be
brought into market and sold upon such terms
as Congress in their wisdom may prescribe, re-
serving to the government an equitable per
centage of the gross amount OF mineral pro-
duct, and that the pre-emption principle be ex-
tended to resident miners and settlers upon
them, at the minimum price which may be es-
tablished by Congress. ~
refer you to the accompanying report OF
the Secretary of War, for information respect
ing the present situation Of the army, and ITS
operations during the past year; the state OF
our defences; the condition OF the pubic woIks;
and GU. relation with the various Indian tribes
within our limits or upon our borders. IN
wife your attention TO the suggestions contain
ed in that report, in relation TO these prominent
'obiectSof national interest.
When orders were given during the past
summer for concentrating military force on
the western frontier of Texas. our troops We're
widely dispersed, and In small detachments,
occupying posts remote from each other.-
The prompt and expeditions manner In which
an army, embracing more than half our peace
establishment, was drawn together on an emer-
gsncy SO sudden, reflects great credit on the
officers who were intrnsted with The execntlon
of these orders, as well as upon tins discipline
of the army itseM vxssa
To be in strength to protect and defend the
people and territories of Texas, in the event
Mexico should commence @hostilities, or IN
wade her territory with large army, which
she threatened, authorised the general as
signed to the command of the army Of odEa-
patton to make acquisitions for additional for
ces from several of the States nearest the Tex
an territory, and which could most expedi.
tiously furnish them, if, in his opinion. lar
ger force than that under his command and
the auxiliary aid which, under like circum-
stances, he was authorised to receive from
Texas, should they be required.
The contingency upon which the exercise
Of this authority depended, has not occurred.
Tie circumstances under which two conpa-
MES of State artillery from the city of New
Orleans were sent into Texas, and mustered
into the service offhe United States, are fully
stated in the report of the Secretary Of War.
recommend to Congress that provision be
made for the payment of these troops, as well
as small number of Texan volunteers. whom
the commanding general thought it necessary
to receive or muster into our service.
+ During the last summer, the first regiment
Outrageous made extensive excursions through
the Indian country on our borders, a part Of
them advancing nearly TO the possession Of
the Hudson's 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 Of the west.
The exhibition of this military force among
the Indian tribes in 1hosedistant regions and
the councils held with them by the conn, n
ders of the expeditions, tits believed, will
have salutary influence in restraining them
from hostliltles among themselves, and main
flaming friendly relations between them and the
United States. An interesting account Of one
Of these excursions accompanies the report Ct
the Secretary.of War. Under the directions
of the War Department, rrnvet Cant3in FIRE.
mont, of the corps Of topnata,,. tcal an-;.sesrs.
has been employed slhce iI;4l Ia exploring
the country west of the Mississippi. and be-
You'd the Rocky mountains. Two expeditions
have already been brought to a close, and the
reports of that scientific and enterprisinr Off
cershave furnished much interesting and valu-
able information. He is now engaged in a
third expedition; but it is not expected that
this arduous service will be completed in sea-
son to enable me to communicate the result to
congress at the present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes are of
a favorable character. The policy of remov.
ing them to country designed for their per-
manent residence, west of the Mississippi, and
without the limits Of the organized States and
territories, is better appreciates by them than
it was few years ago; while education is
now attended to, and the habits of civilized
life are gaining ground among them.
Serious difficulties Of long standing continue
to distract the several parties into which the
Cherokees are unhappily divided. The eff.
forts of the government to adjust the difficnI-
ties between them have heretofore proved I'M
successful; and there remains no probability
that this desirable object can be accomplished
without the aid Of further Legislation by con.
gress. / will at an early period Of YOUR SCI
sion, present the subject for yonr considera-
ton, accompanied with an exposition of The
complaints and claims Of the several parties
into which the nation is divided, with view
tosthe adoption of such measures bv CONGRESS
assnay enable the executive to do Justice 10
| them respectfully, and TO put aud end, if pos
stble, 10 the dissen:ions which have long pre-
vailed, and still prevail, among them. -
refer you to the report Of the secretary of
the navy for tie present condition Of that
branch of the national defence, and for grave
suggestions. having for their object the in
crease OF us eMciency. and greater economy
in its management4yeD During the past year the
! officers and men have performed their duty in
a. satisfactory manner. The orders which
have been given, have been execnted with
prompiness and fidelity A larger force than
has often formed one squadron under our flag
was Ieadily concentrated in the Gulf of Next
CO. and, apparently, without unusual effort
1t is especially to be observed, that notwith-
ST he Of l.
no act was committed that even the iealou-
sy of an irritated power could construe as an
act of aggression; aud that the commander OF
the squadron and his officers, in strict confor-
nifty with their instructions, holding them
selves ever ready for the most active duty, have
achieved the still purer glory of contributing
| to the OBSERVATION of peace. It is believed