Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-12-11


"A, while the expenses of the system during the
same period, including salaries OF superintendents,
agents, clerks. and incidental expenses, were
$40 III 1.-THE income being less than one-fourth
of the expenses. 10 this pecunlary loss may be
added the injury sustained by the public in conse
uuence of the destruction of timber and the care
less and waseful manner Of working the mines.
The system has given rise to much litigation be-
tween the United States and individual citizens,
producing irritation and excitement in the mineral
region, and involving the government in heavy ad-
dtional expenditures. 1t is believed that similar
losses and embarfaSsments will continue to occur,
while the present system OF leasing these lands
remain unchanged. These lands are now under
the superintendent and care OF the War Depart
ment, with the ordinary duties of which they have
no proper or natural connection. | recommend
the repeal of the present system, and that these
lands be placed under the superintendent and
management of the General Land Office, as other
public lands, and be brought into market and sold
upon such terms as Congress in their wisdom may
prescribe, reserving to the government equta-
BILE per centage of the gross amount of mineral
product and that the preemption principle be ex
tended to resident miners and settlers upon them,
at the minimum price which may be Established
by Congress
| refer Won TO the accompanying report of the
Secretary of War, for Information especting the
present situation of the army. and It's operations
during the past year; the state OF our detences
the condition of the public works and our rela-
tions with the various Indian tribes within our
limits or upon our borders. | invite your atten-
tion to the suggestions contained In that report IN
relation to these prominent objects Of national in
tereSt
When orders were given during the past sum-
mer for concentrating military force on the wes-
tern frontier of Texas, our troops were widely dis
persed, and in small detachments, occupying posts
remote from each other. The prompt and expe-
ditious manner in which army, embracing more
than half our peace establishment. was drawn to-
gether on an emergency sudden, reflects great
credit on the officers who were intrusted with the
execution of these orders, well upon the DIS
cpne of the army itself. To be in strength 10
protect the people and territory OF Texas, In the
event Mexico should commence hostites, in
wade her territories with large army, which she
threatened, | authorized the general assigned to
the command of the army of occupation to make
acquisitions for additional forces from several OF
the States nearest the Texan territory, and which
could most expeditiousy furnish them, if, in his
opinion, larger force than that under his COM
mand, and the auxiliary aid which, under like cir
cumstances. he was authorized TO receive from
Texas, should be required.
H The contingency upon which the exercise OF
this authority depended, has not occurred. The
circumstances under which two companies OF
State artillery from the city Of WOrleans 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 Congress
that provision be made for the payment Of these
troops, as well as small number of Texan voun-
teers, whom the commanding general thought 1t
necessary to receive or muster into our service.
During the last summer, the first reg iment oil
dragoons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, part of them ad
vaRc!ng nearly to the possessions of the Hudson 5
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 Colo
RADIO Of the West. The exhibition of this military
force among the Indian tribes in those distant re-
gions, and the councils held with them by the
commanders of the expeditions, it is believed, will
have most salutary influence in restraining them
from hostities among themselves, and maintain
ing friendly relations between them and the United
States. An interesting account of one of these
excursions accompanies the report OF the Secreta-
ry of War.
Under the directions of the War Department,
Brevet Captain Fremont, Of the Corps of Topo-
graphical Engineers, has been employed since
1912 in exploring the country West of the Missis-
sippi, and beyond the Rocky Mountains. Two
expeditions have already been brought to close,
and the reports of that scientific and enterprising
OIlCer nave luTlSlleu fnuCn anu
able information. He is now engaged in a third
expedition but it is not expected that this ardu.
Gus service will be completed III season to enable
me to communicate the result to Congress at the
present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes are Of a IA.
vorabe character. The policy of removing them
to country designed fortheir permanent residence,
west of the Mississippi and without the limits
of the organized States and Territories, is better
appreciated by them than it was few years ago
while education is now attended to, and the habits
of civilized life gaining ground among them.
Serious difficulties Of long standing continue to
distract the several parties into which the Chero
KEGS are unhappily divided. The efforts of the
Government to adjust the difficulties between them
have heretofore been unsuccessful; and there re-
mains no probability that this desirable object can
be accomplished without the aid of farther egisla-
ton by Congress. | will, at early period of
your session, present the subject for your consid-
Grafton, accompanied with an exposition of the
complaints and claims of the several parties into
which the Nation is divided, with view to the
adoption of such measures by Congress as may
enable the Executive to do justice TO them respec-
lively, and to put end, if possible, to the dis
sensions which have long prevailed and still pre-
vail, among them.
! refer you to the report OF the Secretary of the
Nayv for the nraSpnt condition Of that bro nch cf