Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-17


The beneficial effects Of the graduation -.
pie have been realized by some Of the s,a,srI 'u''
ing the lands within their limits. in vbcS :, VS''
been adopted They have been demons,r,,oS l ~"
by the United States acting as the trustee, n ~,
Chickasaw tribe Of Indians in the sale of ths;, ue
lying within the States Of Mississippi and AI 'anO'
The Chickasaw lands which would ma, e ,,,oin'
in the market the minimum price es,abl,.IoIaaa
The laws Of the United States for the sale ,r,t'Y
lands, were 10 pursuance Of the treaty of Isal a.
that tribe subsequently, offered for sale at or,Jn',
ed and reduced rates for limited periods TS~
suit was, that large quantities Of these land, .'
purchased. which would Otherwise have recn.;''1
unsold. The lands were disposed Of a, th,i, ~,
value, and many persons Of limited means vs,. ~
abled TO purchase small tracts, upon which h W.
have settled with their families THAT sim;l,.'Y
suits would be produced BY the adoption If 4.
graduation policy by the United States. in all n.
States in which they are the owners Of lsryp b,I
les Of lands which have been long in the NAL,
cannot be doubted. I, cannot be sound poIi,r,ii
Withhold large quantities Of the public land. l,.'
the use and occupation Of our citizens. By 6,,r,
upon them prices which experience has shown ,h,s
will not command. On the contrary. if !,
policy to afford facilities 10 our citizens 10 bs,"n'
the owners, al low and moderate rates. of Gesbol1.
Of their own, instead Of being the tenants and I.
pendants Of others. II il be unprecedented that lb.s
lands, " reduced 10 price, would be secured I.
large quantities by spectators or Capitalists. bs
sales may be restricted, in limited quanl,,ie, "a
actual settlers, or persons purchasing for purpoy,
OF cultivation.
10 my last annual message submitted IA, III,
consideration Of Congress the presen, system ~
managing the mineral lands Of the United Sat-.
and recommended that they shond be ttopsb, ,o,,
market and sold, upon such terms and under ,a,b
restrictions as Congress might prescribe. By lbe
ACT Of the eleventh Of July last, the reserved lead
mines and contiguous lands ia the States Of llIno,
and Arkansas, aud Territories Of Wisconsin and
Iowa, were authorized 10 be sold The act Is son.
bned, in its operation, 10 lead mines and conliru.
Gus lands
large portion Of the public lands contaiuiDy
copper and other is represented 10 be yerr va
liable. and ! recommend that provision be m,5e
authorizing the sale ofthese lands upon such terms
and conditions as their supposed yalue may. IN The
judgment Of Congress, be deemed advisable, having
due regard TO the interests Of such Of our citizen,
as mas be located upon them.
It will be important, during your present session.
to establish territorial government and to extend
the jurisdiction and laws of The United States over
the Territory Of Oregon. Our laws regulating
trade and intercourse with The Indian tribes es. Of
the Rocky mountains should be extended 10 The Pa.
cific ocean and for the purpose Of executing them.
aud preserving friendly relations with lbe IDdlsn
tribes within our limits, an additional number Of
Indian agencies viii be required and should be 40.
ihorized by law The establishment Of custom
houses, and of post Offices and post roads, and pro
vision for ihe transportation Of the mail on such
routes the public convenience will suggest, re-
quire legislative authority. II will be proper also,
10 establish surveyor generals Office 10 that Ter.
riorr, and 10 make the necessary provision for SUI.
reying the public lands. and bringing them into
market. As our citizens who now reside 10 that
distant region have been subjected 10 many hard.
ships, prvaiIons aud sacrifices in their emigration,
and by their Improvements have enhanced the val
ne Of the public lands in the neighborhood Of their
settlements, il is recommended that liberal grants
be made TO them Of such portions Of these lands as
they may occupy, and that similar grants or rights
OF presumption be made 10 all who may emigale
ihither within limited period, 10 be prescribed by
law.
The Report OF the Secretary of War contains
detailed information relative 10 the several branch
es Of the public service connected with that do.
parlment. The operations Of the army have been
Of a satisfactory and highly gratifying character
recommend to your early and favorable con-
sideraiion the measures proposed by the Secretary
Of War for speedily filling up The rank and Ole Of
the regular army, for its greater efficiency in the
field, and for raising an additional force TO serve
during the war with Mexico.
Embarrassment is likely TO arise from want Of
legal provision authorizing compensation 10 be
made 10 the agents employed in the several States
and Territories 10 pay the revolutionary and other
pensioners the amount allowed them by law. Your
attention is invited TO the recommendations OF the
Secretary Of War on this subject. These agents
incur heavy responsibilities and perform important
duties, and no reason exists why they should not be
placed on the same footing, to compensation,
with other disbursing officers.
Our relations with the various Indian tribes con-
inue 10 be of pacific character. The unhappy
discussions which have existed among he Chero-
KEGS for many years past, have been healed. Since
my last annual message, important treaties have
been negotiated with some Of the tribes, by which
the Indian title TO large tracts of valuable land with
in the limits Of the States and Territories has been
extinguished, and arrangements made for removing
them to the country west Of the Mississippi Be-
tween three and four thousand, Of different tribes,
have been removed to the country provided for them
by treaty siipulaIions, and arrangements have been
made for others TO follow.
In our Intercourse with the several tribes parIlc'
ular attention has been given TO the important sub
iect Of education. The number Of schools esiao-
lished among them has been increased, aud addl-
iiOna means provided not only for teaching them
the rudiments of education but Of instruc,lng them
IN agriculture and the mechanic arts
refer you to the report Of the Secretary Of The
Navy for satisfactory view of the operations oil
The department under his charge during the past
year. II is gratifying to perceive, tba; while tho
war with Mexico has rendered it necessary to EN-
ploy an unusual number Of our armed vessels on
L. - - ANrnl
other quarters Of the world has not proved in'ulf
cient. No means will be spared TO give efficiency
to the naval service in the prosecution Of the war
and am happy 10 know that the officers and men