The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-12

ueHlOHstTuleu also ny inc " suites uCllhB 40
the trustee ofthe Chckusaw tribe Of Indians
in the sale oftheir lands lying within theStates
of Mississippi and Alabama. lift be appre
hended that these lands, ifreduced IN price,
would be secured in large Quantities by spec
uators or capitalists, the sales may DO restrict
ed, in limited quantities, TO actual settlers or
persons purchasing for purposes Of cultiya-
lion.
In my last annual message submitted for
the consideration of Congress the present
system OF managing the mineral lands Of the
u. States, and recommending that they should
be brought into market and sold, and upon
such terms and under such restrictions as Con
gress might prescribe. BY the act of the 1lth
of July last, "the reserved lead mines and
contiguous lands in the Siates of Illinois and
Arkansas, and Territories of Wisconsin and
Iowa." were authorized to be sold. The act
is confined, III lis operation, 10 "lead mines
and contiguous lands"
! A large portion Of the public lands contain
ing copper and other ores is represented to be
very valuable, and recommend that provis-
ion be made authorizing the sale OF these
lands, upon such terms and conditions ns their
supposed value may, in the judgment of Con-
! gress, be deemed advisable, having due re-
gard 10 the interests of such of our citizens
as may he located upon them.
1t will be important, during your present
session, TO establish territorial government
and to extend the jurisdiction and laws of the
u. States over the territory Of Oregon. Our
laws regulating trade and intercourse with
the Indian tribes east i'the Rock Mountains
should be extended TO the Pacific ocean; and
for the purposes Of executing them and pre-
serving friendly relations with the Indian
tribes within our limits, an additional number
of Indian agencies will he required, q should
be authorized by law. The establishment Of
Custom Houses, and of Post Offices and Post
Roads, and provisions for the the transporta-
| ton of the mail on such routes as the public
conveyance will suggest, require legislative
authority twill be proper also to establish
n Surveyor Generals office in that Territory
and Ia make the necessary provision for sur
veying the public lands, and bringing them
into market. AS our citizens, who may re-
side now in TINT distant region have been sub
iected to many bardships, privations and sac
! RI fees in their emigration, and by their i'm
provo ents have enhanced the value of the
public ENDS in the neighborhood of their SET
Elements. it is recommended that liberal grants
ne made t. item of such portions of these
lands ms they may occupy, aud that similar
grants or rights of presumption be made TO all
who my emigrat, tli'ther, within limited
period, TO be present. ed by law.
recommend TO your ea.-lY and favorable
consideration the measures proposed I'D tle
Report of the Secretary of War, tor speedily
filling up the rank aud file of thu re quar- ar
my, for its greater efficiency in the .he'I, ahu
for raising an additional force TO serve dIHng
the war with Mexico.
Our relations with The several Indian tribbS
continue TO be of pacific character. The
unhappy discussions which have existed u
mong the Cherokees for many years past have
been healed. Since my last annual message
Important treaties have been negotiated with
some of the tribes, by which thu Indian title
to large tracts of valuable land wl thin the linn
its ofthe States and Territories Eas been eX-
tinguished, and arrangements muGe for re-
moving tbem TO the country west Of the Mis-
sissippi. Between three aud four III ousand
ofdiiferent tribes have been removed 20 the
country provided for them by treaty sliI1uIa-
tons, and arrangements have been madr for
others TO follow,
refer you to the report of the Secretary
of the Navy for u satisfactory review of tn,
operations ofthe department under his charge !
during the past year. 1t is gratifying that
while the war with Mexico has rendered it
necessary to employ an unusual Number of
our armed vessels ON her coasts, rae protec-
ton due 10 our commerce in other quarters
of the world has not proved insufficient.
recommend to your favorable considera-
llOU inc pTOpOSltlOH 10 uUu IO CdCD OI OdT lot
eign squadrons an efficient sea- steamer, and,
as especially demanding attention, the estab-
lishment at Pensacola 'ofthe necessary nicans
ofrepairing and reftting the vessels of the
Navy employed in the Gulfof Mexico.
The progress and condition of'the mail SER |
vice for the past year are fully presented in
the report of the Post Master General.
The revenue for the year ending on tie
Both of June last amounted to SO, 4S7, 1900
which is 1902, $40, AS less than that of tile pre-
ceding year. The payments for that depart
ment during the same time amounted to $4,-
1892 OF this sum 1897 81 80 have been
drawn from the treasury. The Disbursements
for the year were 1896, 434,77 less than those
of the preceding year. / repeat the opinion
expressed in my last annual message, that
the business of this department should be so
regulated that the revenues derived from it
should be made TO equal the expenditures S;
aud it's believed that this muy be done by
proper notifications ofthe present laws, as
suggested in the report ofthc Postmaster
General, without changing the present rates
of postage.
With full reliance upon the wisdom and
patriotism of your deliberations, it will he my
duty, as it will be my anxious desire, TO coop
crate with you in every constitutional effort
to promote the welfare and maintain the hon.
or ofNour common country.
JAMES X. POLK.
WASHINGTON, December 8, 1886
GEN. ScorT. The Charleston Courier
says-"lt is asserted illat the most Cordial
good feeling exists between Gen. Scott and
Gen. Taylor,and that it is the express wish