Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-10

ttN AUG ANfEKaSAW
lands, which would not command in the mar
ket the minimum price established by the laws
OF the United States for the sale Of their lands.
were, IN pursuance Of the treaty of 1884 with
that tribe, subsequently offered for sale at grad
uated and reduced rates for limited periods.
me result was, that large quantities Of these
lands were purchased, which would other
wise have remained unsoid. The lands were
disposed Of at their real value, and many per-
sons OF limited means were enabled TO nur-
chase small tTgcts, upon which they have
settled with their families. That similar 70.
suits would be Produced by the adoption of
the graduation policy by the United States. in
all the States in which thew are the owners of
large bodies OF lands which have been long in
the market, cannot be doubted. Ii cannot be
a sound policy to Withhold large quantities of
the public lands from the use and occupation
oil our citizens, by fixing upon them prices
which experience has shown they viii not
command. On the contrary, it is q wise pol
icy to afford facilities 10 our citizens 10 become
the owners, at low and moderate rates. of free
holds oil their own, instead of being the ten
ants and dependents OF others. If il be appre-
hended that these lands, if reduced ia price,
would be secured in large quantities by spec
ulators or capitalists, the sales may be restrict
ed, III limited quantities, TO actual settlers or
persons purchasing for purposes of cultivation.
In my last annual message, | submitted for
the consideration Of Congress the present sys-
TEN OF managing the mineral lands of the Uni
ted States, and recommended that they should
be brought into market and sold, under such
restrictions as Congress might prescribe. By
the act OF the 18th of July last, .'the reserved
lead mines and contiguous lands in the States
OF Illinois and Arkansas, and Territories of
Wisconsin and Iowa." were authorized to be
sold. The act IS confined, in its operation, TO
lead mines and contiguous lands"
A large portion of the public lands contain
ing copper and other ores, is Represented 10 be
very valuable, and | recommend that provision
be made authorizing the sale Of these lands,
upon such terms and conditions as, from their
supposed value, may, IN the Judgment of Con-
gress, be deemed advisable, having due regard
to the interests OF such Of our citizens as NAV
be located upon them.
1t will be important, during your present
session, to establish a territorial Government
and to extend the jurisdiction and laws of the
United States over the territory Of Oregon
Gu laws regulating trade and intercourse
with the Indian tribes east of the Rocky noun
tains, should be extended 10 the Pacific ocean;
and for the purpose Of executing them, and
preserving friendly relations with the Indian
tribes within our limits, an additional number
OF Indian agencies will be required, and should
be authorized by law. The establishment of
custom-houses, and of post offices and of post
roads, and provision for the transportation of
the mail on such routes as the public conye-
nience will suggest, require legislative author
ity. 1t will be proper. also, to establish a sur
yeyor generals office in that territory, and to
make the necessary provision for surveying
the public lands, and bringing them INTO mar
ket. AS our citizens, who now reside in that
distant region, have been subjected TO many
hardships, prvatIons, and sacrifices in their
emigration, and by their Improvements have
enhanced the value of the public lands in the
nelghborhood Of their settlements, il is recon-
mended that liberal grants be made to them of
such portions Of these lands as they may occu-
py, and that similar grants or rights of pre-
emption be made TO all who may emigrate
thither within a limited period, to be prescrib.
ed by law.
The report Of the Secretary Of War contains
detailed information relative TO the several
branches of the public service connected with
that department.. The operations of the army
have been Of a satisfactory and highly crafty
ing character.
! recommend 10 your early and favorable
consideration the measures proposed by the
Secretary of War for speedily filling up the
rank and file of the regular army, for its great
er efficiency in the field, and for raising an
additional force 10 serve during the war with
Mexico.
Embarrassment is likely to arise for want of
legal provision authorizing compensation 10 be
made 10 the agents employed in the several
States and Territories TO pay the revolutionary
and other pensioners the mounts allowed them
by law. You attention is invited TO the re-
commentators Of the Secretary Of War on this
subject. These agents incur heavy response
bilities and perform important duties, and no
reason exists why they should not be placed
on the same footing, as TO compensation, with
other discussing officers.
Our relations with the various Indian tribes
continue to be of a pacific character. The un-
happy dissenslons which have existed among
the Cherokees for many years past, have been
healed. Since my last annual message, i'm
portant treaties nave been negotiated with some
Of the tribes, by which the Indian title to large
tracts of valuable land, within the limits of the
States and Territories, has been extinguished,
and arrangements made for removing them to
the country west of the Mississippi. Between
three and four thousand, of different tribes,
have been removed TO the country provided tor
tntil by treaty supuldtOuSs anu arrangements
have been made for others 10 follow.
In our Intercourse with the several tribes,
particular attention has been given to the i'm
portant subject of education. The number of
schools established among them has been in
creased, and additional means provided, not
only for teaching them the rudiments of educa-
ton, but of %instructing them IN agriculture and
the mechanic arts.
| refer you to the report of the Secretary Of
the Navy for a satisfactory view of the opera
tons Of the department under his charge dur
ing the past year. 1t is gratifying 10 perceive
that while the war with Mexico has rendered
it necessary to employ an unusual number of
our armed vessels on her coasts, the protection
due TO our commerce IN other quarters of the
world has not proved insufficient. 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
anxiously desire TO devote themselves TO the
service of their country in any enterprise how
ever difficult OF execution.
recommend to your favorable consideration
the proposition to add to each of our foreign
squadrons an efficient sea steamer, and, as es-
~pecially demanding attention, the establish
: ment al Pensacola of the necessary means of