Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-26

large quantities OF the public lands IRON The use
and occupation Of our citizens, by fixing upon the
prices which experience has shown they will not
command On the contrary, it is a wise policy to
afford facilities to our citizens to become the
owners, at low and moderate rates, Of freeholdsof
their own, instead Of being the tenants and defend
ants Of others. If 1t be apprebended that these
lands, if reduced in price,, would be secured in
large quantities by SPECTATORS or capitalists, the
sales may be restricted, in limited quantities. to
actual settlers or persons purchasing for the pnr-
poses Of cultivation.
In my last annual message, submitted for the
consideration of Congress- the present system Of
managing the mineral lands of the United States,
and recommended that they should be brought
into market and sod, upon such terms and 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 Wis
consin and Iowa." were authorized to be sold. q
The act is confined, in its operation, to ''lesd
mines and contiguous lands.' $500.
A large portion of the public lands containing
copper and other ores is represented to be very
valuable, and l recommend that provision be made
authorizing the sale Of these lands, upon such
terms and conditions their supposed value may
in the judgment Of Congress, be deemed advisa-
Bile, having due regard to the interests of such Of
our citizens may be located upon them. 'fnrsl
1t will be important, during our 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 east OF
the Rocky mountains should be extended to the
Pucific ocean; and for the purpose of executing
them and preserving friendly relations with the
Indian tribes within our limits, an additional num-
Der of Indian agencies will be required, and should
be authorized by law. The establishment Of GUS
tom. houses, and Of post offices and post roads.
and provision for the transportation of the mail on
Al
require legislative authority. 1t will be proper.
also, to establish surveyor generals office in
that territory, and to make the necessary provision
for surveying the public lands, and bringing them
into market. As our citizens who now reside in
that distant region have been subjected to many
hardships, privations, and sacrifices in their emf
grafton, and by their improvements have enhanced
the value of the public lands in the neighborhood
of their settlements, it 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 pre-empton be made to all who may
emigrate thither within a limited period, to be
prescribed by law. 9 l."f baG,-T r
detailed information relative to the several branches
OF the public service connected with that depart.
ment. The operations Of the army have been of
satisfactory and highly gratifying character.
i recommend to your early and favorable con.
sideration the measures proposed by the Secretary
Of War for speedily filing up the rank and file
Of the regular army, for its greater efficiency in
the field, and for raising an additional force 10
serve during the war with Mexico. f9.s.at,y r,.f
Embarrassment, 10 likely to. arse for want of
legal provision authorizing compensation to be
made to the agents employed in the several States
and Territories to pay the revolutionary and other
pensioners the amount allowed them BY law.
Your attention isinvited 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 thew
should not be placed on the same footing, IS to
compensation. with other discussing officers. y r
Our relations with the various Indian tribes
continue to be OF pacific character. The unhappy
dissensions which have existed among the Cbero.
KEGS for many years past, have been healed
Since my last annual message, important treaties
nave been negotiated with some of the tr;bes bv
winch the Indian title to large tracts of land. with
in the limits of the States and Territories b,va
been extingushed, and arrangements made for re.
moving them "a the country west of the Missis
sippi. Between three anu four thousand, Of di,.
ferent tribes have been removed TO the country
provided for them by treaty stpulations, and ar.
engagements have been made for others to follow.
In our intercourse with the several tribes par.
tlcular attention has been given to the important
subject of education. The number of schools e.
tablished among them has been increased, and adj
dltional means provided, not only for teaching
!hem the rudiments OF education, but Of instruct
ing them in agriculture and the mechanic arts.
refer you to the report Of the Secretary of tho
Navy for satisfactory view Of the operations of
the department under his charge during the pas,
year. 1t is gratifying to perceive that while tho
war with Mexico has rendered it necessary TO EN-.
Ploy an unusual number of our armed vessels m
her coasts, the protection due to our commerce in
other quarters of the world has not proved in.
sufficient No means will be spared 10 give eff.
cheney to the naval service in the prosecution n,
the war; and | am happy to know tina. the Officer.
aud men anxiously desire to devote themselves IN
the service of their country in any enternr;so
however difficult Of execution r'''
recommend TO your favorable consideration,
the proposition to add 10 each of our FOREIGN son.
drons an efficient sea steamer, and, as esnec;sll,
demanding attention, the establishment Al Pons.'
cola OF the necessary means Of repairing and ,e-
fitting the vessels Of the navy employed IN ,ba
Gulf of Mexico. :" u'e
There are other suggestions in the repor, vb;ot,
deserve, and, doubt not, will receive your con
sideration. ''ui eoh'
The progress and condition of the mai, ,.,v;.,
for the past year are fully presented in the rs,or,
OF the postmaster General. The revenue for ,ha
year ending on the 3Oth Of June last, amounted ~
th1ee miiiion four hundred and eghty.seyen thor.
SANG one hundred and ninety.nine dollars which
is eight hundred and two thousand sir bund.eI
and fortytwo dollars and forty 1--WE cents ,e.a s
that of the preceding year. The payments e., ' .
department during the same time Announced ~ t snas
million eighty-four thousand two bund,eJ UT
ninety-seven dollars and twenty-five cents a nr
this sum five hundred and ninety -seyen ,bons,.s
doiiars and eighty cents have been drawn from ~
treasury. The disbursements for the yo. '.e
Two hundred thirty-siX thousand fnur b,nJ.