The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-12-19

IhaviO2 due regard TO the Interests VI such Ut
Icltizens as may be located upon them.
1t will be importsni DUNG the present session;
o establish ateritonal government aud to extend
he jurisdiction and Law Of the United States over
II Territory Of Oregon Oar laws regulating uade
,nd intercourse with the Indian uibcs west of the
lRocky Mountains should be extended TO the Paci-
lie ocean, and lOt The purpose Of executing them
land preserving friendly relations with the Indian
1 tribes within our limits, au additional number of
lldan agencies Will be required, and should be
authorized by law. Ths establishment OF custom
houses, and Of post Offices and post roads, and pro-
vision for the transportation of the mail such
routes as the public convenience shall suggest, re-
qure legislative authority. 1t will be proper. also.
to establish surveyor generals office in that tcfr-
and make the necessary provision for survey ing
the public lands, aud briug them into market As
our citizens who now reside in that distant region
have been subjected to II any hardships. privatous
end sacrifices ia their emigration, and by their
Improvements have enhanced The value Of the pub
lie lanus in the neghbothood of their settlements it
is recommended that liberal giants be made to them
of such portions OF these lands US they may occupy
and that similar grants OF rights Of pre-emption be
made 10 all whI my emlgrate thi'he within lin
tied period, to be prescribed BY law.
Tns report Of he Secretary of War contains
detailed no nation relative to the several branch.
punt VIII tlidk utpdFl-
ment The operations ol the army have been OF
q sati factory and high gratifying character.
recommend 10 your carly aud favorable con-
sideration the measures proposed by the Secretary
OF War for speedily filling up the rank and file of
the reglar amy, for its greater efficiency in the
lheld, and Tor raising an additional force to serve
during the war with Nexco.
Emba rassments are likely to arise for want of
legal provision authorizing compensation to bel
made to the agents employet in the several States
and Territories TO pay the revolutionary and other
pensioners the amounts allowed them 10y aw,-l
Yout attention is invited to the recommendations
of the Secretary of War this subject. These
agents incur heavy responsibilities aud perform i'm
poftant duties, and no reason exists why they |
should not be placed on the same footing, as tol
compensation, with other disfursing officers.
Our relations with the various Indian tribes con.
tinue to be of pacific character. The unhappy
dissensions which have existed among the Chero-
KEGS tor 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 within the limits of the States and Terrioiics
has been extinguished; and arrangements made fo
them TO toe country west of the Missis-
sippi Between 3 and 1900, OF different tribes
have been removed to the country provided fo
them by treaty stlpulatons, and arrangements have
been made for others follow.
In our intercourse with several tibes particular
attention has been paid to the important subject
Jf educaton. The humber Of schools established
lmong them has been increased, and additional
means provded;not only for teaching them the ru-
iiments OF education, but Of instrucing them in
agriculture and the mechanic arts. a
refer you TO the report of tho Secretary of the ia
SaVv for satisfactory view of the operations of
lie department under his charge duiiug the past
ear 1t Is gratifying to perceive that while the
var with Mexico has rendered it necessary to eni- q
10y an unusual number of our armed vessels on
cr coasts, the protection due to our commeice IN
ther quarters of the world has not prove insult
i0nt. No means will he spared to give efficiency g
the naval service in the prosecution of the war
nd am happy to know that the officers and men d
nxiousy desne to devote themselves 10 the ser
ice OF their country IN any enterprise however,
ficult of execution
| recommend to yOlr favorable copsideration =
he proposition to add to each Of our foreign squad
ons efficient sea steamer and, as especially Ii
emanding attention, the establishment atPel nsa.
ola OF tEe necessary means OF repairing aud relii-
ing the vessels Of The navy employed in The Gull
{ Mexico.
Thcle are Other suggestions in the report which
dserve, and doubt not, will lcceye your con.id-
ration.
The progre,s and condition fthc naval service
u the past year are fully presented in the repoul
the Post Master General. The revenue of the
ear ending on the 30lh of June last amounted To-
3,4s7 90 which is SS02,642 rs less than the
receding year: The payments Of that DEPART
lent during the same time amounted to 81 0s1
s6 22. OF this sum S597 ,O97 so hnv,, been
rawn from the treasury. The disbursements 4
Or the year were S236434 II less than those od
i preceding year. " hile the disbursements
ave been thus diminished, the mail facilities bavel
cen enlarged by new mail ronles of 5739 miles o
n increase of transportation of l,764,l45 miles l.
nj the establishment of 4lS new post offces-l
contractors, postnastors aud Others engaged ipj
his branch of the service have performed their Ju
es with energy and faiihfuncss deserving com.
ienddllon. For many interesting details conuect. =
d with the operations Of this establishment: youl,
re referred TO the report If the Postmaster Gene.l
H. ana his suggestions for improving its revenuesl
re recommended 10 your favorable consideratonl
repeat tue opinion expressed in my last annua
lessage, that the business of this department. y
lould be so reg ulated that the revenue derivedI
ON It should be made to equal the expenditures n
~ is believed that this may he done by proper hi
f'dfc alton OF the present laws, as suggested ir "
le report OF the Post Master General, without p
hanging the present rates of postage. In
With full relanea upor She wisdom and pstriot. e
I'M OF your deliberations. it will be my dnty os o
Will be my anxious desire,to cooperate with van IL
leVery constitutional effort To promote the welfare Al
nd maintain the honor Of our common coJntrv. h.
JAMES X. POLK, w
Washington, Dec. 8. IAi6 a,
Nkm N la