Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-16


m government possessions In Oregon and is be
regretted that there was no Legislation on the sabeea Our
citizens who nhab that distunt region of our country are
still leh without the protection Of our laws, or any egua
organized government Before the question OF lm's ana
boundaries Of tho territory Of Oregon was definitely seted
from tho necessity of their condition. the inhabitants bad os
nbshed temporary government Of their own besides
nrnt IL is wholly inadequate protect them in their rights
Of person and property secure them the enjoyment
under the constitution of the United States.
They should have right of suffrage be represented in
territorial legislature, aud by delegate in Congress- and
all the rights and privileges which citizens of other
portions of the Territories of the United States have hereto
ioic enjoyed, or may now enjoy
our Judicial system revenue laws, laws regulating trade
md intercourse with the Indian tribes and the protection
our laws generally should be extended over them.
In addition TO the inhabitants of that territory who ave
previously emgroed to IT. large numbers oqet c,,eh
that during the next and subsequent years their numbers VIII
roc TO the accompanying report of the Secretary of War
for detailed account of The operations of the various brac
der his c6ntge. The duties dcvovug this department
have been and responsible during the past year.
and have been discharged with ability and success. .
Public relations continue to exist with the various Indian
tribes, and most of them manifest friendship for the
tho past year upon trains Transporting supplies for tho
umy the road between the western border of Missou
and Santa Fe These depredatons which supposed
have bccu committed by bands from the region of New
Mexico have been arrested by the OF military
force, ordered out for the purpose Some oucgos have
been pcpeated by portion oihe northwestern bands upon
the weaker and comparatively dciencecss neghbo'ns tribes
Prompt were taken to prevent such occurrences IN
future
Between one and two thousand Inians belonging
ea rhe have been removed during the year from the east
of the Mississippi TO the country allotted them west Of that
river, their permanent home and arrangements have
since the treaty of ls46 with the Cheokecs. the fcuds
them npea to have subsidized and they have become
more united aud concnld than they have been for many
years past. The commissioners appointed 10 pursuance OF
The June 9th si6 settle claims arising under the
treaty Of 1885, with that tribe have executed their du
ties and after patient Investigations aud fair aud full ex
animation Of the brought before thom closed their la
bors in the month Of June last This is the fourth board OF
commissioners which has been organized under this treaty
Ample opportunity has been afforded TO those interested to
bring forward their claims No doubt is entertained that i'm
partial Justice us been done by the late board and that all
valid claims nbraced by the treaty have been considered
and allowed This result and the final settlement to he made
with this tribe under the treaty OF 1916, which VIII he COM
poted and laid before you during the session. viii adjust all
questions Of controversy between them and the United States
aud produce state of relations with them, simple, we'll
defined, and satisfactory.
Under the discretionary authority conferred by the act Of
the Sd March last the annuucs due to the various tribes
have been paid during the present year to the heads m
lies instead otto their Chiefs or such persons as they might
designate, required by the laws previously existing 1bis
body oihe Indians Justice been done them ana hey
grateful 10 the government for it, few chiefs and ~
ercsed persons may object 10 this mode OF payment but it
Is believed lobe the only mode OF preventing fraud ana I'M
position from being pactisod upon the great body OF common
Indians, constituting majority of the tribes
gratifying TO perceive that NUMBER OF the tribes have
recently manifested Increased Interest in the establish
men Of schools among them and are making rapid advances
in agriculture some OF them producing suhcie quantity
of food for support and in some cases surplus to dispose OF
their neghbos. he comforts by which those who have
received limited educaon and have engaged in ag-
cuture surrounded tend gradually to draw off their
by the chase, habits of labor and civilization.
The accompanying report of The Secretary Of the Navy
satisfactory aud gratifying account OF The condl-
ton and operations the naval service during the
Our has been pursued with increased activity ana
with safety and success IN every quarter OF the goDe uhuer
the protection vi flag which the navy has caused to be
respected in The most distant seas.
In the Gulf of Mexico, and in the pnchc tho ofhceTs and
men of sqadrons have displayed distinguished gannty,
performed valuable services In the early stages of tho
with Mexico her ports on both coasts wefo blockaded,
and recently many of them have been captured I'd
held by the navy When acting in cooperation with the
nnd forces, the naval officers and men have performed gal
liant and distinguished services land well water,
and deserve the high commondaon of their country.
While other maranme powers are adding to Their naVes
large numbers of steameIs it wise policy on our
part to make similar additions to our navy The four war
authorized by the act of the third OF March, le4
In addition to the four war authorized by this act
the Navy has of its provisions,
entered into for the construction OF five steamers,
mall S e New SoS to New orleans, touehS
on Savannah and Havana, and from Havana to Chagres "
for three be employed in like manner from
Panama Oregon, to connect with the mail from a
Chagros the Isthmus and for five steamers
be employed in like from New York to Liverpool
These will be the property of the contractors, but
be built under the superntendence and direction OF
naval constructor IN the employ OF INC Navy department
and be constructed as to render them coveabe at inc
least possible into war steamers OF the first class
prescribed number OF naval as wen as post once AGENT
be on board them and authority is reserved TO me
Navy at all times s ssn n 9 Ss '@G
exclusive and services of the United States" sup
making proper compensation to the contractors hereio
Whilst these Steamships will be employed in transporting
the mails of the United States coastwisc and to foreign
ers they viii always he ready upon an emergency requiring
it, 10 be converted into steamers and the right reserved
to take them for public will add greatly to the efficiency
and strength of this description of naval force To the
steamers thus authorized under contract made by the Secre
a of the Navy should be added five other steamers author
lied under contract pursuance of law by the Post
General, muking addition in the whole OF eight
steamers, subject TO be taken for public use AS
further for the transportation of the mail to foreign
be enlarged indefinitely.
The enlightened policy by which rapid communication
with The various distant parts of the globe is established by
American
reward in the increase of commerce. and in making
country and its avoraby known abroad but
the national advantage is still genter, of having naval
officers made familiar with steam navigation and Of having
date service at moments notice and will BE- cheapy pur
chased by the compensation be paid for the transportation
of the mail in them, and above the hostages received.
Just national pride no less than our commercial interests
would to favor the policy of augmontng the number of
this description of vessels They can he built in country
cheaper and greater numbers than any other in the world
refer the accompanying report of the Postmaster
General for detailed and satisfactory account of the oond
ton and operations of that department during the past year
1t is gratifying to find that within so short period after the
reduction in the rates OF postage and Notwithstanding the
great Increase of mail service, the received for the
year will be sufficient to deay all the expenses and that
further aid will be required from the treasury for that purpose
The first OF the American mail steamers authorized by the
act of the third of March, ls45 was completed and entered
upon the service on the first OF June last and now on her
third voyage to Bremen and other intermediate ports The
other vessels authorized under the provisions OF that act are
in of construction, and will be put upon the line
completed Contracts have also been made for the
transportation of the mail in steamer from Charleston to
Havana.
reciprocal and satisfactory postal arrangement has hsen
men, and difficulty is unprecedented in making similar
rangements with all other Powers with which may have
communications by mail except with Great Britain
Ga the arrival of the first of the American bound
for Bremen at Southampton, in the month of June last The
B fish post Office directed the collection of discriminating
poages all letters and other maiabe matter, which she
took out to Great Britain, which went into the British Of
fee their way france and other parts OF Europe. The
effect OF the order of the British post Office is subject all
letters and other transported by the American
paid them the United States while letters transported
in British steamers subject TO pay but single postage.
This adopted with the avowed object potec-
ing the British line of mail steamers running between
Boston and Liverpool and, II permitted TO continue,
speedily put end to the transportation of all letters and
other matter by American steamers and give to British
monopoly of the business. Just and fair reciprocity
is all that we desire and on this we must insist
BY laws such determinations made against Brit
sh steamers bringing letters into ports but all letters
irving in the United states subject to the of
postage, whether brought in British American vessels
refer you the report of the Postmaster General for full
statement OF the facts of the and Of the taken by
him Ia this inequality. lie has eNettod all the power
| conferred upon him by the existing laws.
Tho Minister of the United States London has brought
the subject to the attention of the British government and il
engaged negotiations for the purpose of adjusting
ciproca postal arrangements, which shall he equally just
DO countries should he fail in concluding such arrange
mens, and should Great Britain insist enforcing the
qua aud unjust she has adopted it will become
essa confer additional powers the Postmaster General
in order to enable him to the emergency and
own steamers on footing of equality with British steamers
engaged in transporting the mail between the countries,
| and recommend that such powers be conferred.
I'm view of the existing state of country, trust il
not he Inappropriate, in closing this communication call to
mind the words Of wisdom aud admonon Of the first and
most ustous OF my predecessors, his farewell address 10
his cnuntTymen
That greatest and best of men, who served his country
long and loved much saw, with serious concern the