Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-18
boring tribes. Prompt ms..er,s have bssn TAKEN to

prevent such occurrences IN future.
Between one and two thousand Indians have been
removed during the year from the Of the Missis
sipp to the countries allotted TO them, west Of that
river, as their permanent home. Arrangements have
been made for others TO follow.
Since the treaty Of i846, with the Cherokees. the
euds among them appear to have subsidized, and they
have become more united and contented than they
have been for many years past. The commissioners
appointed in pursuance of the act of June 22d, 1916
to settle the claims arising under the treaties Of 845
and 1916, with that tribe, have executed their duties
and after patient investigation, and full and fair
examination OF oil the cases brought before them
closed their labors in the month Of July last. This
is the fourth board Of commissioners who have been
organized under This treaty. Ample opportunity has
been offered to all those interested, to bring forward
their claims. No doubt is entertained that impartial
justice has been done by the board, and that valid
claims embraced by the treaty have been considered
and allowed. This result, and the final settlement
to be made with this tribe, under the treaty Of 1916,
which will be completed and laid before you dur ng
your session, will adjust all questions of controversy
between them, and produce q stale Of relation with
them simple, well defined, and satisfactory.
Under the discretionary authority con.
ferred by the act OF Sd Of March last, the
annuties due TO the various tribes have
been paid, during the ptesent year, to the
heads OF families, instead OF their chiefs, or
TO such persons as they might designate,
except as by the laws previously existing;
and this mode Of payment has given gene.
raj satisfaction to the great body OF the In.
dams. Justice has been done to them, and
they are grateful to the government for it.
A lew chiefs and interested persons may
object to this mode Of payment but it is
believed to be the only mode Of preventing
fraud and imposition from being practiced
upon the grea, body Of the common In
dians, constituting a majority Of all the
tribes.
1t is very gratifying to perceive that
number OF ,heaboriginal tribes have recently
manifested an interest in the establishment
of schools among them, and are making ra.
pd advances in agriculture, some OF them
producing q sufficient quantity Of food for
their support, and a surplus to dispose Of
to their neighbois. The comforts by which
those who have received even but very
limited education, and have engaged in ag-
rcul.ure, are surrounded, tend gradually TO
draw off their less civilized brethren from
the precarious means OF subsistence by the
chase, to habits Of labor and civilization.
The accompanying report Of the Secre.
tary Of the Navy, presents a satisfactory
account Of the condition and operations oil
the naval service during the last year.--
Our commerce has been pursued with in
creased activity, and with safety and sue.
cess in every quarter Of the globe, under
the protection Of our flag, which the navy
has caused TO be respected 10 the most dis
tant seas.
In the Gulf OF Mexico and the Pacific,
the officers and men Of our sqadrons have
displayed distinguished gallantry, and have
performed valuable services,
In the early stages Of the war with Mex.
leo, her ports on both coasts were blockad.
ed, and more recently, many Of them have
been captured and held by the navy. When
acting IN cooperation with the land forces
the naval officers and men have performed
gallant and distinguished services on the
land as well as on water, and deserve the
highest commentators Of the country.
While other maratime powers are adding
TO their navies large numbers OF war steam.
ers, it is wise policy on our part to make
similar additions TO our navy. The tour war
steamers authorized by the act OF Sd March,
ls47, are in course Of construction.
In addition 10 the four war steamers au-
,horized by this act, the Secretary OF the
Navy has, in pursuance Of its provisions,
entered into contracts forsthe five steamers
to be employed in the transportation OF the
United States Mail from NewYork to New
Orleans, touching at Havana, and from Ha.
ysna to Chagres-for three steamers TO be
employed in like manner from Panama to
Oregon, 80 as TO connect with the mail to
Chaeres across the is,hmus-and for five
steamers TO be employed in like manner 10
Liverpool. These steamers will be the
property Of the constructors, but to be built
under the superint endsnce and direction OF
a naval constructor, in the employ OF the
navy department, and 10 be 80 constructed
as to render them convertible at the least
possible expense, into war steamers OF the
first class. A prescribed number Of naval
officers, as we'll as post Office agent, is to
be on board Of them, and authority is re-
served TO the navy department, at all times,
to exercise control over said steam ships.
and to have the RICH, to take them for the
exclusive use and service Of the United
States, by making proper compensation TO
The contractors therefor. Whilst these
steam ships will be employed in transport
ing the mails of the United States coast
wise, upon an annual compensation, to be
paid 10 the owners, they will be ready, up.
on an emergency, to be converted into war
steamers, and the right reserved to take
them for public use, will add greatly to the
efficiency and strength Of this description
Of our naval force.
To the steamers thus authorised and I'm.
der contracts made by the Secretary oil
the navy, should bs added five other steam.
ers, authorized under contracts made in