Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16

The preservatiOn OF peace Win the indian
tribes residing west Of the Rocky mountains
will render it proper that authority should be
given by law for the appointment Ct an adequate
number Of Indian agents to reside among them.
recommend that a surveyor generals office
be established in that territory, and the public
lands be surveyed and brought into marke, at
an early rerlod.
recommend, also, that grants, upon liberal
terms, of limited quantities of the public lands
be made TO all citizens Of the U. 5. who have
or may hereafter within prescribed
period emigrate, to Oregon, and settle upon
them. These hardy and adventurous citizens.
who have encountered the dangers and priva
ton. of long and toilsome journey. and have
at length found an abiding place for themselves
and famil 8; upon the utmost verge of our ives
tern limits, should he secured in their homes
which they have improved by their labor.
refer you to the accompanying report OF
the Secretary of War fur detailed account OF
the operations Of the various branches of the
public service connected with the department
under his charge. The duties devolving on
this department have been unusually onerous
and responsible during the past year, and have
been discharged with ability and success.
Pacific relations continue 10 exist with the
various Indian tribes, and most of them mani
fest strong friendship for the U. S. Some
derredations were committed during the past
year upon our trains transporting supplies tor
the army, on the road between the western Dor
der of Missouri and Santa Fe. These depreda-
tions, which were supposed to have been com
mit,ed by bands from the region of New Next
CO, have been ARE ted by the presence of a mi
litary force, ordered out for that purpose
Some outrages have been perpetrated by por-
ton ofthe northwestern bauds upon the weak
er and comparatively defenceless neighboring
tribes Prompt measures were taken to pre-
vent such occurrences in future.
Between one and two thousand Indians, be-
longing to several tribes, have been removed
during the year from the east of the Msslssip-
ri to the country allotted to them west OF that
river, as their permanent home; and arrange
ments have been made for others to follow.
Since the treaty IF 1916 with the Chero-
KEGS the feuds among them appear to have sub
sided, and they have become more united and
contented than they have been for many years
past. The commissioners. appointed In Pur-
suance Of the act of June 9th 1916, to settle
claims arising under the treaty of 1885, 30
with that tribe, have executed their duties; and
after patient investigation, and full and fair
examination of all the cases brought before
them. closed their labors in the month of July
last. This is the fourth board of commits
sioners which has been organized under this
treaty. Ample opportunity has been afford
ed to all those interested TO bring forward
their claims. No doubt is entertained that
impartial Justice has been done by the late
board, and that all 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 be-
fore YOU during YOUR session, will adjust all
questions Of controversy between them and
the United States, and produce state OF res
lations with them simple, well defined, and
satisfactory.
Unde. the discretionary authority conferr-
ed by the act of the third OF March last, the
annuities due to the various tribes have been
paid during the present year to the heads OF
families instead Of their chiefs,or such per-
SONS as they might designate, as required by
.le l.,,s previously existing. This mode of
payment has given general satisfaction to the
great bodies of the Indians. Justice has
been done them, and they are grateful to the
government for it. few chiefs and inter-
ested persons may object to this mode of pay
ment but it is believed to be the, only mode
of preventing fraud and imposition from be-
ing practised upon the great body OF COM
mon Indians constituting majority of all the
Tribes.
1t is gratifying to perceive that number
of the tribes have recently manifested in
tesest in the establishment Of schools among
them, and are makirg rapid advances in ag
ciculture-some of them producing suffi
cient quantity of food for their support, and
in some cases a surplus to dispose OF to their
neighbors The comforts by which those
who have received even a very limited edu-
cation, and have engaged in agriculture, are
surrounded. tend gradually to draw Oft their
less civilized brethren from the precarious
means of subsistence by the chase, to habits
of labor and civilization.
The accompanying report ofthe Secretary
of the Navy presents satisfactory and graft
flying account of the condition and operations
of the naval service during the past year.
Our commerce has been pursued with in
creased activity, and with safety and success
in every quarter of the globe under the pro
lection of our flag, which the navy has caus
ed to be respected in the most distant seas.
In the gulf Of Mexico, and in the Pacific,
officers and men of our squadrors have dis
pa, ed distinguished CALAMITY, and perform
ed valuable services. In the early stages o.
the war with Mexico, her ports on both coasts
were blockaded. and more recently many of
them have been captured and held by the
navy. When acting in cooperation with the
lard forces, the naval officers and men have
performed gallant and distinguished servi-
ces on land as we'll as on water, and deserve
the high commentator of the country.
While other maratime powers are adding
to their navies large numbers of war steamers,
it was wise policy on our part to make sims
liar additions to our navy. The four war
steamers authorized by the third of March,
1S47, are in course of construction.
In addition to the four war steamers author
lied by this act, the Secretary Of the Navy
has, in pursuance ofits provisions, entered in
10 contracts for the construction off steam
ers. to be employed in the transportation OF
the United States mail 'from New York to
New Orleans. touching at Charleston, Savan.
nah, and Havana and from Havana to Cha
gres;" for three steamers to be employed in
like manner from Panama to Oregon. $50 as
to connect with The mail from Havana to
Chagres across the isthmus;" and five steam
ers to be employed in like manner from New
York to Liverpool These steamers will be
the property of the contractors. but are to
!, fbo MI III