Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27
ICoacgnled frm second page.

ted states be established al The city " view
York. The importance Of this measure is
greatly increased by the acquisition Of the
rich mines oil precious metals i'll New
Mexico and California, especially The lat
ter.
repeat the Recommendation heretofore
made, in favor OF the graduation and re-
duction in price OF such OF the public
laitis,a have been long offered inthe mar
ket, and have remained unsold, and in IA
vor Of extending the rights OF presumption
to actual settlers, on the unsurveyed, as
well as The surveyed lands.
The condition and operations OF the
army, and the state Of the other branches
under the supervision Of the War Depart
ment, are satisfactorily presented III the
accompanying reports Of the Secretary Of
War.
On the rc.nrn Of peace, our forces were
withdrawn from Mexico, and the yolun.
teers and that portion Of the regular army
Engaged for the war, were discharged
Orders have beer issued for statiening the
forces OF car permanent establishment at
various points in our extended country,
where troops may be required. Owing
10 the remoteness Of some OF their positions,
The detachmenls have not reached their
destination. Notwithstanding the limits
of our country, and the new territories,
ii is confidently believed, that our present
military establishment is sufficient for all
exigencies, SO long as our peaceful rela-
tians remain undisturbed.
Oh the amount of military contributions
collected in Mexico, the sum of 1863 $50
was applied towards the payment Of the
first instaiment due under the treaty with
Mexico. The further sum Of :S346, 1863
80 has been paid into the Treasury. An
unexpenaca balance still remains in the
hands Of disbursing officers, and these are
engaged in the collection OF those moneys.
After The proclamation of peace, no farth-
er disbursements were made Of any unex-
pended monies arising from this source
The balances on hand were directed to be
paid into the Treasury, and the individual
claims viii remain unadjustcd until Con-
gress shall authorize their settlement and
payment. These claims are not consider
able in numbsr or in amount. / recon-
anend for your favorable consideration, the
suggestions Of the Secretary Of War and
the Secretary Of the Navy, in regard to
the legislation on this subject. Our In
dian relations are presented in most able
view, in a report from the War Depart
ment. The wisdom of our policy in re-
gard to the tribes within our limits, is
clearly manifested by their improved, and
rapidly improving condition. A most i'm
portant treaty with the Menominees has
been recently negotiated by The Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs in person, by
which all their land in the State Of Wis
consin, being abou, four millions of acres,
has been ceded to the United States. This
treaty viii be submitted to the Senate For
ratification, a. an early period Of your ses-
sion. Within the last four years, eight
important treaties have been negotiated
with different tribes; and at cost of one
million eight hundred and forty -two thou
sand dollars, Indian laN2s to the amount of
more than eighteen millions five hundred
thousand acres have been ceded TO the T.
nited States, and provision has been made
far settling in the country west of the
Mississippi, the tribes which occupied
this large extent o! domain. The title to
all the Indian lands within the several
States Of our Union, with the exception OF
a few small reservations, is now extin-
guished, and vast region opened fer set
element and cultivation.
The accompanying report OF the Secre-
tary Of the Navy gives satisfactory eS-
hibit Of the operations of that branch Of
The public service.
a number of small vessels suitable for
entering the mouth Of rivers were judici-
ousy purchased during the war, and gave
great efficiency TO the Squadron in the
Gulf of Mexico. On TIE return of peace,
when no longer suitable for naval pur-
poses, and liable to constant deterioration,
they were sold and the money placed in
the treasury.
The number Of men in the naval SER
vice, authorized by law, during the war,
has been reduced by discharges below the
maximum fixed for the peace establish
ment. Adequate squadrons are maintain
ed in several quarters Of the globe. where
experience has shown their services NAV
be most usefully employed, and the naval
service was never in condition of high
er discipline or greater efficiency.
invite attention to the recommendation
of the Secretary of the Navy, on the sub
ject Of the Marine Corps. The reduction
OF the corps at the end of the war requir-
ed that four officers of the three lower
grades should be dropped from the roll
A board Of officers made the selection, and
those designated were necessarily dismiss
ed, but without any alleged fault. | con-
cur in the opinion Of the Secretary, that
the service would be improved by redu-
cling the number OF landsmen and increas-
ing the marines. Such measure would
justify an increase Of the number Of off,
GERS to the extent Of the reduction by dis
misssl, and still the corps would have
fewer officers than corresponding Num-
Der Of men in the army.
The contracts fer the Transmission Of
the mail i'll steamships converted into war
steamers promise to realize all the bene-
fits to our commerce and to the navy,
which We're anticipated. The first steam
er thus, secured to the government, was
in January iRiS ,Fbero .ral