Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-12-07

the city Of New York. The importance Of
us measure il greatly Increased by the scquisi-
OH Of the rich mines Of the precious metals IA i
lew Mexico and California. and especially IA /
he latter. III
/ repeat the recommendation, heretofore made, | .
d favor Of the graduation and reduction Of the
rice OF such Of the public lands as have been
ong offered in the market, and have remained
'nsold, and 10 favor OF extending the rights OF
IRE emptipn 20 actual settlers on The nnsuryey-
d as well a. the surveyed lands.
The condition aud operations OF the army and
he gtate Of other branches Of the public service
under the supervision Of the War Department,
are satisfactorily presented in the accompanying
report Of the Secretary Of War
On the return of peace, our forces were
withdrawn from Mexico, and the volunteers
and that portion Of the regular army engaged
for the war were disbanded Orders have
been issued for stationiDg the forces OF our |
establishment at various positions |
in orr extended country, where troops may be |
required. Owing to the remoteness Of some |
of these positions, the attachments have not
yet reached their destination. Notwithstand
ing the extension Of the limits Of our country
and the forces required in the new territories,
il is confidently believed that our present
military establishment is sufficient for all exl
gencies, SO long as our peaceful relations re-
main undisturbed.
OF the amount OF military contributions coll
lected in Mexico, the sum Of seven hundred and
sixty mine thousand six hundred and fifty dollars
was applied towards the payment OF the first in
stalment due under the treaty with Mexico.
The further sum Of three hundred and forty-si
thousand three hundred and sixty nine dol
lars and thirty cents has been paid into the
tire asury, and unexpended balances still remain
IN the hands Of disbursing officers and those who
were engaged in the collection Of these moneys.
After the proclamation OF peace, no further dis
bursements were made Of any unexpended mo-
neys arising from this source. The balances on
hand were directed to be paid into the treasury
and individual claims on the fund will remain
unadjusted until Congress shall authorize their
settlement and payment. These claims are not
considerable in number or amount.
| recommend to your favorable consideration
the suggestions Of the Secretary Of War and the
Secretary of the Navy in regard to Legislation on
this subject.
Our Indian relations are presented in a most
favorable view in the report from the War De-
| partment. The wisdom Of our policy in regard
| TO the tribes within limits, is clearly mani
Tested by their improved and rapidly improving
| condition.
A most important treaty with the Menomonies
has been recently negotiated by the Commission
er of Indian Affairs in person. by which all their
| land in the State OF Wisconsu--being about four
millions Of acres has been ceded to the United
States. This treaty will be submitted to the Sc
nate for ratification at an early period OF your
| present session.
Within the last four years, eight important
treaties have been negotiated with different In
dian tribes, and at a cost OF one million eight
hundred and forty-two thousand dollars Indian
| lands to the amount of more than eighteen mil
lion five hundred thousand acres, have been ceded
to the United States; and provision has been
made for settling in the country west Of the Mis-
sissippi the tribes which occupied this large ex-
tent Of the public domain. The title to all the
Indian lands within the several States of our
Union, with the exception of few small reser-
vations, is now extinguished, and vast region
opened for settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the Secretary OF
the Navy gives a satisfactory exhibit OF the ope-
| rations and condition Of that branch OF the public
service.
number of small vessels suitable for enter
ing the mouths of rivers were judiciously pur-
chased during the war, and gave great efficiency
to the squadron in the Gulf Of Mexico. On re-
turn of peace, when no longer valuable for naval
purposes, and liable 10 constant deterioration,
they were sold, and the money placed in the
treasury.
The number of men in the naval service auth
orized by law during the war, has been reduced
by discharges below the maximum fixed for the
peace establishment. Adequate squadrons are
maintained in the several quarters Of the globe
where experience has shown their services may
be most usefully employed; and the naval SER
vice was never in condition OF higher discip-
lice or greater efficiency.
i invite attention TO the recommendation of the
Secretary Of the Navy on the subject of the ma
rine corps. The reduction of the corps al the
end of the war required that four officers Of each
Of the three lower grades should be dropped from
the rolls. A board of officers made the selection;
and those designated were necessarily dismissed,
but without any alleged fault. concur in opin-
ion with the Secretary, that the service would
be improved by reducing the number OF landsmen,
and increasing the marines. Such measure
would Justify an increase of the number OF Off
GERS TO the extent of the reduction by dismissal,
and still the corps would have fewer officers than
a corresponding number Of men in the army.
The contracts for the transportation of the
mail in steamships convertible into war
steamers, promise to realize all the benefits
to our commerce and to the navy which were
anticipated. The first steamer thus secured
to the government was launched in January,
1S47. There are now seven; and in another
year there will, probably, be not less than
seventeen afioat. While this great national
advantage is secured, our social and CONNER
cial intercourse is increased and promoted
with Germany, Great Britain, and other parts
of Europe, with all the countries on the West
Coast of our continent, especially with Ore
gon and California, and between the northern
and southern sections of the United States.
Considerable revenue may be expected
from hostages; but the connected line from
New York TO ChagIes, and thence across the
isthmus TO Oregon, cannot fail to exert ben
efcial influence, not now to be estimated, on
the interests of the manufactures, commerce
navigation, and currency of the United States.
As an important part of the system, recon-
mend to your favorable consideration the es-
Enlistment of the proposed line Of steamers
between New Orleans and Vera Cruz. 1t
promises the most happy results in cementing
friendship between the two republics, and in
extending reciprocal benefits TO the trade and
manufactures of both.
The report of the Postmaster General will
make known TO you the operations of that de-
partment for the past year.
IL is gratifying to-fnd the revenues Of the de-
partment, under the rates of postage now estab
lished by law, so rapidly increasing. The gross
amount of hostages during the last fiscal year a
TO four million three hundred and seven.
~ one thousand and seventy seven dollars, ex
ceedng the annual average received for the nine
years Immediately preceding the passage Of the
act OF Sd Of March, lS45, by the sum of S6.453.
and exceeding the amount received for the year
ending 30th June, lss7, by the sum of S425,lS4.
The expenditures for the year, excluding the
sum of ninety -four thousand six hundred and
seventy-tw dollars, allowed by Congress at its
last session TO individual claimants, and includ
ing the sum Of one hundred thousand five hun
dred dollars paid for the services OF the line Of
steamer between Bremen and n. York, amount |
ed to four million one hundred and ninety eight
thousand eight hundred and forty five dollars, |
which is less than the annual average for the |
nine years prcvioas TO the act OF 1915, by three |
hundred thousand seven hundred and forty eight |
dollars.
The mail routes, on the thirteenth day Of
lune last, were one hundred and sxty-thrco
thousand two hundred and eight miles in ex-
ent--being an increase during the last year of
linc thousand three hundred and ninety miles
! he mails were transported over them, during
he same time, iorty-one million twelve thou