The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-07
entertained but that early in the spring it will be in


and the inhabitants are anxiousy expecting assistance
from the United States A small force, detached
escort for the governor, is now the way to Oregon
and will probably arrive there in the al this
month. With a view to an earlier relief than could be
afforded by sending troops from the United States orders
have been issued from the Navy Department to the com
mandeI OF our squadron in the Pacific TO despatch part
OF his force TO Oregon, with aHmuniton ana sup
plies and in il should be necessary, to land the ma
rnes and sailors TO aid the inhabitants until The troops
destined for that Territory should have arrived,
The other regiments OF the permanent military estab
ishment greatly reduced at the close OF the war
They had been, considerable extent hlled up by re-
cruts enlisted 10 only during ITS continuance
Owing the late period of their return from Mexico and
the delay II iefrg or S n e. Sueh
pared to proceed by land TO Oregon California, or New
Mexico until the season far advanced TO render
a march the country lmpractcable. Foreseelng
the necessity for troops in these Territories and the delay
of sending them from the United States, ORDERS antci
patton OF peace, were given to the general IN chief com
mand TO send regimen, from the headquarters in Mexi
California; but the Mexican government refused to
permit its passage TO the Pacific coast.
Orders were alsogiyen to Gen Wool then in command
OF The forces al Salo Monterey and on the Rio Grande
frontier, TO send part of the regular troops with him
directly to California and New Mexico. Pursuant TO this
proceeded up the right bank Of the Rio Grande to Chi
huahua, crossed the Gila and down that river
California By this time it is probable they have reach
ed their ultimate destination.
One company of dragons and one Of light artillery
also sent from the Rio Grande and proceeded the
Mexican side of i up to Santa Fe These have already
Two companies of the LIST regiment OF artillery have
barked at New York. to 80 around Cape Horn to Ore
gOn and the I'd regiment OF infantry has also left to pro-
coed. by the route to California As early in the
spring passage be made the country other
troops will be sent to Oregon in numbers sufficient 10
hold and protect that Territory.
Troops to guard the Rio Grande frontier and keep in
check the Indians in that quarter have been ordered to
Texas and have arrived at or are on their way to- their
The remainder of the army is distributed the Indian
and northern frontiers, and the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts Ihe accompanying report from the Adnian
button of the army in the several departments into which
the country has been divided.
The war with Mexico necessarily caused some delay
in establishing posts on the Oregon route. The mounted
rifle regiment diverted from that duty, for which
originally designed, to with the army in Mexico ;
of the Rocky mountains otwithslanding the demand
for all our forces the enemys country while the
continued measures were taken as early March ls7
to select proper locations, and establish posts the
ern section OF the route to Oregon On the 1st of June
OF that year, instructions were given Tor the establish
ment OF two of these posts-one near Grand Island,
where the road to Oregon the Platte river
and the other at, Fort Laramie. During that
season progress made in constructing the work
proach of winter. Preparations made to resume it
early in the spring, and it has been in the of
unable to state how far it has progressed as no report
has yet been received iron the officer charged with It's
superntendence.
property received by officers of the army Mexico can
not this time for want of full returns, be accurately
ceralned The amount thus far reported is $3.s.i,-
1913 H. which will be somewhat increased by amounts
collected in New Mexico and California. OF this
amount $G749a SO have been retained for expenses of
collections; $4,000 % paid into the treasury of the
United States; $3 267,54 81 turned discussing
fofcers $l97l2 % credited by the Mexican government
to the United States in payment of the first install
ment under the treaty. and the remaining $ll3259 OF
charged against the collecting officers or the amount
turned TO dsbursng officers 76965O were applied
towards the payment OF the first nstalmen under the
with nd ha Of hntu
has been discussed for regular and ordinary purposes
Against the balances remaining charged to collecting Off
they may be entitled to further credits the seve
raj accounts above stated to the amount of about $40 900
The remainder is claimed by them compensation for
exa services having been paid 10 other army Off
GERS Tor similar services in making the collections.
These claims have been suspended "a, under existing
laws such allowances be made; but as the
claims on this account were considered to some extent
just, urgel in my last annual report and suhsequ
in communication to the Committee OF Ways and
Means, that provision should be made for reasonable
allowance such cases. and the subject again recon-
mended for favorable consideration.
The moneys paid over to discussing officers have been
mingled with the funds drawn from the treasury and
placed in their hands for disbursement This has com
pcaed their accounts and greatly embarrassed the
Element OF them The laws and regulations securing and
enforcing the settlement of the accounts of discussing
officers are considered applicable only to the public
moneys received from the treasury 1t is recommended
that these Jaws should be extended apply the
accounts for resolved from contributions and all
other sources. Without some such provision am salts
fed that much delay and many difficulties will attend the
adjustment OF these accounts.
There also other accounts which cannot be adjusted
without further legislation. No fund was placed by spe-
cal appropriation at the disposal of the Executive the
commanding generals to meet expenses for secret SER
vices for extraordinary objects Disbursements of this
character are not only usual but Indispensable in the
prosecution OF war, and particularly foreign war.
The collections in Mexico have been reored to for these
purposes 1t is reasonable expect that regular
vouchers of payment for secret services should be pro-
duced, and the accounts embracing such items
main unadusted, unless Congress should deem proper
to provide mode for settling them. The mode which
seems mos, appropriate, far regar the expenditure
for secret and confidential services is that which has been
provided for settling accounts for the disbursement of the
appropriation Tor contingent expenses of foreign inter-
course.
respectfully refer you to the accompanying reports
from the officers IN charge OF the several bureaus
nectcd with this department The examination of them
WILL trust, satisfactorily show that the duties of each
have been discharged with industry ability, and faithful
by the war with Mexico, have not yet been much dmin
ished by the return OF peace. The allowance Of three
months extra pay to all who served in that war, has
dered it ndspensably necessary retain in service the
temporary paymasers appointed under the act of the 18th
OF July, 1885 To prevent delay and to subserve the
venence OF The volunteers paymasters have been sent
into the several sections of the country where these
troops were raised and organized 1t is estimated that
from eighty 10 hundred thousand persons became
titled 10 three months extra pay under the act of the 10Th
OF July last the greater part OF this number had left the
service before this provision of law adopted Scat
tered they are through every section OF the United
States, much labor and time will be required to adjust
these claims The increase in the extent of
rory and in the number of military posts has induced
the Paymaster General to ask that the additional paymas
appointed for the war, and whose services
La. II H.