Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-15

the payment OF the public debt, at the earliest prac
lcable period should be a cardinal principle Of ou
public policy.
For the reason assigned in my last annual mes
sage, / repeat the Recommendation that branch o
'he mint Of the United States be established al the
city Of New York. The Importance Of this meas
urs is greatly increased by the acquisition Of IN,
rich mines Of the precious metals in New Mexo,
and California, and especially the latter.
repeat the recommendation heretofore made, il
favor Of the graduation and reduction in the prc,
Of such Of the pubic lands as have been long offer
ed in market, and have remained unsOld, and in "a
vor Of extending the rights - Pre-emPtion to actu
al settlers on the unsuUeyed as wen as the survey
ed lands.
The condition and operations of the army, anC
the state of other branches of the pubic 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 with
drawn from Mexico and the volunteers and that
portion Of the regular army engaged for the war
we're dsbanded Orders have been issued for sta
toning forces Of our permanent establishment at
various positions in our extended country, where
troops may be required Owing to the remoteness
Of sSme Of these positions, the detachments have
not yet reached their destination. Notwithstanding
the extension of the limits of country, and the
forces required in the new territories, it is confident
ly believed that our present military establishment
is sufficient for all eXgences, so long as our peace
full relations remain undsturbed.
OF the amount of military contributions collect
ed in Mexico, the sum of S769,650 was applied to-
wards the payment Of the first instalment due un-
der the treaty with Mexico. The further sum of
$346,369 30 has been paid into the Treasury, and
unexpended balances still remain in the hands of
disbursing officers and those who were engaged in
the collection of these monies. After the prOcla-
nation Of peace, no further disbursements were
made Of any unexpended moneys arising from this
source. The balances on hand were directed to be
paid into the treasury and individual claims on the
funds will remain unadiusted until Congress shall
authorize their settlement and payment These
claims are not considerable in number or amount.
recommend to your favorable consideration the
suggestion of the secretary of war and the secreta
ry OF the navy in regard to legislation of this subject
Our Indian relations are represented in most fa-
vorabls view in the report from the war department
The wisdom of our policy in regard to the tribes
within our limits is clearly manifested by their inn
proved and rapidly improving condition.
most important treaty with the Menomonies
has been recently negotiated by the commissioner
of Indian Affairs in person, by which all their land
in the state Of Wisconsin,-being about four mil
lions of acres-has been ceded to the United States
This treaty will be submitted to the Senate for rat
iication at an early period of your present session.
Within the last four years, eight important trea-
ties have been negotiated with different Indian
tribes, and at cost of Ss42, 900; Indian lands to
the amount of more than lS,500000 acres have
been ceded to the United States and provision has
been made for settling in the country west of the
Mississippi, the tribes which occupied this large
extent Of the public domain. The title to all the
Indian tribes within the several States of our Uni
on with the exception of few small reservations,
is now eXtinguished, and a vast region opened for
settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the secretary Of the
navy gives a satisfactory exhibit of the operations
and condition of that branch of the public service.
number of small vessels suitable for entering
the mouths of rivers were judciousy purchased du-
ring the war; and gave great efficiency to the squad
ron in the Gulf of Mexico On the return of peace,
when no longer suitable for naval purposes, and Ii
able to constant deterioration they were sold and
the money placed in the treasury.
The number of men in the Naval Service, au-
thorized 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 service was
never in condition Of higher discipline, or greater
efficiency.
invite attention to the recommendation of the
Secretary of the Navy on the ect of the Marine
Corps. The reduction of the corps at the end Of
the war required that four officers of each of the
three lower grades should be dropped from the rolls
The board OF officers made the selection and those
designated were necessarily dismissed, but without
any alleged fault. | concur in opinion with the
Secretary, that the service would be improved by
reducing the number of landsmen, and increasing
the marines. Such a measure would Justify an in
crease of the number of officers to the extent Of
the reduction by dismissal and still the corps would
have fewer officers than corresponding number OF
men in the army.
The contracts for the transportation of the mail
in steam ships convertible into war steamers, pro-
misses to realize all the benefits to our commerce
and to the Navy which were anticipated. The first
steamer thus secured to the Government, was laun-
ched in January, lS47. There are now seven; and
in another year there probably be not less than
seventeen ahoat While this great national ad-
vantage is secured, our civil and commercial inter-
course is increased and promoted with Germany,
Great Britain, and other parts of Europe, with all
the countries of the west coast of our continent,
ulu CbptCldllJ WIFI OlCRoh anu ohu w
tween the Northern and Southern sections of the
United States, considerable revenue may be expec-
ted from postages; but the connected line from
New York to Charges, and thence across the 18TH
mus to Oregon, cannot fail to exert beneficial in
huence not now to be estimated in the interest of
manufactures, commerce, navigation, and currency
Of the United States. AS an important part of the
system, recommend to your favorable considera-
ton the establish 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 ex-
tending reciprocal benefits to the trade and manu-
factures Of both.
The report of the Postmaster General will make
known to you the operations of that department
for the past year.
tits gratifying to find the revenues of the depart
ment, under the rates of postage new established
by law so rapidly increasing. The gross amoun
of postages during the last fiscal year amounted tC
$437l OFT, exceeding the annual average received
for the nine years Immediately preceding the pas
sage of the act of the Sd Of March, lS45, by th'
sum Of $6,453, and exceeding the amount receiv
ed for the wear ending the 3Oth of June, l847, b,