The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-01-03
NUMBER i, Ri 1.s ::

, to Oregon encounters the Platte River and ihs
other at, or near, Fort Laramie. During aba
season some progress was made in constructna
the work at the former place; hut IL was sus
pended on the approach Of Winier.aR Rnpsra
lions were made to resume hEin Spring, and 4
has been in the course Of cohstruction during
The past season; but the Department is pnabe
to state how far il has progressed. 10 r. s,,,ss
The. amount of contributions and ,ayails d
captured property received by officers of army
in Mexico, cannot al this time, 6r want oe fali
returns, be, accurately asceitained.s The
amount thus far reported is s3,844,87S II,
which will be some what increased by amounts
collected in New Mexico and California OF
ibis amount, 867.492, 33 have been retained
for expenses of collections $346,389 so paid
into the Treasury of the United States; @, ,287,
$40 81 turned over 10 dlsbursing .officsp;
S4s,7l2 % credited by the Mexican Gorerf-
ment to The United States in payment ofstbs
first instalment under the Treaty; and the re.
naming Sll3,259 OF charged asainst this
| collecting officers. Of the amount turned over
TO disbursing officers. $769, $50 were applied
toward the payment of the 6rst insialmenf u,der
The Treaty with Mexico, and the greaiespast, of
the balance has been disbursed for regular sSa
ordinary purposes: T .,essslss
Against The balances remaining, charged 10
collecting officers, they may be entitled 10 fsr.
iher credits on the several accounts above lssa-.
ted TO the amount of about $4,000. sThs
remainder is claimed by them as compensation
Tor extra services or as having been paid 70.
other. army officers for similar services i'm
making the collections. These claims hare.
been suspended, as, under existing laws, no.
such allowances can be made; but as tbe clsins
on this account were considered TO some egtsur
just, | urged in my last annual report, and sub.
sequentlJ in communication 10 the Committee
of Ways and Means, that provision should be.
made for a reasonable allowance in cuch case:
and the subject is again recommended for f,-
yorable consideration. "a ..s..,ss,.;,
The moneys paid over to discussing officey.
have been mingled with the. funds drawn from
the treasury and placed in their bands for dIs-
bursements. This has complicated their ac-.
counts and embarrassed the settlement ofihemi-
The laws and regulations securing and en-.
forcing the settlement Of the accounts OF, dis.
bursting officers. are considered a. applicable.
only to the public moneys received FROM tho
treasury. II is recommended that these laws
should he so extended as 70 apply to the &C.
counts for moneys received from coptributioas
and all other sources. Without some alch
provision. am satisfied iha, much delay, and
many difficulties will attend. the adjustmens Of
IheSe accounts. -. a., ,,.....- ~;
There are also other accounts which canpor
be adjusted without farther Legislation. No
'und was placed BY special appropriateness The
disposal Of The Executive, or the. commanding
generals, TO meet expenses for secret SERVICES
Or for extraordinary objects. lDdburssmsatsee
his character are moi only usual but indispep>
sable in the prosecution of a war, and partirH
arly foreign war. The collections ip Me1ies
nave been resorled to for Theses purposes, ,k
5 not reasonable TO expect tha, regular vouch-,
,rs Of payment for secret services, should be-
Produced, and the accounts embracing ssueh
TENS must remain unadjusted, ,unlesssG Congress
hould deem it proper to Pro'idsssas .node;4sr
e,llng them. -.... .,...,- ssssF ',g.sls s,;t4
The allowance Of three months exirs pay
o all who served in that war has rendered il
necessary to retain in. service ths
emporary Paymasters appointed under the act
# the 5,h of July, 1888. To prerens delsY
md to subserve the convenience Of the svodun-
GERS, Paytuasters have been sent into the se-
eral sections of the coantry. where these
roops were raised and organized. II, "a. es,t.
mated that from $4,000 to 100000 persons bs.
ame entitled to three months extra pay uodsr
he act of the 18th oc July laa; the greater
art of this number had left the service bsfone
his provision of law was adopted. The rsst
1crease in the extent oil. our territory, and in
1e number Of military posts, has induced the
ayr1aster g enc raj 10 ask that the additional
aymasters appointed for the war, and whose
srvices were continued by an Act Of Con,
ress, passed at the last session, until the 4tfl
f March NEXT, may be retained permanently
The number Of military posts will pfobabsy
scred the number Of medical officers uo~
,,horized by law. Should that he 'ibs case,
e employment of physicians in cisfI life viii
ecome necessary. Beside the difficulty Of
such physicians at the POINTS whore
ey are wanted, the expenses ofsn exceed the
,sular pay and emoluments OF army surgeons
nd assistant surgeons. With view both To
.onomy and to the interests of the sersice,I
II induced to concur In the Recommendation of
G Surgeon General in favor of the repeal OF
e provIso of the Sd section Of the act ot the
)lh of July last, so far a. Il relates To the two
rgeons anu twelve assistant surgeons author.
cd by the act Of the llih Of February, 1S47.
y such repeal, the above number of sur.
IONS and assistant surgeons would be added to
e permanent medical staff of the army.sssfa
An early attention has been given to onr Pa.
fic coast with view to the selection Of prop.
points for forti6cations as we'll al naval es.
hIishmeuts. 4 board, composed ofofficers
the Army and Navy, are now under orders
r California and Oregon, to execute the du.
IS assigned to them. ys lE@5asF
The appropriation tor the Army prcper,re
tired for the next fiscal year, amount to "a.
|2,2s6. The estimates for the transportation