The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-12-11
WHOLE NUMBER 4Sl.

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tor the appointment Of Commissioners to exam.
inc all such claims with view to their final sd.
justmenf. ! also beg leave to call your attention
to the proprety Of extending at an early day. ouS
system OF land laws with such modification q
may be necessary, over the State Of California,
and the territories Of Utah and New Mexico;-
The mineral lands Of California will Of cour,n
form an exception to any general system which
may be adopted. Various methods Of dispoeine
ofthese have been suggested. lhad It iise ia.
cIned to favor system ofleasing, 40 il seemed
TO promise the largest revenue to the Govern.
menf, to afford the best security sgainst monop.
oles but further reflection and our experience n
leasing the lead mines, and selling lands upon
credit, have brought my mind TO the conclueien
that there would be great difficulty IN colIect;no
the rents: The relation Of debtor and creditor.
between the citizen and Government. " uId be
attended with many mischievous resul,.:l there.
fore recommend that instead Of retaining The
mineral lands under the permanent control Of the
Government, that they be divided into smaIl
parcels and sold At such time As will insure the
best price, and guard most effectually sraihst
combinations Of capitalists to obtsin mononoIies.
The annexation Of Texas and the acquisition
Of California and New Mexico, have eiyen n.
creased importance to our Indian relations. W.
rious tribes brought under our jurisdiction. bv
these enlargements Of our boundaries, are rstii-
mated 70 embrace population of $4,000. Tex.
as and New Mexico, are surrounded BY powerful
tiibes Of Indians, who are source Of constant
terror and annoy to the inhabitants: seosrae.
ing into smallpredatory bands, and always noun.
ted, they overrun the country, destroyine farme,
crops, and numbering the inhabitants, Of Carving
them into captivity. The great roads leading into
the country are infested BY them, thereby ira-
Yelling is rendered extremely dangerous, and emf.
grafton almost entirely arrested. The Mexican
frontier, which, BY the eleventh article Of the
treaty Of Gusdaloupe Hidalgo, we ore bound to
protect against the Iadians within our boundaries
is exposed to their incursions equally with
our own. The military forces, stationed in thst
country, although forming . large proportion Of
the army, 10 represented - entirely nadednste to
our own protection, and the fulflment Of our
treaty stipulations with Mexico. The principal
deficiency is in cavalry; recommend that Com
gress should, at as early period % possible,
ra,se one or more regiments Of mounted uren. For
further suggestions on this subject, and others
connected with it, l refer you TO the Reports or
Secretary Of Interior and Secretary Of War.
recommend, also, to your favorable .oiisid Grafton.
the Suggestions contained in the last mentioned
report, and in letter Of the Genersl-in. Chief.
relative 10 the establishment Of On asyIum foi
the relief OF diseased and disabled soldiers This
subject appeals 50 strongly 10 your sympathy;
that It would be suPerfaous in me to ~ any
thing more than barely to express my cordial sp-
probation Of the proposed object. The navy con-
tinues to give protection to our commerce and
other national interests in the different quarters
Of the globe, and, with the exception Of sim
gle steamer on the northern lakes. the vessels n
condition are distributed in six different sqnad.
rons. The report Of the head Of that Department
will exhibit the services Of these squadrona, and
Of the several vessels employed in each during
the past year. It Is sour Of great satisfaetion.
that while they have been constantly prepared
for any hostile emergency, they have every where
met with respect and courtesy, due - well to the
dignity a. to the peaceful disposition and just
purposes cf the nation. The two briganiinsS.
accepted BY the Government, from . generous
citizen ofNew York, and placed under the com.
mand Of an officer Of the navy, to proceed to
the Arctic seas in quest Of the British Commander;
Sir John franklin end his companions, in eotfipli.
ance with the act OF Congress, approved in NAV
last, had, when last heard from, psnetrated into
a high northern latitude; but the success Of thia
noble and humane enterprise is yet uncertain.
Invite vonr attention to the view OF our p.esAnf
Naval establishment end resources. presented ID
the report of the Secretary Of the Navy, and the
suggestions therein made for iis improvement, to-
gether with the Naval policy recommended for
the security Of our Pacific coast, and the proiee.
ton and extension Of our commerce with Eastern
Asia. Our facilities for larger participation in
on the shore OF the Pacific, are too obvious Il b
overlooked or disregarded. The question in re-
lation to rank in the army and Navy, ard relative
rank between officers In both branches Of the seYS
vice, presented to the Executive By certain seso.
lutions II the House Of Representatives at the
last session Of Congress, have bsen submitted to
board of officers ia each branch OF The service.
and their report may be expected at On early day.
l siso earnestly recommend the enactment ofs
law authorizing officers OF the Army and Navy
to be retired from the service when incompetent
for ito active duties, tsking care 10 make suitable
provisions Tor those who have faithfully served
their country, and awarding distinctions BY re-
tanning in command those who have been particu-
l:Eiy conspicuous for galisntry and good conduct.
country 10 maintain and honor those who, to the
exclusion Of o,her pursuits, have devoted them.
selves to ito arduous service, this obligation should
not be permitted to interfere with the efficiency
Of the service. | am grat6ed st being able to
state that the estimates Of Naval expenses for the
ensuing year are less BY more than Rl yOOO, 600
than those Of the present. excluding ths appfopr,-
sti0hs which may become Necessary Tor the con.
struction Of dock upon the coast Of the Pacific;
Tor which are now being considered,
and on which = special report may be expected
early in your present session. There 10 On evil
dent justness in suggestions Of the same report,
that appropriations for the Naval servies proper
should be separated from those Tor fixed snd per.
manent objscts-such a. building docks and M.
iinary objects under the care Of the department,
which, however important, are not essentially No.
val. A revision Of the code; for the Eovsrninsnt
ot the Navy seems to require the immediate con.
'lderation Of Congress. Its systems Of crimes and
punishments had undergone no change for halt
century until the last session, though ito defects
had been often and ably pointed out, and the aba.
i,ion Of the particular species Of corporal pun
shmsn which then took plsrs without providing.
any substitute, has left the service ID state q
Effectiveness which calls for prompt correction.
therefore recommend that the whole subject -
revised without delay, and such . system sstab.
be at once humane and sffectuaI.
The accompanying report Of the Post Mastef
General presents satisfactory view Of the opss-
ations and condition Of thlt department. At tho
close OF The last fiscal year, the length Of the In
Concluded on fourth page.l