Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-12-09

By law, @sr the appointment Of oemmis- !
sionersao examine all such claims with La
view 5r their final adjustment. |
I also beg leave TO call your attention
10 the propsiety Of extending, at IN 'early
day. our system of land laws, with such
notifications. az may be necessary o~er-the
State Of California aad the territssies .of
Utah and New Mexico. The ,minera;
lands Of CalGefn,a will, of course, form an
exception to .any general sys.em which
may be adopted. Various methods OF dis.
posing OF them have been suggested.
was III first inclined to favor the system Of
leasing. as it seemed TO promise the largest
revenue 10 Government, and 10 afford the =
best security agains. monopolies but fur
.hsr reflection: and our experience, in leas-
log the lead mines and selling lands upon
credit, have brought my miad 10 the con-
cclusion that there would be great difficulty
In collecting the rents, and that the relation
Of Debtor and creditor, between the citizens
and The Government, would be- attended
with many mischievous consequences. il
therefore recommend that, instead Of re.
tanning The mineral lands uaaer the per.
m1nent coa.rol of the Government, they
be divided into small parcels aad sold, un-
der such restrictions, as 10 quantity and
time, as will ensure the best price, and
guard most effeciually against combinations
Gi.capi,alists TO obtain nonopolies.
The annexation Of Texas and the ac-
qaisition Of California ard New Mexico
have given increased importance to our
lad.an relations. The various tribes brought
.ande: suniarisdic.ion by these enlargemenfs
.cf Ger boundaries are estimated TO embrace
"A population Of one hun dred and twenty.
four thousand. =
Texas and New Mexico are surrounded
by powerful tribes Of Indians, who are the
source Of cans,ant terror and annoyance
to tho inhubitanss. Separating into small
predatory bands, and always mounted, they
.everrun thescountry, devasting farms, de.
sroying crops, driving off whole herds Of
cattle. and occasionally murdefing the M
habitan,s or carrying them into captivity.
The great roads leading into the country,
ara infested with them, whereby travelling
is rendered extremely dangerous. and imi.
grafton is almost entirely arrested. The
1dexicen ffoH,ier, which, by the llth ar
'iirie Of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
we are bound tr protect against the Indians
within our border, is exposed 10 these in
corsions. equally with our own. Ths nail.
itnry force stationed in that country, (al.
thssgh forming large portion of the ar
:ny.J is represented as entirely ina5eauate
10 ear own protection and the fulGlmeEt o:
the ,resy stipulasiens with Novice. The
principal deficiency rs in cavalry, and |
recommend that Congress should, a, as
early a period as practicable. provide for
the raising Of one or more regiments Of
mounted men.
Fer farther suggestions on this subject,
and others connected with our domestic
in,erets, and the defence Of our frontier,
refer you toithe report Of the Secretary Of
theiIu,erior and of,the Secretary of War.
I,cnmmend elsoto your favorable Gen.
siderarios the suggestion contained n,the
last mentioned report, and in The lstter of
the general.in.c chief, relative tothe esiab.
lishment OF an asylum for the relief Of dis
ab.ed aud destitute soldiers, This subject
appeals SO strongly to your sympathies
sha. 1t .weuld be e4perAuous 10 me 10 say
ANYTHING more, than barsly to'ezpress my
cordial appreciation Of the proposed object
The navy continues to give protectien
10 our commerce anG other national inter.
ests .in the different quarters Of the glubs,
nnd with the exception Of single steamer
on the Northern lskes. the vessels in COM
mission ;are distributed in six different
sqnadrons.
The report of:ihe head OF that Depart.
ment will exhibit the services of these
sgaaHfons and of the several vessels EN-.
pieyed lin each during the past yeaE. II il
Source Of qualification that, while they
have been constantly prepared for nay hos
tile emergency. they have everywhere met
with the respect and courtesy, jue as well
to the dignity as TO the peaceful dispositions
and jus, purposes Of the nation.
The two brigantines accepted by the
government from generous citizen Of
New York and placed under The command
uf an ofEcer.sf the navy, to proceed 10 the
Arctic seas in cues. Of the British COM
mandsf, Sir JOAN Franklin. and his COM
panions, ia compliance with the act of
Congress, approved in May las.. bad.
when last heard from. penetrated INTO =
high northern lasilnde: bot ssae success Of
this noble and humane ekserprise is yet.
uncertain.
invite your attention 10 the view Of
our present naval establishment und re.
sources presented in the report of the Sec.
retary Of the Navy. and the suggestions
therein made for its improvement, together
with the naval policy recommended for the
security of sur PaeiGc coast, and the pro-
lection and extension OF eur commerce
with Eaaera Asia. Oar facilities for a
larger participahon 10 The trsde Of she East.
by means Of our recent settlement, on the
shores of the Pacific, are zoe asasioss to be
overlooked or disregarded.
The questions in relation to raak ia the
army and navy, and relative rank between
officers of the Two branches Of i've service,
presented 10 The Executive by certain res
siutions Of 4he House Of Representatives,