The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-12-05

Qdy. our System Oi lauO laws, With SIR
notifications as may be necessary owe,
the State of California and territories ot
Utah and New Mexico. The miners
lands OF California will, of course, forr-
ar exception 10 any general system vhi.b
may be adopted. Various methods AZ
1 Gisposing of them have been suggested
was at first inclined to favor the system n
leasing, as it seemed to promise the larres
revenue TO Government, and to afford n.
best security against monopolies; but fur.
fther reflection, and our experience in lea,.
ing the lead mines and selling lands upop
credit, have brought my mind to the con.
clusion that there would be great dificul.
ty in collecting the rents, and that the re.
lation of debtor and creditor, between DE
citizens and the Government, would BE-
attended with many mischevious eonse.
quences. / therefore recommend that, In
stead of retaining the mineral lands unde,
the permanent control of the Government.
they be divided into small parcels and sold
under such restrictions, as to quanty and
time, as will insure the best price, AM
guard most eff,ectually against combins.
tions of capitalists TO obtain mOnopolies
The annexation of Texas and the &C.
QUESTION Of California and New Mexi,o
have given increased importance TO or
Indian relations. The various tribes
brought under our jurisdiction by these Ell
largements of our boundaries are estma-
ted to embrace population OF one hun
dred and twenty -four thousand.
Texas and New Mexico are surround.
ed by powerful tribes of Indians, who are
the source of constant terror ard annoy
ance to the inhabitants. Separating into
small predatory bands, and always mount.
ed, they overrun the country, devastating
farms, destroying crops, driving of whole
herds of cattle, and occasionally murder
ing the inhabitants or carrying them into
captivity. The great roads leading into
the country, are infested with them, where
by travelling is rendered extremely dan
gerous, and immigration is almost entirely
arrested. The Mexican frontier, which,
by the 1lth article of the treaty Of Gus
dalupe Hidalgo. we are bound to pro.ecI
against the Indians within our border, Is
exposed to these invas.ons, equally with
our own. The military force stationed il
that country, (although forming large
proportion of the army,) is represented as
entirely inadequate 10 our own protection
and the fulfilment of the treaty stipulations
with Mexico. The principal deficiency
is in cavalry, and | recommend that Con
gress should, at as early a period as Prac-
ticable, provide for the raising Of one OF
more regiments OF mounted men.
For further suggestions on this subject,
and others connected with our domestic
interests, and the defence of our frontier,
rE he
of the Interior and of The Secretary Of
War.
commend also to your favorable con-
sideration the suggestion contained IN the
last mentioned report, and IN the letter OF
the general-n-chief, relative to the estab
lishment of an asylum for the relic! OF
disabled and destitute soldiers. This
subject appeals SO strongly 10 your SYM
pathies that it would be superfuous IN
me to say anything more, than barely to
express my cordial appreciation oi the
proposed object. ,..-
The navy continues 10 give protection
TO our commerce and other national inter
ess in the different quarters of the globe.
and with the exception of a single steam
er on the Northern lakes, the vessels IN
commission are distributed IN six different
SOU adrons.
The report of the head of that Depart
ment will exhibit the services of these
squadrous and of the several vessels EN-
ployed il each during the past year.
! is source of qualification that, while they
have been constantly prepared for any
hostile emergency, they have everywhere
met with the respect and courtesy, due as
well TO the dignity as to the peaceful ais-
positions and just purposes of the na'lon'
| The two brigantines accepted oy "a:
government from a generous citizen oi "
York and placed under command oil an
officer OF the navy, TO proceed to the ArS'1'
seas in quest of the British consmanoeI'
Sir John Franklin, and his companions ID
compliance with the act of Congress, a2
proved IN Nav last, had when last hear99
from penetrated into high northernisu
tude; but the success OF this noble anu
humane enterprise is vet uncertain.
i invite your atte ntion to the view o. y
present naval esta bills hment and resources pr
sented in the report of the Secretary OF =.
NAVY, and the suggestions therein maze
: its improvement. together with the naFai Po
cv recommended for the security OF our "a
ciic Coast. and the protection and oxtehs,o-
of our commerce with Eastern Asia. osl
ia ciliues for larger participation IN tn" us'
of the East, by means of our recon; ''lsalsus
on the shores Of the Pacific, arc too oo''O'.
to be overlooked or dsregarded
The questions iu rotation to raDk 70 tIe .
my aud navy, and relative rank be'gess oI.lIo',
of the two branches of the serv e, pt'otr"t -
to the Executive by certain reso i1tons %
House of Representatives,, at the Ast $50 os"i