The republic., 1850-12-04


race might be induced, portion of them were
by the Spsnards, to abandon their wandering life,
to live in villages, and resort TO agricultural pur
suits.
The regiment of mounted rinemen, which, when
the last report made by this Department, was
on its march te Oregon, reached its destination in
safety, having, IN accordance with the act Of 10Th
May, 1916, established a line of military stations
along the route to Oregon. In consequence of the
scarcity OF forage and provisions at OF these
posts, (Fort Hall ) it was subsequently abandoned,
and the troops stationed there transferred to
another post near the Daes and to Fort Vancouver,
on the Columbia river
Since the conference held with their chiefs in
September, iSt9, by Major General Twiggs, the
email remnant OF the Seminole tribe remaining in
Florida have abstalped from all acts OF hostility
against the whites In of the frontier counties
the sudden disappearance of youth recently
caused some alarm among the Inhabitants. Or
ders, however, were given to the agent residing
among them to institute rigid inquiry into the
matter and the result of the CATION has been
the conviction on his part that the Indians had
agency in it. Every Information, on the contrary,
that has reached the Department leads TO the belief
that this feeble band at length satisfied Of the
utter fuiity OF prolonging contest with the
whites. Under these circumstances, portion OF
the troops stationed in Florida have been recently
Withdrawn. A few companies, however, have been
left to guard against the possibility Of another OUT
break.
The Indians remaining in Florida although their
number does not exceed hundred men,
their neighborhood, and no doubt tend very much
to retard the settlement OF that part of the State
So long as they remain III the country collisions
will continually occur, and will only end with the
extinction of the No efforts, therefore, have
been will be spared to induce them to CRATE
and join the great body of their nation in the West;
and it is confidently believed that this desirable
suit will sooner be attained by peaceabc means
than by the employment of force.
Information has been communicated to this De-
partment that, through the fundamentally and
persuasion of the Governor Of Minnesota and our
agents stationed among them, the Chippewa tribe
OF Indians had been prevailed upon TO make
treaty of peace with the Sioux, with whom they
were at war, and who had been the aggressors; that
shortly after the treaty concluded, it was bro
ken by the Sioux, who had made an unprovoked
attack on the Chippewas. As the treaty had been
made at the earnest solicitation and almost COM
mand Of the Governor and the agent, and the most
solemn assurances had been given by them both
to the Chppewas that if it violated the United
States would interfere to protect them and redress
their wrongs, the Department has been invoked to
make good these pledges. II is highly important
that these people should respect the authority and
sonfde in the promises OF the agents OF this Govern
ment Ii is deemed advisable, therefore, that
small force be sent against the Sioux. No doubt is
entertained that the appearance of this force
among them will suffice TO ntimidate them, and
prevent what might otherwise be protracted and
sanguinary war
The Board of Military and Naval Officers ap-
pointed to examine the Pacific coast of the United
-
suitable for Notifications and naval depots, have
concluded their labors. Only preliminary reports
have as yet been made, but the Department is in
formed that certain positions have been designated
as well adapted to military and naval purposes.
Measures have been taken TO reserve these sites
from sale, but more detailed surveys will be
sary before the works can be commenced. The
delay which this operation will is the less
be regretted, as the high prices of both labor and
materials in all that region would render IL inox
pedient to commence the construction of any inn
portant works on that coast at present.
In virtue of an act passed in March, ls49 max
ing appropriation for military and geographical
surveys west of the Mississippi, party, under the
direction of Captain Stansbury, dispatched in
that year with orders TO explore and survey the
gon in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake. Ii is
understood that the party have completed their la
bors, and are now on their way home. As soon as
their report is made il shall be laid before you.
Under similar appropriation made at the last
session of Congress, party has been organized,
under the command Of Captain Sitgreayes, with di-
rections TO explore the river Zun, from Its head
waters to its junction with the Colorado, and the
latter river from that point TO the Gulf Of Cali
fornia.
An appropriation made at the last session Of
Congress TO survey the Delta of the Mississippi
river, with view TO the deepening of the channel
at its mouth and the prevention of overf1ows. The
execution Of this work, important to a large por
ton of the Mississippi valley, has been confded TO
Major Long and Captain Humphreys, two accom-
pshed officers of the corps of Typographical Engi-
necrs In addition 10 which, MIR Charles Ellet, r.,
a distinguished civil engineer, has been employed
TO examine this interesting subject and report the
result of his observations to this Department. These
two parties will act independently Of each other,
and yet will cooperate whenever IL may be found
advantageous TO do
Prior 10 the passage Of the law establishing a
Territorial Government in New Mexico, the inhab-
itants Of that country had held conyennon,
adopted State constitution, and proceeded 10 put
IL IN operation. On the other hand the officer in
command of the military department refused % re-
he bua etabli he'd IN ppt
an end to a conflict of authorities which might be
productive Of unpleasant sequences, coon the
above mentioned law was passcd Instructions were
dispatched TO the officer IN command 20 abstain
from all further interference in the civil and polit
cal affairs of the country.
The Military Academy continues, by its excel
lent discipline and admirable course Of instruction,
to afford ample guarantees that II will realize the
expectations Of the country and sustain the high
reputation it has hitherto enjoyed.
beg leave to renew the recommendation Of my
immediate prcdecessor Of the formation Of retired
list OF officers OF the army. There are many ofh-
who, in consequences of their advanced age, Of
wounds or of disease contracted in the service.
entirely disabled, but who nevertheless full
pay. IL would be more in accordance with justice,
and doubt with the feelings Of the officers them.
selves, that they should receive lees pay and be le
gally exempted from duty. BY this means justice
TO the officers would be reconciled with economy
and the efficiency Of the service.
In connexion with this subject beg leave 10 call
your attention TO the remarks contained in the
port of the Genoraln Chief relative to the ostab-
lishment Of an asylum for disabled and destitute
soldiers.
The Quartcrmasters Department employs in its
service about five hundred tcamstcrs, who arc hired
men, and have recently eracted enormous wages.
Besides, not being subject to the restraints Of mill
ary discipline, they are sometimes very turbulent
and ungoy yernable. To obviate both these difficult
tics IL is recommended that authority be given 90
enlist such number Of them may be required
by the cxigencies Of the service, and that higher
rate Of pay be allowed them than to the privates
in the army.
The usual annual estimates have been furnished
to the Secretary of the Treasury, to be by him sub.
mtted TO Congress. They embrace detailed re-
ports from the heads Of the bureaus Of this Depart
ment, of the sums that will be required by them
respectively during the year commencing on the
first Of July, 1851 and exceed in the aggregate the
estimates for the current year. TIN. excess is
owing chiefly to the following causes First. No
appropriation wRs required by the Subsistence De-
partmcnt during the current year, there being n
balance hand resulting from over estimates
during the war; sales Of subsistence storos, &c.
sufficient for the service Of the year. Second by
an act passed at the last session of Congress the
rank aud file Of all the companies serving on the
Western frontier was greatly increased. Third.
by another act passed towards the close of the
same session, the pay OF all the officers and men