The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-09
VOLUME III.-NUMBER 239.

communication, the best and most expeditions of
| which the nature of the country will admit" be-
tween the valley If the Mississippi and The Pacific,
was brought to your notice by my predecessor in
! his annual message and as the reasons which he
presented in favor Of the still exist in ful
! force beg leave 10 call your attention to them,
| and to iepeat the recommendations then made by
! him.
The uncertainty which exists n regard to the
validity Of land titles in California is a subject
| which demands your early consideration. Large
| bodies Of land in that State are claimed under
! grants said to have been made by authority Of the
| Spanish and Mexican Governments. MANY of
/ these nave not been perfected, Others have been
| revoked, and some are believed 20 be fraudulent
| But until they shall have been judicialy investi-
gated, they Will continue 10 retard the settlement
| and Improvement Of the country l. therefore re-
| sFectutly recommend that provision be made hv
! law for the appoInimentOf of commissioners to exam
| Inc all such claims, with view to their fnal al.
| justmsnt.
also beg leave to call your attention TO the pro
priety Of extending, at an early day our system Of
| land laws, with such notifications as may be lie.
cessary, over the State of California and the Ter
rtores Of Utah and New Mexico. The mineral
lands Of California will Of course, fo N an excep-
| ton 10 any general system which may be adopted
| Various methcis of disposing of them have been
| suggested was at first inclined to favor the sys.
TEN OF leasing, as 1t seemed 10 promise the largest
revenue to the Government, and TO afford the best
security against mOnUp9lIes hut further reflection,
| and our experience in leasing the lead mines and
| selling lands upon credit, have brought my mind 10
the conclusion that there would be great difficulty
IN collecting the rents, and that the relation OF
debtor and creditor between the citizens and Gov
| ernment would be attended with MANY mischiey-
| GUS consequences. | therefore recommend that
instead of retaining the mineral lands under the
| permanent control of the Government, they be di.
Vided into small parcels and sold, under such re-
strctons, as to quantity and time, as will insure
the best price, and guard most effectually against
combinations of capitalists to obtain monopolies
The annexation of Texas and the acquisition of
California and New Mexico, have given increased
Importance to our Indian relations. The various
tribes brought under our jurisdiction by these en-
largemenls of our boundaries estimated to en-
brace population of one hundred and twenty four
| thousand.
Texas ard New Mexico are surrounded by pow
eriul tribes OF Indians, who are source of con-
slant terror and annoyance to the inhabitants. Se-
parating inIo small predatory bands, and always
mounted, they overrun the country, devastating
farms, destroying crops, driving off whole herds OF
ca;'ls, and occasionally numbering the inhabitants
or carrying them into captivity. The great roads
! leading into the country infested with them,
whereby travelling is rendered extremely danger
Gus, and immigration Is almost entirely arrested
The Mexican frontier, which, by the i1h article
of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, we are bound
to project against the Indians within our border is
exposed 10 these excursions equally with our
own. The military force stationed in that cOun-
| ty lathOugh forming a large proportion of the
army is represented as entirely inadequate to our
own protection and the fulfment of our treaty sti-
pulations with Mexico. The princpal deficiency
is in cavalry, and | recommend that Congress
should, at as early period practicable, provide
for the raising OF one or more regiments OF mounted
men.
For further suggestions on this subject, and
Others connected with our domestic interests, and
| the defence of our frontier, refer you to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior and of the Sec
| relary Of War
commend also to your favorable consideration
| tie suggestion contained in the last mentioned re-
port and in the letter of the General in Chief rela
tive to the establishment of an asylum for the re
lief of disabled and destitute soldiers This subject
| appeals SO strongly to your sYmpathies, that
| would be superfluous in me to say any thing more
! than barely to express my cordial appreciation
: the proposed object.
/ The Navy continues to give protection to ou
commerce and other national interests in the differ
| ent quarters OF the globe and, with the exception
of single steamer the Northern Lakes, the yes
sells in commission distributed in six differen
squadrons.
The report of the head of that department will
exhibit the services of these sqradro1s and of The
several vessels employed in each during the pas
year. 1t is source Disqualification that, while they
have been constantly prepared for any hostile
gency, they have every where met with the respec
and courtesy, due well to the dignity as to the
peaceful dispositions and just purposes OF the ma
, ton
The two brgantines accepted by the Govern
, , ment from generous citizen of NewYork, ant
placed under the command of an officer of the Navy
to proceed to the Arctic Seas in quest Of the Brit
ish commander Sir John rankin, and his com
panlons, in compliance with the act of Congress
approved in May last, had, when last heard from
penetrated into high Northern latitude but tn
success of this noble and humane enterprise is ye
uncertain.
invite your attention to the view of our presen
naval establishment and resources presented in tn
j report of the Secretary of the Navy and the sug
he
with the naval policy recommended for the securit
of Pacific coast and the protection and exter
; sion of our commerce with Eastern Asia. Or
y facilities for larger participation in the trade
the East, by means OF our recent settlements on tn
shores Of the Pacific are too obvious to be owe
looked or dsregarded.
. The questions in relation to rank in the Arm
and Navy, and relative rank between officers of I'll
two branches OF the service, presented to the Ex
cutlve by certain resolutions of the House of Repre-
u senatives, at the last session OF Congress, hay
been submitted to board of officers in each branc
. of the service and their report may be expected Z
{ an early day.
. ! also earnestly recommend the enactment of
:, | law authorizing officers OF the Army and Navy
! be retired from the service, when incompetent iC
its vigorous and active duties taking care to max
!. suitable provision for those who have faithful
:: served their country and awarding distinctions,
# retaining in appropriate commands those who haV
- been particularly conspicuous Tor gallantry ant
good conduct While it is the obligation of the countr
>. to MAINTAIN and honor those who, to the excluslo
y of other pursuits have devoted themselves to its
~ duous service, this obligation should not be permi
l. ted to interfere with the efficiency OF the servlc
a itself
,g am gratifed in being able to state that the e
10 Inmates OF expenditure for the Navy in the ensuir
year are less by more than one million OF dollar
re than those OF the present, excepting the approprl
J. ton which may become necessary for the constru
Is ton OF dock the coast of the Paaiic, propo
|. tons for which now being considered and
st which a special report may be expected early
G your present session
IS There is an evident business in the suggestion
l. the same report that appropriations for the Nav
e service proper should be separated from those
y fixed and permanent objects, such as building doc
Il and navy yards, and the fixtures attached and frt
10 the extraordinary objects under the care of the
parment which, however important are not esse
|" italy Naval
Y, A revision of the code for the government OF t
1t Navy seems to require the immediate consideratl
- O! Congress Its system of crimes and PunS
u ments had undergone no change for halt Il centuI
70 until the last session, though its defects have be
y, often and ably pointed out, and the abolition o
l. particular species of corporal punishment WIN
\ then took place. without providing any subsum
has left the service in state of effectiveness viii
u calls for prompt correction. therefore rceomme
a. that the whole subject be revised without deli
W ~ and such system established for the eniorceme
,,a of discipline, as shall be at once humane q
IN | eiTeetual.
The accompanying report OF the Postmaster G
"a eral presents a satisfactory view of the operat
1u ,, and condition of that Department. /