The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-12-09
PORTSMOUTH, O. MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 8, 1850,

Ihe importance of opening "a line Of COM
munlcation, the best and most expeditions Of
4 OF which the nature of the country will ad-
A NIT between the valley of the Mississippi
and the Pacific, was brougot to your notice
i by my predecessor, in his annual message:
and as the reasons which he presented in Ia
vof of the measure still exists in full force,
| labeg leave to call your attention to them,
| and 10 repeat the Recommendation then made
by him. FB8 LrG asaiiAl q 3a6il89
| The uncertainty which exists in regard to
the validity Of land titles in California is
subject which demands your early considera-
tom Large bodies Of land in that State are
] claimed under grants said TO have been made
4 by authority OF the Spanish and Mexican
/ Governments. Many Of these have not been
perfected, Others have been revoked, and some
are believed TO be fraudulent, But until they
shall have been jndiciously investigated, they
will continue to retard the settlement and
improvement of the country. therefore,
| respectfully recommend that provisions be
made by law, for the appointment of commits
sioners to examine all snch claims with o
view to their final adjustment. 5 "a
Ialso beg leave to call your attention to
the propriety Of extending at an early day
our system ofland laws, with such modifi-
cations as may be necessary over the State Of
California and the territories of Utah and
New Mexico. The mineral lands of Califor-
MIA will, Of course, form an exception to any
general system which may be adopted. Nari-
Gus methods ofdisposing Of them have been
suggested. was at first inclined to favor
the system Of leasing, as it seemed to prom
ise the largest revenue to the Government,
and to afford the best security against mon
opolies but further reflection, and our expe-
rience in leasing the lead mines and sell
ing lands upon credit, have brought my mind
to the conclusion 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 at
tended with many mischieyous consequences
therefore recommend that instead Of retain
ing the mineral lands under the permanent
control Of the Government, they be divided
into small parcels and sold under such re-
striction as to quantity and time, as will in
sure tie best price, and guard most effectual-
! ly against combinations Of capitalists to OBJ
tain monopolies,
The annexation of Texas and the acquisi-
tion Of California and New Mexico have Civ
en- increased importance to our Indian rela.
l tions. The various tribes brought under our
jurisdiction by these engagements Of oul
boundaries are estimated to embrace popu-
lation of one hundred and twenty four thou
sand rg
Texas and New Mexico are surrounded By
, powerful tribes of Indians, who are
source Of constant terror and annoyance to the
inhabitants. Separating into small predatory
bands, and always mounted, they overrur
the country, devastating farms, destroying
crops, driving off whole herds Of cattle, and
occasionally numbering the inhabitants OF car
rying them into captivity. The great roads
leading into the country are infested with
them, whereby travelling is rendered extreme,
ly dangerous, and immigration is almost en-
) tirely arrested. i,5 ',r.t,sll
Il The Mexican 'front.' ers, which, by the lltl
|; article OF the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo
we are bound 10 protect against the Indians
within our borders, is exposed to these in
cursions equally with our own. The militia
!. ry force stationed in that country (altho
forming large proportion Of the army il
r. pre- stnted as entirely inadequate TO on
own projection and the fulfillment Of ou
p. treaty slipulations with Mexico. The prin
cip4I deficiency is in cavalry, and ! recon-
, mend that Congress should, at as eaily pc
!, fiod as practicable, provide for the raising 0
: one or more regimenlsof mounted men.
r For further suggestions on this subject
and Others connected with our domestic in
1 terests, and the defence Of our frontier, l re
). fer you to the report of the Secretary Of th
q Interior, and Of the Secretary of War.
recommend also to your favorable ccnsid
! Grafton the suggestion contained in the las
: mentioned report, and in the letter Of tn
: general -in-chief, relative to the establish
q rnent of an asylum for the relief Of disable
. and destitute soldiers. This subject appear
!. SO strongly to your sympathies that II woul
e be superlluous in me to say any thing NOR
n than barely to express my cordial approbatio
of the proposed object
N The navy continues to give protection to o.
i commerce and other national interests in Y
4. different quarters of the globe, and, with II
n Exception Of single steamer on the Nortt
10 Iem Lakes, the vessels in commission are di
as tributed in six dif1erept squadrons.
G. The reportof the head of that Departnel
ed will exhibit the services Of these squadron
n and Of the several vessels employed in ea'
" during the past year. tits source of graf
e. fication that, while they have been constant
u prepared for any hostile emergency, they ha
Of leyerywhere met with the respect and court
N. sy, due as we'll TO the dignity as to the peat
ell full dispositions and Just purposes OF the
raj ton.
lso The two brigantines accepted by the &c
mt eminent from a generous citizen OF M
re- York, and placed under the command OF
the officer of the navy, to proceed to the Arc
JUS seas in quest Of the British commander,
by John Franklin, and his companions, in co
md pliance with the act Of Congress approved
mr. Nav last, had, when last heard from, penet
I'M ted into a high northern latitude: but
lift success Of thisnoble and humane enterpris
tied vet uncertain. IA .,ls
uo- | invite your attention to the view Of
nus, present naval establishment and resour
lee presented in the report Of the Secretary
nus the Navy, and the suggestions therein m
cni- for its Improvement, together with the nj
TINS policy recommended for the security Of
Pacific coast, and the protection and ex
fess, sion Of our commerce with Eastern Asi
inc, Our facilities for a larger participation IN
cath trade ofithe East, BY reason Of our re
and settlementso on the shores Of the Pacific
me- too obvious to be overlooked or disregard
niul The uuestions in relation TO rank In
ptt,,as army and navy, and relative rank bet,
De- - - - -f ~. f...,. l....,l..e s.f 4hn ca.