The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-06

i
say result oil our treaty Tor the protection of Mexico
Give the ndians fair field for their predatory exped
nons 10 mar republic and they wl never Ioube US |;
Mexico in good faith-and no American, take il for
granted, would advise the contrarythe existing state OF
things, and The heavy expense attending il. and
will continue unless either feed or exterminate The
Indians, or prevail upon them 10 settle down as cultiva
tors OF the soil. No treaty we make with them
no matter what their wishes, how well disposed
they may be TO fulfil their engagements-wl bind them
longer than their meass of subsistence last The mo-
ment these are lacking resort necessarily be had
the only available mode OF supply To hesitate would for
them be 10 slarve. stst.f tt&
The estimates for the next fiscal year are made from
careful consideration OF all the ccums OF the ser
vice, aud minute calculation OF its wants
II these circumstances remain unchanged and the OBJ
scts o expenditure be not greatly reduced the estimates
sy OF the whole being appropriated Unless objects OF
expenditure be reduced, the cutting OF estimates down
may produce areaages and embaass the public service
The regiment OF mounted rifemen for which means oil
transportation and supplies had been provided before the
commencement Of the year. marched across the
unent during the year, and stationed in the Territory
OF oregon, with the exception at two companies left
Fort Laramie on the route, about hundred miles in
advance OF Fort Leavenworth. For q portion of the
troops quarters erected and for Others and for stores
buildings were hired Fort Vancouveris the most mpor
tant point 70 be occupied in that Territory II is gar
rsoned and is the principal depot OF the Quartermasters
Department II 49, believe the property of the Hudsons
Bay Company; and. If it be obtained on any thing
like lair terms. it should be purchased II is said to be
can now be conveniently stationed 1t has fair pasture
ranges. fields for cavalry evouons and is accessible for
supplies through three rivers-the Columbia, the Wala
melte and the Cowtz-all communicating with the most
fertile parts OF the Territory Building materials
abundant in Oregon, and mill had been put up at
Fort Vancouver and, the last report one was to be
sent Astoria and another the Dalles For detailed
information in regard 10 the march of the rifle regiment
and establishing on the route and in Oregon, respect
fully refer to the report OF Major Cross, which is ap
pended, tmarked Al
In the course OF the year amount Of sup
plies has been sent from the Atlantic to California Two
store houses, with quarters for two companies including
officers, framed and sent from the State of Maine,
and six small iron buildings sent from New York
experiment These buildings ascertaned, will
cost tar less than those put up from materials obtained in
California
Quarters storehouses and other buildings are required
at San Diego, ella, Colorado Las Reyes, Clear Lake,
Camp Far West, Benica and San Francisco, in addition
TO buildings already put up, and at Monterey The est-
mates from the Pacific for the necessary buildings, and
including transportation for the division, twenty
six hundred thousand dollars BY sending all the mate
rails from the Atlantic, with mechanics the build
ngs il is believed that the cost may be greatly reduced
and propose, If II meet your appreciation, 10 adopt that
course
For detailed information in regard TO California, as well
Oregon respectfully refer 10 the report OF Major Vim
ton, herewith submitted, with the reports and statements
accompanying it, (marked b.
Supplies of every description due from this department
have been sent from Fort Leayenworh, in Missouri, and
San Antonio, Texas, New Mexico and trans ortaton
has been furnished for troops marching thher well
tor the supplies OF other departments Great difficulty is
mounted ,roSps 1h II , nIage in New Mexico Thewhole
haIan,s, would hardly Be sufficient for the public de-
mands ii they available; but much oil them neces-
sariy 90 into the hands of the numerous bodies OF emil
grants passing California by the OF The Gila The
difficulty can be obviaed only by such policy as shall
secure The cuhvaor not merely from attack while m
gagged in the business OF cultivation, but IN the quiet
possession OF his crop after il has matured The most
industrious portion OF the population said 10 be the
Pusbfa Paage Indians, (Mexcans) They suffer from
The depredaons OF the wild or mountain Indians They
ANITA alfnns antlrQ aFm
they armed, and the troops disposed as 10 afford their
settlements efficient protection they would not only dmin
would be the cheapest as well the bes, auxares Of
troops their operations against the hostile Indians
For information in deai refer to the subjoined report
OF Captain Brent who was nearly two years The prnc
pal in that Territory, with the reports OF
Captain Bowman and Lieutenant Whittlesey appended to
il, lmarked Co
more like army the field IN active war than IN gar
rson, and the regular force has been increased by an
auxiliary volunteer force Supplies, with extensive means
Of transportation both public and private, and horses to
mount portion OF the foot. have been furnished, as re.
qured by the general commanding. ~. 80
The territory Of Texas is so vast that the troops Tor ITS
defence as well as the trains to supply the posts its
foDief have 10 routes long and 80 entirely
unmproved, that the exene oil transportation and of all
supplies is extremely heavy. In connexion with this
subject took occasion in my last annual report TO ask
the attention OF your predecessor to the importance
Of improving the harbors rivers, and roads oil Texas
take the liberty OF asking your attention to the
matter The impro of the harbors Of Texas, with
the navigation o the Rio Gfande the Guadaoupe Colo
RADIO, Trinity, and Upper Red rivers with the construction
OF good roads between the frontier posts and those posts
and accessible points the coast and nvers, would be
worth infinitely in the defence OF the frontier than
any system Of forifcation.
In regard to the state OF the service the frontier OF
Texas and the condition OF the Rio Gande respectfully
submit copies OF reports from Captain French (marked ID
and Major Chapman, (marked 10
Transportation and supplies were furnished throughout
the year for the troops operating in fonda also trans
poraton for captured Indians IRON the scene OF opera
lions 10 New Orleans. .t
In relation 10 matters there, respectfully refer TO the
report OF Major Myers tmarked F,) with the memoranda
appended. ~
In regard to army expenditures generally may moi be
oot OF lace here remark that the cost of supporting
given number OF troops the same 10 most oil the admin
israiive departments OF the military service, no matter
where they be stationed. In the Pay and Subsistence
Departments the allowances being determined by posi-
tive law the expense depends upon the actna force, and
IL materially affected only by the increase or dmlnuton
Of numbers and grades In the Quarermasters Depart
ment the case entirely different. There the expend
lures are influenced by all the varying and contingent
circumstances OF the service well as the condition and
resources OF the country in which the troops are en-
ployed Take for instance, New Mexico and the posts
on the Oregon routealso Texas and both pay and sub
sistence depend upon the number employed and would
be about the same the force there stationed on the
Atlantic But from the remoteness OF all posts 10 these
Territories from the sources OF supply, and the
and danger attending the communication with them. the
expense OF the Quartemastcfs Department n from three
10 i've hundred per cent there than would DO on
the Alantc-in some items more than thousand per
cent As the troops become active, or as their
numbers are increased al these remote stations NE ex
i - -. - n ~ aAa