Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-06
NO.. 12.

tOnSs III NlcW, OF Nills BlCab litcltoti
1 deem it my duty again to urge upon Congress
to make such appropriations for these improve
ments as they may doom necessary.
The survey of the Delta Of the Mississippi,
with view to the prevention OF the overflows
that have proved so disastrous to that region OF
country, haze boon nearly completed, aud the
reports thereof arc now in course of preparation,
and will shortly he laid before you.
The protection of our southwestern frontier,
and all the adjacent Mexican States, against the
Indian tribcs within our border, has claimed m y
earnest and constant attention. Congress hav-
ing failed, at tho last session, to adopt my re-
commendation that an additional regiment oi
mounted men specially adapted TO that service
should be raised, all that rcmaindcd to be done
was to make the best use of the means at my
disposal. Accordingly, all the troops adapted
TO that service that GOULD he properly spared
from other quarters have been concentrated on
chat frontier and officers Of high reputation Sc.
iectcd to command them. A new arrangement
OF the military posts has also been made, where
by the troops arc brought nearer to the Mexi-
can frontier and to the tribes they arc intended
to ovcrawc.
Sufficient time has not yet claspcd to realize
all the benefits that arc expected to result from
these arrangements, but have every reason to
hope that they will clf,ctually check their mar
audng expeditions. The nature of the country,
which furnishes little for the support of an army
and abounds in places of refuge and conceal
ment is remarkably well adapted TO this prcda.
tory warfare and we can scarcely hope that
any military force, combined with the greatest
vigilance, can entirely suppress it.
by the treaty Of Guadaloupc llidnlo We are
bound to protect the territory Of Mexico against
the incursions OF the savage tribes within our
border "with equal diligence and energy" as if
The same were made within our territory or
'aSanst our citizens. Ihavc cnlcavorcd to COM
iply, as far as possible with this provision Of the
hrraty.
Orders have been givcA to the officers com
'manding on that frontier to consider tho McXi-
can territory and its inhabitants rs equally with
our own entitled 10 their protection ard to
make all their plans and arrangements with
view to the attainment Of this object. In'truc-
tions have also been given to the Indian Com
missioncrs and agents among these tribes, in all
treaties, to make the clauses designed for the
protection of our own citizens apply also 70
those of Mexico. l have no reason to doubt
that these Instructions have been fully carried
into effect. Nevertheless, il is probable that
in spite of all our efforts, some of the neighbour
ing States Of Mexico may have suffered, "a our
own have from dcprcduiions by tho Indians.
10 the difficulties of ofdclendng our own terri
tory, as above mentioned arc supcraddcd, in
defending that of Mexico, those that arise from
its rcmotcncss, from the fact that VIC have no
right TO sta'i1n our troops within her limits,
and that there is M cii lent military force on
the Mexican side to 60 operate with our own
So long as this shall continue to be the case, the
number and activity OF our troops will rather
increase than diminish tho evil rs the indians
will naturally turn towards that country where
they encounter tic least resistance. Yet these
troops arc necessary TO sub luc them, and to COM
pei them to make and observe treaties. Until
this shall have been done, neither country will
enjoy any security from their attacks.
Tho Indians in California, who had previous
ly appeared of pcnccahle character and dispos-
cd 10 cultivate the friendship of the whites,
have recently committed several act of hostility
As large portion of the rcinfnrccmcnts sent to
the Mexican frontier were drawn from the Pa
citic, the military force now stationed there is
considered entirely inadequate to its defence
1t cannot be increased, however, without an in.
crease of the army; AMI again recommend
that measures as indispensable to the protection
of the frontier.
l invite your attention to the suggestion on
this subject and on Others connected with his
Department, in the report OF the Secretary Of
War.
The appropriations for the support of the
army during the current fiscal year ending 30th
June next, were reduced far below the estimate
submitted by the Department. The consequence
of this reduction is considerable deficiency, TO
which invite your carly attention.
The expenditures OF that Department, for the
year ending Both juno l-st, were go, ,060 2GS ,5S.
The estimates for the year commencing lst
July next and ending June 3Oth, 1858, arc ST.
S)5,77j,S3; showing u reduction Of $l,l6l,-
1925.
The Board Of Commissioners, to whom the
management of the affairs of the Military Asy-
lum created by the a,t of March last was en-
trusted, have selected n site for tho establishment
of an Asylum in the vicinity of this city, which
has been approved by me subject to the pro-
duction of satisfactory title.
The report of the Secretary OF the Navy will
exhibit the condition Of the public service undcr
the supervision of that Department Oar naval
force ah1at during the present year has been
actively and useiully employed in giving pro-
lection to our widely extended and increasing
commerce and interests in the various quarters
of the globe, and our Dag has everywhere at
forded the security and received the respect in
spired by the Justice and lihcraity of our inter-
course, and the dignity and power OF the nation.
The advantages of science in nautical af-
fairs have rarely been more strlklngly illustra-
ted than in the fact stated in the report of the
Navy Department, that, by means OF the wind
and current charts, projected aud prepared
by Lieutenant Mnury, the Superintendent of
the Naval observatory. the passage from the
Atlantic to the Pacific ports of our country
has been shortened 10y about forty days,
The estimates for the support of the Navy
nnd Marine Corps the ensuing fiscal year will
a,e found to be S5,e56,472 10, the estimates
dor the current year being S5,90O,62l.
The estimates for special objects under the
control Of this Department amount 10 S2GSl,-
O0O 30 n1ninsf 80 0I0 $50 for thp nrcSeut
year, the increase being occasioned by the ad-
GiitiOnal mai service on the Pacific coast, aud
the construction of the dock in California, au-
thorized nj the last session of Congress, aud
some slight additions under the head OF im-
provements and repairs in navy yards, build
ings and machinery.
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