The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-12-11

are now extending to the sources of the great
rivers which empty into, and form q mart Of the
MISSISSIPPI and the value Of the public lands in
those regions would be greatly enhanced by
freeing the navigation of those waters from OBJ
strucuons. In view, therefore, of this great in
/ teres'' aeem IL my duty again to urge upon
/ Congress to make such appropriations for these
! improvements as they may deem necessary
i The survey of the Delta Of the Mississippi
with a view to the prevention of the oyertiows
that have proved SO disastrous to that region OF
country, have been nearly completed and the
reports thereof are now in course of preparation
and will shortly be laid before YOU
i The protection Of our southwestern frontier
and OF the adjacent Mexican States against the
! Indian tribes within cur boarder, has claimed
my earnest and constant attention Congress
having failed, at the last session. to adopt Inv
recommendation that an additional regiment of
mounted men specially adapted to that service
I should be raised, all that remained to be done
was to make the best use of the means at my
disposal Accordingly, all the troops adapted to
that service that could properly be spared from
other quarters have been concentrated on that
frontier and officers of high reputation selected
! to command them. new Arrangement of the
military posts has also been made, whereby the
troops are brought nearer the Mexican frontier
and to the tribes they are intended to oyerawe.
! Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to realize
all the benefits that are expected to result from
these arrangements, but have every reason to
hope that they will effectually check their ma
rauding expeditions The nature of the coun-
try, which furnishes little for thessupport of the
I army and abounds in places of refuge and con-
cealment, is remarkably well adapted to this
predatory warfare; and We scarcely hope
that any military force, combined with the
greatest vigilance, can entirely suppress it,
By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo we are
bound to protect the territory of Mexico against
the ncursions Of the savage tribes within our
border with equal diligence and energy" as if
the same were made within our territory or
against our citizens. have endeavored to com
ply, as far as possible, with this provision of the
treaty. Orders have been given to the officers
commanding that frontier to consider the
Mexican territory and its inhabitants as equally
with our own entitled to their protection and to
make all their plans and arrangements with
view to the attainment of this object Instruc-
tons have also been given to the Indian COM
missloners and agents among these tribes, in all
treaties, to make the clauses designed for the
protection of our own citizens apply also to those
of Mexico. L have no reason to doubt that
these instructions have been fully carried into
effect. Nevertheless, it is probable that in spite
of all our efforts some of the neighboring States
of Mexico may have suffered, as our own have.
from depreciation by the Indians
| To the difficulties of defending our own terri
tory, as above mentioned, are superadded, in
defending that of Mexico, those that arise from
its remoteness, from the fact that we have no
right to station our troops within her limits and
that there is no efficient military force on the
Mexican side to cooperate with our own. So
long this shall continue to be the case, the
number and activity of our troops will rather
increase than diminish the evil, as the Indians
will naturally turn towards that country where
they encounter the least resistance Yet these
troops are necessary to subdue them, and to
compel them To make and observe treaties. Until
this shall have been done, neither country will
| enjoy any security from their attacks
| The Indians in California, who had previously
appeared of peaceable character, and disposed
to cultivate the friendship of the whites, have
recently committed several acts of hostility. AS
4 large portion Of the reinforcementsslat to the
Mexican frontier were drawn from the Pacific
the military force now stationed there is con-
sidered entirely inadequate to its defence. 1t
cannot be increased, however, without an in
crease of the army; and l again recommend that
measure as indispensable TO the protection of the
frontier.
invite your attention to the suggestions on
this subject, and CT others connected with his
Department, in the report OF the Secretary of
War.
The appropriations for the support of the
my during the current fiscal year ending 30th
June next, We reduced far below the estimate
submitted by the Department The consequence
of this reduction is considerable deficiency, to
which L invite your early attention.
The expenditures of that Department, for the
year ending Both Juue last, were SO, ,060 26S SO.
The estimates for the year commencing l st July
next and ending June Both, 1858, 81, $685.
40 50, showing a reduction of 81 l61, 1872 75.
The Board of Commissioners to whom the
management of the affairs of the Military Asy-
um created by the act of Sd March last was
entrusted, have selected site for the establish
ment of an Asylum in the vicinity of this city,
which has been approved by me, subject to the
production of satisfactory title.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy will
exhibit the condition of the public service under
the supervision of that Department. Our naval
force atioat during the present year has been
actively and usefully employed in giving pro-
lection to our widel ly-extended and increasing
commerce and interests in the various quarters
of the globe, and our flag has everywhere af-
forded the security and received the respect in
splred by the justice and hberality of our inter
course, and the dignity and power of the nation.
The expedition commanded by Lieutenant De
Haven, despatched IN search of the British COM
mander, Sir John Franklin, and his companions
III the Artic Seas returned to New York in the
month of October, after having undergone great
peril and suffering from an unknown and dan
gerouS navigation and the rgors of n northern
climate, without any satisfactory information of
the objects of their search, but with new eontri-
buttons to science and navigation from the un-
frequented polar regions. The officers and men
of the expedition, having been all volunteers
for this service and having so conducted it as
to meet the entire appreciation of the Govern
ment, 1T is suggested, an act of grace and
generosity, that the same allowance of extra
pay and emoluments be extended to them that