The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-04

| There are some other unaaaures Of economy
which the department would have carried out.
had tho aid Of legislation not been necessary 10
enable il 10 do SO.
Authority is asked for the Executive to abo-
ish useless arsenals; and the previous recon-
mendation for power to enlist men specially as
teamsters again renewed. The removal Of OBJ
sIructions In the Red river and the Rio Grande
Is also suggested, as matter OF economy.
But whatever reductions Congress may make,
says the secretary. the expenses must continue
to be enormous so long as 1t 10 necessary that so
large portion of our troops should be sta
toned on the frontier. lie therefore slggests
that every facility and encouragement should be
afforded 10 the formation OF a local militia in
which our new possessions, like all the Mexican
States, are very deficient. On this subject. the
secretary remarks:
AS the first step towards the acc omplish-
ment of this object would recommend that the
Executive be authorised to distribute arms
among the inhabitants. am fully persuaded
that the advantages that would result from the
adoption Of this measure, in familiarising the
people with the use of arms, in inspiring them
with confidence, and in encouraging the forma-
ton Of militia companies, would more than
com ensate for the trihing expense that would
attend it. The very fact that the inhabitants
timdate the lndians. The distribution should
Of course, be made with such precautions as
would prevent their being sold, or converted to
an improper use"
The secretary is Of opinion that policy and
humanity both require that we should employ
some other means of putting a stop to those
depredations than the terror of our arms. We
should try the effect of conciliatory measures
There is no doubt that the Indians are fire.
quently impeled to commit depredations by
despair and hunger.
The Indians are often compelled by the
whites to leave land which affords nourishment
to cattle and game, and seek refuge in arid
plains and mountains. This is particularly the
case in Texas. The United States, as the
owners of the public domain, have always
acted on the principle that the aboriginal race
had at least right of occupancy in the soil, and
when it was needed for settlement this right has
been extinguished by voluntary sale. Texas, on
the contrary, rs the owner of all the vacant
lands within her limits, acknowledges it is sad,
no such right; and she has, from time to time,
taken possession of the territory occupied by
the Indians, laid it off into countless and pro-
ceeded to survey and sell it. Nothing could be
more calculated to alarm and exasperate the In
dams, and to bring about collisions between
them and the white settlers than the adoption
of this policy. That such has been and must
continue to be its consequence, there can be no
doubt. II would seem, therefore, to be for the
advantage both of Texas herself and of the Uni.
ted States, that these Indians should be left in
undsturbed possession of small portion of her
vast territory
The secretary, therefore, recommends meas
ures to be taken to furnish, for series of years,
food and other necessaries to such Indians as
will abandon their predatory habits and cultivate
the soil. Authentic information, recently re.
ceved at the department. leads to the belief
that these tribes are far less numerous than they
are generally supposed to be, and he has no
doubt Qaying aside considerations for humanity
that it would be far less expensive to feed than
to fight them. ~
The Military Academy, which the secretary
visited last summer, is highly commended. He
also visited the national armories at Springfield
and Harper's Ferry, and says he cannot speak in
terms Of too high praise of the order and regu-
larity that prevail at those establishments, and
of the admirable economy with which they are
conducted.
The operations of the Bureau of Topographic
cal Engineers have been various and important
during the last year.
The survey of the northern lakes, and various
other surveys, are referred to as in progress and
an increase in the number, of Typographical en-
gineers and commssaries recommended.
The site for the military asylum, near Wash
ington, has been purchased and as soon the
titles shall have been examined and approved,
the agreement will be carried into effect.
The expediency of creating retired list of
disabled officers is renewed again, as it will con-
duce to the efficiency and economy of the service.
The act giving additional pay to the officers
and men stationed in California has expired
and il is recommended that it be continued in
force, and also be made to include New Mexico.
The report closes by referring to the fact that
the number of arms distributed 10 the several
States, under the act of SOB, are based upon the
number of their effective militia" but in con-
sequences of the imperfect return>, the distrbu-
ton is very unequal. 1t is therefore recon-
mended that the number of free white male in
habita nts in the several States, between certain
ages hereafter be the basis of distribution.