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


unent, but as many of the facts connected will
the movements of the army, which il specifies
have been, from day to day during the year. 70
corded 10 The columns of the Sum- we mus
limit ourselves TO furnishing abstract of the
more important recommendations and sugges
tons which il makes.
The Secretary sets out with column and 1
half devoted to the subject which, he says, has
most engaged the attention Of the Department
during the past year. viz: the defence of Texas
New Mexico, and the Mexican territory adjacent
To our own, against the unconscious of the neigh.
boring Indian tribes. These Indians, it is re-
marked, unlike their race on this part OF the
continent are acluated not so much by hostility
to the whites as by motives of plunder. The
Secretary goes on to detail the steps taken to
bring these Indians to subsection. Congress hav
ing failed to authorize the raising OF an add
tionaI mounted regiment, recommC nded, the
regiment Of mounted rif1emen on the Pacific
was dispensed with there, in view of the supposed
peaceable character of the California and Oregon
Indians, and ordered to Texas. Several out
breaks have, however, lately occurred among
these Indians, but treaties have since been made
with them. Chains of military posts were also
established by the fifth Infantry from Arkansas
westward into Texas, and in New Mexico the
same thing is being done by Col. Sumner.
post has also been established at the june
toni Of the Gila and the Colorado, and exami.
nation is to be made by the Pacific commander
as to the practicability of another still higher
up the ella. This is all done, looking, as far as
practicable, alike to the defence of our own
territory and that Of Mexico, and the secretary
well remarks:
.sThe United States have thus endeavored to
~ tnt b.ir f,,lIa Nkl
posed upon them by their late treaty with Mex
leo, it surely was never contemplated that the
entire expense and responsibility of defending
her territory against these incursions should de
volve upon us. The language of the treaty ad-
mis of no such construction, and, if it did, it
would require of us what it would be obviously
impossible for US TO perform. AS the United
States have no right to station their troops with
in the limits Of Mexico, how is it possible for
them, entirely, to protect her against tribes,
most of whom occupy the vast desert lying be-
tween the two countries! All that we can do
is to make common cause with her, to make her
wrongs our own; to chastise, if possible, the
tribes by whom they are committed /; to compel
them, whenever it is possible to do so, 10 make
restitution Of Mexican prisoners and property !;
and finally, in hour treaties with them, to guard
the interests of Mexican citizens as carefully as
those of our own, and to punish any violation
of the one as severely as we do that of the other
1t is manifest, too, whatever efforts we may
make for the protection Of Mexico, will not only
be fruitless, but absolutely prejudicial, unless
they are aided by corresponding efforts on her
part The number Of our military posts, the
vigilance, activity and courage of our loops, all
tend to drive these marauders from our border
towards that of Mexico, where they can carry on
their depredations with almost certain impu-
nifty"
An idea too seems to have gone abroad
among the people of Mexico, that the govern
ment was bound by its treaty with Mexico to
citizens of that country who might
sustain losses by depredatons of the Indians,
and the secretary says that from information
that has reached the department, there can be
no doubt that, in some instances, tales of de.
predations have been invented, with view of
bringing fictitious claims for damages against
the government.
1t appears that the entire force stationed on
the Pacific, amounts to only seven hundred and
thirty-six men. The force is deemed entirely
inadequate for protection, particularly in Oregon,
and the general-in- chief of the army, therefore,
considers not only an additional regiment of
cavalry, but also an increase in the rank and
file of the infantry and artillery as indispensa-
lily necessary.
The entire number of men borne on the rolls
Of the army, amounts to 1888 which, accord
ing to the usual estimate, will furnish an eflec-
tive force Of not more than $500 men. When
It is considered that this small force is scattered
over frontier of several thousands of miles in
extent, its insuficiency will be apparent
The report then goes on to show the causes
L. Al.
the expenses Of the army. These causes prin-
,ipally, are-that nearly one-haf the army is sta
toned on our remote frontier; the military posts
are removed far in the interior OF the country.
from navigable rivers, or on the Pacific, where
they can only be reached by an overland journey
Of hundreds of miles, or by sea voyage OF
the military posts, instead OF
being situated in a productive section of
country, as formerly, are now for the most part,
where but few supplies can be obtained. The
is, that while in lS45 the cost Of
(of troops and sup
In lS50-5l it amounted to 1904 ,408 81
ln the former year the cost of
forage was 1874 30
In the latter it was . 1887 1877 81
The great increase in this last item arises not
only from the causes just mentioned, but also
from the great increase Of animals in the quar-
termaster's department, which, in lS45, amount.
ed only to S47 and in lS50-5l to upwards of
8 900 and also to the fact that mounted force
has been greatly increased.
The great distance which troops have now to
be transported, in going to and from the several
posts, is another item tending largely to swell
the expense. 1t may be that the expenses OF
the quarter masters and commissary depart
ments have been increased by m III administra
ton on the part Of the numerous agents; and to
ascertain the facts, a rigid scrutiny has been di
rected. The department has reasons to fear
that its apprehension in this particular are not
altogether unfounded.
From statements carefully prepared by the
different bureaus of the depa tment, it appears
that the increased expenditures in the army re-
sulting from our newly acquired territory, Gn-
GLIDING Texas,) amounted to S4556,709 10.
Attention is called to the inadequate appro-
priation made TO the quarter masters department
at the last session, which will have to be sup.
piled at the present session.
The secretary, to carry out the wishes of
Congress. to reduce the expenses Of the army
has cut down the number Of enlisted men in
the ordnance department TO the original number