Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

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continue TO be its consequence there be no DOUBT IL
would SEEM therefore be for the advantage both Of
Texas herself and Of the United States that these Indians
should be left in undisturbed possession of small portion
| of her vast territory.
would also recommend THAI measures be taken % fur
nish for series of years. food and other neeesaes TO
such Indians will abandon their predaory habits and
cultivate the soil Authentic information, recently receiv
ed this Department leads the belief that these tribes
less than they generally supposed 10
be- and have doubt laying considerations OF
humanity that it would be far less expensive TO feed than
\ to tight them.
During the last summer the Florida Indians voluntarily
surrendered up to the agent stationed among them three
of their people who had murdered the youth mentioned in
last report The Secretary of the INTERIOR consider
ing this evidence of their desire TO remain at
peace with the whites suggested that there longer
for their continuing under the charge OF this
Department and upon his demand they placed IN the
charge of the Department over which he presides.
took occasion, during the last summer to visit the
Military Academy and enabled from personal obser-
yaton bear testimony to the admirable method OF in
structon pursued and the excellent discipline that pre-
walls at this useful institution. building in which
lessons horsemanshp could be given when the weather
will admit of this exercise in the open air. would great
y conduce both the health and the improvement OF the
cadets.
also visited the national ar1nories Springfield and
Harper Ferry and cannot speak in terms OF too high
praise the order and regularity that prevail at those
establishments and of the admirable economy with which
they conducted.
The operations of the Bureau of Typographical Engi-
have been various and important during the last
year.
The survey of the Northern Lakes work of which the
Importance hardly be estimated has been prosecuted
with great activity and it would have advanced still more
rapidly had the appropriations for that object admitted it.
With the view to hasten the completion of the work the
estimates for it for the next year have been increased
The survey of the Creek boundary from the frontiers of
Arkansas nearly the Tooth degree of longitude west
and that of route for road from St Louis to the great
bend of Red River have been completed and ready to
be laid before Congress.
The expedition to the Salt Lake Of the Territory Of
Utah has also returned The report, which, by resou
ton of the Senate the last session. ordered be
printed will be ready for delivery during the approaching
| session.
The expedition under Brevet Captain Stgreaves
toned in last annual report from Santa Fe to the head
of the Zun and down that river to its mouth is
| still in the field
The survey of the Delta of the Mississippi with view
to the prevention of oyerhows which appropa-
ton made the session preceding the last has been
nearly completed. One of tlssgentemen charged with
this highly important work has made his report That of
the other has been delayed by his Illness but in
of preparation and it received both reports
! viii be laid before you.
i In consequence of the demands made the
corps of Typographical Engineers not only for the duties
that properly devoye it, but to meet the demands of
other Departments under whose charge surveys made
the head of that corps strongly urges that the number of
the officers of that corps be increased The remarks
this subject contained in his report which is hereto APP
pended are entitled to- and hope win receive your
| tenon
beg leave, Also call your attention to the laws orga
of Congress this branch of the staff should consist of
fixed number of officers who should be regularly appoint
ed by the President and should give bonds before enter
ing upon the discharge of their duties This pan how
ever has been fully carried into effect The
Der of assistant commssares limited by the act of
1921 fifty but this number being found insufficient,
several laws subsequently passed. construedas to
dispense with the limitation and occasionally thrice that
number have been in service Notwithstanding this great
increase it unrequeny happens that by changes in
the distribution of the troops post detachment is left
practice for the commanding officer to designate
| baltern officer as acting assistant commissaly.
As the posts where these officers stationed fire.
queny very remote it often happens that the assistant
and acting assistant commissaries are IN the actual dis
charge of their duties and entrusted with and
and furnish The Of Tbs
mode Of transactng the bsness of the subsistence de-
partment are that its highly important duties rst often
devolye young and very inexperienced ohcers that
large of money and property OF great value ire
quenty pass into the hands of officers who have furnish
ed bonds; and finally great confusion IN accounts and
consequent embarrassment and delay in their settlement
know no other mode Of remedying these evils than
by appointing few additional commissares SO as to en-
able the Department to send several to the different mill
tary departments the frontier and to assign to each
one the charge of certain number of posts. Some of
the assistant commissares could thus be dispensed WITH
and the and transactions OF the remainder placed
under immediate and strict supervision ms plan
would not be more expensive than that pursued and
would afford better guarantees for the faithful and efficient
/ discharge of the duties Of those officers
The board to whom the management OF the military
asylum for disabled and destitute soldiers at
the last session of Congress- committed have devoted
great deal time and attention to the selection Of suit
able sites They determined in the vicinity
of this city the of the purchase have been agreed
| on and the titles shall have been examined
and approved the agreement will be carried into effect
beg leave again. suggest the expediency OF Great
ing retired list of disabled officers Further observa
ton has confirmed in the opinion that this measure
would conduce both to efficiency and the economy OF the
| service
By the act of 2Sth September 1850 making appropria
tons for the support of the army, small additional pay
was allowed the officers and soldiers stationed in Cali
fornia and Oregon That provision expires by its own
limitation the 1st of March next The reasons for its
adoption still exist and recommend that it be continued
in force and that it include also New Mexico where these
reasons apply with at least equal force
The act of 1908, providing for arming AMI equippng
the whole body of the militia, directs that the distrbu
and Territories should be based upon the number Of their
effective militia" As the act specifies mole in which
this number shall be ascertained each State and Terri
tory adopts method of its own The consequence is,
States make imperfect returns and some
no returns ALL whereby the law is rendered unequal IN
its operation This inequality might be prevented, and
some unnecessary trouble and expense saved by simply
declaring that the number of free white male inhabitants
over the age of and under that Of in the
respective States and Territories shown by the latest
| census shall hereafter be the basis of distribution
Respectfully submitted.
/ C. NJ CONRAD, Secretary Of Var.
1 To the PRESIDENT
n j. STEER is receiving frequent additions to his stock
/ of Gentemen's Goods and has now in store q very
complete of French and German Cloths OF blu