Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-12-09

an ytical digest of all thepatents which have !
been, or may hereafter be, granted for useful in
ventlons and discoveries, with such descriptions
and illustrations os may be necessary to present |
an lntelllgibe view of their nature and operation.
The cost of such publication could easily be de-
irayed out of the patent fund, and am persua
ded that 1t coudbe applied to no object more ac-
ceptable to Inventors and beneficial to the public
at large.
An appropriation of 100000 having been
made at the last session for the purchase Of
suitable site, and for the erection, furnishing, and
ana hitting up Of an Asylum for the Insane of the
District OF Columbia, and Of the Army and Ma
Wy OF the United States, the proper measures
nave been adopted to carry this benefceat pur-
pose into effect.
BY the latest adyices from the Mexican Bound
airy Commission tappears that the survey Of the
nver ella, from its confluence with the Colorado
to Its supposed intersection with the western line
OF New Mexico, has been completed. The sur
vey of the Rio Grande has also been finished from
the point agreed on by the Commissioners as
the point where 1t strikes the southern bound
airy OF New Mexico to point one hundred and
thirty five miles below Eagle Pass, which is
about two-thlrds of the distance along the course
Of the river to its mouth.
The appropriation which was made at the last
session of Congress for the continuation of the
survey is subject to the following proviso
Provided, That no part of this appropriation
shall he used Or expended until it shall be made
satisfactorily to appear to the President of the
United States that the southern boundary Of New
Mexico is not established by the commissioner
and surveyor of the United States farther north
Of the town called i Paso' than the same is laid
llcigIss'S - 80 - - be added 70
: Z 100: an5jsss yy-p
report from the Department ofth6 Interior, which
reviewed all the facts of the case, and submitted
for my decision the question whether, under eX-
isting circumstances, any part OF the appTopria-
ton could be lawfully used or expended for the
further prosecution Of the work After care
full consideration of the subject, | came to the
conclusion that ii could not, and so informed the
head of that Depa. tment. Orders were lInmedl-
ately issued by him to the commissioner and sur
veyor to make no further acquisitions on the De-
partment as they could not be paid and to DIS
continue all operations on the southern line VI
New Mexico But as the Department had no
exact information as to the amount OF provisions
and money which remained uneXpended III the
hands Of the commissioner and surveyor, IL was
left discretionary with them to continue the sur
vey down the Rio Graude as far as the means at
their disposal would enable them or at once to
disband the Commission A special messenger
has since arrived from the officer in charge OF
the survey on the river, with information that
the funds subject to his control were exhausted
and that the officers and others employed III the
service were destitute alike of the means OF pros
ecuting tn work and ofreturning to their homes
The object of the proyiso was doubtless to ar
rest the survey of the southern and western
lines of New Mexico, in regard to which dller'
cnt opinions have been expressed; 70 vi is hard
" to be supposed that there could be any oblec'
ton to that part of the line which extends along
the channel of the Rio Grande But the terms
of the law are so broad as to forbid the use O
any part Of the money for the prosecution OF the
work, or even for the payment, to the officers
and agents, of the arrearges of pay which are
Justly due to them.
earnestly invite your prompt attention to thE
subject, and recommend a modification of TIT
terms of the proviso so as to enable the Depart
ment to use as much of the appropriation as vii
be necessary to discharge the existing obligations
} of the Government, and to complete the surye.
, of the Rio Grande TO its mouth,
, twill also be proper to make further provision
> by law for the fuflment of our treaty with Mex
leo for running and marking the residue of thu
boundary line between the two countries
Permit me to invite your particular attention
r to the interests of the District OF Columbia
= witch are confded by the Constitution TO YOU
peculiar care.
Among the measures which seem to me of the
, greatest Importance TO its prosperity are the
! introduction Of copious supply of water into
the city of Washington, and the construction Of
suitable bridges across the Potomac to rep lace
those which were destroyed by high water in the
early part of the present year
At the last session of Congress an appropria
ton was made to detray The cost of the surveys
necessary for determining the best means u
aiiording an untaing supply Of good and whole
some water. Some progress has been made in
the survey, and as soon as it is completed the
result will be laid before you.
Further appropriations will also be necessary
for grading and paving the streets and avenues
and enclosing and embeIlishng the public
grounds within the city of Washington.
Every effort has been made to protect our
frontier, and that of the adjoining Mexican
States, from the ncursions of the Indian tribes.
OF about IL 900 men of which the army is com
posed, nearly 5000 are emp Dyed in the defence
of rhe newly acquired territory, (including
TeXas,) and of emigrants proceeding thereto. |
am gratlfed to say that these efforts have been
unusually successful. With the exception of
some partial outbreaks in California and Oregon.
and occasional depledatons on portion of the
Rio Cfrande, owing, owing ii is believed, to the
disturbed state Of that border region the inroads
of the Indians have been ellectua ly r, strained.
Experience has shown, however that when
ever the two races are brought into contact, col
sions will inevitably occur. To prevent these
collisions the United Sta'es have generally set
apart portions of their territory for the exclusive
occupation of the Indian tribes. A difficulty oc
ours however, In the application of this 20 lev tc
Texas. BY the terms of the compact by which
that State was admitted into the Union, she re.
tanned the ownership of all the vacant lands
within her limits, The government of that State
ii is understood, has assigned no portion of he,
territory to the Indians but as fast as her settle
meuts advance lays it off into counties, and pro.
ceeds TO survey and sell it, This policy mani
festy tends, not only to alarm and rritate the In
dams, but to compel them to resort to plumber fol
subsistence 1t also deprives this government Of
that influence and control over them, without
which no durable peace can ever exist between
them and the whites. | trust, therefore. that n
due regard for her own interests, apart from con.
ditons of humanity aud justice, will induce the
State to assign small portion of her vast domain
for the provisional occupancy of the small rem
nants of tribes within her borders, subject, Of
course, to her ownership and eventual jurisdc.
ton If she should fail to do this, the fnilment
of our treaty stpulations with Mexico, and our
duty to the Indians themselves, will, it is feared
become a subject Of serious embarrassment to tbe
Government. 1t is hoped, however, that time.
ly and just provision by Texas may avert this
evil.
No appropriations for Notifications were made
at the two last sessions of Congress The cause
of this omission is, probably, to be found in n
growing belief that the system of Qualifications
adopted in 1916, and heretofore acted on. requires
revision.