The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09

ACA1rI uuu vi tlHiHIdubS DfOtttu-
ing thereto. 81 am gratified to say that these
efforts have been unusually successful With
the exception Of some partial outbreaks in
California and Oregon, and occasional depre-
dations on a portion of the Rio Grande owing,
it is believed, to the disturbed state of that
border region, the inroads of the Indians have
been ehectually restrained
Experience has shown, however, that when
ever the two races are brought into contact,
collisions will inevitably occur To prevent
these collisions, the United States have gener-
ally set apart portions of their territory or the
exclusive occupation of the Indian tribes. A
difficulty occurs however, in the application OF
this policy to Texas. BY the terms of the COM
pact by which that State was admitted into
the Union she retained the ownership of all the
vacant lands within her limits The Govern
ment OF that State, it is understood. has as
signed no portion of her territory to the In
dams, but AS fast as her settlements advance
lays 1t of into counties, and proceeds to survey
and sell it This policy manifestly tends not
only to alarm and irritate the Indians, but to
compel them to resort to plumber for subsist-
ence. 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 due
regard for her own interests, apart from con-
sderations of humanity and justice, will in
duoe that State to assign small portion of her
vast domain for the provisional occupancy of
the small remnants Of tribes within her bor-
ders, subject OF course to her ownership and
eventual jurisdiction. If she should fail to do
this, the tulhiment of our treaty stipulatiOns
with Mexico, and our duty TO the Indians them
selves, will, it is feared become a subject Ui
serious embarrassment to the Government. 1t
Is hoped however, that timely and just pro-
vision 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 growing belief that the system of
Notifications adopted in 1916, and heretofore
acted on, requires revision.
The subject certainly deserves full and care
full investigation but it should not be DELAYED
longer than can be avoided In the mean time,
there are certain works which have been com
menced-some of them nearly completed
designed to protect our principal seaports from
Boston to New Orleans, and few other i'm
portant points. In regard to the necessity for
these works it is believed that little difference
of opinion exists among military men. there
fore recommend that the appropriations neces-
sary to prosecute them be made
| invite your attention to the remarks on
this subject and on others connected with his
Department contained in the accompanying
report OF the Secretary of War.
Measures have been taken to carry into eff.
feet the law of the last session making provi-
sion for the improvement of certain rivers and
harbors, and it is believed that the arrange
ments made for that purpose will combine eff
cheney with economy. Owing chiefly to the
advanced season when the act was passed,
little has yet been done in regard to many of
the works, beyond making the necessary prepa-
rations With respect to a few of the improve
ments, the sums already appropriated will suf:
flee to complete them, but most of them will
require additional appropriations | trust that
these appropriations will be made, and that
this wise and beneGcent policy, so auspiciousy
resumed, will be continued. Great care should
be taken, however, to commence no work which
Is not OF sufficient Importance to the commerce
of the country to be viewed rs national in its
character. But works which have been COM
menced should not be discontinued until com
pleted, as otherwise the sums expended will
in most cases be lost.
The report from the Navy Department will
inform you of the prosperous condition of the
branch of the public service committed to its
charge. 1t presents to your consideration many
topics and suggestions. of which ask your
approval. II exhibits an unusual degree of
activity in the operations of the Department
during the past year The preparations for
the Japan expedition, to which have already
| alluded; the arrangements made for the ex-
ploration and survey of the China Seas, the
Northern Pacific, and Behring's Straits the
incipent measures taken towards reconnois-
sance of the continent of Africa eastward OF
Liberia; the preparation for an early exami-
nation of the tributaries of the River La Plata,
which recent decree of the provisional chief
of the Argentine Confederation has opened to
navigation. All these enterprises and the
means by which they are proposed to be ac-
complished, have commanded my full appro-
baton, and | have no doubt will be productive
of most useful results.
Two officers of the navy were heretofore in
structed to explore the whole extent of the
Amazon river, from the confines of Peru to its
mouth. The return of one of them has placed
in the possession of the Government an inter-
estDg and valuable account of the character
and resources of a country Astounding in the
materials of commerce, and which, if opened
to the industry of the world, will prove an in
exhaustible fund of wealth The report of this
exploration will be communicated to you as
soon as it is completed.
Among other subjects offered to your notice
by the Secretary of the Navy, select for special
communication, in view of it's connection with
the interests OF the navy, the plan submitted by
him for the establishment of permanent corps
OF seamen and the suggestions he has present
cd for the reorganization Of the Naval Academy
In reference to the first of these, take 0cca-
sion to say that ] think it will greatly improve
the efficiency OF the service, and that regard
it AZ still more entitled to favor for the sautary
influence it must exert upon the naval disci-
pine now greatly disturbed by the increasing
spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION, resulting from our
present system. The plan proposed for the Or
ganlzatOn OF the seamen furnishes judicious
substitute for tho law of September, 1850
abOshlng corporal punishment and satisfac-
tOrily sustains the policy of that act, under
conditions well adapted to maintain the au-
thority of command and the order and security
of our ships. IL is believed that any change
which proposes permanently to dispense with
this mode of punishment, should be preceded
by system of enlistment which shall supply
the navy with seamen Of the most meritorious
class, whose good department and pride of
character may preclude oil occasion for re-
sort to penalties of a harsh or degrading nature.
The safety of a ship and her crew is often de-
pendent upon immediate obedience to COM
mand, and the authority to enforce it must be
equally ready. The arrest of a refractory sea-
man, in such moments not only deprives the
ship Of indispensable aid, but imposes a neces
sty for double service on others whose fidelity
to their duties may be relied upon in such an
emergency The exposure to this increased
and arduous labor, since the passage of the act
of 1850, has already had, to most observable
and injurious extent, the effect of preventing
the enlistment of the best seamen in the navy