Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-12-25
PR MESSAGE.
iCONCLUDED.
FeZZoo Citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives

dty SonuiisSiou IL IppcaES tlIl tIc survey o.
the river Gila, from its confluence with the
Colorado to lis supposed intersection with the
western line of New Mexico, has been compile
ted. The survey flhe Rio Glandc has also
been finished from the point agreed on by The
commissioners rs "the point where it st,kes thc
southern boundary Of New Mexico" 10 Il po ut
one bundled and thirty five miles below Eagle
| Pass, which is about tWo-thrds of the disiauce
along the course Of tue river to its mouth.
The appropriation which was made at tlie l)6t
session of Congress for Tie continuation Of the
survey is subject 10 The following provso:
#"Prorided, That no part ofthis appropriation
shall be 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 commits
| sioner and surveyor of the United States far
hcr north of he town called Paso than the
same is laid down in Disturnel's map, which is
added to the treaty.
| My attention WAS drawn to ibis subject by a
report tIom the Department of the Inferior,
which reviewed all the facts OF the case, and
submitted for my decision the question Whe-
! ther, under existing circumstances, any part OF
the appropriation could be lawfully used or ex-
pended for the further prosecution OF lhe work.
After 4 careful consideration of the subject, |
came to the conclusion that it could NOT, and
SO informed the head Of that Department. Or
ders were Immediately issued by him to the
commissioner and surveyor to make no further
reduisilions on the Department, as they could
not he paid, and 10 discontinue all operation on
the southern line of New Mexico. But as the
Department had no exact Information as TO the
amount Of provisions and money which remain
ed uneXpended in The hands of the commission
er and surveyor, it was left Discretionary with
them TO continue the survey down the Rio
Grande as far as the means at their disposal
would enable them, or at OEce 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 in the service
were destitute alike of the means of proSecu-
ing the work and of returning to their homes.
The object of this proyiso was doubtless TO
arrest the survey of the southern and western
lines Of New Mexico, in regard to which differ
ent opinions have been expressed: for it is hard
ly to be supposed that there could be any OBJ
lection to that part of the line which extends
along the channel ofthe Rio Grande. But the
terms Of the law are so broad as 10 forbid the
use Of any part of the money for the payment
to the officers and agents of the arrearages of
pay which are justly due to them.
earnestly invite your prompt attention 10
this subject, and recommend a modification of
the terms of the proviso so as to enable the De-
partment to use as much of the appropriation
as will be necessary 10 discharge The existing
obligations of the Government, and 10 complete
the survey Of the Rio Grande to its mouth.
1t will also be proper to make further proyis-
ion by law for the tuflment Of our treaty with
Mexico for running and making the residue of
the boundary line between the two countries
Permit me to invite your particular attention
to the interests of the District Of Columbia
which are confided by the constitution to your
peculiar care.
Among the measures which seem to me Of
the greatest importance to lis prosperity are the
introduction of a copous supply Of water into
the city of Washington, and the construction of
bridges across the Potomac to replace those
which were destroyed by high water in the ear
ly part of the present year.
At the last session of Congress an appropria-
ton was made to defray the cost the surveys
necessary for determining the best means of af-
fording an unfailing supply ofgood and whole
some water. Some progress has been made in
the survey, and as soon as it is completed the
result VIII De laQ before you.
Further appropriations will also be neces-
sary for grading aud paving the streets and ay-
enues and enclosing and embeIIishing the pub
grounds within the city of Washington.
Icommend all these objects, together with the
charitable institutions of The District, TO your ia
vorable regard.
Every effort has been made TO protect The
frontier, and that of the adjoining Mexican
States, from the incursions of the Indian tribes.
OF about 1900 men ofwhich the army is CON-
posed nearly 5000 are employed in the defence
of the newly acquired territory, Gncudng Tex
as) and of emigrants proceeding thereto. lam
Gratifed TO say that these efforts have been un-
usually successful. With the exception of
some partial outbreaks in California and Ore
gon, and occasional depredations on portion
of the Rio Grande, owiug,it is believed, to the
disturbed state of that border region, the in
roads of The Indians have been ef1ectually re-
strained.
Experience has shown, however that when-
ever the two races are brought into contact,
collisions will invariably occur. To prevent
these collisions the Uuited States have gene
rally set apart portions Of their territory for the
exclusive occupation of the Indian tribes. A
difficulty occurs however in the application of
this policy to Texas By the terms of the con-
tract by which the State was admitted into fhes
Union, she retained the ownership of all the
vacant lands within her limits. The govern
nent of that Safe, it is understood, has assign
ed portion Of her territory to the Indians, but
as fast as her settlements advance lays it off
into counties and proceeds to survey and sell
it. Shis policy tends not only to alarm and ir-
ritate the Indians, but to compel them to resort
to plunder for subsistence. 1t also depriyes
the Government of that influence and control
over them without which no durable peace can
ever exist between them and The whites. trust,
therefore, that a due regard for her own inter-
ests, apart from considerations Of humanity