Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-01-03

The condensation to be allowed district attol
r news, clerks, marshals, and commissioners l.
civil and criminal cases, is the cause OF muc
vexation, injustice and complaint. would re
commend a thorough revision Of the laws OF
the whole subject, and the adoption of a tar'1
of fees which, as far as practicable, should b.
uniform. and prescribe a specific compensation
for every service which the officer may be re
ouired to perform. This subject will be fully
presented in the report of the Secretary OF tht
Interior.
In nv last annual message | gave briefly my
reasons for believing that you possessed ''t
constitutional power to improve the ilifoo'e u
our great lakes and %seacoast, ana t''e h'''ga,,
ton of our principal, rivers, and recommehoeo
that appropriations should be MADE oFcomp'e
ting such as had already been commenced, aho
for commencing such others as might seem 10
the wisdom of Congress to be OF pub''c ana
general importance. Without repeating the
reasons then urged, deem it my duty again
to call your attention to this important subject.
The works on many of the harbors were left
in an unfinished state, and consequent! en-
posed TO the action Of the elements, which IS
fast destroying them. Great numbers OF lives
and vast amounts of property are annually lost
for want of safe and convenient harbors on the
lakes. None but those who have been exposed
to that dangerous navigation can fully apprecl-
ate the Importance of this sub ject. The whole
northwest appeals to you for relief, and | trust
their appeal will receive due consideration at
your hands.
The same is in a measure true in regard to
some of the harbors and inlets on the sea-
coast.
The unobstructed navigation of our large
rivers is o fequal Importance. Our settlements
are now extending to the sources of the great
rivers which empty into, and form a part of the
Mississippi, and the value of the public lands
in those regions would be greatly enhanced by
freeing the navigation of those waters from OBJ
structions. In view, therefore, of this great in
terest, | deem it my duty again to urge upon
Congress to make such appropriations for these
improvements as they may deem necessary.
The survey of the Delta of the Mississippi,
with a view to the prevention of the overiows
that have proved so disastrous to that region
of country, have been nearly completed, and
the reports thereof are now in course of prepa-
ration, and will shortly be laid before you.
The protection of our southwestern from
tier, and of the adjacent Mexican States, aginst
the Indian tribes within our borders, has claim
ed my earnest and constant attention. Con-
gress having failed, at the last session, to adopt
my recommendation that an additional regl-
ment Of mounted men specially adapted to
that service should be raised, all that remains
to be done was to make the best use of the
means at my disposal. Accordingly, all the
troops adapted to that service that could proper
ly be spared from other quarters have been
concentrated on that frontier, and officers of
high reputation selectde to command them. A
new arrangement of the military posts has also
been made, whereby the troops are brought
nearer to the Mexican frontier and to the tribes
they are intended to overawe.
Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to realize
all the benefits that are expected to result from
these arrangements, but | have every reason TO
hope that they will effectually check their mar
auding expeditions. The nature of the c0un-
try, which furnishes little for the support of an
army and abounds in places of refuge and con-
eealment, is remarkably well adapted to this
predatory warfare; and We can scarcely hope
that any military force, combined with the great
est vigilance, can entirely suppress it.
BY the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo we are
bound to protect the territory of Mexico against
the incursions of the savage tribes within our
border "with equal diligence and energy as if
the same were made within our territory, or
against our citizens. Ihave endeyoured to com-
ply, as far as possible, with this provision of
the treaty. Orders have been given to the off,
GERS commanding on that frontier to consider
the Mexican territory and its inhabitants as
equally with our own entitled to their protec-
ton; and to make all their plans and arrange
ments with a view to the attainment ofthis OBJ
ject. Instructions have also been given to the
Indian commissioner and agents among these
tribes, in all treatise, to make the clauses de-
signed for the protection of our citizens apply
also to those of Mexico. | have no reason to
doubt that these instructions have been fully
carried into effect. Nevertheless, it is probable
that, in spite Of all our efforts, some of the
neighboring States of Mexico NAV have suffer-
ed, us our own have, from depredations by the
Indians.
To the difficulties of defending our own ter
ritory, as above mentioned are superaded, in
defending that of Mexico, those that arise from
the fact that we have no right to station our
troops within her limits, and that there is no
efficient military force on the Mexican side to
cooperate with our own. So long as this shall
to be the case, the number and activi-
ty Of our troops will rather increase than dimin-
ish the evil, as the Indians will naturally turn
towards that country where they encounter the
least resistance. Yet these troops are n~ecessa-
ry to subdue them, and to compel them to make
and observe treaties. Until this shall have
been done, neither country will enjoy any Sc
curity from their attacks. @
The Indians in California, who had previous
y appeared of apeaceable character, and dis
'osed to cultivate the friendship of the whites,
nave recently committed several acts of hostiI-
ty. As a large portion of the reinforcements
sent to the Mexican frontier were drawn from
The Pacific, the military force now stationed
here is considered entirely %inadequent to its
iefence. 1t cannot be increased however, with
ut an increase of the army; and again recon-
mend that measure as indispensable to the pro-
ection of the frontier.
| invite vour attention tn tho snrroef;opo IN :