The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-12-09

contact, collisions will inevitably occur Tc
prevent these collisions the United States
have generally set apart portions of then
| territory for the exclusive occupation Of the
Indian tribes. A difficulty occurs, how
ever, in the application Of this policy tc
Texas. BY the terms OF the compact by
which that State was admitted into The
| Union, she retained the ownership of al
tie vacant lands within her limits The
government of that State, it is understood,
has assigned no portion of her territory to
the Indians; but as fast as her settlements
advance lays it off into counties, and pro-
ceeds to survey and sell it, This policy
manifestly tends, not only y to alarm and If
ritate the Indians, but to compel them to
resort to plunder for 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 a
due regard for her own interests, apart from
considerations of humanity and justice,
will induce that State to assign small por-
ton of her vast domain for the provisional
occupancy of the small remnants of tribes
within her borders, subject of course to her
ownership and eventual jurisdiction If
she should fail to do this, the fulfilment of
our treaty stipulations with Mexico, and
our duty to the Indians themselves, will,
it is feared, become subject of serious en-
barrassment to the Government. 1t is
hoped, however, that timely 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 growing belief that the sys-
tenn of fortifcations adopted in 1916, and
heretofore acted on, requires revision.
The subject certainly deserves full and
careful investigation but 1t should not be
delayed longer than can be avoided. In
the meantime there are certain works which
have been commenced-someo of them near
ly ompleyed-designed to protect our prin-
clpal seaports from Boston to New Orleans,
and : few other important points. In re-
gard to the necessity for these works, it Is
believed that little difference of opinion
exists among military men. | Therefore
recommend that the appropriations neces-
cary to prosecute them be made.
l invite your attention to the remarks on
this subject, and on others connected with
his Department, contained IN the accom>
panyiDg report of the Secretary of War.
Measures have been taken to carry into
effect the law OF the last session making
provision for the Improvement of certain
rivers and harbors, and it is believed that
the arrangements made for that purpose
will combine efficiency 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 preparations. With
respect to a few Of the improvements, the
sums already appropriated will suffice to
complete them, but most of them will re-
quire additional appropriations. l trust
that these appropriations will be made, and
that this wise and benefcent policy, con-
spicuously resumed, will be continued.
Great care should be taken, however, to
commerce 40 work which is not Of suhi>
cient Importance to the commerce Of the
country to be viewed as national in its
character But works which have been
commenced should not be discontinued un-
til completed, as otherwise the sums ex-
pended 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 COM
mittcd to its charge. 1t presents to your
consideration many topics and suggestions
OF which ! ask your approval. 1t exhibits
an unusual degree of activity in the opera
tions of the Department during the past
year. The preparations for the Japan ex-
pedition, to which have already alluded;
the arrangements made for the exploration
and survey of the China Seas, the Nor
thern Pacific, and Behring's Straits; the
incipient measures taken towards a recon-
noisance of the continent Of Africa eastward
of Liberia the preparation for an early
examination of the tributaries of the River
La Plata, which a recent decree of the pro-
visional chief the Argentine Confederation
has opened to navi cation all these enter
prises, and the means by which they are
proposed to be accomplished, have comman-
ded my full appreciation, and l have no
doubt will be productive of most useful re-
| suits.
Two officers of the navy were heretofore
instructed to explore the whole extent OF
the Amazon river from the confines of Pc
ru to its mouth. The return of one Of
them has placed in the possession of the
IGovernment an intel esting and valuable
account of the character and resources o.
country abounding in the materials O
commerce, ard which, if opened to the in
dustry of the world, will prove an mex