Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-12-11


the survey is subject to the following proviso:
"Pfortded, That no part of the 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 Commissioner
and Surveyor Of the Uuited States farther north
of the town called Paso' than the same is laid
down in Disturnels map, which is added to the
treaty.
Nv attention was drawn to this subject by a
report from the Department ofthe Interior, which
reviewed all the facts of the case, and submitted
for nv decision the question whether, under ex-
listing circumstances, any part OF the appropria-
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 it could not, and so informed the
head of that Department. Orders were immedi-
ately issued by him to the commissioner and sur
veyor to make no further acquisitions on the
Department, as they could not be paid; and to
discontinue all operations on the southern line of
New Mexico. But as the Department had no
exact information as to the amount of provisions
and money which remained unexpended in the
hands Of the commissioner and surveyor, it was
left discretionary with them to cOntinUethe survey
down the Rio Grande as far as the means attheir
command would enable them, or at once to dis
band the commission. 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
thatthe officers and others employedin theseryi
were destitute alike of the means of prosecuting
the work and of retiring to their homes.
The object of the prOviso was doubtless to ar
rest the survey ofthe southern and western lines
of New Mexico, in regard to which different O.
i. L. I
posed that there could be any objections to that
part of the line which extends along the Rio
Grande But the terms of the law are so
broad as to forbid the use ofany part ofthe mon
>ey for the prosecution of the work, or even for
the payment to the officers and agents, Of the ar
rearages of pay which are justly due to them.
| earnestly invite your prompt attention to
this subject, and recommend a modification of
the terms of the provisO so as to enable the De-
partment to use as much ofthe appropriation as
will be necessary to discharge the existing obi
cations Of tie Government and to complete the
survey of the Rio Grande to its mouth.
1t viii also be proper to make further provis-
ions by law for the fGlhlment of our treaty with
Mexico for running and marking the residue Of
the boundary line between the two countries.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Permit me to invite your particular at
tenton to the interests of the District of Column
bia, which are confided by the Constitution to
your particular care.
Among the measures which seem to me of the
greatest Importance to its prosperity are the in
PRODUCTION of copious supply Of water into the
city of Washington, and the construction of
suitable bridges across the Potomac to replace
those which were destroyed by high water in
the early part of the present year.
A. 4bo Last Of
ton was made to defray the cost of the surveys
necessary for determining the best means of
affording an unfailing 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 embellishing the public
grounds within the city of Washington.
| commend all these objects, together with
the charitable institutions Of the District, to
your favorable regard.
MEXICAN FRoNTIER-INDIASs
Every effort has been made to protect our
frontier, and that of the adjoining Mexican
States, from the incursions of the Indian tribes
OF about IL 900 men, of which the army is COM
posed nearly 5000 are employed in the defence
of the newly acquired territory, (including
/ am gratifed to say that these efforts have been
unusually successful, with the exception of some
partial outbreaks in California and Oregon, and
occasionally depredatiOns on aportion of the Rio
Grande, owing it is believed. to the disturbed
state of that border region, the inroads of the
Indians have been effectually restrained.
Experience has shown, however, that whene-
yer the two races are brought into contact col
lisions will inevitably occur To prevent these
collisions, the United States have generally set
apart portions of their territory for the exclusive
occupation of the Indian tribes. A difficulty
occurs, however, in the application of this poll
cy to Texas. By the terms of the compact by
which that State was admitted into the Union,
she retained the ownership of all the lands with
in her limits The Government of that State,
it is understood, has assigned no portion of her
territory to the Indians: but fast as her settle
ments advance, lays it off into counties, and
proceeds to sell it. This policy manifestly
tends, not only to alarm and irritate the Indians
but to COMPEL them to resort to plumber for sub
sistence.
1t also deprives this Government of that in,
huence and control over them which no durable
peace can ever exist between them and the
whites. | trust, therefore, that due regard for
her own interest, apart from considerations of
humanity and justice, will induce that State to
assign small portion OF her. vast domain for
the provisional occupancy ofthe small remnants
of tribes within her borders, subject of course
to her ownership and eventual jurisdiction. If
she should fail to do this, the fulfment of our
treaty stipulations with Mexico, and our duty to
the Indians themselves, will, it is feared, become
a subject of serious embarrassment to the Gov
eminent 1t is hoped, however, that timely
and just provision by Texas may avert this evil.
rOprTrrC, ODo
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, re-
qIires revision.
The subject certainly deserves full and careful
investigation; but it should not be delayed lon
ger than ean.be avoided. In the meantime there
are certain works which have been commenced
some Of them nearly Ompleted-designed to
protect our principal seapOrts from Boston to
New Orleans, and few other important points.
In regard to the necessity for these works, it is
believed that little difference of opinion exist
among military men. therefore recommend
that appropriations necessary to prosecute them
be made.
invite your attention to the remarks on this