The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-09-04
Proosdens's Message,
The telegraph mutilated Prcsilen, Pierce
messagc We publish it below. in full

The telegraph mutilated Prcsi,len, Pierce,
mesagc We publish it below in full.
Fellow citizens Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives. IN consequence Of the failure
oil Congress ut It's recent session TO make pro
vision for the support OF the army, it became
imperatiyely incumbent on me 10 exercise the
power o, which the Constitution coniers on the
Executive on this extraordinary occasion. and
promptly TO convene the two Houses IN order
to afford them an opportunity Of reconciling
subject OF such vital interest TO the peace and
welfare Of the Union. With the exception OF
partial authority vested by law in the Secre.
,ary OF War to contract for . supply of cloth
ing and subsistence, the army is wholly Deepen.
dapt on the appropriations annually made by
Congress The omission Of Congress to act ia
this respect before the termination OF the pres
ent fiscal year, has already caused embarrass
ments which were overcome only in expectation
of appropriations before the close OF the present
months. II the requisite funds be not speedily
provided, the Executive will no longer be able
10 furnish Tor transportation the equipments
and munitions which are essential 10 the effect
iveness Of a military force in the field. With
no provision for the pay OF the troops, the con
tract Of enlistment would be broken, and the
army must in effect he disbanded, the cons,'.
quenccs Of which would BE- so disastrous as to
demand all possible efforts TO avert the ca
lamity. 1t is not merely that the officers aud
enlisted men Of the army are thus to be deprived
Of their pay and emolumFnts to which they are
entitled by standing laws, but that the con
struction oil arms at the arsensls. and the man
lacture OF military clothing and camp equipage
must be discontinued and the persons connected
with this branch Of the public service thus BE-
/ deprived suddenly Of employment essential 10
| their subsistence. Nor is it merely the waste
consequent upon the forced abandonment OF
! the seaboard Notifications, and Of the interior
military posts and other establishments, and
the enormous expense of recruiting AMI re-
organizing the army, and again distributing il
over the vast region which il now occupies.
These are evils which ii is true may be t.
paired hereafter by taxes imposed upon tn
country, but other evils are involved which no
expenditure, however lavished. could remedy
in comparison with which local and personal
injuries or interests sink into insignifcance A
great part 81 the Army il situated on tine
mote frontier. or in the deserts and mountains
OF the interior. To discharge large bOdies OF
men in such places without the means Of regain
ing their homes, and where few, If any conl Oh
tain subsistence by honest industry, would b. to
subject them to suffering and temptation. with
disregard Of justice and right most derogatory
to the Government. In the Territories Of
Washington and Oregon numerous bands Of
Indians are in arms. aud are wagng war Of
determination against the white inhabitants
and although our troops are actively carrying
on the campaign we have no intelligence IA yet
Of successful result. On the Western plains,
notwithstanding the imposing display Of militia
ry force recently made there and the chastis,
ment inflicted on the rcbellious tribes, others
far from being disnayei, have manifested no,
tile intentions, and been guilty OF outrages
which. if not designed TO provoke conflict
serve to show that the apprehension of it is in.
sufficient wholly to restrain their vicous pro,
pensites
A strong force in the State 0i Texas has pro
duced the temporary suspension of hostlities
there, but in New Mexico incessant vigilance
on the part of the troops is required to keep in
check the marauding tribes which inlest that
Territory. The hostile Indians have not been
removed from the State Of Florida, and the
withdrawal OF the troops therefrom, leaving
that object unaccomplished, would be most in
furious 10 the inhabitants, AMI a breach of the
positive engagement OF the General Govern
neut. To refuse supplies to the army there,
fore is 10 compel the complete cessation Of all
its operations and practical dsbandonmeni
and thus to invite hordes of predatory avages
from the Western Plains and Rocky Mountains
to spread devastation along frontier of more
than 1000 miles in extent and to deliver M
the sparse population OF vast tract Of country
to rapnc and murder. Such, in substance
would he the direct and immediate effects of
the refusal Of Congress for the first time in the
history Of the Government, TO grant supplies
the inevitable waste OF millions OF public treas
ure--the infection OF extreme wrong upon all
persons connected with the military establish
ment by service employment, or coCiracts--the
recall OF oar forces from the field the fearful
sacraice of Et and incalculable destruction of
property on the remote frontiers the striking
Of our national flag on the battlenents of the
ioItresscs which defend our maritime cities
against foreign inyasion-the violation OF the
public honor and good hith--aDd the discredit
Of the United States in the eyes Of the civil
lied world
, | confidently trust these considerations and
Others appcrtaining TO the domestic peace OF
the country, whca cannot fail to suggest them
selves 10 every patriotic mind will, on renec
ton, be- duly appreciated 10y both Houses OF
Congress and induce the enactment OF the re
quisi,e provisions Of law for the support OF the
Army OF the United States
FRASKLN Pierce.
NJ n L..