The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12

have been extended.
The extensive grants for railroad purposes
to eight States of the Union have claimed and
received large share of the attention of the
Department heretofore and during the past
year.
In conclusion, the report states that the graf
Tying results may be mentioned, that since the
Both September, 1858, there have been actually
transmitted, or prepared for transmission, from
this office, for delivery, upward of 100000 pat
ents; and if we divide the list of approyals to
the States under swamp and railroad grants
by a fair average, we find that the work in their
adjustment and certi6cation is equal to the
preparation of an additional number of 1884, 900
cash patents.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
This report states that while the authorized
strength of the army is l8,l65, the number in
July last was only II, 499; and 1900 of that
number were alone available for service in the
field. Small as it is, the force has been re-
quired to man about one hundred and thirty
permanent garrisons, posts, and camps, scatter
ed over an area of three millions of square
miles, and consequently it has been found i'm
possible to give ample security to citizens on
our frontiers. In relation TO the Indian depre-
dations on our Southern and Mexican border,
the Secretary hopes to make such alteration IN
the disposition of the troops next season as will
prevent any repetition. Measures have already
been taken to subdue the Comanches and Kio-
was, and give protection to the routes from
Missouri and Arkansas to New Mexico.
1t recommends law providing for the enlist
ment of men for the mounted corps for a six
months term of service, commencing in May
the men to furnish their own horses. These
recruits should compose half of the mounted
regiments, even though portion of the present
force should be disbanded to make room for
them. The best young men of the frontier,
who would never think of enlisting for five
years, would not object to entering this service
They could all ride, and be expert at the use
Of weapons. 10 prevent miscarriage, it might
be introduced gradually.
The provisions of several bills of last winter,
to provide for infrm and disabled soldiers, are
approved as beneficial to the public service.
The necessity for enlisting teamsters is urged,
as is the enlistment of frontier citizens for from
tier service, for six months terms, the men to
provide their own horses.
1t speaks favorably of the condition of the
Military Academy, and remarks that the adop-
ton of five instead of four years term has
afforded the means of improving the course of
studies, and introducing somewhat more of
practical instruction. Some slight modification
in the programme of instruction is perhaps
needed, so as not to crowd the course too much,
and to adjust the different studies in accordance
with their relative importance. The subject
of strategy, grand tactics military organization
and administration, &c, are receiving the at
tention of the Secretary.
The estimates made last winter for the ex-
penditures of the War Department were reduced
Al - L. l. - e
and keep the army on its present footing. Con.
gress reduced this scale about $2,000,000. Mr.
Floyd has this year brought his estimates for
next year half a million below the appropria
tons made for the current fiscal year. The
whole cost of the army proper now reaches
$l3,098, 725.72, which he thinks may be mate
rally reduced. The extra expenses incurred
during the past year for the suppression of hos
tilities in Washington and Oregon amounted
to $685. 39ll. The expenses for escorts to
parties engaged in service not pertaining to
legitimate duties of the army exceeded $40, 900,
making on expenditure of more than 1870, 900
for objects which could not be foreseen.
The appropriations for manufacturing arms,
the Secretary thinks, cannot properly be dimin-
ished. A foreign war would create an i'm
mediate demand for an immense number of
arms, probably enough, nearly, to strip all our
arsenals, and to require the purchase of further
supplies from private manufacturers, at whose
mercy the Government would be in the emer-
geneies of war. Other expenses are 5necessari-
ly incurred in experiments and improvements
The Secretary makes no departure from the
estimates made heretofore in relation to national
defences and his sentiments are likewise un-
changed in regard to the propriety of making
some provision to secure our seaports from the
attacks of forces that may debark on the coast,
and seek to attain them by routes not COM
manded by the channel forts. The statistics of
the combined naval and military operations of
the French in the recent italian war are indiea-
tons of the correctness of this estimate of our
danger from such attacks. The Secretary rec
ommends that the present fertresses be lighted
with gas.
The great military road from Fort WalIa-
Walla to Fort Benton has been completed
about two hundred and sixty miles. Reliable
information has been furnished of great mine.
raj wealth in the mountains through which the
road passes. 1t may be considered as demon
strated, that the project of artesian wells to
bring water from subterranean streams to over
flow the surfaces of the great Western plains,
is, for any reasonable amount of expenditure,
impracticable.
The economy is evident of continuing explo-
rations into the regions west of the Mississippi.
when it is considered that they open the cOun-
try to travel develop its mineral and agricul.
tural wealth, shorten and afford new informa-
ton concerning emigrant routes, and designate
those portions of the wild territory that are
susceptible of settlement. Very great benefits
to the whole country would be derived, beyond
all doubt, by furnishing from the Office of Ex-
plorations and Surveys a moderate supply of
geological maps of the United States and Ter
ritories. An opportunity now presents itself,
by which the preparation of a complete geolog-
cal map by some of the ablest men of science
in America, can be secured, at a very reasona
BILE rate of compensation. No similar expend
iture would result in anything like an equal
benefit to the country at large.
With a sketch of the military operations. the
Secretary brings his report to close.
The army In Utah is inactive, and stands in
the attitude of menacing force towards con-
quered and sullen people. That Territory is
governed practically by system which is in
total disregard of the laws or Constitution of
the land. The laws of the Mormon Church are
alone potential; and the people, beyond
mere show of acquiescence in Federal author
ity, are as irresponsible to it as any foreign
nation. The preservation of right and Justice
through the means of any Jurisprudence known
or recognised by the people of the United
States, is impossible there. Murders have been
perpetrated in the Territory upon emigrants
iourneying toward the Pacific, which il is the
general impression are the work of the Mormon
people themselves, sanctioned if not directed