Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 97 DECEMBER, 1824.] President's Message. [SENATE. Plymouth Beach, are in a course of regular execu- year. The hostile disposition evinced by certain tion; and, there is reason to believe, that the appro- tribes on the Missouri during the last year, still conpriation, in each instance, will be adequate to the tinues and has extended, in some degree, to those object. To carry these improvements fully into on the Upper Mississippi and the upper Lakes. Seveffect, the superintendence of them has been assign- eral parties of our citizens have been plundered and ed to officers of the Corps of Engineers. murdered by those tribes. In order to establish Under the act of 30th April last, authorizing the relations of friendship with them, Congress, at the President to cause a survey to be made, with the last session, made an appropriation for' treaties necessary plans and estimates, of such roads and with them, and for the employment of a suitable canals, as he might deem of national importance, in military escort to accompany and attend the Coma commercial or military point of view, or for the missioners at the places appointed for the negotiatransportation of the mail, a Board has been insti- tions. This object has not been effected. The tuted, consisting of two distinguished officers of the season was too far advanced when the appropriation Corps of Engineers, and a distinguished Civil Engi- was made, and the distance too great to perneer, with assistants, who have been actively em- mit it, but measures have been taken, and all the ployed in carrying into effect the object of the act. preparations will be completed, to accomplish it at They have carefully examined the route between an early period in the next season. the Potomac and the Ohio Rivers; between the Believing that the hostility of the tribes, partilatter and Lake Erie: between the Alleghany and cularly on the upper Mississippi, and the Lakes, is the Susquehanna; and the routes between the Dela- in no small degree owing to the wars which are ware and the Rariton, Barnstable and Buzzard's carried on between the tribes residing in that quarBay, and between Boston Harbor and Narraganset ter, measures have been taken to bring about a Bay. Such portion of the corps of Topographical general peace among them, which, if successful, Engineers as could be spared from the survey of the will not only tend to the security of our citizens, coast, has been employed in surveying the very im- but be of great advantage to the Indians themselves. portant route between the Potomac and the Ohio. With the exception of the tribes referred to, our Considerable progress has been made in it, but the relations with all the others are on the same friendsurvey cannot be completed until the next season. ly footing, and it affords me great satisfaction to It is gratifying to add, from the view already taken, add, that they are making steady advances in civilthat there is good cause to believe, that this great ization, and the improvement of their condition. national object may be fully accomplished. Many of the tribes have already made great proIt is contemplated to commence early in the next gress in the arts of civilized life. This desirable season, the execution of the other branch of the act, result has been brought about by the humane and that which relates to roads, and with the survey of persevering policy of the Government, and particua route from this city, through the Southern States, larly by means of the appropriation for the civilizato New Orleans, the importance of which cannot be tion of the Indians. There have been established, too highly estimated. All the officers of both the under the provisions of this act, thirty-two schools, corps of Engineers, who could be spared from other containing nine hundred and sixteen scholars, who services, have been employed in exploring and sur- are well instructed in several branches of literature, veying the routes for canals. To digest a plan for and likewise in agriculture, and the ordinary arts of both objects, for the great purposes specified, will life. require a thorough knowledge of every part of our Under the appropriation to authorize treaties Union, and of the relation of each part to the others, with the Creeks, and Quapaw Indians, Commissionand of all to the seat of the General Government. ers have been appointed, and negotiations are now For such a digest it will be necessary that the in- pending, but the result is not yet known. formation be full, minute, and precise. With a For more full information respecting the principle view to these important objects, I submit to the which has been adopted for carrying into effect the consideration of Congress the propriety of enlarging act of Congress authorizing surveys, with plans and both the corps of Engineers, the military and topo- estimates, for canals and roads, and on every other graphical. It need scarcely be remarked that the branch of duty incident to the Department of War, more extensively these corps are engaged in the im- I refer you to the Report of the Secretary. provement of their country, in the execution of the The squadron in the Mediterranean has been powers of Congress, and in aid of the States in such maintained in the extent which was proposed in the improvements as lie beyond that limit, when such Report of the Secretary of the Navy of the last year, aid is desired, the happier the effect will be in many and has afforded to our commerce the necessary views of which the subject is susceptible. By prof- protection in that sea. Apprehending, however, iting of their science, the work will always be well that the unfriendly relations which have existed beexecuted; and by giving to the officers such em- tween Algiers and some of the powers of Europe,. ployment, our Union will derive all the advantage might be extended to us, it has been thought expein peace as well as in war, from their talents and dient to augment the force there, and, in conseservices, which they can afford. In this mode, also, quence, the "North Carolina," a ship of the line, the military will be incorporated with the civil, and has been prepared, and will sail in a few days' to: unfounded and injurious distinctions and prejudices, join it. of every kind, be done away. To the corps them- The force employed in the Gulf of Mexico, and selves, this service cannot fail to be equally useful, in the neighboring seas, for the suppression of since, by the knowledge they would thus acquire, piracy, has likewise been preserved essentially in they would be eminently better qualified, in the the state in which it was during the last year. A event of war, for the great purposes for which they persevering effort has been made for the accomwere instituted. plishment of that object, and much protection has Our relations with the Indian tribes within our thereby been afforded to our commerce, but still limits, have not been materially changed during the the practice is far from being suppressed. From VoL. VIII.-7