U. S. Gentlⁿ of the house of Representatives, [Message as sent] Having maturely considered the bill, to alter and amend an Act intituled An Act to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States, which was presented to me on the 22 day of this month, I now return it to the house of Representatives, in which it originated, with my objections. First. [strikethrough: The bill does not appear consistent with justice inasmuch] [interlineation: of the bill] [strikethrough: as it intimately] [interlineation: [undecipherable] must be made [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable] probably [undecipherable]] pages who are the two companies of light dragoons [strikethrough: as] actually legally out of service though they afterwards continue actually in service, and for their services during this interval, namely from the time of legal to the time of actual [discharge], it will not be lawful to pay them, until some further provision be made by law. Though they may be discharged at the pleasure of Congress, in justice they ought to receive their [pay] not only to the time of passing the law, but to the time of their actual discharge, and [strikethrough: if the] they should receive it when they are in fact discharged. Secondly. It will be inconvenient and injurious to the [public] to [dismiss] the light dragoons, as soon as notice of the law can be [transmitted] to the [Western] [frontier] one of the [companies] having been Lately detached to a necessary and important service. Thirdly. The companies of light dragoons consist of one hundred and twenty six non commissioned officers and privates who are bound to serve as dismounted dragoons when ordered so to do; they have received in bounties about two thousand dollars; one of them is completely equipped; and above half of the non commissioned officers and privates, have yet to serve more than one third the term of their enlistment, and [he] [undecipherable] deficiency at this time in the complement of infantry intended to be continued. Under these circumstances, to discharge the dragoons, does not seem to comport with [the] oeconomy, or [undecipherable] Fourthly. It is generally agreed that some cavalry, either militia or regular, will be necessary; and according to the best information I have been able to obtain, it is my opinion, that the latter will be less expensive, and more useful, than the former, in preserving peace between the frontier settlers, and the Indians, and therefore a part of the military establishment should consist of cavalry. [Rel^t Dragoons]