Litchfield enquirer., 1838-12-13

ice has been done so the Indians in these purchases also. Certain il is, that e transactions of the fene- raj IoveInenl wln .e desT , prOmote their welfare and 1t must be source oi tle highest qualification every friend to justice and nll mAnity, learn that, the from time to time thrown in its way. and the dhcu- ties which have arisen from the peculiar and iprac- ticahle nature of the Indian character, the wse hn- mane, and undertaking policy of the G0ve[nment m this the most difficult O all relations, foreign Or domestic, has at length been jusuhed to the woo mus near approach to happy and ceraln cOnsnnln1auoh'
 The condition of the tribes winch occupy the cout- try set apart for them the es highly prosperous, and encourages the hope of their early cvlllzaon- They have, for the most part, abandoned the hunter state and turned their attention to agElcutnra pur- suits All those who have been established for any length of time in that fertile reglon maintain tens- selves by their industry. There are among them traders of inconsderab!e capital and planters ex- porting cotton to some extent; but the greater num- Der are small agrculturaIsts, living m comfort upon the produce of their farms. The recent enlgrants, although they have in some instances removed reinc- tautly. have readily acquiesced m thelr unaVooa9e destiny. They have found at once recOmpense tor past suerngs and incentive to industrious habits in the abundance and comforts around ihem There is reason believe that all these tribes are friendly Tn their feelings towards the United States; and n is to be hoped that the acquisition of Individual wealth, the pursuits of agriculture, and habits of industry, will
 gradually subdue their Warllke pTopensliles, and - cline them to maintain peace among themselves.
 To effect this desirable object, the attention of Con- gress s solicited to the measures recommended by the
  protection, as we'll from each other as from the host
 ivy ot the w0rike tribes around them, and the mtru- sions of the whites. The policy of the Government has given them permanent home, and guarantied
 to them its peaceful and undisturhed possession. It only remains to give them government and laws which will encourage industry, and secure to them the rewards ct their exerti"ns The importance ot some form Ot government cannot he too much insisted npon
 The earliest effects will he diminish the causes and occasions for hostinies among the trihes to inspire interest in the observance o laws 10 which they will tad ,fl nlU
 ties of property, and the motives for senprovemert
 Intimately connected with this subject is the estah- Eshment o the military defences recommended by the Secretary of War, which have been already referred to- Without them, the Government will be powerless to redeem its pledges of protection 10 the emgrating Indians against the numerous warke tribes that sur round them, and provide for ,he safety of the frontier settlers of the bordering States ---..
 The case of the Semnoles constitutes at present the only exception ,o the successful efforts ot the Govern. men. to remove ,he Indians to the homes assigned 9 ned
 them west of the Mississippi. Four hundred ot this
 tribe en,igrated in lS36 and 1900 in 1887 and 1858
 leaving m the country, 1t is supposed, about @oo0 ln- dians. The continued trcachcrons conduct oi these people; the savhgeand unprovoked murders they have lately committed, butchering whole tam'iies m the settlers of the Territory, without distinction ot age or sex, and making their way into the very centre and heart of the country. that part ot H IS tree from
 their ravages; their frequent attacks on the ghi.hou- ses along thn, dangerous coast; and the harhor'ty with which they have murdered the passengers ana crews of such vessels as have been Wrec cd upon the reefs and keys which border the Gulf leave the Gov ernment no alternative but 10 continue the military operations against them until they are totally eXpe- ed from Florida. s
 There are other motives which would urge the Gov ernnent to pursue this towards the Semlnoies
 The United States have fulfilled in good faith all their treaty spnla'ions with the Indian tribes and have, ance of their obligations. To relax from this snlu. ary rule because the Sclninolcs have maintained themselves go long in the Territory they had ren- quished and, in defiance of teir frequent and solemn engagements. still continue to wage ruthless war against tie United States, would not only evnce want ot consancy on onr part but be of evll exam. pie in our intercourse win other tribes EXpencnce has shown that but little is 10 be gained by the march of armies through country so nersccted win mac cesslble swamps and marshes, and when, rom ttie fatal character of the climate, must he abandoned at the end of the winter. l recommend, therefore, to rour attention the plan submitted by the Secretary of War in the accompanying report, for the permanent occupation of the portion of the territory trced rom the Indians, and the more efficient protection ot the people of Florida from their nhuman warfare.
 From the report of the Secretary of the Navy, here1 with transmitted it will appear that large portion of disposabe naval orce is either actively employed, or in state of preparation, for the purpose ot exper ence and discipline. and the protection ot our com mercc. So efectua has been this protection, that, so far as the information of Government extends, not single outrage has been attempted on vessel carry ing the flag of the United States, within the present yeHT in any quarter sa or NoEok on inc 18th of August last and intnrlnniion has Deen fece- yed of its safe arrva ai he island of Madeira; The best spirit animaes the officers and crews, and there is every reason to anticipate from it's efforts results beneficial to commerce and honorable to the nati9n.
 It will also be seen that no reduction oi the iorce now in commission is contemplated. The unsettled state of portion of South America renders It ndls pensahe that our commerce should recelve proicc.
 ton in that quarter the vas; and ncreas,ng interests embarked in the trade of the Indian and China scas
 in the whale fisheries of the Pacific Ocean, and in the Gulf of Mexico, require equal attention to ther safe ty; and q sr,alI squadron may fc employed 10 great advantage on our Atlantic coast, in meeting sudden demands for the reinforcement of other stations. m aiding merchant vessels in distress n afTding active service to an additional number of ofhcers, and m visiting the die rent ports of tlc United States m ac- curate knowledge of which IS obviously ot the high est importance.
 The attention of Congress is respectfully called to !hat portion of the report recommending an increase lions contained in that document. The rapid n- crease and wide expansion of our commerce, which is every day seeking new avenues Of profitable adven- tnre the absolute necessity oi naval force for lis due regard to the national rights and honor the re- collection of its former exploits, and the anticipation of it's future trumphs whenever opportunity presents itself, which we may rightfnly indulge from ihe ex- perience of the past all seem to point 10 the navy as a most efficient arm of our national defence, and proper object of legislative encouragement
 The progress and condition of the Post-Oiice De- partment will c by reference to he report of the Postmaster General. The extent of post roads. cov- cred by mail contracts. is stated to be BASIS miles miles The number of Posr-Oifices in the United States is l2, ,553 and rapidly increasing. The gross revenue f,r the year ending the 3Oh day oi June last was S4 262 I45 O. The accruing expenditures, This has been made up out of the surplus previously on hand The cash on hand on the first instant, was S3I4,O6s. The revenue for the year ending June %, 1885, was SI6I, I,54O more than for the year ending June 20, 1887. The expenditures of the department had been graduated upon the anticipation of large- ly increased revenue. A moderate curtament of mail service consequently became necessary, and has been effected, tO shield the department against the danger of embarrassment.- revenue IS now Impro- ving and il will soon resume its onward course in the march of improvement
 Your particular attention is requested to 90 much of the Post Master Generals report relates to the transportation ofih mails upon railroads. The laws that subject do not seem adequate to secure that