Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-12-10


that surround Them and To provide foi the safety oil
the frontier settlers of the bordering States.
The of the Seminolcs constitutes at present
the Only exception to the successful eiarrs OF the
Goyernment 10 remove the Indians To the homes as
.igued them west OF the Mississippi Four hundred
o This tribe cmgrated in 1886. and fifteen hundred
in 1887 and 1893. leaving the country it Is sup
,osed about 9, 600 Indians. The continued treach.
erous conduc of these people the savage and unpro-
vokcd murders they have late y committed butcher
Ing whole families of the settlers OF the Territory
without distinction OF age or sex, and making their
w,y into the very centre and heart of The country so
that no part OF it is free from their ravagcs their fire.
ouent attacks the lighthouses along that danger
us coast and the baIbarity with which they have
ed the passengers and crews Of sue AS
have been wrecked upon The reefs and KEYS which
border The Gull, leave the Government no alternative
but 10 continue the military operations against them
until they are Totally expelled from Florida.
There are other motives which would urge the o.
vernment 10 pursue this course towards the Semi
poles. The United States have fulfilled in good faith
aII their treaty slpula,ions with the Indian Tribes
and have in every Other instance insisted upon like
performance Of their obligations. TO relax from this
salntaiy rule because the Semino'es have maintain
ed themselves so long in the territory they had re.
lpuushed and, in defiance Of their lreuuent and So
Ian engagements, still continue 10 wage ruthless
4 against the United States would not only evince
sHiDt oi consancy on our part. but be of cy exam
pie in our intercourse with other tribes Experience
has shown that but liIle is TO be gau,d by the march
of armies through country Intefsectcd with in
accessible swaml,s and maisEes, and which, from the
fatal character OF the climate, must be abandoned AT
the end OF The winter. l recommend, therefore, to
YOUR attention, The plan submitted by the Secretary
of War in the accompanying report, for the pcfma-
rent oc, upalion Of the portion OF the Territory freed
from the Indians, and the more efficient protection Of
the peope Of Florida from their inhuman warfare.
From the report Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
herewith transmitted it will appear tia, large por
ton OF the disposabe naval force is either actively
err pioyed, state Of preparation for the purpo-
SEES of experience aud discipline and the protection
OF our commerce. So eflectual has been this pro-
tcction that, so lar as the nation OF Government
extends not a sing outrage has been attempted on
a vessel carrying the Nag OF the L. S. within the pre-
sent year. IN any qualtei, however distant or expos
ed.
The exploring expedition sailed from Norfolk on
the 18th OF August last; and Information has been
received Of its safe arrival al the Island Of Madeira
The best spirit anlnaes the officers and crews, aud
there is every reason 10 anticipate, from its efforts
results beuehcial 10 commerce and honorable 10 the
nation.
1t will be seen that no redut ton OF The force in
commission is dated. The unsettled State of
portion OF South America renders it indispensable
that commerce should r. ceiyc protection in that
quarter the vast and increasing interests embarked
IN the trade Il the Indian and China seas in the
whale fisheries OF the Pacific ocean, and in the Gull
oi Mexico require equal attention TO Their safety;
and u small squadron may be employed TO g,eat ad-
vantage our Atlantic coast, in meeting sudden
demands for the reinforcement OF other stations, in
aiding merchant vessels III distress, in IHording
tive service to an additional number Of officers and
visiting tie different ports Of tie United States. an
accurate knowledge OF which Is obviously Of the
highest importance.
The attention Of Congress is respet fully called to
that portion of The rerot recommending an Increase
in the number Of 81 a''r vessels, and to other sug
ges,ions contained IN that documeh'. The rapid in
crease aud wide expansion Of our commerce. which
i, every day se,kins avenues OF profitable adgeu
ture; the absolute necessity ii naval force for its
protection precisely IN the de9lee Of its extension;
due ,es ard to the national rights an1 honor the
iecoc con Of It's iomcr exploits. aud the anticipa-
hon OF its future trump his whenever opportunity pre-
scents itself. which We may ghuy lnduls e from The
experience OF the past, all seem 10 point to the
as most efficient arm of our national defence, aud
proper object OF legislative CT couragement.
a.. The progress and condition of the Pos, Once De
parlment will be bv reference to the report OF
the Post Master General. The extent of post roads,
covered by mail contracts, IS stated to be l3i elS
miles, and The annual transportation uron lhen "a
$50, 202 the number Of post Offices in the United
States is - ,553, and rapidly increasing. The
revenue tor the year ending on thc 3OIh day OF June
last. was 81 262 l45. The accruing expenditures,
Si,65,00G5 excess Of expenditures. $ll7,923. This
has been made up out OF the surplus previously Oh
hand. The cash on hand on the lst instant, was
3l4.069. The revenue for The wear ending June
go 1898, WAS Sl6l. $50 than that for the wear
Guiding June so. 1897. The expenditures Of the de-
parlment had been graduated upon the Anticipation
Of largely increased revenue. moderate cuitail-
mOnt of ma service consequently became necessary,
and has been effected, To shield the department IA
gainst the danger Of embatas ment. Its teyeuue is
now improving, aud II will snon resume ITS onward
course IN the march Of Improvement.
Your particular attention Is requested to 80 much
Of The Postmaster Generals report relates To the
transportation of The mails upon ltoads. The laws
that subject do not seem adequate to secure that
service, now become almost essential TO the public
interests and at the protect the department
from combinations and unfeasunable demands.
Nor can too earnestly request your attention TO
the Cessly Of providing more secure building Tor
this department. The danger Of destruction to whic h
It's important books and papers are continually ex-
posed, well from the hghly combustible character
Of the building occupied rs from that OF others IN
the vicinity, calls loudly for prompt action,
Your attention again earnestly invited TO the sur-
ges,ions and recommend atoms submitted at the last
sson, in respect to the District Of Col unbla.
FEEL It my duty, als,, to bring TO your notice GER
tah' proceedings at law. which have recently been
prosecuted in this District, in the lame OF The United
States,on the relation of Messrs. Stockton Stokes,
oil the Stale Of Mary land, against the Postmaster
General, and winch have resulted in the payment OF
money out of the National Treasury, for the first
time since The establishment OF the Govcrnment, by
JUDICIAL compuslou. exercised by the common law
wit of mandamus issue1 by the circuit court OF tins
District
The facts Of The case, and the grounds OF The pro
ccedngs, will be found fully stated in the report OF
The decision; and any additional information "h'ci