Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-14

Tn state of Na;iona! Armrrcs reflects cfeo't on
the Ficers placed IN charge OF ihem. ! v's',ru anu
inspected that at Springfield in Juiy as' ana 'onha
in excellent order Tint At Harper Ferry - asr Ju
,,,cously conducted as Learn from the report of The
Ordnance Bureau Taat report EXHIBIT ~ detail the
amour, OF moneys expended at the asnor'es ioF lhe
manufacture arms for materials and i"f repairs ana
improvements. The usual d'st:,btt on of arms TO The
several States has been naue III 'e pass year, as
II the report.
Tine yolue of tho property under charge Of this branch
Of the service 7 393 02i o. and itself shows the
amount of pecunarv responsibility m winch the oceis
who have 1t IN charge are involved The system o.
kee,ng and preserving the pubic arms, accouremens,
,pnnit,ons &c, wish The arrangement q the accounts
and the arsenas, 10 be easy aud exPedi'i"usiy
inspected are such entiile tue head rs well as the
other officers OF the corps 10 great credit
The statements regard 10 our ad mines are deep
l., ,,erps,;po Some .g,slat,cn undoubtedly Deces
s,ry 10 prevent tae NUMEROUS frauds tempted 10 De
perpera,ed appropfiatng to individual as', al or
binary prices, lands known 10 abound with rich mine
ral Something either be done ID effect The oo
ect or the lands should be sold at adequate prices,
such could be obtained The report OF the Bureau on
this subject al the last session oil congress, coupled
with III present year. contains much valuable
information, and exhibits to some extent the losses
which the Government IS continually sustaining, as
wall rs some of the defects Of the present system.
Measures were taken early in the present season u
secure the rich mineral region South OF Lake Superior
from falling INTO the hands of Iniruders, who might
endeayor, ultimately, 70 "rest from 1oVeiHhSHt
those valuable lands which, in addition to lead, are
tound 10 abound in copper Of superior quality
The results far ascprtaned have been salsiac-
tory and will be found more a. length IN the report OF
the Ordnance Bureau. When The full and hnni report
for the yeur shall have been received from Tie agent,
can be furnished 1t desired
The duties of the Ordnance Bureau, are various and
resnonsible and have been increased by placing The
mineral lands under It's charge lis respectfully sug
restd thai the salary of the first clerk OF tbs office
be 50 regulated, as u pot him on footing with Inc
chief clerks of the other Bureaus
The estimates from the Bureaus OF Engineers, Ic-
ponraphcal Engineers, and Ordnance, are larger ina"
those of the preceding year. The reason tor this IN
crease, .nay need explanation. Inc chefs OF those
Bureaus, aspect vev, have estimated what, IN TIER
iudpmen will b. necessary carry ont thosa works,
for which PROVISION has been made ny law II ton-
pres shall no, deem advisable 70 prosecute all o'
ihsm the appropriations be confined 10 those deem
ed OF most press ne Importance. Again. considerable
horizons of some OF the estimates are Tor the reapprc
priation Of sums heretofore appropriated, but which
will revert tn the Surplus Fund, by operation OF law,
at The Ct so Of the present Calendar year.
The report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
embraces, great Getii, The operations oil tlal De
par,rnent for ths past year.
Our lrd'an relations have, in the main, been peace
abls, and the exceptions, growing out OF few 'nd-
vidual acts Of violence, have not been sanctioned or
justified by the tribes winch the offenders belonged
The emigration OF that portion OF the Choctaws,
Eas, of the Mississippi yet been effected but
il is hoped and believed, that II Will commence early IN
the Spring, aud continue until The most of them will
be removed. The Department has been assduousiy al
work, eDdeavo:ng to effect THIS object, and thus re-
l,eve the State of Mississippi from population unde
siraoe, and which will b. mnch better off when oca
ted among their kindred and people, residing
West Of The Mississippi.
The to the agents and su5-agent5
which is believed they endeavorngt TO carry out
has been endeavor bring the influences Of Chris
tian,ty and civilization to bear upon them-o induce
them - settle down permanently 10 the cuvstion OF
the soil, aud thus become domes:cOted, it were,
their territories.
Many the Southwestern Indians especially among
the Ch.rokees and ChUcaws, have made considerable
advances to civiiiza!iou, and accrstomng them
selves I, husb,ndy aud planting, surrounding hem
selves with the comforts OF cviized e and tax
grea, pans The education of their children TIE
Chociaws early in the present year appropriated one
thousand eight hundred do,llrs of their annaltIes 10
education purposes.
The annu,,les pad many of the tribes seem to DO
them hal good So long they are sure OF recelv |
ing their annual stipend they wall not exert themselves
they should 10 earn SUBSISTENCE, and IN most IN
stances the traders &c, The money OF the Indian, ell
Their in payment OF debts incurred IN anticipation oil
the annuity, for goods brought 10 hun and sold when
the aGnutes pad The lndan rarely receives
the value o! his money, which taus fails Of lis ohjeCt
10 provide for The necessities Of tie red revi-
sion of the whole system may probably result IN some
better means than any vet discovered 10 proven, the
bounty OF the Government from beaG msapP'o pFa'ed
and The pnor Indian from squandernn his money on
objects OF trivial importance. Some further legsla-
tive provision necessary efrcualiy 10 prevent ali
persons from Introducing ardent SPIRITS among or dis
posing eli tlem &c Inc Indians under any preteXl what
ever.
The compensation allowed 10 sub.agents is emf rely
tsoroporiiona;e 10 the responsibilities incurred and
dulles required of them They are obliged TO give Sc
curily amounts varying from $4,000 70 @20,000 TO!
reside out of the reach of civilization, 10 be often ex
posed 10 danger and trouble, and for all this they
ceive hut 500 per year. The compensation ought to
hc increase least 81 600, and situations
discretionary power should re given 10 increase 1t 10
$3.50, which would probably enable the Department
10 secure the OF men better qualified icr 10
work than can ordinarily be chained tor the small al
lowance no gwen them. IL msh also be advisable
- give authority where the proceeding would b. pro-
per- 10 consolidate two more continuous snaogences
into a fun asency
Gcr,np the recess of Congress-, directed n
mencemen, 70 BE- made of history of all the Indian
tribes as far could be derived IRON docu-
ments in this d department. Some prngr IS has been
made in It, but it found that it wall have to be sus-
psnded during the approaching session Of Congress for
want of the necessary force 10 put upon II. It's
work very much needed, anu WILL IL property comPie-
led, be very valuable.
f. IS important most eliectuaiy to prevent abuses,
and to see that the Indians fairly dealt with, that
the Department should have The means OF obtaining
more direct ard Official Information OF the actual state
and condition OF the several tribes OF lndans and The
manner IN which the agencies and sub-ngencIes are
conducted rh.n can be had. For tins purpose, /
would respectfully suggest such modification Of 80
much of the act OF % Angus, l-l2 az provides
.sTha it shall not, any time hereaer bc lawful for
any accounting discussing officer OF the Govern
lnent allow pay any accoun, or charge what yer,
growing out of, or IN any way CONNECTED with, any
commission inquiry, except courts marta! or courts
of inquiry IN The military naval service Of the U. S
until SPECIAL appropriations shall have been made By
law 10 pay such accounts and charges, &c as to en-
cude from ia operation the Office Of !nd,an AEls, "a
far at least Us permit the payme't OF tsaSouatl,
compensation person persons TO De appointed Ia
make personal inpections and examinations n.o Indian
affairs II believed thai such inspections and exam
nations would many abuses, and DE an actual
saving 10 the Government
TIE report Of the Commissioner Of Pensions, cxhi-
hts very clearly and inctly thu state and condition
pf lie business of this Office There yet remain on
the os 81 o6I pensioners for revolutionary services,
,ncirs.pg widows Under The ac, OF 1883, granting
pensions Tor i've years TO widows OF revolutionary SOL
tiers sg5 claims have been presented of winch q
$50 have been admitted Under the laws granting
pensions 10 invahds for wounds and injuries received
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