The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06

on the oekcsrs placed in charge Of them. l visited
and inspected that at Springfield IN July Last. and
found in excellent order. That at Harper's Ferry
is also judciously conducted. as learn from me r.
port Of the Ordnance Bureau. That report exhibits
10 detail the amount of moneys expanded q the arm,
cries for tho manufacture Of arms for materalss and
for repairs and improvements. ThA usual ds.r'oauop
Of TO the several States has been MADE 10 Inc
past year, a. shown in the report 81 ,6iN. i,
The value OF the property under charge of this
branch of the sorvice $l7 ,39302l " ana IN nssif
shows the amount of pecuniary responsibility wnlc'
the officers who have il in charge are involved The
system Of keeping and preserving .ne pubic arms,
accoutrements munitions. &cs, with the arrangement
of the accounts and the arseaas so ~ to be easily and
expeiitously inspected, are such as to enttle the
head ~ well the other officers Of the corps to great
credit. 1890. bss esi.a.g IL lrs4 s#f ttee
deeply interesting. Some legislation is undoubtedly
necessary to prevent the numerous frauds attempted
TO be psrpetrated in appropriating individual use,
at ordinary prices lands known 10 abound with rich
mineral. Something must either be done to effect the
object or the lands should be sold at adequate prices,
if such could be obtained. The report Of the Bureau
on this subject at the last session of Congress- coupled
with that Of the present year contains much valuable
information, and exhibits to extent the losses
which the Government is continually sustaining, as
-
Measures taken early in the present SO ason to
secure the rich region south of Lake Superior
from falling into the hands Of ntruders, who might
endeavor, ultimately, to wrest from tho Government
those valuable lands, which, in addionto lead, are
found 10 abound in copper ore OF superior quality
The results, as far as ascertained have been satsac
tory, and will be found more at length in the report
Of the Ordnance Bureau. When the full and RDal
report for tbe year shall have been received from the
agent, it can be furnished if desired. 9,s a. sall
d,ia If tha Ordn Rur rio and
responsibs, and have been increased by placing the
mineral lands UNDER it, charge II y respectfully
sugxesssd that The salary Of The first clerk Of this Office
b. - regulated - r. pvt him "a footing With the
chief clerks Of The other huEsauss a tS
The estimator from tho .Brrsaus Of Engineers, To-
biographical Engineers, and Ordnance, are larger than
those of the preceding year The for this in
crease may need explanation. The chiefs OF those
bureaus, respectively have estimated what, in their
Judgment, will be necessary to carry out those works
for which provision has been made by laws If Con.
gress shall deem advisable TO prosecute all OF
them, the appropriations can be confined to those
deemed of most pressing Importance. Again, cons-
derabe port of some OF the estimates are for the
re-sppropraton of sums heretofore appropriately but
which will revert to the Surplus Fund, by operation
of law at the close Of the present calendar year.
The report of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
embraces in great detail the operations of that De-
partment for the past year. la5 5 tsn}i ssfrl9s
Our Indian relations have, in the main, been peace
vidual acts of violence have not been sanctioned or
justified by the tribes to which the offenders belonged
The emigration Of that portion of the Choctaws
east of the Mississippi has not yet been effected but
it is hoped and believed that it will commence early
in the spring,nnd continue until the most of them
will be removed. The Department has been assidu-
ously work endeavorng to effect this object and thus
relieve the State of Mississippi from population un-
desirable, and which will be much better off when
located among their own kindred and people now re-
aiding west of the Mississippi. -fIle 1@i-t tt
The constant instruction to the agents and sub.
agents. which it is believed they are endeavorng 10
carry out, has been to endeavor to bring the in6u
ences of Christianity and civilization to bear upon
them--to induce them TO settle down permanently to
the cultivation Of the SOIL and thus become domesti-
Gated, as it were, on their own territories. s4t
Many of the Southwestern Indians especially
among the Cherokees and Choctaws, have made con-
siderable advances in civilization, and accusom-
ing themselves to husbandry and planting, surround
ing themselves with the comforts of civilized life,
and are taking great pains in the education of their
children. The Choctaws early in the present year
appropriated one thousand eight hundred dollars Of
their annuies TO education purposes. ~
The annuities paid to many of the tribes seem to
do them little good. So long they are sure of re-
ceivng their annual stipend they will exert them
selves - they should to earn subsistence, and in
most instances the traders got the money Of the In
dan, either in payment Of debts incurred in anticpa-
ton Of the annnity for goods brought 10 him and
sold when the aBD0itiss paid The Indian rarely
receives the value of MS money which thus fails Of
its object to provide for the necessities Of the red
man. revision Of the whole system may probably
result in some better than any yet discovered
to prevent the bounty Of the Government from being
pproprated, and the poor Indian from squander-
ing his money objects Of trivial importance -
some further legislative provision is necessary, ef
fectualy to prevent all persons from ntr ducDg
dent spirits among disposing of them the Indians
under any pretext whatever 'u 3ft
The compensation allowed to sub gents is entire
ly dsproportionate 10 the responsibilities incurred nd
duties requ red OF them. They Obliged to give &c
curty in amounts varying from SIS 600 to 800 900 TO
reside of the reach of civiz ior to be often
posed t. danger and trouble and f all this they
ceive bu, $50 per year. The compensation Dug
be increased to at least " 00O and in situations
discretionary power should be given increase il 70
ST. $50, which would probably enable tn Department
TO the scrvi es of men beter qualified for the
work than ordinarily be obtained for The small al
lowance now given them. il might al o lie advisable
give horny where the proceeding would be pro-
per 10 consolidate two more continuous subagen
cies INTO full agency.
Dung the recess Of Congress | directed a COM
nent to be made OF history of all The Indian
tribes far the could be derived from dvcu
ments in tins Depart pent Some progress has bee n
made in It, but tits found that will have to be
pended during the app reaching session of Coz gress
for want Of the necessary force TO put upon IT, IL ls
woik very mu,h needed, and wifi, if properly COM
peted, be very valuable. .r.
Is important most "a, ctually TO prevent abuses,
and 10 see that the Iadans fairly dealt with that
the Department should have the means of obtaining
direct and official information ofthe actual st tie
and condition Of tie several tribes of Indians and the
manner IN which the agencies and sub-at encics
co .ducted than now be had. For tins purpose /
would respectfully suggest such modification of so
much of the act OF 26 August, 1912, as provd,
THAT u shUll not, at any tine hereafter, be law FOL
for any accounting discussing officer of the Gov
eminent 10 allow or pay any account or charge what
ever, growing out of, or in any way connected with,
any commission or inquiry Except courts martial
courts Of inquiry in the military naval service Of
the United States until special appropriations shall
have been mode by law 10 pay such accounts and
charges &C. as TO exclude from its ope ration The
flee OF Indian Affairs so fir at least permit the
payment Of reis, nable compensation to person or
persons to be appointed TO make personal inspections
that such Inspectors AMI examination. would COR