Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1847-12-30

in the acting surgeon GellerhlS lecohl'heuu".'o :"
such an establishment aud submit u 10 your '"'''
bic consideration.
The number of pensioners of all classes on Tue
rolls of tile Pension Office is twenty-tree iilousahu
aud nineteen. The number paid during the hall
wear ending on the LIST of July last was only TOUR
teen thousand and nnety-two. The Office has NOT
the means of ascertaning the deaths among uelh'
hut the number of pensioners has been ny unt '"use
considerably reduced during the last year. lie re-
ducton in that period is estimated 10 DE at 'e"s' 'o
per centilm. st
The law allowing bounty in lands TO the soldiers
who have served i'm the war with Mexico has thrown
pressure of duties upon the Pension OHce' req.',
ing II large increase of labor. In order 10 lnrnSll
these soldiers with scrip and cerlcuies Oh 'oca'io'
MS early ms practicable several persons have heeh
pmplovcd under promise to present their claims
for compensation TO Congress. Wrho their asssls
uIce niicn uoIay would have ulhvoldably resulted
in this branch of the public business attended with
some injury and Inconvenience TO the meritorious
caimants and, even with this assistance, there are
many cases not yet acted on, although all practicable
despatch has been used. The application for certif
icates of location and for scrip previous to the 18th
of November, the date OF the Commissioners re-
port bad amounted to eighteen thousand three hun
dred and sixty. Seven thousand three hundred and
fourteen certificates for land and nine hundred and
ninety of scrip had been issued Two thousand
| two hundred and ten applications had been rejected
or suspended, aud seven thousand eight hundred and
| fortv-sx then remained to he examined.
1t is respectfully urged that recommendation
! should he submitted to Congress to make provision,
not only to pay those who have already rendered
service, hut for such additional number of clerks
he required for the despatch of this hnsinesS
Officers of the line and staff have been required
TO perform duties at several places where destroy-
| ing epidemic has prevailed Several have Hen VIC
| Tins to it, Their position perous rs that Of
the officers who have mingled in open conflict with
the enemy The families of those who have been
stricken down by this insdous foe have in my opn-
ion, just claim to the care and aid of the gov
ernment MS the families of such ms have fallen in
battle, or died of wounds received while in the dis
charge Of their duty and recommend that Con-
gress should he requested to make the same provis
| ion for them.
! fully concur in the suggestion Of the Adintant
General, that the pension law should he so modified
as to place the widows and children of the officers
and soldiers of the regular army the same lv"r-
ll fs', tlosn nf 'l.~ ,.~l-..'.s~'"' TIC FORMER
have equal claims to the justice of the country; and
upon this account well as upon considerations of
sound policy, the distinction should I've oblitermed
and the liberal and Just provisions, now applicable
alone the latter, should he enjoyed alike by hoh
most important and difficult part of the duties
devovcd upon this department is the management
of our Indian affairs. Our relations with the tribes
are yearly extending, and, in many respects, assum-
ing Il more interesting character. For full account
of our relations and transactions with them during
the past year, respectfully refer You 10 the report
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
| The wise policy of separating the Indians residing
in States and organized Territories, from conligrty
TO- aud intermngliug with, the white population, and
Of settling them in quiet home, removed far as
practicable from the reach of influence pernicous
to their well-being, las been steadily pursued, and
generally with favorable results. Some emhnrrass
menis have arisen in the removal of the Choctaws
but they have been, TO great extent overcome and
arrangements are in progress that promises success
TO that undertaking. very satisfactory account oil
the various measures which have heen pursued to
carry ont this policy of removal will he found in the
Commissioners report.
Two treaties will soon be laid before You, which
have been negotiated with the different hands of the
Chippewas of the Upper Mississippi and Lake Su.
perior, for portion OF their lands west oftha river
asoss row VII ready to ire remove lid sre sd ifcil
possessions in Iowa, and the rem2inder is held in
serve for any other tribes yet remaining of the
Mississippi, who may prefer northern location.
The Sioux and the Chirpewas have long been en-
cnes, and hostile collisions between them oil
frequent occurrence BY nterposng, as is now pro-
posed, other tribes between them, their long cher
ished feudS ii is hoped, will subside, and that region
of country to be any longer the theatre of fire.
quent Indian disturbances.
Among those tribes with which we have treaties
or near which agents reside tranquility has gen.
orally prevailed The only exceptions known are
the outrages committed by parties of the Sioux
one upon the Winnebagoes, which, by orr nterler
ence, was anricably adjusted; and the others upor
the Omihas the Ottoes and the friendly Pawnees
Proper measures have been taken 10 punish the az
gressors, and to prevent the repetition of such oc
currenrcs.
The depredatons upon the trains on the Santa Fl
route have been, il is believed committed principal
", if not entirely, by Indians with whom we have
Hitherto had hut little no intercourse, and who can
therefore, only be controlled and their mischievou
propensities repressed, by military force Fo
This purpose, such force has been sent into that re
gion with instructions TO chastse the offenders, an,
procure, far as practicable, the restoration of TN
plurdered property.
The anomalous condition of our relations with TIN
Indians in Texas embarrasses the action of The de
, partnent in relation 10 them The laws regulating
intercourse with Indian tribes do not extend owe
Texas A special agent was, however, appointed a
the close of the last session of Congress- visit TN
several bands in that State, to counsel with them
and TO distribute such presents in goods, as wer
deemed most useful and best calculated TO couciliat
' their good will, and to inspire confidence in tn
friendly disposition of the United States toward
, them. This proceeding has been attended with sue
cess but it is desired that Congress, at the approach
ing session. should place relations with these In
dams on more permanent basis
A difficulty has arisen among the Siockhridge In
dams in Wisconsin, occasioned, principally, by IN
legislation of Congress- which cannot he overcom
y without further Legislation. The necessity for III
further action of Congress on the subject is cleurl
presented in the Commissioners report.
It will he perceived by that report that very spe
cal attention has heen given, during the past veal
Y TO the important subject of education among the In
, dians Additional schools OH the SYSTEM
combining manual labor with rudimental instruct
ion-have been established, and arrangements mad
n for others among several of the tribes. To extern
0 this system far practicable it has been foun
necessary 10 employ all the funds al the disposal
: the department, some portion of which has bee
4 heretofore applied 10 educate few boys at dif1erer
V ssminares in the States. The mode adopte
e for applying the funds provided for education
deemed altogether preferable, and promises the mos
\ highly beneficial results.
F. For information in regard to many other import
ant concerns and interesting matters connected viii
cr ILldinn rnl LII.