The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-07

works, and considerably advance others already IN the
progress of construction II may be advisable TO
hience works at some exposed points the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts particularly within the limits of Texas
An early attention has been given TO Pacific coast
So little accurate knowledge possessed of that coast
that il has been deemed advisable to cause it to be
fully and fully examined with the selection of
proper points for Notifications, well naval establish
ments board, composed of officers OF the army and
navy. has been constituted 10 make such examination,
and under orders for California and Oregon 10
the duties assigned them BY the instructions
prepared by the War and Navy Departments, and here
with submitted the objects embraced in the examination
are fully disclosed.
The appropriations for the army proper required for the
next fiscal year amount TO $4432 2s6 The estimates for
the transportation OF the troops far exceed that of any
other year previous the war The increase in this
Item to meet the expense OF sending troops to Oregon,
New Mexico and California.
Should the suggestion OF the Quartermaster General
contained in his report to employ the public vessels in the
naval service Tor the transportation 6y sea OF army stores
and troops, be adopted this item of expenses would be
greatly reduced Our possessions upon the Pacific
to render the change in this respect appropriate and do
not doubt that such will be attended by results
favorable to the public service.
In none of the branches of this department has the
business been much augmented in the Pension bu
reau. The number OF Invalid pensioners has increased,
during the last year, six hundred and ninety one the
whole number on the list is three thousand hundred
and twenty-six.
More than sixty thousand claims have been presented
under the act of the 18th of February ls47 for bounty
land and treasury scrip About forty thousand of them
have been acted and allowed twenty thousand are
III
sand yet to be presented Great efforts have been made
to despatch these applications, and about hundred
and fifty are daily investigated and passed For the de-
tails of the business in the Pension Office respectfully
refer you to the report of the Commissioner.
comprehensive and interesting view of our Indian
relations will be found IN the report OF the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs The removal of the tribes to the
try set apart for them, west of the Mississippi river, has
separated nearly all those who resided within the limits
of the States from the unwhoesome influences resulting
from contact with the white population, and afforded
opportunity 10 the government to enforce the necessary
measures Tor civzlng and improving them The Wis
dom Of our policy in regard to the Indians is vndcaed
by The good effects which it has produced, and partcu
larly by the higher degree OF Improvement among those
who first removed to the country assigned to them.
During the last year, emigrants have experienced
less annoyance than at any former period from the In
dans the Missouri frontier, and the difficulties among
themselves and with citizens have been less frequent
This favorable change III their conduct is to be mainy
ascbed TO the judlcous control exercised their
nues, and to the holding OF them liable TO be used TO
compensate for damages resulting from their lawless ag
gressions, well upon each other as upon our own CHI
Zens.
An important treaty has been recently negotiated by
the Commissioned of Indian Affairs, person, with the
Menomones by which they have agreed 10 cede all their
lands in Wsconsin-about four millions of acresand TO
the excellent country procured for them the
Upper Mississippi adjoining that of their old friends the
Winnebagoes, recently removed from Iowa 1t is rea
sonabl expect that the nterposng of these two tribes
between the Sioux and Chppewas, and the establishment
OF military post in that REGION will check, II not
trely prevent the sangunary hostiies frequent be-
tween the latter tribes sing from long cherished
and invelerate feuds The treaty with the Menomones
has, effect eytngushed the Indian title 10 the whole
country cast of the Mississippi south OF lake SUPERIOR
which for long time has been regarded object not
only of great importance to our own citizens but essen
tia to the welfare and prosperity OF the Indians them
selves
Within the four last years eight important treaties have
been negotiated with different Indian tribes By which
highly beneficial changes in their situation and affairs
have been and will be effected, and the United States
have acquired at cost OF only 81 ,Si2 900, eighteen
million five hundred thousand acres of land; about two
million hundred thousand acres of it have been
signed to other tribes for their permanent residences and
two million nine hundred thousand reserved for
similar purpose leaving the remainder; thirteen million
FIVE hundred thousand acres ready for immediate settle
ment and cultivation in the rapidly growing States OF
Wisconsin and Iowa. There is also prospect that Mis-
sssippi, as well other States in which of the
Choc,aws still remain, will soon be freed from them.
Measures for their emigration are in progress under mod
lied arrangements entered into within the last year,
which promise a favorable result.
The law OF 1917, giving additional authority to prevent
the introduction and sale of spruous liquors in the In
dian country, and the stringent regulations adopted by
the department to restrain this pernclous traffic. have
sensbly diminished the amount OF suffering among the
frontier tribes arising from that prolific source OF evil
but efecua check to il cannot be applied unless the
States lying adjacent 10 the Indian country will cooperate
in the measure by restraining their citizens from bringing
intoxicating liquors within the reach of the Indians.
The policy OF paying annues semi annually and of dis
Tibutng them PEI capita, has been attended by the hap
pest results The new regulations in regard to licenses
TO trade with the Indians, and the rigid supervision
the conduct of those to whom thus privilege has been
granted, nave put an END 10 many evils ana abuses which
formerly prevailed and highly detrimental to the
terests and welfare of the Indians.
No subject connected with Indian affairs has so
deeply Interested the department and received much of
Its anxious socitude AMI attention that of education
and am happy to be able to say that its efforts to ad
this have been crowned with success.
Among most of the tribes which have removed to and
become settled in the Indian country, the blessings of
education beginning to be appreciated, and they gen.
orally manifest willingness to cooperate with the gov
eminent in dfusing these blessings The schools al
ready established have an increased number of pupils,
and preparations making for establishing many
ones Much credit Is due to many excellent missionary
and contributions TO sustain and advance the of
education among the Indian population.
There are sixteen manual Labor scho Dis and eighty
boarding and district schools now in success
full operation among the various Indian tribes, and
the number OF Indian youths attending them,
three thousand six hundred and eishy-two-of which
two thousand six hundred and fifty males, and the
remaining one thousand and thrtytwo females The
schools generally in charge of missionary societies.
and are well conducted. These facts afford the most
gratifying evidence that nearly all OF coonzed tribes
are rapidly advancing in civilization and moral improve
ment; and trust 1t may not be improper this
sion for to say, that for the highly improved and
rapidly improving condition of the numerous Indian
tribes, over which the guardianship of the government
extended not only in regard to education but other
respects, stned measure OF credit be ascrbed to
the ability, industry, and fahfulness of that branch of
this department TO which the lnagement of our diver
sicl and difficult Indian affairs is assigned.
Within the newly acquired territories there is a nu-
merous Indian population, which supervision
and guardianship must necessarily be extended but this
cannot be efectualy done without The action of Con
gress the subject Additional agencies are required to
manage Indian affairs IN these territories, and extend
mi nd ma anti