The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04

ornia al high salaries whose responsibility must from
the circumstances Of the case be almost nominal But BY
selling the lands all connexon between the miners and
the government will be severed, permanent interests will
be acquired in the country, and new stimulus given 10
the enterprise OF our citizens.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Our relations with the Indian tribes will demand the
prompt and earnest attention OF Congress The annexa
lion OF Texas and the recent treaty with Mexico have,
il is estimated added about one hundred and twenty
four thousand persons to our Indian population Many
OF The tribes thus brough, under control fierce 10
their disposition and predatory IN their ha6ls ana y IL
feared can only be restrained from committing great out
RACES on the persons and property OF the Inhabitants Of
neghboring territory by the military power OF the coun
No provision having been made by law until the close
oil the last session OF Congress for the appointment Of
agents TO take charge Of the numerous tribes IN Caor
MIA and New Mexico, the government had no means OF
obtaining much satisfactory information respecting their
condition and wants II lis hoped, however, this defect
Will be supplied by the agent and commissioners VINO
have been recently appointed and who are now on Their
way 10 The scene of their labors.
Shortly before the close of the last session. and mmed
aiey after the passage Of the ACT authorizing the appoint
msnt OF Indian agents for California, nominations were
made 10 and confirmed by the Senate OF thee persons
well qualified for the discharge OF their respective duties
Instructions were prepared by the department, and
when the agents ready to set Ut on their journey i
was discovered that, by oversight no appropriation
had been made pay their salaries. Their movements
therefore arrested for the time but as was deemed
important That all unnecessary delay should be avoided,
and as provision had been made Tor the appointment and
payment oil three commissioners TO negotiate treaties with
the Indians of California il was concluded 10 appoint
the persons commissioners who had been nominated
and confirmed as-agents. BY adopting tins course the
commissioners wereenabled TO proceed without delay TO
the Indian territory, where they will acquire such know
edge oil the habits and character OF the Indians as VIII
qualify them to enter efficiently on the discharge OF their
duties as agents as soon as the appropriation snail De
made for their salaries When that is done, their func
tions as commissioners will cease.
| resident superintendent and three general agents
have been appointed for the Indian tribes OF Oregon
Two special agents have been commissioned under The
act OF September $780, to cooperate with the resident
agent n Texas in concatng the Indians OF that State
Under the authority OF the same act three commission
ers have been appointed 10 accompany the JOINT com
mission now engaged in running and marking the bound
airy line between the United States and Mexico, Tor the
purpose of obtaining full and correct information in re-
gard to the Indian tribes who are scattered along our
southwestern frontier, and possible to establish Trend
| ly relations with them.
greatly TO be regretted that no authority was con-
feHed by law for the appointment OF resident agents IN
New Mexico where they are more necessary than IN
any other part OF the territory OF the United States
The Indians of that counrycomprsing the Cumanches,
Navaioes, Uahs Apaches and Iccarllas-are the most
savage and awess within boundaries. For many
years they have been in the habit Of making hostile IN.
into the neighboring provinces OF Mexico. and
Tavagng whole MISUNDERSTANDING the men,
and carrying the women and children into captivity
| BY recent treaty with Mexico. the government
OF the United States has bound itself to repress these
ourages by Indians resident within our borders. y 10
essential therefore, for the ulfmen of treaty sipu
laons with sister republic, well as Tor the proec
ton OF our citizens, that agents should be sent
them The necessity for this measure has been
painfully illustrated by the outrages which have been
committed upon our citizens travelling to and from Santa
Fe. The attack upon MIR. White and his party. within
few days journey OF that place, has obtained melan.
choy nooriey. He and his whole party were brutally
murdered. with the exception OF his estimabe wife and
daughter under ten years OF age who were made cap
tves Subsequently, being pressed bya body OF men
who pursuit OF them, the Indians murdered Mrs
White, but still retain the daughter in horrible captivity
AT the last session Congress appropriated $1,000 to DC
used in procuring her release This sum was promptly
placed at the disposal OF Col Calhoun the nearest resi-.
dent agent (whose judgment and knowledge OF the In
dian character fit him in peculiar manner TO discharge
the duty) with full power to use ii IN such manner as he
might think best He has also been instructed TO convey
information to the Indians that unless thus cnd be de-
vered up they will receive the chastisement BY the mill
ary OF the government which their savage cruelty
so richly deserves,
HIGHWAY TO THE PACIFIC.
Considerations OF great national interest seem TO re-
qure that the Of intercourse with our possessions
the Pacific should be improved by the consruc-
ton OF great horoughfae, entirely within our own
territory, from the valley of the Mississippi 10 the Pacific
Whether this can be best accomplished by railway, a
turnpike, a plank road, or by combination OF the
different modes of Improvement, can only be determined
careful survey of the country and lis resources
shall have been made Our only access 10 them now Is
by iosome journey Of months duration through com.
paraively rackess wastes, by crcuitous voyage at
tended with many priyations and dangers highway,
commencing at point In the valley OF the Misss.
spp and terminating the coast OF the Pacihc, with
lateral branches would not only furnish the means OF
establishment OF chain OF settlements along It's line,
which would link together the widely separated portions
/ of our country by an inseparable bond OF union.
The gigantic character OF the work however, admon-
ishes US OF the necessity Of adopting every precauon IN
aiming the best OF eectng the object With
that view, care should be taken 10 obtain full and
information TO the shortest and best route having
due reference not only 10 distance between the ermni,
but also the so climate, and adaptation to agricultu.
raj purposes of the intermediate country II the report
should be favorable would then be for the wisdom OF
Congress determine how far the probable augmenta
tou OF The value OF the public land the increased iac
lies in the transportation Of the mail. and the other adj
yanages already referred to- which may be reasonably
anticipated from the completion oil the work. may justify
liberal contributions of land money towards It's con.
strucon therefore beg leave most respectfully 10 call
your attention to the subject and TO suggest the proprety
OF authorizing immediate examination OF the country
such surveys may be necessary TO determine the
practicsbty and probable cost OF the work,
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
In surveying the various interests Of the country,
ernment to promote the OF agriculture. II Is true
the cnltivator OF the soil, in common with all other
classes Of society enjoys the protection OF the laws and
the blessings incident TO good government But some.
thing more seems to be due to branch oil industry which
employs than half population, and, TO great
extent, sustains the other.
The power OF the general government over this sub
ect limited but this furnishes good reason why IL
should be exercised far II does egmaely ex.
tend
The ordinary means adopted TO afford protection to the
manufacturing and commercial interests compaIa.
lively imperative in regard to the agricultural arf
can do but ite directly TO benefit the farmer or the
planter The staple productions oil the South peculiar
To that climate, and therefore in danger OF com