Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-12-13

manifestations of untriendly feeling, and some
depredatons committed. am satisfied, how
ever, that they resulted more from the desti-
tute and starving condition of the Indians than
from any settled hostility towards the whites
As the settlements Of our citizens progress to-
wards them, the game upon which they main
ly rely for subsistence is driven off or destroy
ed, and the only alternative left to them is
starvation OF plunder. Il becomes us to con-
slider, in view of this condition of things,
whether justice and humanity, as well as an
enlightened economy, do not require that, in
stead OF seeking to punish them for offences
which arethe result of cur own policy towards
them, we should not provide for their inme-
diate wants and encourage them to engage in
agriculture, and to rely on their labor, instead
of the chase, for the means of support
Various important treaties have been nego-
tiated with different tribes during the year, by
which their title 10 large and valuable tracts
of country has been extinguished, all of which
will, at the proper time, be submitted to the
Senate for ratification.
The joint commission under the treaty of
Guadalupe hIidalgo has been actively engag-
ed in running and marking the boundary line
, IL
was stated in the last annual report of the
Secretary Of the interior, that the initial point
on the Pacific and the point of junction Of the
Gila with the Colorado river had been deter
mined, and the intervening line, about one
hundred and fifty miles in length, run and
marked by temporary monuments. Since
that time a monument of marble has been
erected at the initial point, and permanent
landmarks of iron have been placed at suitable
distances along the line.
The initial point on the Rio Grande has also
been fixed by the commissioners at latitude
81 deg. % min, and at the date of the last
communication the survey of the line had been
made thence westward about one hundred
and fifty miles to the ueighborhood of the cop
per mines,
The commission on our part was at first Or
ganized on a scale which experience proved
| sary expense. Orders have, therefore, been
issued for the reduction of the number of per-
sons employed within the smallest limits, con-
sistent with the safety of those engaged in the
service, and the prompt and efficient execu-
ton of theirimportant duties.
| Returns have been received from all the Of
fcers engaged in taking the census in the
States and Territories, except California. The
Superintendent employed to make the enum-
Grafton in that State has not yet made his full
report, from causes as he alledges, beyond his
control This failure is much to be regretted
as it has prevented the Secretary Of the In
terror from making the decennial apportion-
ment of representatives among the States, as
pirad br,f fl,a ~ onprouaA Mox,
/ 1t is hoped, however, that the returns will
soon be received, and no time will then be lost
in making the necessary appoItionment and
in transmitting the certificate required by law
The Superintendent of the Seventh Census
is diligently employed, under the direction oi
the Secretary of the Interior, in classifying
and arranging in tabular form, all the statisti.
cal information derived from the return of the
marshals, and it is believed that when the
work shall be completed it will exhibit a more
perfect view Of the population, wealth. occu.
pations, and social condition, of great coun.
try, than has ever been presented to the
world. The value of such work. as the ba.
sis of enlightened Legislation, can hardly be
over-estimated; and I earnestly hope thai
Congress will lose no time in making the ap.
preparations necessary TO complete the classi
/ fications, and to publish the results in style
worthy of the subject and of our nationai
character.
The want of uniform fee bill prescribing
the compensation to be allowed district attor-
neys, clerks. marsbals. and commissioners in
civil and criminal cases, is the cause of much
vexation, injustice and complaint. 1 would
recommend thorough revision of the laws on
the whole subject and the adoption of tariff
of fees, which, as far as practicable, should be
uniform, and prescribe specific compensation
for every service which the officer may be ac.
quired to perform. This subject will be fully
presented in the report of the Secretary of the
Interior.
In my last annual message, 1 gave briefly
my reasons for believing that you possessed
the constitutional power to improve the har.
bors of our great lakes and seacoast and the
navigation Of our principal rivers, and recon.
mended that appropriations should be made
for completing such works as had already been
commenced, and for commencing such others
as might seem, to the wisdom of Congress, to
be OF public and general Importance. With
ont repeating the reasons then urged, deem
It my duty again to call your attention to this
important subject The works on many of the
harbors were left in an unfinished state, and
consequently exposed to the action of the ele-
ments, which is fast destroying them Great
numbers of lives and vast amounts Of property
are annually lost. for want of safe and con-
venient harbors on the lakes. None but those
who have been exposed to that dangerous
navigation, can fully appreciate the Importance
of this subject. The whole northwest appeals
to you for relief and trust their appeal will
receive due consideration at your hands
The same is in a measure true in regard to
some of the harbers and inlets on the sea-
coast.
/ The unobstructed navigation of our large
rivers is of equali importance Our settlements
are now extending to the sources of the rivers
which empty into and form part of the Mis-
sissippi, and the value of the public lands in
those regions would be greatly enhanced by
freeing the navigation of these waters from OBJ
structions In view, therefore, Of this great
interest, deem it my duty again to urge up
on Congress to make such appropriations for