Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-10

Der of tlJSe ehSaSeq III tnuI NoCaNiVn::,,
Sustie- and sound policy, therefore, alike
require that the Government should use
all the means authorized by the Constitu-
ton to promote the interests and welfare
Of that important class of our telloW,cit-
liens. And yet it is a singular fact that;
whilst the manufacturing and commercial
interests have engaged the attention oil
Congress during large portion OF every
session, and our statutes abound IN pro-
visions for their protection and encourage
ment. little has yet been done directly lot
the advancement of agriculture ~
time that this reproach to our leSlSia'Ioh
should he removed p; and sincerely nope
that tho present Congress VIII not Close
tho;r Iob6rs without adopting efficient
r,oars to supply the omissions of those
who have proceeded them.
An Agricultural Bureau, charged with
the duty of collecting and disseminating
correct information as to the best modes
of cultivation, and of the most ettectual
means of preserving and restoring the
fertility of the soil, and of procuring and
distributing seeds and plants and other
vegetable productions, with instructions
in regard to the soil, climate, and treat
ment best adapted to their growth, could
not fail to be, in the language of Wash
ington, in his last annual message to Con
urcss. a every cheap instrument OF I'M
mcnsc national benefit
Regarding the act of Congress appro-
we'd 28th September, 1880, granting boun-
iy lands to persons who had been enga-
red in the military service of the country,
a. a Great measure of national justice and
nuniiccnce. an anxious desire has been
felt bvthe officers entrusted with its I'M
mediate execution, to give prompt enect
to its provisions. All the means within
their control were therefore, brought IN
to rcQuis.tion to expedite the adjudication
OF claims, and | am gratlhed to be able
to state that near one hundred thousand
applications have been considered, and
about seventy thousand warrants issued
within the short space of nine months
If adequate provision be made by law to
carry into effect the recommendation OF
the Department. it is confidently expected
That. before the close of the next hscal
wear. all who are entitled to the bcne-
Ills of the act will have received their
warrants.
The Secretary OF the Interior has sug-
rested in his report, various amendments
Of the laws relating to pensions and boun-
" lands, for the purpose of more ctectu-
allv guarding against abuses and frauds
on the Government, to all of which in
yitc Your particular attention.
The LARGE acCcssions to our Indian pop
ulation consequent upon the acquisition OF
New Mexico and California, and the cX-
tension of our settlements into Utah and
Oregon. have given increased interest ana
Importance to our relations with the aoo-
ri al race.
No material change has taken place,
within the last year. in the condition and
prospects Of The Indian tribes who reside
in the North-wcs Territory and west
Of the Mississippi river Wearc at peace
with all of them and it will be source
Of pleasure to YOU to learn that they are
GRADUALLY advancing in civilization and
Tie pursuits of social life,
Alonr the Mexican frontier, andin Cal
ilornia. and Oregon, there have been oc-
casional manifestations of unErlcndly feel
ing, and some dopredations committed
| am satisfied, however that they resulted
more from the destitute and starving con
di,iuu of the Indians than from any set
tied hostility toward the whites AS the
settlements of our citizens progress to-
wards them, the game upon which they
mainly RELY for subsistence Is driven oil or
Gra,Ul al I'D tn" only alternative left to
,hcm is starvation or plumber. 10 be-
comes Us to consider, in vciw of this con
ditiou of thing, whether justice and hut
mau;tv, rs well a. an enlightened econ
umv. do 40, require, that instead OF seek
inc to punish them for offences which are
the result of our own policy towards them,
we should not provide for their immediate
wants and encourage them to engage in
agriculture and to rely on their labor, in
stead Of the chase, for the means of sup
port
Various important treaties have been
ncgo,ntcd with different tribes during
the year, by which their title to large and
valuable tracts of country has been cN-
tinguishcd, all orwhich will, at the prop
cr time, be submitted to the Senate for
ratification.
The Joint commission under the treaty
OF Guadalupe IIidalgo has been actively
engaged in running and marking the
boundary line between the United States
and Mexico. 1t was stated, in the last
annual report ofth Secretary of the Int
rior, that the initial point on the Pacific
and the point of junction of the ella with
the Colorado river had been determined,
and the intervening line, about one hun
drcd and fifty miles in length, run and
marked by temporary monuments. Since
that time monument of marble has been
erected at the initial point, and pcrma-
ncnt landmark 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