Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-11

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: in regard to them. IL is safer to Suffer the
Inconvenience that new exist, for short
rer;od, than, by premature legislation 10
fast, n on the country system founded IN
error, which may place the whole subject
beyond the future control of Congress.
The agricultural lands should, however,
be surveyed and brought into market with IS
little delay as possible, that the titles may
, become settled, and the inhabitants stimula-
ted to make permanent mprovements,ande en-
ter on the ordinary pursuits of lie. To effect
these objects ii is desirable that the necessary
provision b made by law for the establish
ment ofland Offices in California and Oregon,
and for the efficient prosecution Of The sur
I veys at an early day.
some difficulties have occurred in organ.
iz'ng the Territorial governments of New
Mexico and Utah; and, when more accurate
information Shall be obtained of the causes,
a further communication will be made on the
subject.
In nv last annual communication TO Con-
grcss recommended the establishment OF an
agricultural bul eau, and take this occasion
again TO invoke your favorable consideration
OF the subject.
4 Agriculture may justly be REGARDED as
/ the great interest OF eur people. -Four fflhs
I of cur active population are employed in the
cultivation of the sol, and the rapid expan-
sion OF our settlements over new territory Is
daily adding 10 the number of those engaged
in that vocation. Justice and sound policy,
therefore, alike require that the government
should use all the means authorized 0y the
Con-iltution 20 promote the interests and
welfare Of that important class OF our fellow
citizens And yet it is 4 singular fact that,
whilst the manufacturing and commercial
interests have engaged the attention Of Con-
gress during large portion fevery session,
and cur sttiu,vs abound IN provisions for
their protection and sncoura gement,llttle has
yet b en- done directly for The advancement
Of agriculture. Ii is time that this reproacn
to our Legislation should be removed; and |
sincerely hops nat the present Congress will
not close thor labors without adopting Ell
cient means to supply the omissions Of those
who preceded them.
An Agritujturai BaTeau, charged with the
duiy ofCollocting and disseminating correct
information as T. the bes; modes of oGltlva-
tion, and OF the most eifectuai means oi pre-
serving and restoring the fertility Of the soil,
and of procuring and distributing seeds and
plants and other vegetable productions. with
instructions in regard 10 the sell, cIimate,and
treatment best aptei 10 their growth, could
net fail TO be, in the language of Washing
ton, IN his lasl annual message to Congress,
''vsTy cheap instTdm nj OF Immense nation.
al benefit"
Regarding the act of Congress approved
2Sjh September, 1850, granting bounty lands
10 persons who had been engaged in the
military service ofthe country, as a great
measure of Lat'onal justice and munifCenCe,
al anxious desire has been felt, by The Off
Gers ,n rusIed with lis immediate execution.
to give prompt effect TO It's provisions. All
the means within their control were, there
fore, brought into r5qHlsilion TO expedite the
adjudication ofclaIms, and am gr3thed to
be able TO state that near one hundred th0us
aad applications have been considered, and
about seventy thousand warrants issued with
in the short space Of nine months. If ate- 1
GuatG provision be made By law 20 carry mo !
effect the recommendations Of the Depart /
ment, 1t is confidently expected that, before /,
the close Of he next fiscal year, all who are I,
entitled to he benefits Of the act will have /
received their warrants
The Secretary of the Interior has suPges- (
ted in his report various amendments The /
laws relating TO pensions and bounty lands, f.
for the purpose Of more efiec ualy guarding
against abuses and + auds on the Government, +
TO all OF winch invite your particular atteH- .
ton.
I he larre a-cessiGns 10 our Indian popu' "a
ton consequent upon The acquisition of New T.
Mexico and California, and the extension Of
our settlements into Utah and Oregon, have (
given increased interest and importance TO !
our relations with the aCrIginai race.
No material change has taken place with /
in the last year, IN the condition aid pros /
poets of the Indian tribes uh no reside in the.
northwestern Territory and west of the Mis- /
slss'ppl river. We are al peace with all Of /
them; aud 1t will be a source of pleasure TO you +
to learn that they are gradually advancing 4
Ia civilization and the pursuits Of social life.
Along the Mexican frontier, and in Cali
fornIa, and Oregon, there have been occasion
al manifestations of fuI friendly feeling. and +.
some depredations committed. am satisfied,
however, that they result more from the /
destitute and starving condition Of the In
dlans than from any settled hostility towards
the whites. As the settlements of Jour c:ti-
zens progress towards them, the game upon
which they mainly rely for subsistence is |
driven Of or destroyed. and the only alterna
tive left them IS starvation or plumber. 1t
becomes US 10 cunsldcr, in view OF this
condition Of things, whether justice and /
humanity, as well as an elightened economy,
do not require, that instead Of seeking TO
punish them for offences which are the result
Of our own policy towards them, we should
no, provide for their INN sdiate wants and
encourage them to engage in agrlculture,and
to rely on their labor, instead Of tie hase,
Tor the means Of support.
EarlGTS frpaff have hCpn !
gotiated with different tribes during the year,
BY which their title to large and valuable
tracts Of country has been eXtinguished, all
IF which will, at the proper ime, be submitted
% the Senate for ratification.
I he Joint commission under the treaty of
Hidalgo has been act vely en-
jagged in running and marking the boundary
ire between fbe United States and Mexico.
L was stated IN the last annual report of the
Secretary Of The Interior, hat the initial
JO;nt on The Pacific and the poiDt of junction