The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03


woke your favorable consideration Of the subiect
Agriculture may Justly be regarded as the great
interest of our people. Four-6fths Of our active
population are employed in the cultivation Of the
soil, and the rapid expansion of settlements
over new territory is daily adding to the number
of those engaged IN that vocation. Justice and
sound policy therefore, alike require thai the go
vernment should use all the means authorized bv
the Constitution to promote the interests aud vel
fare OF that important class of fellow citizens
And yet il is singular fact that, whilst the manu-
featuring and commercial interests have engaged
the attention of Congress during a large portion
OF every session, and our statutes abound in pro.
visions for their protection and encouragement
little has yet been done directly for the advance
meDt of agriculture. Ii is time that this reproacb
10 our legislation should be removed; and sin
cerey hope that the present Congress will not
close their labors without adopting Efficient means
TO supply the ON ssons of those who have pre-
coded them.
An agricultural bureau charged with the duty
collecting and disseminating correct information as
to the best modes of cultivation, and of the most
etfectual means of preserving and restoring the
fertility OF the soil, and of procuring and dstrbut-
ing seeds and plants and other vegetable produc-
tons, with instructions in regard TO the soil, eli
mate, and treatment best adapted to their growth,
could not fail to be, in the language of Washing
ton, in his last annual message to Congress, a
Every cheap instrument of immense national bene-
fit. -
Regarding the act Of Congress approved 2Sth
September, 1885, granting bouny lands per-
sons who had been engaged in the military
vice of the country as great measure of ma
tional justice and munifcence, an anxious desire
has been felt, by the officers entrusted with its inn
mediate execution, to give rompt'efect its pro-
VISIONS. All the means within their control were,
therefore, brought into requisition to expedite
the adjudication of claims, and | grat6ed to
be able to state that near one hundred Thousand
Ia been rcd nd ohout
enty thousand warrants issued within the short
space Of nine months. IL adequate provision be
made by law to carry into effect the recommends
tons of the department, it is confidently expected
that, before the close of the fiscal year, all who
are entitled to the benefits Of the act will have re-
celved their warrants
The Secretary of the Interior has suggested in
his report various amendments Of the laws rea-
ting to pensions and bounty lands, for the pur-
pose of more efectually guarding against abuses
and frauds on the government, to all of which
invite your particular attention.
The large accessions to our Indian population
consequent upon the acquisition Of New Mexico
and California, and the extension Of our settle
ments into Utah and Oregon, have given in
creased interest and importance to relations
with the aboriginal race
No material change has taken place, within the
last year, in the condition and prospects of the
Indian tribes who reside in the Northwestern
Territory and west Of the Mississippi river We
are at peace with all Of them and it will be a
source OF pleasure to you to learn that they are
gradually advancing in civilization and the pur-
suits of social life.
Along the Mexican frontier, and in California,
and Oregon, there have been occasional manifesto
TONS of unfrendly feeling, and some depredations
committed. | am satisfied, however, that they
resulted more from the destitute and starving con-
dition OF the Indians than from any settled hos
Utility toward the whites. As the settlements of
our citizens progress towards them, the game
upon which they mainly rely for subsistence is
driven off or destroyed, and the only alternative
left to them is starvation or plumber. 1t becomes
to consider, in view of this condition of things,
whether justice and humanity, as well as an en-
Iightened economy, do not require that, instead of
seeking to punish them for offences which are the
result of our own no!icy towards them, we should
not provide for their immediate wants and encour-
age 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 negotiated
with different tribes during the year, by which
their title to large and valuable tracts of country
has been extinguished, all of which will, at the
proper time, be submitted to the Senate for ratifi
cation.
The joint commission under the treaty. of
Guadalupe HIdalgo has been actively engaged in
running and marking the boundary line between
the United States and Mexico. Ii was stated in
the last annual report of the Secretary of the In
terror, that the initial point the Pacific and the
point of junction of the Gila with the Colorado
river had been determined, and the intervening
line, about one hundred 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 permanent land
marks of iron have been placed at suitable dis
tances along the line.
The initial point on the Rio Grande has also
been fixed by the commissioners at latitude 800
-, 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 neighbor-
hood'of the copper mines.
The commission on our part at first organ
lied scale which experience proved to be un-
wieldy and attended with unnecessary expense
Oiders have, therefore, been issued for the reduc-
ton of the number of persons employed within
the smallest limits, consistent with the safety of
those engaged in the service, and the prompt and
efficient execution of their important duties
Returns have been received from all the officers
engaged in taking the census in the States and ter
rltories, except California. The supe rintendent
employed to make the enumeration in that State
has not yet made his full report, from causes as
he alleges, beyond this control. This failure lie
much to be regretted, it has prevented the Sec
rotary of the Interior from making the decennial
appofuonment of Representatives among the States
as required by the act approved May %, 1850
II is hoped, however, that the returns will soon
be received, and no time will then be lost in maxi
'ti5 Nir HtNtSshJ anu IN transmit
ting the certificates required by law.
The superintendent of the seventh census is
diligently employed, under the direction of the
Secretary Of the Interior, in classifying and ar
ranging, in tabular form, all the statistical in
formation derived from the returns Of the mar
shas, and it is believed that when the work shall
be completed, it will exhibit more perfect view
Of the population, wealth, occupations and social
condition Of a great country, than has ever been
presented to the world. The value of snch
work, the basis Of enlightened legislation, can
hardly be overestmated; and | earnestly bo5e
that Congress will lose no time in making the ap-
preparations necessary to complete the cIassifca-
tons, and to publish the results in a style worthy
Of the subject and of our national character.
The want Of a uniform fee BILL prescribing the
compensation to be allowed district attorneys.
clerks, marshals, and commissioners in civil and
criminal cases, IS the cause Of much vexaton. in
justice, and complaint. ] would recommend
thorough revision Of the laws on the VIII ole sub
ject, and the adoption of tariff Of fees which MS
far as practicable, should be uniform and pre-
scribe n specific comp ensation for every service