The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-12-11

regard to the SOIL climate, and treatment best
adapted to their growth, could not fail to be, in
the language Of Washington, in his last annual
message TO Congress, every cheap instrument
of immense national benefit
Regarding the act of Congress approved 26tll
September, 1880, granting bounty lands to per
sons who had been engaged in the military SER
vice of the country, as great measure of nation
al justice and munifcence, an anxious desire has
been felt, by the officers entrusted with its i'm
mediate execution, to give prompt effect to its
provisions. All the means within their control
were, therefore, brought into requisition to ex-
pedIte the adjudication of claims, and l am
gratified to be able to state that near one hun
dred thousand applications have been considered,
and about seventy thousand warrants issued
within the short space of nine months. If ade-
quate provision be made by law to carry into
effect the recommendations of the Department,
! 1t Is confidently expected that, before the close
of the next fiscal year, all who are entitled TO
( the benefits of the act will have received their
warrants.
J The Secretary Of the Interior has suggested in
his report various amendments of the laws rela-
ting TO pensions and bounty lands, for the pur-
pose of more effectually guarding against abuses
aud frauds the Government, to all of which L
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 increased
interest and Importance to our relations with the
aboriginal race.
! No material change has taken place, within
! the last year, in the condition and prospect of
the Indian tribes who reside in the Northwestern
Territory and west of the Mississippi river. We
are ut peace with all of them; and it will be a
source of pleasure to you 10 learn that they are
gradually advancing i'll civilization and the pur-
suits of social life.
Along the Mexican frontier, and in California
and Oregon, there have been occasional mani
festations of unfriendly feeling, and seme depre-
datiOns committed. L satisfied however
that they resulted more from the destitute and
starving condition of the Indians than from any
settled hostility toward the whites. All the set
Elements of our citizens progress towards them,
the game upon which they mainly rely for sub
sistence is driven off destroyed, and the only
alternative left to them is starvation plumber.
1t becomes us to consider, in view of this condi-
ton of things, whether justice and humanity,
well as an enlightened economy, do not require
that, instead of seeking to punish them for of
fences which are the result of our policy
towards them, we should not provide for their
immediate 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 negotia-
ted 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 ratification.
The joint commission under the treaty of G ua-
dalupe Hidalgo 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 of the Secretary of the
Interior, that the initial point on the Pacific and
the point of junction of the Gila with the Colo
RADIO river had been determined, and the inter
vening line, about one hundred and fifty miles
in length, run and marked by temporary monu-
Ments. Since that time monument of marble
has been erected at the initial point, and perIna-
nent landmarks of iron have been placed at suita-
BILE distances along the line.
The initial point on the Rio Grande has also
I been fixed by the commissioners at latitude 800
22/, 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 nejghborhood Of the copper mines.
,, The commission on cnr part was at first or
ganized on q scale which experience proved to
be unwieldy and attended with unnecrss22rv ex-
pense. Orders have, therefore, been issued for
the reduction 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 Off
GERS engaged in taking the census in the States
and Territories, except California The super
that State has not yet made his full report, from
causes, as he alleges beyond his control. This
failure is much to be regretted, as it has pre-
vented the Secretary of the Interior from making
the decennial apportionment of Representatives
among the States, required by the act ap-
proved May 23, 1850. 1t is hoped, however,
that the returns will soon be received and no
time will then be lost in making the necessary
lapportionment, and in transmitting the certif-
Gates 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
shals, 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 great country than has
ever been presented to the world. The value of
such work, the basis of enlightened legis-
latiOn, can hardly be over estimated; and |
earnestly hope that Congress will lose no time
IN making the appropriations necessary to COM
plete the classihcations, and to publish the re-
suits in style worthy of the subject and of our
national character.
The want of 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 yexation
injustice, and complaint would recommend q
thorough revision of the laws on the whole sub
Iject, and the adoption of tariff of fees which
as far practicable, should be uniform, and
prescribe specific compensation for every ser
vice which the officer may be required to per-
form. This subject will be fully presented in
the report of the Secretary of the Interior.