Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-05


t,sfen on the country i system founded in error,
which may place the whole subject beyond the iu-
tuFe control OF Congress.
The agricultural lands shouiA however. be sur
yeyed aud brought into market with little delay
possible, that the titles may become settled, and the
inhabitants stimulated TO make permanent improve
mcus, and enter the ordinary pursuits of hie. To
effect these objects it is desirable that the necessary
provision be made by law for the establishment of
land offices II California and Oregon, and for the el-
hcient prosecution Of the surveys at an early day.
Some diti ;utcs have occurred in organizing the
Territorial governments oi New Mexico and Utah;
and when more accurate information shall be obtain
ed of the causes, further communication viii be
made on that subject.
In nv last annual communication 10 Congress !
recommended the establishment of an Agricultural
Bureau, and take this occasion again to invoke
your favorable consideration of The subject.
Agriculture may iuS, be regarded as the great in
terest of our people Four-fths of our active pop
uation employed in the cultivation of the soil,
and the rapid expansion OF our settlements over new
territory is daily adding 10 the number Of those en-
gagged IN that vocation Justice and sound policy
therefore, alike require that the Government should
all the means authorized by the constitution to
promote the interests and welfare of that important
class of our fellow citzcns And yet IT Is singular
fact that, whilst the manufacturing ana coHu1iciaI
interests have engaged the auenton OF Congress du"
ring large portion of every session. ana our statutes
abound in provisions for their protection and encour
agemen hule has yet been done directly Tor ihe ad-
vancement Of agriculture. IL IS time that ths re-
Droach 10 our legislation should be removed; and l
sincerely hope that the present Congress viii not
close their Iabors without adopting efficient means
10 supply the omissions of those who have preceded
them An Agricultural Bureau, charged with The
duty of collecting and disseminating correct lntor-
maon as the best modes of cultivation, and OF the
most efectua means of preserving and restoring the
fertility of the soil. and of procuring and distributing
seeds and plants and other vegetable productions,
with instructions regard to the sol, climate, and
treatment best adapted TO Their growth coqld MOI
fail be- in the language Of Washington IN ms last
annual message to Congress, "a very cheap lHStfu-
mcnt of immense national benefit.
Regarding the act of Congress approved 26th of
September. 1850 granting bounty lands 10 persons
who had been engaged in the military service of the
country, as great measure of national Justice and
munfcence, an anxious desire has been felt, by the
officers entrusted with It's immediate execution, to
give prompt effect to.s provisions. All the means
within their control were therefore brought into re-
QUESTION expedite the aiudlcatton OF claims and |
arn gratied 10 be able that near one hundred
thousand applications have been considered and a.
bout 10000 warrants issued within the short space
of nine months. If adequate provision be made by
law to carry into effect the recommendations of the
Department. it Is confidently expected that, before
the close of The next fiscal year. all who are entitled
10 the benefits Of the will have received their
warrants.
The Secretary Of the Iuterior has suggested in his
port various amendments or the laws relating to pen
sionS aud bounty lands for The purpose OF more eecu
ally guarding against abuses aud frauds the Govern
Inenr, To which invite your particular attention.
The large accessiOns Indian population conse
u and the extension Of our settlements into Utah and
Oregon have given Teased Interest and Importance 10
our relations with the aboriginal
No material change has taken place. within the last
wear condition and prospects of the Indian ibas
ia the Northwestern Territory and west Of
thu Mississippi We peace with all of them;
will he Of pleasure TO you TO learn that
they gradually advancing Ia civilization and the pur-
suits Of social Hf"-
Along the Mexican frontier, and in California aud in
Oregon. there hive occasional manifestations of
uofsiepdy feeling and some depredations committed !
am satisfied however that they resulted more from the
and starving condition OF the Indians than from
any settled hostility toward the whites. As the settle
Of citizens progress towards them, the game
up,U which they mainly rely for subsistence Is driven of
destroyed, ard the only alternative left TO them Is
starvation plumber. II becomes to consider, in
Of this of tng, whether justice and hu-
manity. as well as enlightened economy do not re-
qure that Of seekas punish them for offences
which the result Of own policy towards them,
should provide for their immediate wants and en-
them to engage in agriculture and to rely on
their labor, instead ef The chase. for the means Of sup
port
Various important treaties have been negotiated with
different tribes during the year, by which their title to
large aud valuable Of country has ben extingush
ed of which viii, the proper Time, De submitted TO
the Senate for ratification
The JOINT commission under the treaty of Guadalupe
Hdago been actively engaged in running and mar
king the boundary line between the United States and
IL stated in the iast annual report Of the
Secretary Of the Interior the initial point on the
Pacific and point of junction OF the ella with the
Colorado had been determined, aud the intervening
line hundred and fifty miles in length run and
marked by temporary monuments. Since that time
marble has been erected the initial point,
aud permanent landmarks Of iron have been placed at
suitable distances along the line.
The initial point Rio Grandeiss also been fixed
by the commissioners al latitude % deg - min and al
the date OF the last communication the survey OF the line
had been made thence westward about hundred and
fF.a yfb rHgr ri m
The commission part At frsi organized on
scale win experience proved 70 he uRwIeidy ana at
tended with unnecessary expense. Orders have, there
fore, 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 aud the
prompt and efficient execution Of their important duties
Returns been received from all the officers
gagged taking the in the States aud Territories,
except California The superintendent employed
enumeration in that State has vet made
his ul report, from causes, as he alleges, beyond his
control This failure is mitch TO be regretted as il has
prevented Secretary Of the Interior from making the
decennaI apportonmeu Of representatives. among the
States required by the approved May % 1850
Il hoped, however, that the will soon
ceived Time will then be lost in making the ne
cessary apportionmenl and in transmitting The certi
Gates required by law.
The Superintendent Of the Seventh Census dligen,
" employed under the direction of the Secretary of the
Interior in classifying and arranging in tabular form,
all the statistical derived from the Of
the narshals believed that when the work shall
be completed, it will exhibit perfect view Of the
population wealth. occupations and social condition Of
great country, thun has ever been presented TO the
world. The value Of such work, as The basis Of en-
lIghtened legislation, hardly be overestmated; and
earnestly hope that Congress will lose time in max
ing the appro atiOn necessary complete the class
cations publish the results in style worthy OF
The subject aud Of our national character.
The want Of uniform fee bill, prescribing the com
p.nsation allowed district attorneys clerks, mar
shals and commissioners in civil and criminal cases, Is
the cause Of much vexaiion injustice aud complaint
would recommend i thorough revision OF the laws on
the whole subject adoption of tariff of fees