Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-01-03

SlpN> Y. tilONt WHO nave preceded them.
Anayrcultural Bureau, charged with the du-
~ Of collecting and disseminating correct in
torm9tion as to the best mode of cultivation,
and Of the most etfectual means of preserving
and restoring the fertility of the soil and OF
preserving and distributing seeds and plants,
and othcr vegetable productions, with instruc-
tons in regard to the soil, climate, and treat
men best adapted to their growth, could net
tal to be, IN the language Of Washington, in
his last annual message to Congress, a "vcrv
cheap instrument, Of immense national beut
fit
Regarding the act of Congress approved 28th
OF September for granting bounty lands to per
sons who had been engaged in the military ser
wee of the country, as great measure of n;t-
tonal justice and munfcence, an anxious de-
sire has been felt, by the officers entrusted
with It's immediate execution, to give prompt
effect to its provisions. All the means within
their control were, therefore, brought into requ-
sltlon to expedite the adjudication of claims,
and am gratified to be able to state that near
one hundred thousand applications have been
considered. and about seventy thousand war
rants 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, be-
fore the close of the next fiscal year, all who
are entitled to the benefits of the act will have
received their warrants
The Secretary of ihe Interior has suggested
in his report various amendments of the laws
relating to pensions and bounty lands, for the
purpose gilmore etftctually guarding against
abuse and frauds on the Government, to all of
which | invite your particular attention.
| n
! ton consequent upon the acquisition of New
| Mexico and California, and the extension of our
settlements into Utah and Oregon, have given
! increased interest and importance to our rela-
| tons 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 north-wes-
tern Territory and west of the Mississippi river
We are 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
the pursuits ofsocia life. e.
Along the Mexican frontier, and in Califor-
mia and Oregon, there haye been occasional
manifestations of unfricndly feeling and some
depredations committed. am satisfied, how
ever, that they resulted more from the desti-
tute and starving condition of the Indians than
from any settled 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 off or destroyed.
and the alternative left to consider, in view e.
this condition of things, whether justice and
humanity, as an enlightened economy, do not
require that, instead Of seeking to punish them
for offences which are the result off our own poll
cytowards lem weshould 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 nego-
tiated with different tribes during the year, By
which their title so large and valuable tracts
of country has been extinguished, all Of which
+wll, at the proper time, be submitted to the
Senate for ratification. a~.rt
The joint commission under the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo has been actively engaged
IN running and marking the boundary line be-
tween the United States and Mexico. 1t was
stated, in the last annual report of the Secreta-
ry of the Interior, that the initial point on the
Pacific and the point of juncture of the Gihn
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 mon
unent of marble has been erected at the initial
point, and permanent landslnarks of iron have
seen placed at suitable distances along the
line. .a..... '.l ga..~r..s
The initial point on the Rio Grande has also
been fixed by the commissioners at latitude $40
%, and at the date of last communication the
survey OF the line had been made thence west
ward about one hundred and fifty miles to the
neghborhood of the copper mines. .= 90 vi
lhe commission On our part was at first or
ganzed or scale which experience proved to
be unwieldy and attended with unnecessary ex-
pense. Orders, have therefore, been issued for
the reduction Of the number of persons en-
ployed within the smallest limits, consistent
with the safety of those engaged in the service,
and the prompt and efficient execution of their
duties. st5.
Returns have been received from all the off,
GERS engaged in taking the census in the States
and Territories, except California The super
ntendent employed to make the enumeration
in that State has not yet made his full report,
from causes, he alleges, beyond his control.
This failure is much to be regretted, as it has
prevented the Secretary Of the Interior from
making the decennia apportionment of repre-
among the States, as required by
the act approved May 23, 1850. 1t is hoped,
however that the returns will soon be received,
Ind no time will be lost in making the necessa-
~ apportionment, and in transmitting the Ger
,fcates required by law 3 ~ g~a "p
TIE Superintendent of the Seventh Census
is diligently employed under the direction of
lie Secretary of the Interior, in classifying and
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 a more per-
ect view of the population, wealth, occupations,
ind social condition of a great country, than
has ever been presented to the world.
The value of such work, as the basis of
legislation. can hardly be over es-
imated; and | earnestly hope that Congress