The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-13

Applications for land .............. 3.4S5
| FOR scrip or money. W
Warrants issued for land. .......... 1901
! Do. for scrip or money!. 81
| - s,s6s
| Suspehueu Citiifs.. ..........-..- l,ZUi
| The number of appropriations under the act
quence of the repeal of the last provso of the 9Th
Section by the passage Of the act of Dad of March,
| 1852.
Bounty Land La,cs Of 2sh September, 1850,
| . and 22d March, 1852.
The execution of these laws has been steadily
progressing. Up to the present time the number
of cases received and registered amount to about
| 200 600 80. .....
| OF which there have been admitted. =. l40,O5s
Now on the files for examination. 80. 53l
| Suspended for future proof. ....-..... 55,lli
| ..... ss,7Oo
| Warrants are issued daily for all admitted cases
The number OF new applications amounts to about
| one hundred per day. .h
The quantity ofland required to satisfy the war
| rants issued up to the Let of November, 1852,
amounts to 1885, 320 acres, which, at the minimum
| price Of s rs per acre, would be worth 3d.
| 4l9l50
Under the act of 22d March. 1852, there have
been received and registered ,655 cases, Of which
there have been admitted 2, 34l leaving still to be
acted on 5,3l4 To satisfy the claims issued under
this act, LAB 600 acres of land will be required.
/ The report Of the Commissioner contains some
| important suggestions in regard to proposed
changes in the laws relating to pensions. In add
ton to those already alluded to, l would invite
| your particular attention to the prop-iety of
enactng provision requiring biennial examina
tions, by competent medical officers of all inva lid
pensioners and report as to the condition Of their
health. The law of 1919 contained provision Of
this kind which was found to work well In practice,
but it was incautiously repealed by the act of 4th
| July, 1882. Some such measure Is indispensable
| to protect the Government against imposition
No material reduction has been made in the
clerical force Of the Pension Office since the date of
soon be disposed of, the services of many of the
| clerks can be dispensed with at an early day.
Indian Affairs. ... ,
For detailed insor nation in regard to the condi-
ticn of Indian relations respectfully refer to
| the report of the Commissioner ofIndiaE Affairs.
| In my last annual communication ] explained
| somewhat at large, my views Of the policy which
| should regulate our intercourse with the Indian
| tribes. IL in substance that efforts should
be directed TO their civilization, and the amcliora-
ton of their condition, rather than to OF
| coercion 1t ia not only more just and humane,
but more economical, to win them by kindness,
| and to encourage them to engage in pastoral and
agricultural pursuits, and relinquish their noma-
die and predatory life, than to subdue and restrain
| them by military force. l still adhere to these
opinions, and respectfully refer to my last report
for more detailed exposition Of them.
| The mendments to the treaty with the Sioux
| Indians in Minnesota, which were proposed by the
Senate, have been submitted to the proper author
ites of the tribes and acccded TO by them. and
their title to valuable district Of country has
| thereby been extingushed .... ST..
In consequence of the rejection of all the trea-
ties which had been negotiated with the Indian
tribes resident in California and Oregon, our rela
tons with them of very unsettled and precari-
GUS character ltisbeeved that those treaties were
rejec ted not so much on account of objections &c
their details to the leading principles EN-
braced in them, which secured particu lar dis
tricts of country for the exclusive occupancy o
the Indians. Until the Senate shall have an
nounced some line of policy to be pursued or
that subiect,it would be worse than useless to at
tempt further negotiations. If the Indians t.
be removed out Of California and Oregon, it viii
be for Congress to say So and to provide for them
some place of refuge. Or if any particular dis
tricts of country within their limits, more remote
from the settlements Of the whites, are to be sci
apart for them, it is proper that Congress, which
is alone invested with the power Of disposing OF
the public domain, should make the necessar y
provisions on the subject.
The Depart ent has endeavored assiduousIy
to conciiate the Indiana by kindness and to pre-.
vent those hostiiities which have just cause tc
apprehend. So far these efforts have been in q
great measure successful. There ia rcason to
fear. however, that if measures are not speedily
adopted to declare by law what is to be the extern
of the rights Of the Indians, and to protect them
from aggressions, collisions and bloodshed vii
ensue.
| The removal of the remnant of the tribe of Sem
mole Indians has long been cherished object Of
the Government, and the Department has spared
no pains to accomplish it. Admonished by expe
rience of the cost of blood and treasure which
must attend the repetition VI the attempt to expe
them by military force, it was thought TO be more
consistent with humanity and sound policy to try
the effect of peaceful measures. special agent
WAS therefore employed to go among them and
endeavor to induce them to emigrate voluntarily
To give greater force to his representations Of the
benefits likely to ensue from such measure, he
took with him a delegation o! Seminole Indians
, who had previously removed to the country west
of the Mississippi Their united persoasions have
had the effect which was anticipated, and recently
several of the principal chiefs OF the Florida tribe
visited Washingto and while here acknowledged
in writing their obligation to remove. Late ad
vices from the special agent assure Us that they
still adhere to their engagement; that meeting
of the tribe has been called to make the necessary
preparations, and that their removal may be con
fidently expected at an early day.
Such result will be a matter of much interes
to the people of Florida it will not only relieve
} them from apprehension of danger to their persons
and property. but will open extensive district o
country for settlement and cultivation.
Census.
f The report of the Superintendent Of the Censu
will show that the greater part OF the labor Of com
| piling and classifying the returns has been com
pleted; and the publication can now be com
mcnced, as the residue can be finished and place.
in the hands of the publisher from time to time a
he may require.
f 1t ia estimated that an additional appropriation
of fifty thousand dollars will be necessary TO pre-
pare the entire work, consisting of two large vol
4 umes, for the press.
As some objections have been urged to that par
t of the plan which contemplates a condensed motto
7 of the geographical features and history OF enc'
county, beg leave to suggest one or two reason
which have led me to believe thatit would be emf
nently useful. In the early settlement OF our coun
try, when the population was thinly scattered owe
a wide extent of territory, but few counties wer
established.
AS population increased, and the public conve
nencc rendered it necessary, these counties wer
divided and subdivided, until at the present da,
many of them do not embrace one twentieth par
of their original territory. This process must con
tiuue to go on Tor many years to come. When
therefore, attempt is made to ascertain the pro
gress in wealth and population of any county thu
situated, by reference to is condition at each sue
cossve decennia census, the inquirer ia involved
in COT fusion, and will naturally iose all conhdcnc
: in the accuracy of the returns, unless he has tn
means OF ascertaining the subdivisions which hav
. taken place, and the counties or parts OF counue
which have been taken from those which wcr
originally established, and the dates of the succcs
, siye diyisnns.