The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-09

season that the bridge could not be finished in time for
travel the approaching winter but It VIII be pressed to
completion as rapidly as practicable
The appropriation made in 1855 for grading &c, pre-
paratory TO the extension Of the Capitol grounds u
dciousy and economically expended AS Congress appro
prated the money without any estimate recommends
on Of the department. and general plan had been
devised adopted 1t not deemed proper to submit
item among the estimates presented at the last session Of
Congress because the department did not understand its
design and presumed ii It's continuation considered
advisable suitable appropriation would be made for that
purpose As none, however made and the wings OF
the Capitol advancing rapidly to completion and the
grounds present rough and inelegant appearance 1t APP
pears proper that the attention Of Congress should be d.
rected TO Ii.
Themprovemen Of the grounds south Of the Executive
mansion has been completed according to the plan adopted
ts commencement That part of the grounds immedi
atey adjacent to the executive premises i sufficiently
elevated and further appropriations should be made with
this view not only because IL would add to their beauty
but be promotye of the heahfulness OF the Executive
mansion aud the neighborng residences. With small
expenditure Of money this may be done and the sooner t
s accomplished the better as now the change viii not se
riously interfere with the arrangement OF the grounds
The public grounds in the city OF Washington haze been
extensively improved and beautied but st much has
not been done is required Within sew wears past
Congress has in this regard been an usually liberal
but far from lavish The comfort nealth and convenience
not merely Of the citizens but OF the members themselves
and all the funconares of the government and every Wis
liter to this city, demand that much larger expenditures
should be made. When the money Is judcously expend
no one can object to its application The whole nation
Is interested in the national metropolis and the people will
sanction anything relating lts Improvement which ne
cessary and constitutional One thing is certain these i'm
proVements will eventually be made by the government
and, being merely question of Time overfow'ng treas
ury suggests this as the proper period
The Indian lands in the Territory &c Kansap which by
treaty puatoHs were to be sold and proceeds applied
to the of the Indians are in state of preparation for
SALE portion Of lne Delaware lands was pursuant to
law, advertised to be sold the nth inst Every pre-
caution has been adopted to fairness and impair
taty IN the SALE 1t iutrusted, according to the
quirements OF the law to the local land officers under the
experimenting control of commissioner of high stand
ing and the agent of the Delaware Indians was directed
to De present. in order to advise with the commissioner
aud guard and protect the interests of the tribe If the in
sruetons given, which minute and at the time
LIBERAL have been strictly adhered to- oP which
tain no doubt) all interested will be protected but where
there is so much diversity of feeling and interest it is al
most impossible to satisfy every one.
In last report stated that il would be advantageous
to the Indians aud the government to provide for officer
to be attached to the bureau whose duty it should be to
visit the superintendent agents. and tribes examine into
all their aar and make such general and detailed
ports and submit such suggestions would enable the
ndian once to adopt measures which might many
OF the abuses that prevail and have tendency meio-
rate the condition OF the Indians Further reflection has
strengthened this view, When it is considered that many
OF the agents eie to great extent beyond the reach of the
bureau and that is often impossible TO communicate
with or receive information from them for month"; that
they are frequently situated to defy investigation and
to fear no exposure unless by the adoption a such
measure - is proposed 1t seems to me mat Its policy and
expedieney cannot be doubted
During your administration there have been negotiated
httwo Indian treatisa OF these thirtytwo have been
on y these treaties the Indian title has been exngush
Oh 70 and reacqusons made Of lands amounting in the a
segae 70 acres OF Which ABOUT ozoOOuUo are
included in the ratified treaties and about l22000o00
secured by those before the Senate besides
9343s0O which have been reservefor Indian pur
$llls4 2O3 80.
These treaties of three classes of peace and friend
SHIP OF acquisition with view 10 the colonization of the
Indians reservations for providing for the permanent
settlement Of individual Indians upon separate Of
land as homesteads and extnguhng at once or paving
the way to the final abandonment Of the tribal character
The money consideration has varied according to the
nature Of the title the and value Of the country
obtained and The REIMBURSEMENT Of all claims sup
posed claims ainst the United States the last b.lnp
deemed essential the quietude Of the Indians roect
the interests Of the government and promote hs ouy
tween it aud the respective tribes Besides te actual mo-
uey consideration, other important bene is are guaranteed
at times, and in the indicated IN the treaties which
cannot be estimated accurately l. money
The object throughout ias been to do ample justice
tne inaahs ana lease for the complaint some
,S heretofore made that they had been oyerreached by
re white Whether such complaint just NOT
there doubt the Indians believed persuaded
by others that just grounds existed for its indulgence 1t
must be admitted that 10 the talks with the
Indians pom which treaties based did not correspond
with the treaties themselves and that the Indians generally
relied these talks which they recoected and under
Stood aud the treaties reduced 10 writing which
they seldom correctly comprehended.
Great difficulty has heretofore existed aud still exists in
making approximate estimate OF the population Of
the various tribes Of Indians within borders but from
the most reliable information, they supposed TO
number some 100000 souls. AS become familiar
with remote tribes find tho representations made to
their numbers generally exaggerated The aggregate mum
ber however OF the whole Is very large and although
will not probably increase yot shows the immense re-
sponsbility resting upon this government which Is
trusted their welfare and happiness.
The average amount annually expended by the general
government for the past six years for Indian purposes
has been about S262jo o32 Gl aud the aggregate
for the entire period $40, $500 81.
new policy hss been adopted Of making remttanees
10 the dsbursing officers OF this bureau quarterly and
ssmiaunually instead Of the custom Of drawing the
tire appropriations from the trsasur and placing them in
the hands Of the dsbursiug agents. officers and snperin
endent in advance Of necessity for the money Officers
are now required TO transmit promptly and regularly
correct statement verified BY oath showing the amount Of
public money on hend at The expiration Of each quarter the
object TO which Il Is applicable where kept deposited
and the description Of funds This prevent diff
hculty and 10 secure greater and watchfnness.
The amount Of stocks held BY this department r
for the various Indian tribes Is S2028678 Sore Of the
stocks have matured and been redeemed arr reinYest
ment cannot ke made because the law confines the de-
partment TO stocks Of the United Sizes which cannot be
obtained except at high pr.nium In consequence Of
this, estimates have been annually made for appropra-
tons for live per cenm on the trust funds held By and
never araWn aom the treasury, 10 which Congress has
respond favorably; and thereby policy has been in
.antod II not established which probably should not be
disturbed.
During the present calendar year there win have been
expended and remed for payment Of Indian annutes the
Of S9O7902 65 in money, Slao592 80 In goods and
S30l66 81 In provisions This shows that notwitbstand
ing The unremitng endeavors Of the department very
large portion of the payments Is still made upon the cash
system and this to certain extent parsyzes the efforts
made for the permanent improvement Of the tribes.