Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-12-30
EWHOLE NO. 1862

against 4o95 applications and $40 caveats
for the corresponding quarter Of last year.
During the same period 2sl6 patents were
issued, Is extensions granted, and I5s6 ap-
fplications rejected. The Secretary recum-
mends the establishment Of board of appeal
in addition to the presen, force in office. =
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS.
The Commissioner states that the vioIe
number oflndians within onr limits 10 esfi-
mated a, about $50. 1000 The whole nnm.
bes Of tribes and sepera,e bands Il f75, with
A Of which we have treats, engagsmssts.
The number of ratified Indiar treaties, ,sines
the adoption of the constitut ion is 39s,
nearly all of which eontain provisions still
in force. The quantity of land acquired BY
these treaties is about l,i6s lss acres
The entire cost of tul6lling these treaties
win be $i9.sI6 .344. From part of thsss
tlends. the government received na pscpniss
advantages, because they were eeded TO the
respective states within whose limits they
we're situated. From those sold, the federal
treasury received not only the whole of ex-
pense incurred for their acquisition. survey
and sale, bu: a surplus of at least 800 900.
600. g -
The amount applicable for the fuifllment
OF the treaties, snd other objects connected
with the In.iian policy for the present fiscal
year, was S4.s52. .4o7, of which sum saoI.-
$50 was derived from investments of trust
funds. The whole amour, Of trust funds
held on Indian account is 9l0,59o $40, of
which S3,502s24l, has been invested in
stocks Of various States and the United
States; the remainder, viz: S7,0S5 .4o7, il
retained in the treasury, and the interest
thereon annually appropriated by Congress.
The Commissioner thinks il worthy Of
consideration whether it will not be adyi-
sable, when the national treasury shall be
in condition to admit of it, also to invest
the above amount OF S7,0S5, ,40T in like
manner with the other indian trust funds.
The commissioner points out three fatal
errors which have marked our policy toward
the indians, from the very beginning, viz
l. Their removal from place to place, as
our population advances; ,. The assign.
mont of too great an extent of territory to
be held BY them in common; and, 8. The
allowance of large sums OF money as sDnu-
lilies. He recommends that The tribes should
be permanently located upon reservations,
embracing nut more than is necessary for
actual occupancy; to divide the land among
them in severalry; to require that they
should settle upon and cultivate the land
thus assigned; to give them, in lieu of
money snnuities, stock, animals, sgricui-
iural implements, mecha 1ic shops, man ual
laber schools, &c.
He recommends the ratification of trea-
ties made in 1855 with the Indians of Was
hington and Oregon territories, as a means
Of preventing the recurrence Of hosfilities
He gives general statement of The con-
dition of the Indians. and calls attention to
the urgent necessity for complete and
thorough revision OF tho laws relating tu
latian sffairs ~
Gov. Denver, though not having time,
since the resumption Of his duties, to ex-
anime closely the facts stated in the report,
eoncurs generally in the recommendations
of Mr. NIX, his temporary predecessor.