The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-28
STATE OF THE UNION.
,coyrNrEp FROM FIFTH pAeEl

rwoprNed substitute has Deen repeatedly trieo on
rr,sH ,oale and has oItsn failed
10 my annuA, repor, Of last year alsion was made 70
me s,a al failure donation system In Florida That
aEysed enacted for Oregon 1850, which required
srnce Of four consecutive years W perfect tie ap
pesrs 10 have been adjusted with more care ana
vigds but !, could stand the test Of practical app
sstop Before two years elapsed the settlers peti
toned the privilege Of paying fer their claims ana 90
tanning titles, and Congress yielded to ,nar request. py
she act February IA 1858 such evis'on OF law was
made had been asked and beyond that congress, oy
She same act, fixed within which claims under the
oct 1850 should be presented or thereafter De forever
BARRED Thus the system in Oregon was abapdoned De
Sore the which led TO its adoption had ceased 70
esist. 49,
chief articles OF commerce The true pioneer SPENDS his
ME IN woods When the frontier moves nc moves win
\ The improvements ne has made he sells 70 some new
oser who ia not Injured the hardshps NJ urst begin.
s alter few years be oe sells 70 one VINO desires
estsb sh hims II at once IN comfortable house ana nm
provements. On each transfer the settler begins his
ierm OF residence anew.
Sush is the sketch of tho process Of establishing
ana extending communities in the wilderness
ne system of dons,ions, therefore, while operating
vnh fragrant injustice the czens Of the older states,
would not give satisfaction to those now occupying public
hnds with view OF complying with existing Avs, nor
would promote the prosperity OF those states anu rerr
tories In wi ch unso lands situated As the titles
lands occupied by claimants would remain 10 the United
States until after the conditions the donation law were
fulfilled the lands could no. be taxed could they be
used any emergency basis OF credit by those who
held them in possession
weud exclude the introduction OF capital from abroad
would retard improvements Of every kind would rcpress
hca enterprise and Individual energy aad, tne num-
attempts 70 evade the restrictions OF me aw wouo
give rise 70 lawsuits and confuse tues =,
Justice and equality not bounty and Gvortism ne az
ne foundation OF institutions IL lands now De gwen
. sculsrs in consideration OF residence only, what
pretext will Congress- refuse to those settlers who have
heretofore completed the prescribed period OF residence
q return the money which they have already paid for
Ger home steacsg
The public lands Of the United states constitute
sacy Of inestmabe value, which, If wisely administered
vii be the basis OF public credit far more substantial
nsan IS possessed by any other nation n the world Tue
r~t>o y,xhi thay upU M W
prime cost, If take into account tho expense OF re-
moving tho Indians and protecting the frontier;
md IL is but just and fair that those who appro
pirate TO themselves the richest tracts aud thu
choicest locations and who especially have the benefits OF
s protection OF the government whilst doing So should
make come reasonable return in money And thsthey
have always been wiling though not always prepared 20
do Whoever charges pre- emphon settlers WIN com
ana acre for their land docs great injustice
% this entire class Of cities.
The recommendation OF the Commissioner Of Publ,
lands, suggesting tina, act be passed limiting the time
IN which the States shall prefer claims for smamp lands,
approved. Such law would work injustice 70 the
bates entitled and would have q good effect in qletng
Ind titles in those States, and relieving the department
Stum vast amount OF most complicated labor Already
The States have received this the muncent grant
q more than 600 acres, and some oooo more
have been selected.
contractors found to be most dcut OF administration
IN last annual report you were advised that construc
Sion placed upon that Law which confined its benefits
contractors the great through tho Territories
u has been coDtended on the other hand Ehat every
the Territories west OF
Mississippi river entitled its benefits and that each
successive contractor the route, 1t no.
how sften the contracts may have changed hands, 0,
what have been allowed TO prior contractors is
tailed to enter lands under the provisions Of that enact
msnt
In order to conclude present controversies and to avoid
others future the entries which have been allowed
the cal land Offices under different construction OF the
INV should be confirmed If the lands are now held free
from any valid adverse claim and the &C. should be
Yeacd or modified as suggested " my last annual re-
port
Land Office thai provision be made by law for the saac
ron Of thoee Virginia military land warrants which have
BY the authorities of Virginia prior to that date and on
which DO previous warrants haed yer issued and been
by Of s sa Is 81 ss
fhaA effect Is recommended. Such q provision
xeuh be an act Of simple justice % those whose rights
warrants prior TO the day limited by the Of Congress
are unable to avaT themselves Of It's benefits.
ro.,ors ~ Moi ,r; ArrA ,rSes ., Indian. With,
our limits have continued during the past year In sas
q with I sns a SeB ona
have occurred II is true, and crimes and outrases have
been committed but have been perperaed BY bands
q desperate outlaws, and in no case has whole nation
ayeved the purpose OF making open and deliberate war
apeA settlements.
The attacks upon isolated mil and trading stations
End emigrart trains have never, even when re-
salng in murder and piagc, shown signs Of premeda-
and preconccred plan. And when all tae circumstances
are taken into coasderationthe immense number Of
people who constantly traycrsng the praies of the
Interior their careless ungunrdcd and often provoking
bearing the natural irritation Of the Indians who attri
butte their presence the rapid dmnuon OF game and
The consequent hunger and want TO which they
jected the impossbily OF restraining them from VIC
lance under these circumstance except by the presence
Of an armed force and the numerical weakness and scat
tered condition OF arIny-the wonder is, not that
30 many but so few cases Of violence have occurred
regret 10 be obliged add TO this that reports and other
sufficient evidence to justify the belief that the mos.
ATocious cases Of murder and rapine charged TO the
account OF the Indians have, in reality, been com
mited by white men wearing the disguise Of Indians
II cannot be doubted that the horrible massacres
which have occurred during the past year the routes
leading through Utah Territory have been planned and
directed, If not actually executed by own cuzens
Still though the officers OF the army have a. all nm5s
shown the most commcndaoe vigilance and promptnass
she facilities for escape great that condyn punish
nent seldom overtakes the guilty perpetrators.
The average annual expenditure on Indian account. in
Guiding the interest stocks held in trust for the
tribes and on sums which by treaty provisions il
stipulated should be invested but which have remained
In the treasury Of the United States is 270 0s
The amount Of stock held in trust for Indian tribes b.
me Depngii%sn Of the Interior sss ~ 81 and tho
The present liabilities Of the United States to Indian
tribes funding at five per cent the perpetual annuites
payable during the pleasure OF Congress, amount 10
81 472423 So This amount is made up OF the following
Principal at FIVE per cent of permanent annutos gusran
teed by treaty ncud ing amounts which is stipulated
in the treasury, and which the United States pay
temporary annuties guaranteed by treaty,
all Of which will cease in limited period 10 POS 1886 0S
Principal, at I've per cent, OF temporary
nuites, payable during the pleasure OF
we President, or OF Congress. ,l63 400 90
%
Enorts have been made during the past year to as.
Cerain, with some approach 70 accuracy, the
per Of our Indian population. 20 FAR as the al
nuny INDIAN are CONCERNED, the required information
easily op.anea, but i almost impossible 10 ascertain
With any certainty numbers Of the migratory and rowing
tribes Of the far West IN respect these tue estimates
must be regarded az merely approx!n mate The total
number OF Indians within borders may bn sef liz I'm
n round numbers at three hundred and fifty thousand
The statistical information in The possession o ,he IN
dian Office toe cagrc ond vague enable us 10 deter
mine with precision the ratio OF incrcase or docraaao
among the aboriginal population Willie il is knorn
mat some Of the tribes are on the increase point Of
numbers, at the tmo that thoy improving in
sther respects, thus holding out gratifying pronse
1cr the future, it is equally well known tina. many
o. the hbes-the great majority, In fact-despite the
hbcraty and fathery protection Of the governmcnt tho
energy and fidelity Of their agents aud the dsintareeed
Efforts and personal sacrifices Of devoted missionaries
are rapidly on the decline. In these the consc. with
sivlzation excites i1e awakchs no new energy
and but 10