Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-04

be an effective and valuable means OF in
'vestieation. it in a great degree fails to et-
feet the object of its creation, for want OF
power TO make its judgments hnsl. kql-
~ aware of the delicacy, not to say the
danger of the subject, comment to your
ccreful consideration whether this power
of making Judgments maj may p9l gs
given to the Court reserYing ln9 FtSus
Of appeal on questions OF law in the Su-
preme Cont, With such other provisions
as experience may have shown to be ne
CessAry. / ask attention to the Report of
the Post Master General, the following be-
ing a summary statement of the condition
ofthe Department. The revenue from all
sources during the fiscal year ending s0th
/ June 1861 including the annual permanent
appropriation of 100000 for the. trans
| p Jrtatiou offree mail matter, was SO, 049,-
296, 40, being about two per cent less than
the revenue of 1860. The expenditures
wesO Sls, sos, 7Oe,ll, showing a decrease
of more than eight per cent, as compared
with those of the proceeding year and teaE-
! ing an excess ofexpendttures over the rev
enne for the last fiscal year of over So
1921. rs "a.
The gross revenue for the year ending
| June 30th, 1868, is estimated at anincrease
of per cent. on that of 1861, making
b$s, 6s3, 900 to which should be added the
itearniurs of the department for carrying
free matter, via; 100000, making Ss, S52,'
600.
The total expenditures for 1868 are es-
itimated at ST., 1893, 600, leaving au estt-
mated deficiency of 50, 345,o0o to be sup-
Eplied from the Treasury, in addition to the
permanent appropriation.
The present insnrreetion shows, think,
that the extension OF this District acroSs
3 u. 81, IF
tlishing the Capital here, was emlnently
wise, and consequently that the relinquish-
Fment of that portion of it which lies IN
title State of Virginia, WIS unwise and
dangerous.
sabmit for your consideration the ex-
Ipediency of regainiug that part of the Dis
| :rict of Columbia aud the restoration of
the original boundaries thereof, through
negotiations with the state of Virginia.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte-
/ rior, with the accompanying documents, ex-
Ehibit the condition of the several branches
of the public, business, pertaining to that
iIdepai tment The depressing influences OF
the insurrection have been especially felt
lin the operations Of the Patenta and Gener.
faI Land Office.
The cash receipts from the sales of pub
ilic lands during the last year have exceed-
ell the expenses of our land system only
about 5000 900. The sales have been en-
tirely suspended in the Southern States,
! while the interruptions to the business of
the country and the diversion of large
numbers of men from labor to military
service have DISTRACTED settlements in the
new States and Territories of the North
west
The receipts of the patent Office have
declined in nine months, about 100000,
rendering a large reduction of the force
employed necessary to make it self sustai-
i ming The demand upon the pension Office
I will belargely increase BIZ the insurrection.
! Numerous applications for pensions, based
upon the, casualties of the existing war
] have already been made.
! There is reason to believe that many who
are now upon the pension roil and in re-
ceipt of the bounty of the government, are
in the ranks of tho insurgent army or Civ
ing aid and comfort, The Secretary of the
( Interior has directed the suspension of the
payment of the pension of such persons
upon proof of their disloyalty.
I / recommend that Congress authorize
+ that officer to cause the names of such
persons TO be stricken from the pension
rolls.
The relations of the Government with
the Indian tribes have been lately dis
tnrbed by the insprrection-especi in
the Northern Superintendency and in that
( of New Mexico.
( The Indian country south of Kansas is
| in possession of the insurgents from Texas
1 and Arkansas. The agents of the United
/ States appointed since the 4th OF March for
, this snpeFintendency hkve been unable to
reach their posts. while tue most Of those
who were in office before that time have
espoused the insurrectionary cause, and
armed to exercise the power of agents by
virtue Of missions from the insur-
gents.
that a portion of these Indians nave been
organized as a military force and are at
tached TO the army of the insurgents; al
though the government has no official in
formation upon the subject. Letters have
been written TO the Commissioner of 1ndi-
nm Affairs by several prominent Chiefs gi-
wing assurance of their loyalty to the Uni-
ted States, aud expressing the wish for the
presence Of the Federal troops TO protect
them.
1 Ii is believed that on the re-possessiou
of the country by the Federal forces the
Indians will readily cease the hostile dem
constructions and resume their former rela-
tions TO the Government. Agriculture,
gcon[essedly the largest interest of the ma
tom mas not uSP't1snsu. ~ va. :" W go ~
but clerkship assigned to it in tue Gov
ernmeur While il is fortunate that this
great interest is so independent in its ia.
ture as not 10 have demanded and
rcceivedmore from tue Government.
respectfully ask Congress to consider
whether something more cAunot be given
Voluntarily with general advantage. AN
nual reports exhibiting the condition of our
agricultural commerce and manufactures,
would present fund of Information of
great practical value to the country.
/. While / make no suggestion as to de-
4 tails, venture the opinion that an agrl-
cultural and statistical bureau mightipro-
I ftably be organized. l.-5=