Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-12

dians have been organized a military force,
and are attached TO the army of the insurgents.
Although the government has no official infor-
nation upon the subject, letters have been writ
ten to the commissioner of Indian affairs, by
several prominent chiefs giving assurance of
their loyalty to the United States, and express
ing wish for the presence of the federal troops
to protect them. 1t is believed that upon the
re possession Of the country by the federal
forces the Indians will readily cease all hostile
demonstrations, and resume their former rea-
tions to the government.
AN AGRICULTURAL BUREAU SUGGESTED.
Agriculture, confcssedy the largest interest of
of the legislature of Colorado, which evince
the nation, has not department nor bureau,
but clerkship only assigned to it, in hs gov
ernment. While it is fortunate that this great
interest is so independent in its nature as not
TO have demanded and extorted more from the
government, | respectfully ask Congress to
consider whether something more cannot be
given voluntarily with grea, advantage. An
annual report, exhibiting the condition of our
agriculture, commerce and mdnulac ures, would
present fund of information of great practi-
cal value to the country While make no
suggestion as to details, | venture the opinion
that an agricultural and statistical bureau might
be proGtably organized.
SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
The execution of the laws for the suppress
sion of the African slave trade has been con-
fded to the department of the interior. 1t a
subject of congratulaton that the efforts which
have been made for the suppression of this in
human traffic have been recently attended with
unusual success. Five vessels being fitted out
for the slave trade have been seized and con-
demned; two mates engaged in the trade, and
one person In equipping vessel as SLAYER
have been convicted and subjected to the pen
atty of fine and imprisonment and one captain
taken with a cargo of Africans on board his
vessel, has been convicted of the highest grade
of offense under our laws, the punishment of
which is death.
THE TERRITORIES.
The territories of Colorado, Dakotah and Ne
vada, created by the last Congress have been
organized, and civil administration has been
inaugurated therein under auspices especially
gratifying when it is considered that the eaven
of treason was found existing in some of these
new countries when the federal officers arrived
there. The abundant natural resources of these
territories, with the security and protection af
forded by organized government, will doubtless
invite to them a large immigration when peace
shall restore the business of the country to its
accustomed channels. | submit the resolutions
tory. So far the authority of the United States
has been upheld in all the territories, as it is
hoped it will be in the future. ] commend their
interests and defense to the enlightened and
generous care of Congress.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
At your late session a joint resolution was
adopted, authorizing the president to take meas
ures for facilitating proper representation of
the industrial interests of the United States at
the exhibition of the industry of all nations to
be holden at London in the year 1862. | re-
gret to say have been unable to give personal
attention to this subject, subject at once so
interesting in itself, and so extensively and in
timatey connected with the material prosperity
of the world. Through the secretaries of state
and of the interior, plan or system has been
devised and partly matured which will be laid
before you.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
Under ard by virtue of the act of Congress
| entitled an act to cOntiscate property used for
insurreetory purposes. approved August 10th,
1861. the legal claims of certain persons to the
! labor and service of certain other persons have
become forfeited, and numbers of the latter
thus liberated are already dependent on the
United States and must be provided for in some
way. Besides this it is not impossible that
some of the states will pass similar enactments
for their own benefit, respectively by the oper-
alton of which persons of the same class will
be thrown upon them for disposal. In such
case | recommend that Congress provide for
accepting such persons from such states accor-
ding to some mode of valuation, in lieu, pro
tanto, OF direct taxes, or upon some other plan
| to be agreed on with such states respectively /;
| that such persons, on such acceptance by the
! general government, he at once deemed free
and that in any event steps be taken for col
onizing beth classes, or the one first mentioned,
If the other shall not be brought into existence
at some place or places in climate congenial
to them. 1t might be well to consider whether
the free colored people already in the United
States could not, so far as individuals may de-
sire, be included in such colonization. To car
! ry out the plan OF colonization may involve the
acquisition OF territory, and also the appropri-
alton Of money beyond that to be expended in
the territorial acquisition. Having practiscd
the acquisition of territory for nearly sixty
| years, the question of constitutional power to
do so is no longer an open one with us. The
former was at first questioned by Mr.. Jefferson,
who, howeve', in the purchase Of Louisiana,
| yielded his scruples on the plea of great ex-
pedlency. If it be said that the only legitimate
object of acquiring territory is to furnish homes
for white men, this measure effects that object,
for the emigration of colorcd men leaves ad-
ditional room for white men, remaining or COM
| ing here. Mr. Jefferson, however, placed the
| Importance of procuring Louisiana more on
| political and commercial grounds than on pro-
vding room for population. On the whole
| proposition, including the appropriation of
money with the acquisition of the territory
does not the expediency amount to absolute ne
cessity, that without which the government can
! not be perpetuated?
| Ibn, t., IT, Al 4