Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-12-12

annual permanent appropriation oil seven
hundred thousand dollars for the transpor-
taton of free mail matter, nine millions,
forty-nine thousand two hundred and ninety
six dollars and forty cents, being about two
per cent. less than the revenue.
For 1860, the expenditures were $13,G06,-
75O.11, showing a decrease of more than
eight per cent, as compared with those of
the present year, and leaving an excess of
expenditures over the revenue for the last
fiscal year, Of 81 ,557, ,46271. The gross
revenue for the year ending June 80, 1862,
is estimated at an increase OF four per cent.
upon that of 1861, making $s,6s3, 900, to
which should be added the earnings of the
Department in carrying free matter, viz
100000, making $9,3S3,000 The total
expenditures for 1868 are estimated at $12,-
$40 900, leaving an estimated deficiency OF
three millions one hundred and forty-fve
thousand dollars to be supplied from the
Treasury, in addition to the permanent ap-
preparation.
The present insurrcction shows, think,
that the extension of this district across the
Potomac river, at the time of establishing the
Capital here, wGs eminenty wise, and conse-
queptly that the REIMBURSEMENT of that por-
ton of it which lies within the State Of Vir-
ginia wa. unwise and dangerous. submit for
your consideration the eXpediency of regain
ing that part of the district, and the restora-
ton of the original boundaries thereof,
through negotiations with the State Of Fir-
ginia.
The report Of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, with the accompanying documents, ex-
hibits the condition of tho several branches
of the public service II 2 and 81 pertaining
to that Department The depressing inlu-
ences of the insurrection have been especially
felt in the operations of the Patent and
General Land Offices.
The cash receipts from the sales of public
lands during the past year have exceeded
the expenses Of our land system only about
two hundred thousand dollars. The sales
have been entirely 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 SER
| vice, have obstructed settlements in the new
States and Territories of the Northwest.
The receipts of the Patent Office have de-
clined in pine months about s 100, 900, rem
dering large reduction of the force en-
ployed necessary to make itself sustaining.
| The demands upon the Pension Office will
be largely increased by the insurrection, nu-
merous applications for pensions based upon
casualties of the existing war have already
been made. There is reason to believe that
many who are now upon the pension rolls
and in receipt of the bounty of the Govern
ment are in the ranks OF the insurgent army,
or giving them aid and comfort.
The Secretary of the Interior has directed
a suspension Of the payment of such per-
sons, upon proof of their disloyalty. | re-
commend that Congress authorise that Of
ficer to cause the names of such persons to
be stricken from the pension rolls. The re-
lations of the Government with the Indian
tribes have been greatly disturbed by the in
surrecton, especially in the Southern Super
intendency, and in that of New Mexico.
The Indian country south of Kansas is in
the possession of the insurgents from Texas
to Arkansas. The agents of the United
States, appointed since the 4th of March for
this superintendency, have been unable to
reach their posts, while the most of those
who were in office before that time have es-
poused the insurrcctionary cause and assumed
to exercise the powers of agents by virtue OF
commissions from the insurrectionists.
1t has been stated in the public press that
a portion of those Indians have been organ
lied as military force, and are attached to
the army of the insurgents.
Although the Government has no official
information upon this subject, letters have
been written to the Commissioner of Indian
affairs by several prominent Chiefs giving as
surances of their loyalty to the United States,
and expressing a wish for the presence Of
Federal troops to protect them. 1t is bs-
leved that upon the repossession OF the
country by the Federal forces the Indians
will readily cease all hostile demonstrations,
and resume their former relations to the
Government.
Agriculture, confcsscdly the largest inter-
est Of the nation, has not a Department nor
a Bureau, but clerkship only, assigned to
it in the Government. While it is fortunate
that this great interest is so Independent
in its nature as to not have demanded and
extorted moro from the Government, / re-
spectfully ask Congress to consider whether
| something more cannot be given voluntarily
with general advantage.
Annual reports exhibiting the condition
cf our agriculture, commerce, and manusac-
lures would present a fund OF Information
Of great practical value to the country
While / make no suggestion as to details, ]
venture the opinion that an Agricultural and
Statistical Bureau might profitaby be organ
ized.
The execution Of the laws for tho sup
preston of the African slave trade has beer
conHded to the Department Of the Interior
1t is a subject of graduation that the ef-
forts which have been made for the suppress
sion of this inhuman traffic havo been re.
Gently attended with unusual success. Five
vessels being fitted out for the slave trade
have been seized and condemned. Two
mates of vessels engaged in the trade ant
one person in equipping a vessel as a savoi
have been convicted and subjected to fine ant
imprisonment; and one captain taken will
a cargo of Africans on board his vessel, ha.
been convicted of the highest grade of Of
fence under our laws-the punishment o
which is death.
The Territories OF Colorado, Dacota ant
Nevada created by tine last Congress have
been organized and civil administration ha
been inaugurated therein under auspices es
pccially gratifying when it is considered tina
the leaven of treason was found existing il
some of these new countries when the Fede
raj officers arrived there. The abundan
natural resources of these territories, witt
the security and protection afforded BY or
papiZed Government, will doubtless invite tC