Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-12-04

of Virginia.
The report of the Secretary OF the lnte-
rior. with the accompanying document
exhibits the condition of the several branch
es of the public business pertaining 10 tnat
department. The depressing influences OF
the ipsurrection have been especially felt IN
the operations of the Patent and General
Land Office. The cash receipts from the
sales of nul,Iic lands during the last year
have exceeded the expenses OIL our iano
system only about $2OO,OO0: The sales
have been entirely suspended Id the South
en States. while the Interruptions In the
business of the country, and the diversion
of large numbers of men from labor to mill
tarv services. have obstructed settlements
in the new States and Territories OF the
Northwest
The receipts of the Patent Office have
declined in nine months about Sl0O,O00-
rendering large reduction OF the force en-
Moved necessary to make it self-sustaining.
The demands upon the PENSION ofhce
will be largely increased by the nsurrec-
zion Numerous application for pensions,
based upon the casualties OF the existing
wa. have already been made. There is
reason to believe that many who are now
upon tine pension roll, and in receipt of the
bounty OF the Government are In the ranks
of the insurgent army, or giving them aid
and comfort. The Secretary OF the lnte-
rior has directed the suspension OF the pay
ment of the pensions of such people, on
proof of their disloyaity. | recommend
that Congress authorize that officer to cause
the names of such persons to be stricken
from the pension list.
The relations of the Government with
the Indian tribes have been lately disturbed
bv the instruction, especially in the north
ern superintendency and in that OF New
Mexico. The Indian country south OF
Kansas is in the possession OF the insur-
gents from Texas and Arkansas. The
agents of the United States, appointed
since the 4th of March, for this superln-
tendency, have been unable to reach their
posts, while the most of those who were III
office before that time have espoused the
insurrectionary cause and assumed to exer'
else the power of agents by virtue OF com
missioners from the insurrectionists.
1t has been stated in the public press
that portion of these Indians have 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 In
dian Affairs by several prominent chiefs
giving assurances of their loyalty to the
United States, and expressing the wish ttoi
the presence of the federal troops to pro
tect them. 1t is believed that on the re-
possession of the country by the fedora
forces the Indians will readily cease al
hostile demonstrations, and resume then
former relations to the government.
Agriculture, confessedly the largest III
terest of the nation, has not department
or a bureau, but a clerkship only, assigned
to it in the government While 1t IS Tor
tunate that this great interest is so lnde
pendent in its na ture as to not have de
manded and extc,rted more from the gov
eminent, / resp ectfully ask Congress Il
consider whether something more canno
be given voluntar lily with general advan
tage.
Annual reports exhibiting the condition
features, would present a fund Of inf0iraiini;ai
ton of great practical value to the coun
try. While l make no suggestion as Il
details, venture the opinion that an agri
cultural and statistical bureau might prop
erly be organized.
The execution of the laws for the sup
preston of the African slave trade has
been confined to the Department of til,
Interior. 1t is a subject af cOngratulatiol
that the efforts which have been made fo
the suppression of this inhumau traffic, hav,
recently been attended with unusual SUI
cess. Five vessels being fitted out for tn,
slave trade have been seized and con
demned. Two masters engaged in the
trade and one person equipping the vesse
as SLAYER, have been convicted and sub
jected to the penalty Of fine and imprison
ment; and one Captain, taking up a caret
of Africans on board his vessel, has been
convicted of the highest grade of offence
under our laws, the punishment of which il
death.
The territories of Colorado, Dakotah and
Nevada, created by the last Congress, have
been organized, and civil administration has
been inaugurated there under auspices es.
pecially gratifying, when it is considered
that the leaven Of treason was found exist
ing 10 some OF these new countries when the
federal officers arrived there. The abund
ant natural resources OF these territories
with the security and protection afforded by
organized governments, will doubtless invite
to them large immigration, when peace
restores the business of the country to its &C
customed channels.
j submit the resolutions of the Legisla
ture of Colorado, which evince the patriot
ic spirit of the people OF the Territory
So far, the authority OF the United States
has been upheld in all the territories, as il
is hoped it will be in the future. commend
their interests and defence to the enlightened
and generous care of Congress.
recommend to the favorable considera-
ton of Congress, the interests of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The insurrection has
been the cause of much suffering and sac.
rifice to the inhabitants, and as they have
no representative in Congress, that body
should not overlook their just claims upon
the Government.
At your last session a joint resolution
was adopted, authorizing the President
to take measures for facilitating q proper
representation of the Industrial interests of
the United States, at the exhibition of III
dustry of all nations, to be holden at Lon.
don, in the year 1862. 1 regret to have
been unable to give personal attention TO
this subject, a subject at once so interest
ing in itself, and so extensively and intri-
cately connected with the material prosper
ity of the world. Through the Secretaries
of the State and Interior, pls.n or system
has been devised, and partly natured, which
will be laid before you. t. s:a
Under and by virtue of the act of Congress.
entitled "An act to coniscatf. property used