Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-09

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ment Of their annuities has been suspended.
The tribes upon the Pacific slope of the
Rocky Mountains have manifested turbulent
spirit, but have committed no acts Of violence
With vigilance on the part Of the agents it is
hoped they may be restrained from depreda-
tions upon the white settlers, and be gradually
brought under the control Of the laws of the
United States.
Much trouble has been experienced in New
Mexico from depredations Committed by some
Of the tribes in that Territory The with
drawal of the troops of the United States has
encouraged them to acts of violence, while the
active interference of disloyal persons from
Texas has induced them to disregard the laws
and authority of the Government The pre-
sence of military force in that Territory il
indispensable to preserve the peace and cause
the Indians to respect the laws.
PATENT OFFICE.
No branch of the public service connected
with this Department has been so much af.
fected by the insurrection of the Southern
States as that Of the Patent Office.
The receipts of the Office from January Isl
to September 30th, 1851, were SIO2 sos. Is:
and the expenditures were $I85, ,594 O5, show.
ing an excess of expenditures over receipts Of
$32, 1857.
.I During ing the corresponding period of the last
year the receipts were S197, ,348. 40, being
S94, $40 y more than the receipts for the same
part of this year. During the same period
1914 applications for patents and SIG caveats
have been filed, 2, ,58l patents have been issued
and ID patents have been extended.
To meet this deficiency in the income of the
otice the Commissioner, with the concurrence
OF the Department, has reduced the clerical
force by the discharge of thirty of the en-
mainder in order to lessen their compensation.
By this reduction it is believed by the Com.
missioner that the expenditures will be brought
within the receipts.
PENSION OFFICE.
The casualties of the conflict in which the
Government is now engaged will increase the
list OF pensioners very largely. The amount
OF increase cannot be estimated, as it will
depend upon the duration of the war. The
large amount of business which will necessarily
be thrown upon the Office from this cause will
render an increase Of the clerical force en-
ployed indispensable.
The Commissioner Of Pensions, with the
concurrence of the Department, has construed
the pension laws now in force as authorizing
the granting of pensions to invalids and the
widows and children of deceased soldiers who
have been killed or wounded In the existinU
insurrection. If this construction of the laws
should be deemed improper the corrective is
with Congress
1t has been aseertained that many of those
who have been placed upon the pension rolls
In the insurrectionary States have attached
themselves to the rebel cause, and have taken
up arms against the Government. Secretary
Smith deemed 1t his duty in all such cases to
direct suspension of the payment of the pen
sions awarded to them. He has also directed
suspension Of payment to all pensioners in
any OF the States who have liz any manner
encouraged the rebels, or manifested q sympa-
thy with their cause.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
1t no gratifying 70 know that unprecedented
success has crowned the efforts of the past few
months for the suppression of the African slave
uaae. rive vessels have been seized. tried
and condemned by the courts. One SLAYER has
been seized on the coast of Africa, with about
nine hundred negroes on board, who were con-
yeyed to the republic of Liberia. One person
las been convicted at New York as the captain
OF SLAYER, having on board eight hundred
captives, and two others mates Of a different
Vessel), and another one at Boston for fitting
out vessel for the slave trade. In the first
named case the penalty is death; in the others
1t is fne and imprisonment. Hitherto conyic-
tlons under the law prohibiting the African
slave trade have been very rare This is prob
ably the largest number ever obtained, and
certainly the only ones for many years. 1t is
believed that the aforementioned case is the
only one involving capital punishment in
which conviction has been effected. The full
execution Of the law in these instances will no
doubt have most salutsry influence in deter
ing others from the commission of like Offenses.
number of other indictments have been
found, which are yet to be tried
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
The Metropolitan police, authorized by an
act of Congress of August 6, 1861, has been or
gantzed in accordance with the provisions of
the law. The report of the board is herewith
presented. They recommend several amend.
ments to the law, and an increase of sompen-
satiOn with an additional number of officers.
The organization has been so recently effected
that time has not been given to fairly test the
suthciency Of the force employed, or the wis
dom of the several provisions of the law. The
views Of the board are fully explained in their
report, and the whole subject should be re-
deem proper.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
Since the institution was opened, in 1855,
439 persons have been treated The number
Of patients in the house on the Both June, 1861
was l80, classified as follows From the army
25; from the navy, II; from the revenue cutter
service, L; from civil life, males II and fe-
males u.
OF the inmates during the last fiscal year, I9
died, So were discharged, of whom Is had SO
far improved that they could be safely re.
moved, and 48 were completely recovered
The large proportion Of patients who were dis
charged as recovered, (which was fifty per
centum Of the admisSions,) furnishes ample
evidence of the skill and care Of the treatment
observed.
The existing insurrection has thrown upon
this institution largely increased burdens and
responsibilities. During the first quarter Of
the current fiscal year, the admissions from the
army and navy have been equal to four -fifths
OF the whole number of all classes admitted
during the previous year. But in addition to
the duties imposed upon him by law, DIR.
Nichols has generously, with the appreciation
Of this department, appropriated portion Of
the building, with the services of himself and
his assistant, for the accommodation of the
sick and wounded of the Potomac and Chesa-
peske fleets.
As many as fifty persons Of this class have
been under treatment at one time.
COLUMBIAN INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND
DUMB AND THE BLIND.
This institution was organized in 1857. The
number of pupils at the close of the first year
was but seventeen. At the close of the last
fiscal year the number was thirty-fve The
whole resources Of the Institution amount to
but $8,1I6. l9, Of which 81, ,425. "a was appro-
priated By Congress. With such limited means
but small results could be expected; but from
the great liberality Of the Hon. Amos Ken
dali, president Of the board Of directors, and
his watoh hful cara of tha intaresta of the In att