Indiana State sentinel., 1861-12-04


Court, reserving the right of appeal on questions
Of law To the Supreme Conrt, with such other
provisions experience may have shown 10 be
necesaAry.
I ask attention 10 the report of the Postmaster
General. the following being summary state
ment of the condition of the Department: The
revenue from all sources during the fiscal
year ending the 30th of June. 1861, in
Guiding the annual permanent appropriation OF
100000 dollars for the transportation
OF free mail matter was So ,049 ,296 40, being
about two per cent less than the revenue of 1860.
The expenditures were Sl3. SOC, ,709 IL. showing
a decrease of more than eight per cent. as com
pared with those of the previous year, and Ieav-
ing an excess of expenditures over the revenue
for the last fiscal year ..of over 1851 .462 IL.
The gross revenue for the year ending June
3Oth, 1868, is estimated at an increase of
four per cent. on that of 1861, making $S.6S3,-
900, to which should be added the earnings of
the department for carrying free matter. viz:
500, 1000, making $685. .000 The total expen-
ditures for 1853 are estimated at Sl2 .5S2, 200,
leaving estimated deficiency of S3.345, 900, to
be supplied from the Treasury, in addition to the
permanent appropriation.
The present insurrection shows, i think that
the extension of this District across the Potomac
river at the time Of establishing the Capital here,
was eminently wise, and consequently that the re-
lnqushment of that portion OF il which lies in the
State OF Virginia, was unwise and dangerous. /
submit for your consideration the expediency of
regainng that part of the District and the restora-
ton Of the original boundaries thereof through
negotiations with the State of Virginia.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
with the accompanying documents, exhibit the
condition of the several branches OF the public
business pertaining to that Department. The de
pressing influences OF the insurrectlon have been
especially felt in the operations of the Patent and
General Land Office The cash receipts from
the sales of public lands during tile last year
have exceeded the expenses Of our land sys.
TEN only about two hundred million dollars.
The sales have been entirely suspended in
the Southern States, while the interruptions to
tie business of the country and the diversion
of large numbers of men from labor to military
service have obstructed settlements in the
new States and Territories Of the North west.
The receipts OF the Patent Office have declined
in nine months abou. 100 900 dollars, rendering
large reduction of the force employed necessary
10 make it self sustaining. The demands upon
the Pension Office will be largely increased
by 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 roll, and in receipt of the bounty OF
the Government. are in the ranks of the insur-
gent army, or giving them aid and comfort. The
Secretary of the Interior has directed the suspen-
sion OF the payment of the pension of such per-
sons upon proof of their disloyalty. ] recon-
mend 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 disturbed
by the insurrection, and especially in the
/ Mort In. .f
Mexico. The Indian couHry south of Kansas
is in possession of insurgents from Texas and
Arkansas. The agents of the United States ap-
pointed since the 4th OF March for this Superin-
tendency have been unable to reach their posts,
while the most of those who were in office before
that time have espoused the insurrectionary
cause and claim TO exercise the powers oi
agents by virtue of commissions from the
insurectionists. 1t has been stated in the p;ibc
press that portion of these Indians have been
organized as a military force, and are attached
to the army of the insurgents; although the gov
ernment has no official information upon the
subject. Letters have been written to the
commissioners of Indian affairs by several
prominent Chiefs giving assurance of their loyalty
to the United States, and expressing the wish for
the presence of the Federal troops 10 protect
them. 1t is believed that on the repossession OF
the country by the Federal forces, the Indians
will readily cease their hostile demonstrations
and resume their former relations to the Gov
ernment.
Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest Of
the nation, has not a department or a Bureau
but cerkship only assigned to it in the Gov
ernment While it is fortunate that this great
interest is 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 general advantage. An
nual reports exhibiting the condition of our agri
culture, commerce and manufactures would pre-
sent fund of information of great practical
value to the country. While | make no sugges-
ton as to details, | venture the opinion that an
| Agricultural or Statistical Bureau might
probably be organized. The execution of the
laws for the suppression of the African Slave
trade has been confined TO the department oil
the Interior. 1t is subject of cdngratuatioi
withal the efforts which have been made for the
suppression of this inhuman traffic have re-
Gently been attended with unusual success
Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade
have been seized and condemned. Two masters
engaged in the trade and one person equippng
the vessel as slaver have been convicted and sub
jected to the penalty of fine and imprison nent
and one captain taking up cargo of Africans or
board his vessel has been convicted of the high
est grade OF offence under our laws, the punish
ment of which is death.
The territories Colorado, Dakotah and Neva
da, created by the last Congress, have been or
ganized, and civil administration has beer
inaugurated therein, under auspices especially
gratifying, when it is considered that the
leaven of treason was found existing in
some of these new countries when the fedora
officers arrived there. The abundant natural
resources of these Territories, with the security
and protection afforded by organized government
will doubtless invite to them large immigration
when peace shall restore the business of the
country to its accustomed channels.
! submit the resolutions of the Legislature o.
Colorado, which evince the patriotic spirit o.
the people of the Territory. So far the Unitet
States authority has been upheld in the Territories
as it is hoped it will be in the future. | com
mend their interests and defense to the enlight
ened and generous care OF Congress i recon
mend 10 the favorable consideration of Congress
the interests of the District of Columbia. The
insurrection has been the cause of much suffering
and sacrifice to the inhabitants and as they have
no representative in Congress, that body shoulc
not overlook their just claims upon the govern
ment. At your late session q joint resolution wa:
adopted authorizing the President to take measure.
for facilitating proper representation of the in
dustrial interests of the United States mt the ex
hbiton of the industry OF all nations, to be hold
en- at Londen in the year 1862 / regret to have
been unable to give personal attention to thi:
subject, su' ;ject at once SO interesting in itse
and so extensively and intrinsically connectes
with the material prosperity of the world
! Through the Secretaries of State and Interior
| plan or system has been devised and partly ma
tuIed which will be laid before you.
Under, and by virtue of the act of Congress:
entitled an act to confscate property used for in
surrectonary purposes, approved August 9th
1861, legal claims of certain persons to the la
Dor and service of certain other persons have
become forfeited, and numbers Of the latter thus
liberated are already dependent upon the Unitet
States, and must be provided for in some wa,
besides this. 1t is possible that some of tns
States will pass similar enactments fol