Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-12-04

for the purpose of simplifying the rates of
foreign mails This proposition, equally |
important 60. our .sdopted scitizens, aud to
the commercial interest of this country has
been favorably entertained, and agreed
to, by all the governments from whom re-
plies have been received.
I ask the attention Of Congress to the |
suggestions Of the Postmaster General In |
his report respecting the further legislation
in his opinion, for the benefit Of
the postal service.
The Secretary Of the Interior reports as
follows iu rcgrd to the public lands:
'"rhe public lands have ceased to be
source of revenue. From the lst July,
1861, to the 3Qth September, 1862 the en-.
tire cash receipts from the sale lands were
$l37, ,476 26-a:sum much less than the
expense, Of our land system during the
same period. The homestead law, which
will take effect on the LIST of January next,
offers snch Inducements to settlers, ;that
sales for cash cannot be expected, to an
extent sufficient to meet the expense of the
General Land O.hccr, aud the cost Of sur
veying and bringing the land into market" "
The Discrepancy between the sum here
stated as arising from the sales ofthe pub
lie lands, aud he sim derivel from the same
source as reported from the Treasury De.
partment arises, as unedrstand, from the
fact that the periods Of time, though appar-
emily, were not really, coincident at the
beginning point-the Treasury reports in.
clu1ing a considerable sum now, which had
previously been reported from the Interior
sufficiently large to greatly overreach tho
sum derived froni1 the three months now
reported upon by the L.terior, and not by
the Treasury.
The Indian tribes upon our frontiers
have, during the past year, manifested a
spirit of finsubordination, at several points
have engaged in open hostiities against the
white settlements in tn cir vicinity. The
tribos occupying the Indian country sonth
OF Kansas, renounced their allegiance to the
United Staths, aud entered into treaties
wiCh the insurgents. Those who remain
the country The chief OF the Cherokoes
has visited this city for the parp5s Of
restoring the former relations of the tribe
they were constrained, BY superior force,
to enter into treaties with tho insurgents,
and that the United States neglected to
furnish the protection which their treaty
stipulations required.
In the month of August last the Sioux
Indians in Minnesota, attacked the settle.
mcnts in their vicinity with extreme ferocity.
killing, unfortunately, men, women, and
children This attack was wholly unexpect
ed, and, therefore, no means Of defense had
been provided. II is estimated that not less
than eight hundred persons we're killed by
the Indians, and large amount of property
was destroyed How this outbrak was indu.
ced is not definitely known, and suspicious,
which may be unjust, need not to be stated
Information was received by the Indian bu
reau, from different sources, about the time
hostilites were commenced that q simultane
Gus attack was to be made upon the white
settlements by all tho tribes between the
Mississippi river and tho Rocky mountains
The State Of Minnesota has suffered grea,
injury from this Indian war. A large por
tion Of her territory has been dopopulated
and severe loss has been sustained by the
destruction Of property. The people ,o
that State manifest much anxiety for the re
moval Of the tribes beyond the limits o
the State as q guarantee against future hos
tiIities. The Commissioners OF Indian Af
fairs will furnish full details. l submit fol
your especial consideration whether our In
dun system shall not be remodeled. Many
wise and good men have impressed me will
the belief that this can be proGtably done
l submit a statement of the proceeding
Of commissioners, which shows the progress
that has been made in the enterprise otcon
structing of tho Pacific Railroad. And th
suggests the earliest completion of this road
and also the favorable action of Congress
upon the projects now pending before then
for enlarging the capacities of the great can
ais in New York and Illinois, as being o
vital, and rapidly increasing importance t,
the whole nation, and especially to tn,
vast interior region hereinafter to be no
ticed at some greater length. propose hav
ing prepared and laid before you at an ear
day some interesting &.valuable statistical in
formation upon this subject. The military
and commercial Importance of enlargng tn,
Illinois and Michigan canal, and inpi ov hl
the IlliEo river, is presented in the repor
Of Colonel Webster to the Secretary of War
and now transmitted to Congress | re
spectfully ask attention to it.
The creation of this department was for
the more immediate benefits of large elias.
Of our most valuable citizens; and [ trust
that the liberal basis upon which it has beer
organized will not only meet your appro
1 baton, but that it will realize, at no distant
day, all tho fondest anticipatiOns of its mos
sanguine friends, and become the fruitfu
source of advantage to oil our people. .|
To carry out the provisions of the act OF
Congress of the 18th Of May last, |" havc
caused the Department Of Agriculture Of
tho United States to be organized.
The Commissioner informs me that within
the period of few months this department
has established an extensive system of cor
respondence and exchanges, both at home