Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-02

Yious year was 81 ,55l, 966.9S. For the last
fiscal year it was reduced to 81, liz, Sl4.57.
These favorable results are in part owing to
the cessation of mail service in the insurrec-
tionary states, and in part to a careful review
of all expenditures in the department. in the
interest of economy. The efficiency of the
postal service, it Is believed, has also been
much improved. The postmaster general
also opened correspondence, through the
department Of state, with foreign govern
ments, proposing convention of postal rep
reSentatives, for the purpose of simplifying
the rates of foreign postage, and to expedite
the foreign mails. This proposition, equally
important to our adopted citizens and to the
commercial interests of this country, has been
fayorably entertained and agreed to by all the
governments from whom replies have been
received | ask the attention of congress to
the suggestions of the postmaster general in
his report respecting the further legislation
| required, in his opinion, for the benefit of the
postal service.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The secretary of the interior reports as fol-
lows in regard to the public lands 1.-THE
| public lands have ceased to be source OF
revenue. From the LIST of July 1861 to Both
| September 1862 the entire cash receipts from
the sale of lands were Sl37, 476 26, a sum
much less than the expenses of our land sys-
| tenn during the same period. The homestead
| law which will take effect on the LIST of Janu-
| airy next, offers such inducements to set
| tiers that sales for cash cannot be expect
| cd to an extent sufficient to meet the
| expenses of the United States general land
| office, and the cost of surveying and bringing
the land into market. The discrepancy be-
tween the sum he gives as arising from sales
| of public lands, and the sum derived from the
same source as reported from the treasury
| department, arises as | understand, from the
fact that the periods of time, though apparent
| ly so, were not really coincident at the begin
ming point, the treasury report including
considerable sum now, which had previously
been reported from the interior department,
sufficiently large to greatly overreach the sum
derived from the three months more reported
upon by the interior, and not by the treasury
| THE INDIAN HoSTILTIES.
The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have,
| during the past year, manifested spirit OF
characterization, and at several points, have
engaged in open hostllties on the white set
Elements in their vicinity. The tribes occupy
| ing the Indian country south of Kansas, re-
nounced their allegiance to the United States
and entered into treaties with the insurgents.
| Those who remained loyal to the United
| States, were driven from the country. The
the purpose Of restoring the former relations
of the tribe with the United States. He al
leges that they were constrained by superior
force to enter into treaties with the insurgents,
| and that the United States neglected to fur
nish the protection which their treaty stipula-
! lions required.
In the month of August last the Sioux In
dams attacked the settlements in their yicini-
| ty with extreme feroclty, killing indiscrimi-
| nately men, women and children. This at
tack was wholly unexpected, and therefore no
means of defence had been provided. 1t is
| estimated that no less than eight hundredper-
sons were killed by the Indians, aud large
amount of property was destroyed How this
outbreak was induced is not definitely known,
and suspicious, which may be unjust, need not
TO be stated. Information was received by the
Indian bureau, from different sources, about
the time hostilities were commenced, that a
| simultaneous attack was to be made upon the
| white settlements by all the tribes between the
Mississippi river and the Rocky Mountains.
The state of Minnesota has suffered great
injury from this Indian war. A large portion
OF her territory has been depopuldted, and a
severe loss has been sustained by the destruc-
ton of properly. The people of the state
manifest much anxiety for the removal Of the
| tribes beyond the limits of the state as
| guarantee against future hOsulities. The
commissioner of Indian affairs will furnish
full details l submit for your especial con-
sideration whether our Indian system shall
not beremodeed. Many wise and good men
have been impressed with the belief that it
can be proftably done.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
| submit statement Of the proceedings of
the commissioners which shows the progress
that has been made in the enterprise of con.
structing the Pacific railroad; and this sug-
gestS the earliest completion of the road and
also the favorable action OF congress upon
the projects now pending before them for en-
larging the capacities OF the great canals in
New York and Illinois, as being of vital and
rapidly increasing importance to the whole
nation. and especially to the vast interior re-
giOn hereinafter to be noticed at some greater
length. l propose having prepared and laid
before you at an early day, some interesting
and valuable statistical information upon this
subject The military and commercial inn
portance of enlarging the Illinois and Michi-
gan canal and improving the Illinois river is
presented in the report Of Col. Webster to the
| secretary of war, and now transmitted to con-
gress. l respectfully ask attention toit.
THE BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE.
To carry out the provisions OF the act of
congress Of the 10Th of May last, | have
caused the department of agriculture OF the
| United States to be organized The commits
soners inform me that within the period of a
few months this department has established an
extensive system of correspondence and ex-
changes, both at home and abroad, which
promises to effect highly beneficial results in
the development Of a correct knowledge of
recent Improvements in agriculture, in the
introduction Of new products, and in the col
lection of the agricultural statistics of the
different states; also, that it will soon be pre-
pared to distribute largely seeds, cereals,
plants, and cuttings, and has already pub
lished and literally ditfused much valuable
information in anticipation of more elaho-
rate repOrt which will in due time be furnished,
embracing some valuable tests in chemical
science now in progress in the laboratory.
The creation OF this department was for the
more immediate benefit of IL large class OF our
most valuable citizens, and trust the liberal
basis upon which il has been organized will
realize at no distant day all the tondest antiCi-
patton Of its most sanguine friends, and be-
come the fruitful source of advantage to all
our people.
THE EMANCIPATION QUESTION.
On the 22d day Of September last a pro-
clamation was issued by the executive, copy
Of which is herewith submitted. In accord
ance with the purpose expressed in the sec
ond paragraph Of that proclamation, now
respectfully call your attention to what may
be called compensated emancipation" 4
nation may be said to consist of its territory,
its people, and its laws. The territory is the
only mart which is of rartuin durahil;+,, nno