The Portland daily press., 1862-12-02

/
the Interior, sufficiently large to overreach the
sum derived from the three months now report
| ed upon by the Interior, aud not by the Treas
ury.
! INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have,
during the past year, manifested spirit of in
! subordination, and at several points have en-
| gagged in open hostilities against the white
settlements in their vicinity. The tribes oc-
cupyng the Indian country south of Kansas
/ renounced their allegiance to the United States
| government, and entered into treaties with
the insurgents. Those who remained loyal to
| the United States government were driven
from the country.
The Chief of the Cherokees has visited this
city for the purpose OF restoring the former
| relations of the tribe with the United States
4 He alleges that they were constrained by a
superior force to enter into treaties with the
| insurgents, and that the United States neg
ected TO furnish the protection which their
treaty stipuations required.
In the month of August last the Sioux In
dlans in Minnesota attacked the settlements
in their vicinity with extreme terocity. killing
| lndlscrlmlnately men, women, and children.
This attack was wholly unexpected and there
! fore, no means of defence had been provided.
| 1t Is estimated that no less than 800 persons
| were killed by the Indians, and a large amount
| of property was destroyed. How the out
break 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 hostities were commenced,
that simultaneous attack was to be made
| upon the white settlements, by all the tribes
| between the Missouri river and the Rocky
| Mountains.
The State of Minnesota has suffered great
! injury from this Indian war. A large portion
81 l..s,@ T. -.
| severe loss has been sustained by tho destruc-
ton of property. The people of that State
manifest much anxiety for the removal of the
tribes beyond the limits of the State, ,as guar
antee against future hostilities The Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs will furnish full de-
tails.
| submit for your special consideration
whether our Indian systems shall not be re-
modelled. Many wise and good men are i'm
pressed with the belief that they can be profit
ably done.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
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
projects pending before them, for enlarging
the capacities of the great canals in New York
creasing Importance to the whole nation, and
especially TO the vast interior region hereinaf-
ter to be noticed ut some greater length l
purpose having prepared and laid before YOU
at All early day. some interesting and valuable
statistical information upon this subject.
The Military and Commercial importance of
enlarging the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and
improving the Illinois river is presented in
the report of Col Webster to the Secretary OF
War and now transmitted to Congress, i re-
spectlully ask attention TO it.
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
To carry out the provisions of the act of
Congress of the 18th of May last have caus-
ed the department of agriculture of the Unit
ed States to be organized The commissioners
inform me that within the period of a few
months this department has established an ex-
tensive system of correspondence and ex-
changes, both at home and abroad, which
promises to effect highly beneficial results in
the development OF correct knowledge of
recent improvements in agriculture, i'm the in
PRODUCTION of new products, and in the collec-
ton of the agricultural statistics of the differ
ent States, and will soon be prepared to dis
tribute large seeds, cereals, plants and cuttings
and has already published and literally diffus-
ed much valuable information, in anticipation
of more elaborate report which will in due
time be furnished, embracing some valuable
ISSlo III tHtAHSdl sticiCc UOW III pTogTtsS III
the laboratory. The action of this depart
ment was for the more immediate benefit of a
large class of our most valuable citizens, and
trust that the liberal basis upon which it has
been organized will not only meet your appro-
baton, but that it will realize at no distant
day all the fondest anticpations of its most
sanguine fiiends,and become the fruitful source
of advantage to all our people.
THE PROCLAMATION.
On the 22d day of September last procla-
nation was issued by the Executive, copy of
which is herewith submitted In accordance
with the purpose expressed in the second par
agraph of that paper, l now respectfully recall
your attention to what may be called compen-
sated emancipation. A nation may be said to
consist of its territory, its people and its laws.
The territory is the only part which is of GER
tain durability. "One generation passeth away
and another generation cometh, but the earth
abideth forever"
THE EMANCIPATION QUESTION.
1t is OF the first Importance of duty to con-
slider and estimate this ever enduring part OF
the earths su. face, which is owned and inhab-
tied by the people of the United States, as
well adapted to be the home of the national
family, and it is not well adapted for two or
more. Its vast extent and its variety of eli
mate and productions are of advantage in the
have been in former ages, steam and telegraph
in intelligence have brought these TO be an
advantageous combination for one united peo-
pie. In the inaugural address | briefly point
ed out the total inadeouacy of disunion as Il
remedy for the differences between the people
of the two sections. l did so in language
which l cannot improve, and which, therefore
beg TO repeat.
One section OF our country believes slavery
is right aud ought to be extended while the
other believes it is wrong and ought not to be
extended This is the only substantial dispute
The fugitive slave clause of the constitution,
and the law for the suppression of the African
slave trade, are each as well enforced perhaps,
as any law ever can be, in community where
the moral sense Of the people imperectly snp-
ports the law itself The real body of the peo-
pie abide by the legal obligation in both cases,
while a few break over in each. This, l think,
cannot be perfectly cured, and it would be
worse in both cases alter the separation of the
sections than before; the foreign slave trade
now imperiectly suppressed, would be ulti-
mately revived without restriction, in Que sec
ton, while fugitive slaves, now only partially
surrendered, would not be surrendered at all
by the other.
Physically speaking, we cannot separate
We cannot remove our respective sections
from each other nor build an impossible wall
between, more than husband and wife may
be divorced and go out of the presence and
beyond the reach of each other. But the dit
ferent parts OF our country cannot do this;
they cannot but remain face to face, and inter
course, either amicable or hostile, must con-
tinue between them. Is it possible, then, to