The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-05

Notwithstanding the cessation OF revenue
from the so.called seeded States during the
last fiscal year, the increase OF the correspond
ence Of the loyal States has been sufficient to
produce . revenue during the same year OF
Ss.299.s20. being only $4,000 less than was
derived from all the States Of the Union dur.
ing the previous year.
The expenditures show . still more favora.
BILE result. The amount expended In 1861
was si3.606.759 II. For the last year the q.
mount has been reduced to Sli.l25.36t Is ;
showing Q decrease Of about $2,48l,000 In
the expenditures, as compared with the pre-.
ceding year. and Of about $3.50. 900, as COM
pared with the fiscal year Of 1860.
The deficiency In the department for the
previous year was Si,556.966 9S; for the last
fscal year il was reduced to $2.l:2,Si4 81.
These favorable results are in part owing
to the cessation Of mail service In the insur'
rectionsry States. and in part to casual review
Of all the expenditures In that department.
In the interest Of economy. the efficiency OF
the postal service 1t 10 believed has also been
much improved. The Postmaster General
also opened q correspondence, through the
department Of State, with foreign govern.
ments, proposing convention Of postal rep
resentatives for the purpose Of simplifying
the foreign mails. This proposition, equally
important to our adopted citizens and the
commercial interest Of this country. has been
favorably entertained and agreed to by all
the Governments from whom replies have
been received.
I ask the attention Of Congress to the sug.
gestion Of the Post Master General in his re-
port respecting the further legislation requir.
ed, in his opinion, for the benefit Of the postal
service.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The Secretary Of the Interior reports as
follows In regard to the Public lands THE
public lands have ceased to be a source Of
revenue. From the LIST Of July 1861, to the
3Oth September 1862, the entire cash receipts
from the sale of lands, Sl37,476 %, 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 Jan.
uary next, offers such inducements to settlers
that sales for cash cannot DO expected to an
extent sufficient to meet the expenses Of the
General Land Office. and the cost Of survey.
ing aud bringing the land into market. The
discrepancy between the sum here stated as
arising from the sales Of tho pulic lands and
the same derived from the same source as re-
ported from the Treasury Department, arises,
as l understand. from the fact that the pc.
RODS of time. though apparently we're not
really coincident at the beginning points.
The Treasury report includes considerable
sum now, which had previously been report
ed from the Interior, sufficiently large to
greatly over.reach the sum derived from the
three months now reported upon by the In
ta.ior and moi hv the TfeasuFy.
INDIAN AyyAiRs.
The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have.
during the past year. manifested spirit OF
insu bordnation, and at several points have
engaged In open hostlities against the white
settlements in their vicinity.
The tribes occupying the Indian country
south of Kansas, renowned their allegiance
to the United States, and entered into trea-
ties with the insurgents. Those who remain.
ed loyal to the United States were driven
from the country. The Chief Of the Chero.
KEGS hs, visited this city tor the purpose Of
restoring the former relations Of the tribe
with the United States. He alleges that they
were constrained by superior force to enter
into treaties with the insurgents, and that the
United States neglected to furnish protection
which the treaty stipulations required.
In the month Of August last the Sioux In
dams in Minnesota attacked the settlements
In their vicinity with extreme ferocity, killing
Unfortunately 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 eight hum
dred persons were killed by the Indians, and
a large amount of property was destroyed.
How this outbreak was induced is not def.
nitely known, and suspicious, which may
be unjust, need not to be stated. lnforma.
ton was received by the Indian bureau from
different sources, about the time hostilities
were commenced, that 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 por.
ton of her territory has been depopulated.
and q severe loss has been sustained by the
destruction Of property. The people OF that
State manifest much anxiety for the removal
of the tribes beyond the limits Of the State,
rs a guaranty against future hostilities. The
Commissioner of Indian Affairs will furnish
full details.
submit for your special consideration
whether our Indian system shall not be re-
modelled. Many wise and good men are i'm.
pressed with the belief that this can be profit.
ably done.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Isubmit 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.
ges,s 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 to some greater
length. propose having prepared aud laid
before you at an early day some interesting
and valuable statistical information upon this
subject.
The military and commercial importance
Of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan Canal,
and improving the Illinois river, Is presented
in the report of Col. Webster, to the Secre-
tary of War, and now transmitted to Con.
gre.s. / respectfully ask attention to 1t.
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
To carry out the provisions Of the act of
Congress of the 10Th Of May last, l have
caused the Department Of Agriculture Of the
United States TO be organized. The Com.
missioners inform me that within the period
of q few months this department has estab.
lished an extensive system Of correspondence
and exchanges, both at home and abroad,
which promises to effect highly beneficial re-
suits in the development OF correct knowl-
edge Of recent improvements In agriculture,
In the introduction Of new products. and 10
the collection Of the agricultural statistics OF
the different States. and will soon be prepared
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