The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-12

raising, by appreciation of legislatures,
revenue from the mineral lands of tn
United States.
The measures provided at your last ses
sion for the removal of certain In6lis1
tribes have been carried into effect. Sun
dry treaties have been negotiated, whicl
will In due time be submitted for cOnstitu
tional action of the Senate. They contain
stlpulations for extinguishing the rights O
the Indians to large and valuable tracts O
land. 1t is probable that the effect of thes
treaties will result in the establishment O
permanent friendly relations with such O
those tribes as haye been brought into FIRE
quent and bloody collisions with our out
lying settlements and iemigrauts. Sount
policy, and the imperative duty of the Gov
eminent towards them, demand our anx
ious and constant attention to their materia
we'll being, to their progress in the arts o
civilization, and above all, to that mora
training which, under the blessing of Di
| vine Providence, will confer upon them tn
| elevated and sanctifying influences, ant
| the hopes and consultations of the christian
faith. I, suggested in my last annua
message the propriety of remodeling ou
satisfied me of it's necessity. The details
set forth in the report of the Secretary viii
evince the urgent need for immediate legis
lative action.
commend the benevolent object of the
| institutions established or patraniaad by
/ the government in this District, to youl
generous and fostering care.
The attention of Congress during the last
session was occupied to some extent with
proposition for enlarging the water com.
munications between the Mississippi Riv-
er and the Northeastern seaboard, which
proposition, however, failed for the time
Since then, upon call of the greatest re-
spectability, convention has been held at
Chicago upon the same subject, summary
OF whose views is contained in a memorial
addressed to the President and Congress.
and which now have the honor to lay be-
fore you. That this interest is one which
ere long will force it's own way, I do not
entertain doubt, while tits submitted en-
trely to your wisdom as to what can be
done now. Augmented interest is
given to this subject by the actual COM
mencement of work upon the Pacific Rail-
road, under auspices so favorable to it's ra-
pid progress and completion, that enlarg-
ed navigation becomes palpably needed to
the great road.
transmit the second annual report of
the Commissioner of the Department of
Agriculture, asking your attention to the
developments in that vital interest of the
Nation. 'tt -a..
When Congress assembled wear ago
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months, and there had been MANY CEN
tiicts both on land and sea, with varying
results. The rebellion had been pushed
back in reduced limits. Yet the tone of pub
lie feeling and opinion at home and abroad
was not satisfactory. With other signs: the
popular elections, then just passed, indi-
Gated uneasiness among ourselves, while
amid much that was cold and menacinp.
the kindestwords, coming from Europe, ut
ir,oa re E ,n,t,
too blind to surrender our.'commerce which
was suffering fearfully by few armed
vessels built upon and furnished from for
6lgn shores. We were threatened with such
mercles from the same quarter as would
sweep our trade from the sea aud raise our
blockade. We had failed to elicit from
European governments anything hopeful
upon this subject This Emancipation pro-
which was issued in September.
was running its assigned period to the be-
OF New Year. A month later the
final proclamation came, including the
that colored men of suta-
bic condition would be received into the
war service. The policy of Emancipation
and employing black soldiers gave to the
future new aspact, about which hope and
fear and doubt contended in uncertain
conflict. According to our political system
as matter of civil administration, the
General had no lawful power to effect
in any State, and for a long
time it had been hoped that the rebellion
could be suppressed without resorting to it
as military measure. 1t was all the
while deemed possible that the necessity
for it might come, and that if it should, the
crisis OF the contest would then be present
ed. 1t came and, as was expected. it was
followed by dark and doubtful days. Elev-
en- months have been passed. We are per-
United to take another review. The rebel
borders are pressed still further back, and
by the complete opening ofthe Mississippi
river. the country dominated over by the
rebellion is divided into distinct parts with
no practical communication between them.
Tennessee and Arkansas have been SO
cleared of insurgents, that the
influence of the citizens in each
and owners of slaves and advocates of sla-
very at the beginning of the rebellion, now
declare openly for emancipation in their
States. OF those States not in
GUIDED in the Emancipation Proclamation,
and Missouri, neither of which,
years ago, would tolerate any restraint up-
III the extension of slavery into the new
eritories, only dispute now as to the best
node OF removing it within their own
limits.
Of those who were slaves at the begin
ling of the rebellion, full one hundred
thousand are now in the United States
military service, about One-half of which |
number actually bear arms in. the ranks,
hus giving the double advantage Of taking
% much labor from the insurgent: cause
md supplying the place which otherwise
must be filled with SO many white men,
80 far as tested, it is difficult to say that
hey are not as good soldiers as any. No
ervile instruction or tendency to violence |
n cruelty has marked the measures OF
and arming the blacks
These measures have been much discussed
n foreign countries, and contemporary
With such discussion, the tone of public
eminent there is much improved. At
ZONE the same measures have been fully
discussed, supported, criticised and de-
and the annual elections follow
ng are highly encouraging to those whose
pecial duty it isto bear the country thro'
his great trial. Thus we have the reckon
ng: The crisis which threatened to di-
ide the friends of the Union, is past
looking now to the present and future,
nd with reference to resumption of the
ational authority within theStates where
q that authority has been suspended,
have thought fit to issue Proclama-
ion, copy OF which is herewith transmit
ed. On examination.of this Proclamation
will appear, as is believed, amply justi-