Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-19

STRUGGLE in which the energies OF the Ma
ton have been engaged, and which has
REQUIRED so large a withdrawal OF our CIT
izens from their accustomed pursuits.
| cordially concur in.the recommended
ton of the Secretary of the Interior, sug
costing modification Of the act III favor
Of those engaged in the military and ma
val service Of the United States. l DOUBT
not that Congress will cheerfully adopt
such measures as will, without essentially
changing the general features of the sys-
tenn, secure to the greatest practlcaoie
extent, its benefits to those who have lett
their homes in defence of the country IN
this arduous crisis.
REVENUE FROM MINERAL LANDS.
invite your attention to the views OF
Secretary Of War as 70 the propriety of
raising bv appropriate legislation reye-
nue. from the mineral lands Of the Uul-
ted States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The measures provided at your last
session for the removal of certain Indian
tribes have been carried into effect
Sundrv treaties have been negotiated
which will in due time be submitted for
constitutional action of the Senate
They contain stipuIations for purchasing
possessory rio hts of the Indians to large
and valuable tracts of land. 1t is proba-
bic that the efforts of these treaties viii
result in the establishment of a perma-
nent friendly relation with such of thasa
tribes rs. have been brought into frequent
and bloody collision with our outlying
settlements, and the emigrants, sound pol
lev and the imperative duty of the tribes
of the government demand our anxious
and constant attention TO their material
well-being, to their progress in the arts
of cultivation, and above all to that NOR
al training, which, under the blessing Of
Divine Providence, will confer upon them
the elevated and sanctilyng influences
and the hopes and consultations of the
christian faith.
suggested in my last message the
} proprietv of remedyiug our Indian sys-
tenn. Subsequent events have satisfied
me or its necessity. Details set forth in
} the report of the Secretary will evince
the need OF immediate legislative action.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
I commend the benefits of the institu
tons established or patented by the
Government in this District 10 your gen
erous and fostering care.
: WATER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
: MISSISSIPPI AND ATLANTIC.
The attention of Congress during the
last session was engaged TO some extern
with the proposition for charging watel
. communication between the Mississippi
: River and the north eastern seaboard
which proposition however failed for the
: time. Since then, upon = call OF th'
: greatest responsibility, convention ha'
i been called at Chicago upon the same
subject, a summary of whose views are
submitted in q memorial addressed t.
the President and Congress, and which
now have the honor to lay before you.
That this interest is one which err
long will force its own way, [ do not en-
! terrain a doubt, while it is submitted en-
tiralv fn -uopT wjsdnp as tn " hat can nov
be accomplished. Interest is given L
this subject by actual commence ment 0
work upon the Pac fic road, under au
spcous circumstances, favorable to it
rapid progress and completion.
Enlarged navigation becomes a palpa
, bic need to the great road.
G CAL AND GENERAL MARKETS
and because its circulation being DOUBLE
, THAT OF ANY OTHER PAPER, it is the fa-
vorte medium of advertising in all de-
apartments of trade and indutry.
t Everybody interested in the progress
- PROGRESS or STATE TAT rtskhapld
When Congress assembled year age
! the war had already lasted nearly twenty
+ months, and there had been many con
flicts on both land and sea, with varying
result. The rebellion had been pressed
back into reduced limits. Yet the tone o.
c public opinion and feeling, at home and
abroad, was not satisfactory. The pop
ular elections, then just past, indicated
uneasiness among ourselves; while amid
much that was cold and menacing, the
, kindest words coming from Europe were
: uttered in accents of pity that we were
, too blind to surrender.
Our commerce was annoyed greatly
by few armed vessels, built upon and
furnished from foreign shores, and We
! were threatened with such attention:
. from the same quarter, as would sweep
our trade from the sea and raise oul
blockade.
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
: The Emancipation Proclamation, hch
, was issued in September, was running its
assigned period to the beginning of the
{ new year. A month later, the final pro-
clamation, including the announcement
. that colored men of suitable condition
would he received into the war service.
The policy of emancipation and of en-
+ pioyiug black soldiers, were to the failure
) a new aspect, about which hope and fear
and doubt contended in united conflict.
f According to our political system, as a
} matter ofcivl administration, the Gener-
al Government had no power to effect