Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-06

$50 ..... .....-. 81
Tho cash receipts from sales, homestead and loca-
ton fees for the same five quarters ending Septem-
Der 30 1863, were SlG}S, 40D.1S.
The cash sales for the ending juno 30, 1865,
amounted to SIS 25, of S7042O0i over
the sum received from tho same source the previous
| year.
During the fiscal ending June 80, 1865 4l6,-
quantity of surveyed public lands undsposed of
September 80 1865, was 32,2S5,OS5 acres.
1t is estimated that from 10 to 50 cent of per-
sons who have claimed the privilege of the home
stead law which has been in operation since January
lst 1863 prefero purchase the lands the minimum
price, and thus secure title than to wait the exp
ration OF the continued residence OF five years. when
it would rest.
1t a matter of the utmost Importance to the SET
tiers in Arizona and New NJ eXico that carly provision
hould be made by law for the adjustment of Spanish
and Mexican titles arising under existing treaties
with the Republic Mexico As the determination of
disputed titles involves questions essentially judicial
bunas of the United States should be charged with
the performance of this duty in conformity with
legislative presidents in regard to claims in Lousi
ana and other States, period should be prescribed
for prosecuting claim of title. and the decree of the
court should determine not only the validity of the
title but also all incidental questions relating to the
limits OF the land claimed which could not be prop
ery determined by the Commissioner of the General
Land Olhce IN Its survey and location on the earths
surface.
The Commissioner of the General Land Office has
held that the United States the of Mex
leo, has the exclusive and paramount right to all
such sites may be indispensable for forts or other
public uses, and this right will be enforced unless
Congress shall otherwise order.
! The organization of Bureau Of Mining was re-
ment and the attention Of Congress again invited
to the subject. All lands denOmnated mineral, which
do not bear the precious metals, should be brought
INTO market. and thus placed under the guardianship
of private In other mode, it is believed
can the great forests Of timber the growth of CEN
tures, and of vast value to the nation, be efectualy
| preserved from waste.
| PENSIONS.
! William Hutchings, Of Penobscot, Me-. aged 100
years. and Samuel Cook, of Clarendon, n. Y, aged
| % years, are the only persons among the living
| known to the department who participated in tho
| heroic struggle which achieved our National indie
! pendence. The names of ,ll5 widows of Revolu-
onary soldiers are inscribed on the pension rolls
! There paid during the year ending June Goth
1866. to army inyalids. Rcvoluy ionary soldiers
| widows, and other dependent relatives including
| oTearagcs OF pensions and expenses properly
pensions the sum of SS3l96724 49, The total number
of army pensioners on the rolls at the close of the
year ending June 80, 1865, eighty-tour thousand
one hundred and thirty, requiring for the payment
thereof eAeig5Lye Of expenses, an annual appropra
At the close of the fiscal year there were on tho
navy pension rolls eight hundred and thirty nine in
| y4llds and one thousand and seventeen widows and
| navy pensioners at that date eighteen hundred
and tityrsiN, whose annual stipends amount to $780,
payment of pensions of all classes adjudcated and
allowed to the close of the last fiscal year, con-
ferred by special acts of Congress, Is exclusive Of
expenses eight million twenty three thousand four
hundred and torty-hve dollars and tqrty-t cents
! CSS,Q23, i43.43.)
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
dicton Of the United States does not probably exceed
$4,000, large majority of whom maintained during
the past year peaceful relations some Oh them nave
! made gratifying progress in civilization, and mani
tested during the late war steadiast loyalty to our
flag worthy Of emphatic commentator. ClVllZed
| and powerful tribes, however, reSlulng within the
Indian territory united early in the year 1861 with
| the Indians of tue pralrIes Immediately west and
north for hostile opera against the United States
in fagrant violation Of treaties which had been OBJ
served by us with Scrupulous good faith, and the
absence of any Just ground Of complaint these con-
| federated Indians entered into alliance with the
rebel authorities and raised regiments in support of
their cause Their organized troops fought side by
| side with rebel soldiers, and detached bands made
frequent assaults on the neighbOring white settle
ments, which were without adequate means of de-
fence, and on the Indians, who maintained friendly
relations with this government
| The perhdl0us conduct of the Indians in making
unproyoked war upon us has been visited with the
severest retributon. The country within the Indian
territory has been laid waste, vast amounts of ~
pery destroyed and the inhabitants reduced Ga M
prosperous condition to such extreme restitution tina
thousands OF them must inevitably perish during the
present winter, unless timely provision be made by
this government for their relief.
The policy of the total destruction of the Indians
has been openly advocated by gentlemen of high po-
stIon, intelligence and personal character but no
ehlghtened nation can adopt or sanction it without
forfeiture of its Setrespect and the respect of the
civilized nations of the earth.
| fln3nclal considerations forbid the inauguration
Of such policy, The attempted destruction OF tnree
hundred thousand of these people, accustomed 10 Il
nomadic life, subsistng upon the spontaneous pro
ductlons OF the earth and familiar with the
es OF the mountains and the swamps OF tile RiaiiS.
would involve an appalling acrhce OF tne Nv "a
soldiers and frontier settlers and the eApeh9l-
ture of untold treasure. 1t IS es'inneu omaa en
maintenance of each regiment Oh uooPs ensaseu
against the Indians Of the plains costs Ihe govern
ment two million dollars per annum. All the mill
tary oneratons of last summer have not 0ccasloned
the immediate destruction OIL more inan d iSW nun
bred Indian warriors Such policy Is mannestN a.