Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-12-13

ans inhabiting the district OF country be
tween the Arkansas and Platte Rivers and
portions of Dakota territory, required the
presence Of a large military force in that re
aian Instigated by real or imaginary
grievances the Indians occasionally commit
ted acts of barbarous violence upon emf
grants and our frontier sttlemeBts, but a
general Indian war has been providentially
avoided The Commissioners, under the
act Of 10Th of July, 1867, we're invested with
full power 10 adjust existing difficulties,
negotiate treaties with the disaffected bands
and select for them reservations remote from
the travelled routes between the Mississippi
aud the Pacific They entered without de.
lay upon the execution Of their trust. but
have not vet made anv official report oftheir
proceedings. 1t is of vital importance that
our distant Territories should be exempt
from Indian outbreaks, and that the con-
struction Of the Pacific Railroad, an object
Of national importance, should not be inter
Fupted by hostile Indians.
These objects, as well as the material in
| teTests and the moral and intellectual I'm
provement Of the Indians, can be most
eifectually secured by concentrating them
| upon portions Of country set apart for their
exclusive use, and located at points remote
from cur highways and eucToaching white
settlements
Since the commencement Of the second
session Of the Thirty ninth Congress, tive
hundred and ten miles of road have been
constructed on the main line and branches
of the Pacific Railway line from Omaha are
rapidly approaching the eastern base OF the
Rocky Mountains, whilst the terminus Of
the last section Of constructed road in Cali
fornia, accepted by the Government on the
24th day of October last, was but eleven
miles distant from the summit of the Sierra
Nevadas The remarkable energy evinced
by the companies offers the strongest assur
ance that the completion Of the road from
Sacramento to Omaha will not be long de
ferred. During the last fiscal year seven
million, forty one thousand, one hundEad and
fourteen acres of public land were disposed
Of, and the cash receipts from sales and fees
exceeded by one half million dollars the sum
raalized from that source during the prece-
ding year,
The amount paid to pensioners. Including
expenses of disbursements, was SlS,6 GIG, 9j6
and thirty six thousand, four hundred and
eighty two names were added to the rolls
The entire number Of pensioners onthe Both
Of June last was one hundred and fifty five
thousand, four hundred and seventy-four
Eleven thousand, six hundred and ffty-fve
patents and designs were issued during the
year ending September 30th. 1867, and al
that date the balance in the Treasury to the
credit of the patent fund, was $3.50, COZ.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy
states that we have seven SquadT0ns actively
aud iudiciously employed, uudereficient and
able commanders, in protecting the persons
and property of American citizens. main
tanning the dignity and power of the Gov
ernment, and promoting the commerce and
business interests Of our counlrymen in every
part Of the world. OF the two hundred
and thirty y-eight vessels composing the pres
ent Navy of the United States, fifty six. car
rying ive hundred and seven guns are in
squadron service. During the year the
number OF vessels in commission has been
reduced to twelve, and there are thirteen
less on squadron duty than there were at
the date of the last report. a large number
OF vessels were commenced and IN the
course of construction when the war termi-
mated. and although Congress had made the
necessary appropriations for their compile
ton the Department has either suspended
work upon them Of limited the slow compile
ton Of the steam vessels so as to meet the
contracts for machinery made with private
establishments.
The total expenditures Of the Navy De
partment for the fiscal year ending June &c.
1867, were S3l ,034, oil. No appropriations
have been made or required since the close
of the war for the construction and repair of
vessels, for steam machinery, ordnance, pro-
visions. clothing. fuel, hemp, &c, the bal
ances under these several heads having been
more than sufficient for current expenditures.
L should also be stated, to the credit Of the
Department, that besides asking no apprO-
priations for the above objects for the last
two years, the Secretary of the Navy on the
10Th Of September last, IN accordance with
the act Of May /, 1920, requested the Secre
tary of the Treasury, to carry to the surplus
fund the sum of sixty-iour millions of dol
lars, being the amount received from the
sales Of vessels and other war property, and
the remnants Of former appropriations.
The report of the Postmaster General
shows the business Of the Postofice Depart
ment and the condition Of the postal service
In a very favorable light, and the attention
Of Congress is called to its practical recon-
mendations. The receipts of the Depart
ment for the year ending June 30, 1867, in
Guiding all special appropriations for sea and
laud service, and for free mail matter, were
| $l9,97S, ,693. The expenditures for all puT-
0
pended balance in favor of the Department
of S743, 30, which can be applied towards
the expenses ofthe Department for the cur
rent year. The increase Of postal revenue,
independent Of specific appropriation, for
the year 1867, over that of 1866, was $3.50,
040. The increase of revenue from the sale
of postage stamps and stamped envelopes,
was S7S3 404. The increase of expendi
ture for 1861, over those of the previous
year. was owing chiefly to the extension of
the land and ocean mail service. During
the past year new postal Conventions have
been ratified and exchanged with the United
Kingdom Of Great Britain, Ireland, Belgi
um, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the
North German Union, Italy and the Col
onial Government at Hong Kong, reducing
very largely the rates Of ocean and land
postages to and from, and within those
countries. The report of the acting Com
missioner of Agriculture presents the condi
tion, wants and progress of an interest EN-
inently worthy the fostering care Of Con
gress, and exhibits large measure of the
useful results achieved during the year to
which it refers.
Foreign 46airs
The re. establishment of peace at home
aud the resumption of extended trade, trav-
el and commerce abroad, have served to In
crease the number and variety of questions
| in the department Of foreign affairs. None
of these questions, however, have seriously
disturbed our relations with other States.
| The Republic Of Mexico having been re-
! heved from foreign Intervention, is earnestly
engaged in efforts to establish her coBsti-