The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-07

reduce In niimbefs the army a. tGx-TnEhcf
ers created by the gystem, who take
Eom the month Of honest. labor the bread
It has earned" Retrenchment, reform and
economy ehouid be carried into every
branch OF the public service, that che
expenditures ofJthe Government may fbe
reduced, and the, people relieved from op-
Pressive taxation; asound currency should
be restored, and the public faith in regard
to the national debt csecredily obseryed.
The accomplishment Of these Important
results, together with the restoration of
the Union Of the. States upon the pfinci-
pies OF thel tConBtitution, would fr1spire
confidence ut home and abroad in the Sta
biiity OF our institutions, and bring to the
nation prosperity, peace and good will.
ls The report OF the Secretary of War ad
gte'7m exhibits the operations Of the army
and OF the several bureaus OF the War De-
partment. The aggregate strength OF our
mlltary force, on the 90th Of September
last, was 66,Sl5; The total estimate for
military appropriations is S77, ,124, ,7U7, In.
Guiding deficiency in last years appro-
priation OF SIS, Coz, 900. The payments at
the treasury, on account Of the service Of
the War Department. from lamar I. :;
october 29, 1867 period Of ten MONTHS
amountedto S109, ,8O7, 900. The expenses
OF the military establishment, as well as
the numbers of the army, are now three
times as great as they have ever been in
time OF peace, while the discretionary
power Is vested in the Executive to add
miliions to this expenditure by an increase
lowed by the law.
The menacing attitude OF some of the
warlike bands OF Indians inhabiting the
district OF country Between the Arkaneas
and Platte rivers, and portions Of Dakota
Territory, required the presence of a large
miItary force In that region. Instigated by
real or imaginary grievances, the Indians
occasionally committed acts of barbarous
violence upon semigrants and our. frontier
settlements, but general Indian war has
oeen providentially averted. The commits
sioners, under the act OF Goth July, 1867,
were invested with full power to adjust
existing difficulties, negotiate treaties with
the disaffected bands, and select for them
reservations remote from the travelled
routes between the Mississippi and the
Pacific. They entered without delay upon
the execution OF their trust, but have NOT
yet made any official report of their pro-
ceedings. 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 in
terrupted by hostile tribes. These objects,
as wen ae the material interests, and the
moral and intellectual improvement of the
Indians. can be most effectually secured
by concentrating them upon portions of
country set apart for their exolnsive use;
and located at points remote from our
highways and encroaohing white settle
ments.
Since the commencement of the second
session OF the Thirty y-niuth Congress, $40
miles OF road have been constructed on the
main line and branches of the Pacific rail-
way. The line from Omaha is rapidly ap4
preaching the Easternsbase of the Rocky
Mountains, whilst the terminus of tho. last
section OF constructed; road in California.
accepted by the Govern .nent on the oath
day OF October last, was but eleven miles
distant from the summit of the Sierra Ne
vada. The remarkable energy svinced by
the companies Offers the str INCEST assur-
ance that the completion of the road from
ferred.
During, the, last fiscal Year 7,410.114
acres OF public Iahd were dispoaed of.Sand
the cash receipts from sales and fees ex-
ceeded by 5000, 900 the sum realized from
tn those sources during the preceding year.
Inc amount paid to pensioners, including
expenses or disbursements, was Sl8,619,-
956. and SO, ,4S2 names were added to the
rolls. The entire number Of pensioners on
the Both OF June last, was 1b5,474-1I. .655
patents and designs were issued during
the year ending September 30, 1867, and at
that date the balance In the Treasury to
the D, credit OF the patent fund was s286,607.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy
lively and iudicioualy .employed. under
efhcient and able commanders, in project
ing the persons and property Of American
citizens, maintaining the dignity and
power OF the Government, and promoting
the commerce and business intefests OF
our coantrymen in every part Of the world.
Of the 238 vessels composing the present
navy OF the United States, Sc, carving 5O7
guns, are in squadron. service. During
the year, the number Of vessels in com.
mission has been reduced 12, and there
arel3 less on equsdron. duty than there
were. at tho date Of the last report. A
large number OF vessels were commenced
and in the course Of construction when
the war terminated, and, although Con-
gress mad made the necessary appropria-
tions Tor their completion, the department
has either suspended work upon them, or
limited the slow completion of the steam m
vessels 80 as to meet the contracta for
machinery made with private establish
ments. The total expenditures of the
Navy Department for the fiscal year, end
ing June 80, 1867, were s. 1,O34 oil. No
appropriations have been made or required
since the close Of the war for the construc-
tion and repair OF vessels, for steam ma
"hinery, ordnance, provisions, and cloth
.cg, fuel, hemp, &C., the balances under
these several heads having been more
than sufficient for current expenditures. It
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 30th OF September last, in accordance
with tho Act Of May /, 1920, requested the
Secretary or tho Treasury to carry to the
surplus fund the sum of s65, 900, 900, being