The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
EooNchUDED.1
THE INpIAN QUESTION.

THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The menscing attitude of some of the
wsrlike bands of Indians inhabitins the dis
trict of country between the Arkansas and
Platte Rivers, and portions of Dakota Terri
tory, required the presence Of large military
force in that region. Instigated by real OF
imaginary grievances, the Indians occasionally
Icommitted acts of barbarous violence upor
emigrants and our frontier settlements; but 8
general Indian war has been providentially
ayerted. The Commissioner under the ac,
af 10th 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
route between the Mississippi and the Pacific
They entered without delay upon the execu- :
tion of their trust, but have not yet made any
official report of their proceedings. 1t is oi
vital importance that our distant Territories
should be exempt from Indian sutbreaks, and
that tie construction of the Pacific Railroad
an object ef national Importance, should not
be interrupted by hostile tribes. These OBJ
| ljects, as well as the material interests and
the moral and intellectual improvement of
the Indians, can be most efectually secured
by concentrating them upon portions of coun-
try set apart for their exclusive use, and To-
Gated at points remote from our highways and
Iencroaching white settlements.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Since the commencement of the second
session of the Thirty-ninth Congress- FIVE
hundred and ten miles of road have been con-
structed on the main line and branches of tie
Pacific Railroad. The line from Omaha is rap
idly approaching the Eastern base of the
Rocky Mountains, whilst the terminus of the
last section of constructed road in California,
accepted by the Government on the 24th day
of October last, was but eleven miles distant
from the summit of the Sierra Nevada. The
remarkable energy evinced by the companies
offers the strongest assurance that the COM
pletion of the road from Sacramento to Omaha
will not be long deferred. Gro
PUBLIC LANDS, PENSIONS AND PATENTS.
During the last fiscal year 81 ,04l, liza acres
of public land were disposed of and the cash
receipts from sales and fees exceeded by one
half million dollars the sum realized from
those sources during the preceding year. The
amount paid to pensioners, including sxpen-
ses of disbursements, was SlS.6l9,956, and
36, ,4s2 names were added to the rolls. The
entire number of pensioners on the Both OF
June last was 1854 11,655 patents and
designs were issued during the year ending
September 80, 1867, and at that date the bal
ance in tie Treasury to the credit of the fnnd
was S2s6, ,607. -
THE NAVY.
y The report of the Secretary of the Navy
states that we have seven squadrons active
ly and judiciously employed, under efficient
and able commanders, in protecting the per-
sons and property of American citizens,
maintaining the dignity and power of the
Government, and promoting the commerce
and business interests of our conntrymen in
every part of the world. Of the two hun
dred and thirty-eight vessels composing the
present navy of the United States. fifty six,
carrying five hundred and seven guns, are in
squadron service. During the year the num-
Der of vessels in commission has been re-
duced twelve, and there are thirteen less ON
squadron duty than there we're at the date
of the last report. A large number of vessels
were commenced and in the course of con-
struction when the war terminated, and al
though Congress had made the necessary ap.
propriations for their completion, the De-
partment has either suspended work upon
them or limited the slow completion of the
steam vessels, so as TO meet the contract for
machinery made with private establishments.
The total expenditures of the Navy Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1867,
were S3l,034,0ll, No appropriations have
been made or required since the close of the
war for the construction or repair of vessels
for steam machinery, ordnance, provisions
and clothing, fuel, hemp, &C., the balance
under these several heads having been more
than sufficient for current expenditures. II
should also be stated to the credit of the
Department that besides asking no appro-
priatisns for the above objects Tor the last
two or three years, the Secretary of the Navy
on The goth of September last, in accordance
with the act of May l, 1920, requested the
S scretary of the Treasury to carry to The
surplus fund the sum of sixty-fve millions
of dollars, being the amount received from
the sales of vessels and other war property
aud the remnants of former appropria
ttioDs. @ lo l@Ai
e3sIl 81 POSTAL AFFAIRS. rg
The report of the Postmaster General show.
the business of the Post Office Department
and the condition of the postal service in I
very favorable light. and the attention o
/ Congress is called to its practical recon
mendations The receipts of the Depart
ment for the year ending June 80, 1867, in
Guiding all special appropriations for sea ant
land service aid for free mail matter, wer,
SIS, ,978,693. The expe nditures for all pur
poses were SIS, 1885, ,483, leaving an expended