The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-12-12

the value Of which they could form no
reliable estlmatc2 Would tho secreta-
ry of the Treasury, or would Cogross,
when the fate of the nation was tremb-
ling in the balance, and when n failure
20 raise Toney for the support Of the
Federal army would have been success
to the rebellion and,ruin to the Union
cause, have dared to attempt the ex-
pertinent Of raising money on bonds
rcdecmable at the pleasure ofthc Gov
%ernnient, after five years, IN II curren p
cy the convertible value of which
might not depend upon the solvon1y Of
the Government, but upon the amount
in circulation.
No such understanding existed, and
fortunately nc such experiment was
tried. Bonds were negotiated, with a
definite understanding that they were
PAYABLE in coin, and seven and three
tenths notes, with and equally definite
understanding that they were convert
IDLE ut the option of the holder into
bonds ofN similar character, or payable
in lawful money.
These contrUcts were mnbe IN good
lUlbH WI UOlU NluNNs n lNTb VI ltlfll
whch the Government was in immin-
ent peril and needed money to pro-
serve its existence; the balance when
is necessities were scarcely less argent
for the pay ment ofits just obligations
to contractors and the gallant men by
when the nation has been saved.
Good faith and public honor, which
to n nation are Of priceless worth, re-
quIre that these contracts should be
complied with in the spirit in they
were made. Thcholdcrs ofour bonds.
at home and abroad. who understand
the character of the people Of the
United States, and the greatness OF
the national resources, ought not to
need AZ insurance that they will DC so
complied with.
The report Of the Secretary Of War
| dd interim exhibits the operations Of
the army, and the several bureaus Of
the War Department.
The aggregate strength Of the mill.
tary force Oh the 30.h Of September
last was 56,315.
! The total estimate for military ap
preparations is S77,124,707, including
the deficiency in last years appropria.
ton ots13, 500, 600. The payments at
the Treasury, on account of the scr~
vice Of the War Department. from
January LIST to October So, 1867, a pc
rod often months, amounted to s109,.
! 807. 900.
The expenses Of the military cstab
lishment, as well as the numbers Of the
army, are now three times rs groat rs
they have ever been IN times of peace,
while discretionary power IL vested in
the Executive to add millions 10 this
expenditure by an increase of the army
to the maximum strength allowed by
law.
The comprehensive report Of the
Secretary Of tho Inferior furnishes
interesting information in reference TO
the important branches Of the pub.ic
service connected with thus depart q.
mcnt.
The monacing attitude Of some war.
like bands Of Indians inhlhiung the
district GfcoLntry between the Ar.
kansas and Platte rivers, and portions
ofDakotOh Territory, has required the
presence of largo military force in
that region. Instigatcd by real or
imaginary grievances, the Indians
have occasionally committed acts Of
barbarous violence upon cmigrants
aud our frontier establishments. but u
general Indian war has been pr0vi-
dentially avorted.
The Commissioners, under the act Of
/ Iuly O0 1897 uvn.a ;nVn.fol ,,,4I g,Il
power to adjust existing difficulties,
negotiate treaties with disafIcuted
bands, and select for tie reservation
remote from Travelled routes between
the Mississippi and the Pacific. They
entered without delay upon the oxe-
cution Of their trust; but have rot yet
made any Official report Of their pro
ceedIngs.
1t is Of vital Importance that our
distant territories should be exempt
from Indian outbreaks, ard that the
construction of the Pacific Railroad, an
object of national importance, should
not be interrupted by hostile tribes.
These object, as we'll IA the material
interests and moral and intellectual
Improvement Of tho Indians, can DO
most effectually secured by concrn.
trating them upon portions of the
country set apart for their exclusive
ness, aud located at points remote from
the highways and c~ncroaching white
settlements.
Since the commencement Of the sec
ond session of the Thirty-ninth Con-
gress, five hundred and ten miles of
road have 6ccn constructed on tho
main line and the branch of the Pacific
Railway. The line from Omaha Is
approaching tho eastern base Of the
Rocky Mountains, while the terminus
OF the last section constructed of the
road IN California, accepted by the