The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-12
pres,de.: .:.,s Message.


On the Both of June, 1868, l69, ,643
names were borne ON the pension
rolls, and during the year ending on
that day the total amount paid for
pensions, including the expenses of
disbursement, was $24, ,O1O, 982. being
$3.50, O25 greater than that expended
for like purposes during the preced-
ing year.
During the year ending the 3Oth
of September last, the expenses of
the Patent Office exceeded the re-
ceipts, by $171, and, including re-
issues and designs, IA, 153 patents
were issued.
Treaties with various Indian tribes
have been concluded and will be sub
mitted to the Senate for its constitu-
tional action. 1 cordially sanction
the stipulation which provides for
reserving lands for the various tribes,
when they may be encouraged to
abandon their nomodic habits and
engage in agricultural and industrial
pursuits. This policy. inaugurated
many years since, has met with signal
success whenever it has been pursued
in good faith and with becoming libe-
rality by the United States. The ne
cessity Tor eXtendingit it as far as practi-
cable in our relations with the abort
ginal population, is greater now than
at any preceding period. Whilst we
furnish subsistence and instruction
to the Indians, and guarantee the
undisturbed enjoyment of their treaty
and rights, we should babitually in
sist upon the fact, of the observance
OF their agreement to remain with
i'll their respective reservations.
This is the only mode by which col
lisiOns with other tribes and with the
whites can beavoided, and tho safety
of our frontier settlements secured.
The companies constructing the
railway from Omaha to Sacramento,
have been most energctically engaged
III prosecuting the work, and it is
believed that the line will be COM
pleted before the expiration of the
next fiscal year. Tho six per cent
bonds issued to these companies
amounted to $44, 337, 900, and addi-
tional work had been performed to
the extent of So, ,200,CN0.
The Secretary Of the Interior in
August last invited my attention to
the report of n Government Director
Of the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pnny, who had been specially in
structed to examine the location,
construction and equipment OF their
road. l submitted for the opinion
of the Attorney General certain uues-
tlons, ln regard to the authority of
| "a ri, i'll, L.
report, and those which had from
time TO time been presented by the
Com missioners appointed to inspect
each successive section Of the work
After carefully considering the law
OF the case, he affirmed the right of
the Executive to order, if necessary,
thorough revision of the entire
road. Commissioners were there
upon appointed to examine this and
other lines, and have recently sub
mitted statement OF their investi-
cations, of which the report of the
Secretary of the Interior furnishes
specific information.
The strength of our military force
on the 3Oth of September last was
4S, 600 men, and it is confirmed that
by the first of January next, this
number will be decreased to 5000.
1t is the opinion of the Secretary of
War that within the next year a con-
siderable diminution of the infantry
force may be made without detriment
to the interests of the country, and
in view of the great expense attend
ing the military peace establishment,
and the absolute necessity of re-
trenchment, wherever it can be ap-
piled, it is hoped that Congress will
sanction the retrenchment which his
report recommends. While in 1860
l6,3OO men cost the nation $16,-
472, 900, the sum of $65, 682, 900 is es-
timated as necessary for the support
OF the army during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1870.
The estimates of the War Depart
ment for the last two fiscal years were,
for 1867, S33, ,814, ,461, and for 1868,
$22. 2o5, $50. The actual expenditures
during the same periods were re-
spectively sos, 224, ,415, and $123,
246, 64S. The estimate submitted
December last for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1869, was SIT, i24,
7O7. The expenditures for the first
quarter ending the 30th of Septem-
ber last, were $27, 219,111, and the
b.. 4 40