Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-12-16

: as they may prove Intellectual and unnece
sarys IS probably all that are requi
} ed. The third cannot be affair
ed by special legislation, b,
: but must be regarded as fixed by the cor
} stitqtion itself, and gradually acquiesced
by torce of public opinion. From th
/ foundation of the government to the pre-,
ent the management of the original inhat
, itants of this continent, the Indians, ha
} beeHa subject of embarrassment and g,
; pense, and has been attended with cor
tlnueus roeberies. murders aud wars
J Fron h my own experience upo
the frontiers and in the Indian countries
do not hold either legislation or the con
duct OF the whites wao come most in con
tact With the Indians blameless for thes
hostilities. The past, however, cannot b
undone, and the question must be met q
We now find it. I have attempted new
policy toward these wards of the nation
and they cannot be regarded in any othe
hight than as wards, with fair resolts so ia
as tried, and which hope will be attended
ultimately with great success. The Societ,
OF Friends is well knownas having succeed
ed IN living at peace with the Indians il
the early settlement of Pennsylvania Will,
their white neighbors of 9th sects in
other sections were constantly embroiled
They are also known for their opposition
to all strife, violence and war, and are gen
orally noted for their strict integrity ane
fair dealings. These considerations in
duced meto give the management of a few
reservations of Indians to them, and te
throw ths burden of the selection of agent.
upon the Society itself The result ha:
proven most satisfactory. 1t will be found
more fully set forth in the report of the
Commissioners of Indian Affairs. For su
perintendents aud Indian agents, not on
reservations, officers of the army were
elected. The reasons for this are
numerous. When Indian argents are
sent there, or near there, troops
must be sent also. The agent and the
Commanders of troops are independent OF
each other, and are subject to orders from
different departments of the government.
The army officer holds a position for life,
the agent one at the viii of the President.
The former is personally interested in iv-
ing IN harmony with the Indians, aud in
the establishment of permanent peace, 10
the end that some portion of his life my
be spent within the civilized section. The
latter has no such personal interest And
there Is an economic one, and still another
hol which the government has upon life
officer. to secure a faithful discharge of du-
ties in carrying out a gwen policy. The
building OF railroads, aud the access there
by given to all agricultural and mineral
regions of their country, is rapidly bringing
the civilized settlements into contact with
all the tribes of Indians. No matter what
ought to be the relations between such
settlements and a5origines, the
fact is they do not harmonize
well, and one or the other has to give way.
system which looks to the determination
of race is too horrible for nation to adopt
without entailing npon itself the wrath of
all christendom and engendering in the
citizen disregard for human life aud the
rights of others AMI dangerous to society.
see no substitute for such system, ex-
cept in placing all the Indians on large res
ervations as rapidly as can be done and
giving them sbsolute protection there. As
soon as hey are fitted for it they should be
induced 10 take their lands in severally or to
SET 80 territoriaily for their own protec-
sinp. For fnH details on this sahiect
call your special attention to the reports
of the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The re-
port of the Secretary of War shows the
the year ending the 30th of June, 1869. TO
be $50, ga, 042, of which S23, 49,, $40 was
disbursea in the payment of debts con-
tracted during the war, and is not charge
able 10 current army expenses. The esti-
mate of $34, 531, ,031 for tho expenses of
the army for the next fiscal year is
as low as it is believed can
be relied on. The estimates of bureau
officers have been carefully scrutinized
wherever it has been deemed practicable.
If, however, the condition of the country
should be such by the next fiscal year as to
admit of greater centration of troops.
the appropriation asked for will not be ex-
pended. The appropriation estimated for
river and harbor improvements and fortifi-
cations are submitted seperately. What
ever amount Congress may deem proper to
appropriate for these purposes, will be ex-
pended. The recon me ldation of the Gener-
al of the Army that appropriations be made
fJr the forts at Boston, Portland, New
York. Philadelshia, New Orleans and San
Francisco, if for no other, is concurred in.
l also call special attention to the recon-
mendation of the General commanding
the military division Of the Pacific for the
sale of the Seal Islands of st. Paul and st.
George, Alaska Territory, and suggest that
it either be complied with, or that
legislation be had for the protec-
ton Of the seal fisheries, from
which a revenue should be derived.
The report of the Secretary of War con-
tains a synopsis of the heads OF bureaus, of
commanders of military divisions aud of
the districts of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas. The report of the General Of the
Army in full, and the recommendations
therein contained, have been well consid-
cred and are submitted for your action. /,
however, call special attention to the re-
,emmendation of the Chief of Ordnance for
the sale of arsenals and lands no longer of
use to the Government; also to the recon-
mendation of the Secretary of War that the
act of Sd of March, 1869, prohibiting pro-
motions and appointments in staff corps of
the army, be repealed. The extent of
country to be garrisoned, and the number
OF military posts to be occupied is the
same with reduced army as with large
one; the number of staff officers required
is more dependant upon the latter than
the former condition. The report of the
Secretary of the Navy accompanying
this shows the condition of tine
navy when this administration came
into Office, aud changes made since
Strenuous efforts are being made to place
as many vessels in commission or render
them fit for service, If required, as soon as
possible, and substituting the rail for
steam while cruising, thus materially re-
ducing the expenses of the navy and ad.
ding greatly to its efficiency. Looking to
our future, I recommend liberal, though
not extravasant policy towards this branch
Of public service. A ~ tt@ 3 -
The report of the postmaster general fur
nishes clear and comprehensive
exhibit of the operations of the
postal service and of the financial
condition of this part Of the Post Office
Department. The ordinary postal reve-
nues tor the year ending the 30th of June,
1869, amount to SIS, ,445, $40, and the ex-
penditures to s23, 6S9, 131, showing an ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts of $5,-
1858, 620 The excess OF expenditures over
the receipts for the previous year amounted
to Sc, 437, ,992. The increase of revenues
for 1869 over those of 1868 was 50, 051. .909,
and the increase of expenditures was $967,-
1857, ,538. The increased revenue
in 1869 exceeded the increased revenue
in 1868 by s996. 1886, and the in
rre sod roudifuroo 1890