Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-12-15
ed by special legislation, but
hpt ratlel, Ae ,at..Ftl,tl a.. fixed bv tho con.

but must BE regarded as-6 6xsd- by .ths-con.
stitution i sell, and gradually acquiesced in
by force of public opinion. From the
foundation ofthe government to the pres
snt the management of the original inhab-
itants OF this continent, the indians, has
beena subject of embarrassment and ex-
pense, and has been attended with CON
tinuous .robberies murders and wars.
From my own experience upon
the frontiers and in the Indian countries,
do not hold either legislation or the con-
duct of the whites who come most in con-
tact with the Indians blameless for these
hostilities. The past, however, cannot be
undone, and the question must be met Gs
we now find it. l have attempted new
policy toward these wards of the nation,
and they cannot be regarded in any other
light than as wards, with fair results SO Tar
as tried, and which hope will be attended
ultimately with great success. The Society
of Friends is well knownas having succeed
ed in living at peace with the Indians in
the early settlement Of PENNSYLVANIA while
their white neighbors of oth:r 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 and
fair dealings. These considerations In
dnced me to give the management OF few
reservations Of Indians to them, and to
throw the burden of the selection Of agents
upon the Society itself. The result has
proven most satisfactory. 1t will be found
more fully set forth in the report Of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For su.
perintendents and Indian agents, not on
reservations, officers of the army were
elected. The reasons for this are
numerous. When Indian nrgents 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 o position for life,
the agent one at the will Of the President.
The former is personally interested in llV-
ing in harmony with the Indians, and in
the establishment of n permanent peace, to
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 O faithful discharge OF du-
ties in carrying out given policy. The
building of railroads. and 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 aborigines, the
fact is they do not harmonize
WELL and one or the other has to give way,
A system which looks to the determination
of race is too horrible for q nation to adopt
without entailing upon itself the wrath Of
all Chrstendom and engendering in the
citizen a disregard for human life aud the
rights of others and 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 absolute protection there. AS
soon as they are fitted for it they should be
induced to take their lands in severally or to
set up territorially for their own protec'
ton For full details on this subject
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
expenditures of the War Department for
the year ending the 30th of June, 1869, to
be $50, GA, 042, of which $23, S82, 80 was
disbursed in the payment of debts con-
tracted during the war, and is not charge
able to current army expenses. The esti-
mate of S34, 531, 031 for the expenses Of
the army ior 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 q greater centration Of troops,
the appropriation asked for will not be eX-
pended. The appropriation estimated fol
river and haroor improvements and fortifi.
cations are submitted separately. What
ever amount Congress may deem proper to
appropriate for these purposes, will be eX'
pended. The recommendation of the Gener-
al of the Army thatappropriations be made
for the forts Mt Boston, Portland New
York, Philadelshia, New Orleans and Sar
Francisco, if for no other, is concurred in
| also call special attention to the recon-
mendation of the General commanding
the military division of the Pacific for tht
sale of the Seal Islands of st. Paul and st
George, Alaska Territory, and suggest tina
it either be complied with, or tina
legislation be had for the protec
tion of the seal fisheries, iron
which q revenue should be derived
The report of the Secretary OF War con
tains a synopsis Of the heads OF bureaus o
commanders of military divisions and o
the districts OF Virginia, Mississippi ant
Texas. The report of the General Of tn
Army in full, and the Recommendation
therein contained, have been well consid
cred and are submitted for your action, /
however, call special attention to the re
commendation of the Chief of Ordnance TO
the sale Of arsenals and lands no longer o
use to the Government; also to the recon
lnendation of the Secretary Of War that tn
act of Sd of March, 1869, prohibiting pro
motions and appointments in staff corps o
the army, be repealed. The extent o
country to be garrisoned, and the numbe
of military posts to be occupied is th,
same with q reduced army as with n larg
one; the number of staff officers required
is more dependant upon the latter thai
the former condition The report of tn,
Secretary of the Navy accompanying
this shows the condition Of tn
navy when this administration cam
into Office, and changes made sine
Strenuous efforts are being made to plac
as many vessels in commission or rende
them fit for service, if required, as soon a
possible, and substituting the sail 70
steam while cruising, thus materially re
ducing the expenses of the navy and ad
ding greatly to its efficiency. Looking i
our future, / recommend liberal, thougl
not extravagant, policy towards this brancl
of public service al
The report of the postmaster general fur
nishes a clear and comprehensiv
exhibit of the operations Of tn
postal service and of the financiu
condition Of this part Of the Post.oflic
Department The ordinary postal reve
nues tor the year ending the 30th of June
1862 amount to SIS, 445, $40, and the OK
penditures to $23, $50, l3l, showing IN ex
cess of expenditures over receipts of S5,