The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-07

must be regarded as fixed by the
Constitution itself and gradually acqui
esced in by force of opinion from the
foundation of the Government TO the
present.
NY INDIAN POLICY.
The management of the origi,
nal inhabitants of this continent, the
Indi ms, has been q subject of embar.
rassment and expense, and has been at
tended with continuous robberies, mur-
ders and wars. From my own expert
ence upon the frontiers and in In
dian countries, l do not hold either
the legislation or the conduct of the
whites, who come most in contact With
the Indian, blameless for those hostili
ties. The past, however, cannot be uu-
done, and the question must be met as
We nov find it. ! have attempted q
new policy toward these wards of the
nation, (for they cannot be regarded in
any other lighA than as wards) with fair
results so far as tried, and which hope
will be attended ultimately with great
success.
The Society of Friends is we'll known
as having succeeded in living in peace
with the Indians in the early settle
ment OF Pennsylvania, while their
white neighbOrs of other sects in otheI
sections were constantly embroiled.
They are also known for their opposi.
tion to all strife, violence and
war, and are generally noted
for their strict integrity and
fair dealings. These considerations
induced me to give the management of
a few reservations of Indians to them
aud to throw the burden of the selec-
tion 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 In
dian Affairs. For superinteudents and
Indian agents, not onthe reservations,
officers of the army were elected. The
reasons for this are numerous. Where
Indian agents are sent, there
or near there, troops must be
sent also. The agent and the CON-
mander of troops are independent of
each other and are subject to orders
from different Departments OF the Gov
ernment. The army officer holds po-
sition for life, the agent one Mt the will
of the President. The former is per-
sonally interested in living in harmony
with the Indian and in the establish
ment of permanent peace, to the end
that some portion of his life may be
spent within the limits of a
civilized nation. The latter
has no such personal interest
reason is an economic one, and
still another the hold which the Govern.
nent has upon the officers to secure a
full discharge of duties in carrying
ont given policy. The building of
railroads and the access thereby given
to all agricultural and mineral regions
of their country is rapidly bringing
civilized settlements into contact with
all tribes of Indians. No matter what
ought to be the relations between such
the fact is they do not hsr-
monize well, and one or the other
has to give way in the end
A system which looks TO the extermi.
nation of race is To too horrible for
nation to adopt without entailing upon
itself the wrath of all Chfistendom aud
enEenl nlering in the citizen a disregard
for hnman life and the rights of others,
dangerous to society. see no substi.
tute for such system, except III placing
all the Indians on large reservation
as rapidly as it can be done and giving
them absolute protection there. AS
soon as they are ftts d for il they should
be induced to take their lands severally
aud TO get up territorial governments
for their own protection.
For full details on this subject, l call
your special attention to the report of
the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
THE WAR DEPNTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows the expenditures of the War De-
for ths year ending June 80,
iS69, to be S5U,6i4,O42, of which S23,-
Ss2. .3lO was disbursed in the payment
of debts contracted during the war, and
is not charg able to the current army
exper ses. The estimate OF S3l, ,53l OBJ
for the expenses of the army for the
next fiscal year is as low as it is be-
lieved can be relied OH.
The estIm Ites OF Bureau officers have
been carefully scrutinized, and reduced
wherever il has been deemed practiCa-
BILE. If, however, the condition of the
country should be such by the beginning
e the next fiscal year a. to admit Of a
greater concentration OF troops, the
appropI iatiOns asked for will not he
expended. The appropriations esti-
mated for river and harbor improve.
ments, aud forti[ications, are ssbmitted
separately. Whatever amoun: Con-
gress may deem proper TO appro-
pirate for these purposes will be expend-
ed. The recommendation of the General
of the Armythat an appropriation be
made for the forts at Boston, Portland,
New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans
and San Francisco, if that for no other,
is concurred in. also ask your special
attention TO the recommendation OF the
General commanding the military di.
vision 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 legisla.
ton be had for the protection of the
seal fisheries, from which q revenue
should be derived.
The report of the Secretary of War
contains synopsis of the reports of the
heads of bureaus, of the commanders
of the military department and of the
districts of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas, aud the report of the General oi
the Army in full. The recommendations
therein contained have been considerel
and are submitted for your action. l.
however, call special attention to the
recommendation Of the Chief of Ord,
nance for the sale of arsenals and lands
no longer of use to the country; also Il
the recommendation of the Secretary o.
War that she act of the
third OF March. 1869, prohibiting
promotions aud appointments il
staff corps Of the army be repea'e Tn,
extent of country TO be garrisoned anC
the number of military posts to be filleC
is the same with a reduced army as will