Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-15
WATERFOWL. WIS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 1869

and firm but humane administration c
existing laws, amended from time to time
: as they may prove Intellectual and unneces
sary, IS probably all that are requii
ed. The third cannot be attain
ed by special legislation, bu
but must be regarded as fixed by the con
; stitution itself, and gradually acquiesced il
Dy force OF public opinion. From tn
| foundation OF the government to the pres
ent the management of the original inhab
: ltants OF this continent, the Indians, ha,
J been subject of embarrassment and ex
pense, and has been attended with con
tlnuous 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
hosthtles. The past, however, cannot b,
undone, and the question must be met as
we now lind it. [ have attempted new
polIcy toward these wards of the nation
and they cannot be regarded In any othel
light than as wards, with fair results so fa1
4 tried, and which I hope will be attended
ultimately with great SUCCESS. The Society
Of Friends is we'll known as having succeed
ed Ill living at peace with the Indians il
the early settlement of Pennsylvania while
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 and
fair dealings. These considerations in.
duced NE to give the management of few
reservations Of Indians to them, and tc
4 throw thu burden of the selection of agents
fI,o |.
proven most satisfactory 1t will be found
more fully set forth in the report of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For SUI
perintendants and 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 will Of the President.
The former is personally interested in liv-
ing in harmony with the Indians. and in
the establishment of a 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 a faithful discharge of du-
ties IN carrying out a given policy. The
| building OF railroads, and the access there
! by given 10 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 harmonic
WELL and one or the other has to give way.
4 system which looks to the determination
of race is too horrible for nation to adopt
without entailing upon itself the wrath of
all Christendom and engendering in the
citizen a disregard for human life aud the
rights of others and dangerous to society
I see no substitute fer such a 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 territoriaIly for their own protec-
| ton. For full details on this subject /
call your special attention 10 tbs 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 Both of June, 1859, to
be $50, 644, 042, of which 23,882, 80 was
dlsbursed 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 Tor 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 o greater centratlon of troops.
| the appropriation asked for viii not be ex-
! pended. The appropriation estimated for
river and harbor improvements and fortif-
! cations are submitted separately. What
! ever amount Congress may deem proper to
appropriate for these purposes, viii be ex-
! pended. The recommendation Of the Gener-
al of tire Army thai appropriations be made
for the forts at Boston, Portland, New
York, Philadelshia, New Orleans and San
! 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 the
sale of the Seal Islands Of st. Paul and st.
George, Alaska Territory, and suggest 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 synopsis of the heads of bureaus OF
commanders of military divisions and 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-
commendation of the Chief of Ordnance fol
the sale of arsenals and lands no longer Oi
use to the Government; also to the recon-
mendatlon of the Secretary OF War that the
act of Sd of March, 1859, 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 a 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 the
navy when this administration came
into Office, and changes made since
Strenuous efforts are being made to place
!
them fit for service, If required, as soon as
possible, and substituting the fail fo1
steam while cruising, thus materially re-
ducing the expenses of the navy and ad.
ding greatly to its efficiency. Looking to
our future, [ recommend o liberal, though
not extravagant, policy towards this branch
OF public service.
The report of the postmaster general fur
nishes a 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 reye-
nues tor the year ending the 30th of June,
1869, amount to S18, AS, $40, and the ex-
penditures to s23, $50, l31, showing an ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts Of S.
353, 500. 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 81, 051. 900
and the increase of expenditures was 1867,
. GQf7 bn