Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-14
NUMBER ~.

uidiueleSS IOr lneSe nOSillltleS
The past. however, cannot be undone, ano
tne question must be met as We now find it.
have attempted new policy towards these
wards OF the nation, (they cannot be regarded
In any other light than as wards with fair re-
suits SO tar as tried, and which, hope, will he
| attended ultimately with great success The
Society of Friends is well known as having sue.
ceeded in living in peace with the Indians in
the. early settlement of Pennsylvania, while
their white neighbors of other sects, in other
sections, were constantly embroiled They are
also known for their opposition to all strife, vi
oIence and war, and are generally noted for their
strict integrity and fair dealings. These con-
sloeretions induced me to give the management
OF few reservations of Indiansto, and to throw
the burden OF the selection of agents upon, the
Society itself
Ihe result has proven most satisfactory. It
will be found more fully set forth in the report
OF the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For
superlntendents and Indian agents not ON res
ervatlons, officers of the army we're selected. =
ihe reasons tor this are numerous Where In
dian agents are sent, thereo near there, troops
must also be sent. The agent and the com
mander of troops are independent of each 9th
er and are subject to orders from different de-
partments OF the Government The army Off
Ger holds a position for life, the agent one at
the VIII OF the President The former is per-
sonally Interested in living In harmony with the
indians and establishing permanent peace to
the end that some portion Of his life NAV be
spent IN civilized society. The latter has no
such personal interest. Another reason is an
economical one; and still another, the hold
which the Government has upon a lie officer
to secure a faithful discharge of the duties in
carrying out a given policy. The building Of
railroads and the access thereby given to ali the
agricultural and mineral regions Of the country
Is rapidly bringing cisilized settlements into
contact With all the tribes of Indians. No
matter What ought to be the relations between
such settlements and the aborigines, the fact is
that they do not harmOnize well. and one or
the other has to give way in the end. A sys-
TEN which looks TO the extinction of race is
too horrible tor nation to adopt without en-
talllng upon itself the wrath of all Christen-
dom and engendering in the citizen disregard
for human life and the rights of others danger
Gus to society. L see no substitute for such a
system except In placing all the Indians on
large reservations as rapidly as it can be done,
and giving them absolute protection there AS
soon as they are fitted for it they should be in
duced to take their lands in seyeralty and to ses
up territorial governments for their own pro-
lection. For full details on this subject | call
sour special attention to the reports of the Sec
retary OF the Interior aud The Commissioner of
Indian Affairs.
THE RMY-FORTIFICATIONS, &C.
The recommendation of the General of the
Army that appropriations be made for the forts
at Boston, Portland, New York, PHILADELPHIA,
New Orleans and San Francisco, is concurred
In.
L call special attention to the recommenda-
tlons of the Chief of Ordinance for the sale of
arsenals and lands no longer OF use to the Gov
ernment; also TO the recommendation of the
Secretary OF War that the act prohibiting pro-
motions In the staff corps Of the army be re-
pealed. The extent of country to be garrison
ed and the number of military posts to be oc-
cupled Is the same with reduced army as with
large one. The number of staff officers re-
CURED is more dependent on the latter than the
former condition
THE NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary of the NAVY ac
companylDg this shows the condition of the ma
Wy. When this administration came into office.
and by changes made since, strenuous efforts
nave been made to place many vessels In
commission, or render them fit for service when
required, rs possible, and to substitute the sail
Tor steam while cruising, thus materially redu-
cling the expense Of the navy and adding greatly
TO It's efficiency. Looking to our future, | rec
ommend liberal though not extravagant pei
icy towards this branch of the public service.
POSI-OFFlCE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Postmaster-Gen fur
nishes a clear and comprehensive exhibit of the
operations of the postal service and OF the finan-
elal condition OF the Post-ofice Department
The ordinary postal revenue. for the year end
ing June 80, 1869, amounted to $I6,444,5IO,
and the expenditures to $23, ,69S, l3l Your at
tention is respectfully called to the recommend
alton made by the Postmaster General for au-
thorlty to change the rate OF compensation to
the main trunkrailway lines for their services
in carrying the mails, for having rost-route
maps executed, for reorgauizing and increasing
the efficiency OF the special agency service,
for the Increase OF the mail service of the Pa
chic, and for establishing mail service under the
f1ag OF the Union In the Atlantic; and most
especially do call your attention to his recon-
mendation for the total abolition of the frank
ing privilege. This Is an abuse from which no
one receives a commensurate advantage 1t
reduces the receipt for postal service from
twenty hive to thirty per cent. and largely in
creases the Sc vice to be performed.
THE PATENT OFFICE-INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
ETC.
During the year ending September 80. 1869.
the Patent Office issued l3, 1852 patents, and its
| receipts were 1886, 3S9, being S2l3 926 more
than the expenditures.
| respectfully call your attention to the rec
ommendation of the Secretary of the Interior
for uniting the duties OF supervising the edu-
cation of freedmen with the other duties de-
volving upon the Commissioner of Education.
| 1t 1t is the desire of Congress to make the
census during the year 1870 more complete and
perfect, l would suggest early action upon any
plan that may be agreed upon. AS Congress
at the last session appointed committee to
take into consideration such measures as might
be deemed proper In reference to the census,
and to report plan desist from saying more.
| recommend to your favorable consideration
the claims of the Agricultural Bureau for lib
eral appropriations. In a country so diversi-
fed in climate and soil as ours, and with pop
ulation SO largely dependent upon agriculture,
the benefits that can be conferred by properly
fostering this Bureau are incalculable.
desire respectfully to call the attention of
Congress to the inadequate salaries of a num-
Der of the most important officers of the Gov
ernment. In this message will not enumerate
them, but will specify only the Justices of the
Supreme Court. No change has been made in
their salaries for fifteen years. Within that
time the labors of the court have largely in
creased, and the expenses of living have at least
doubled. During the same period Congress
has twice found it necessary to increase largely
the compensation Of its own members, and the
duty it owes to another department of the Gov
ernment deserves, and will doubtless receive,
due consideration.
CONCLUSION.
There are many subjects not alluded TO in thi,
message which might with propriety be intro
duced. but abstain, believing that your patri
otism and craftsmanship will suggest the tonic,
and the legislation most conducive to the inter