The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-12-09


my own experience upon the FROM.
tier and in Indian countries, l do
not bold either legislation or the
conduct Of tho whites who come
most in contact with tho Indians
blameless for these hostilities. The
past however, cannot bo undone,
and the question must bo met as we
now find it. / have attempted a
new policy toward these wards of
the nation-they cannot be regard.
ed in any other light than as wards
with fair results as far as tried,
and which l hope, will be attended,
ultimately. with great sucdess.-
The sect of Friends is we'll known
as having succeeded In living in
peace with the Indians in the ear.
ly settlement Of Pennsylvania,
while their white neighbors of 9th.
er sccts, in other sections, were
constantly embroiled, They are
also known for their opposition TO
all strifc, violence and war, and are
generally noted, for thels strict in.
tegrity and fair dealings! These
considerations induced me to
give tho management of q
few reservations Of Indians
to them and to throw the
burden of the selection of these
agents upon tho society itself. The
result has proved most satisfacto.
ry. 1t will be found more fully
set forth in tho report of the Com.
missioner Of Indian Affairs.
For Superintendents and Indian
Agents, not on reservations, officers
of the army were selected. The
reasons for Aliis are pumerous.-- |
When Indian Agents are sent
there, or near there, troops must
be sent also, Pho Agent ond Com.
mandcr Of troops are independent
of each other, and are subject to
orders from different departments
of the Government The army Of
fcer bolds position for life, the
agents arc at the will Of the Presi.
dent. The former is personally in
terested in living in harmony with
the Indians and in the establish.
ment of o permanent peace, to the
end that some portion of his life
may be spent within the limits of
o civilized section. The latter has
no such personal interest. Anoth.
er reason is an economic one, and
still another tho hold which thegov.
ernment has upon life officer to
secure a faithful discharge Of du-
ties in carrying out its policy. The
building of railroads and the ac.
cess thereby given TO all agrcul>
tural and mineral regions Of their
country is rapidly bringing civiliz-
cd settlements into contact with all
tribes of Indians. No matter what
ought TO be tho relations between
such settlements and the aborig-
ines, the fact is they do not har>
monize we'll and one or the other
has to give way in the end.
hsystem whichlo olss to the determination
60 ia, Ia for tn nd
without entalling upon itself the wrath Of all
Christendom and enge ndering IN the citizen
disregard for human life and tho rights OF 9TH
ers dangerous IA society. see no substitute
for such system, except In placing all the In
dans on large reservations rs rapidly rs can be
done, and giving them absolute protection
there. As soon rs tfeya fitted for II they
should be induced to take their lands in sever
atty and to set up territorial governments for
their own protection. For null details on this
, subject call yourspecia attention to tho re
ports Of the Secretary OF the Interior and
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
The report OF the Secretary Of War shows the
expenditures Of the War Department for the
year ending the aOth Of June, 1869, TO be $780,
ia Oi2, of which s23, ,Ss2, $40 was disbursed in
the payment OF debts contracted during the
war, and is not chargeable TO current army
expenses. The estirnate OF S34.53l 1881 for he
expenses ofthe army for the next fiscal year IS
ms low nst is believed can be relied on The esti-
mate Ofthe Bureau OtllcCrS nave DCen care
fully scrutinized and reduced whe re yer II has
been deemed practicable. II, however, The
condition OF the country should be such.by the
beginning OF the next fiscal year Us to admit Of
q greater concentration Of troops the nppro-
pration asked for n II no, be @ pended.
The appropriations estimated for river and
harbor improvements, and for iortlhcations,
are submitted seoarately. Whatever amount
Congress may deem proper to appropriate for
these purposes will be expended.
The Recommendation OF the General OF the
army that appropriations he made for the forts
at 30 ston, Portland. New York, Philadelphia,
New Orleans, and San Francisco, il forno 9TH
er, ia eoucurred in. ,.
] also ask your special attention to the re-
commentator OF the General commanding the
military division Of the Pacliie, for the sale OF
the Seal Islands Ot st. Paul and 81. George,
Alaska Territory, and suggest that It either be
cemplied with, or that legislation be had for
tho protection of tho seal fisheries, from which
a revenue shouldbe derived.
The report NJ the Secretary of War contains
n synopsis Of the reports OF the heads OF bu.
renns, OF the commanders of military diyi-
sions, and Of the districts nj Virginia, Missis-
sippi and Texas, and the report Oi the General
Of tho army IN full. The recommendations
therein contained have been well considered,
anil are submitted tor yOur action. !, how.
ever, call special attention to tho recon-
mendation OF the eChlefofordna ance for the sale
Of Rrsenals and lands no longer OF use to the
Government; also to the recommendation Of
the Secretary OF War that the act OF the Sd o {
March, 1859, prohibiting promotions and np-
pointments in tho staffcdrps Of the armv he
repealed. The exte mt oicountry to he garri-
soned ann the number ofmilitary posts to be
occupied is tho same with a reduced army rs
will largo one. The number Of staff officers
required is more dependent upon the latter
than the former orconditon.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy nc.
compan VI ng this shows the condition Of the
navy when this administration came into
office, and cha ngos made since. Strenuous ef-
forts have been made to place rs mS1Y vessels
in commission or render them fit for SER
vice, II required, as possible, and to substitute
the sail for steam, while eruis ing, thus mater.
tally reducing the expenses Of tho navy and
adding greatly to its efficiency. Looking to
our future, | recommends liberal though not
extrayagnnt policy toward this branch fthe
public service,
The report Of the Postmaster General fnm-
ishes clear and comprehensive exhibit oftho
operations ofthe postal service, and OF the f.
nanclal condition of the Post Office de-
partnent The ordinary postal resources for
the year ending he 81 Of Juno, 1860, amount TO
SIS, ,9li,5l 10, and tho expenditures to S23,6S9,-
81, showing an excess Of expenditures over
receipts OF S5,3S3,i2O. The excess Of expendi-
lures over receipts for tho previous year
amounted to sG,4370o2. The increase Of reve-
nues for 1860 over those Of 1853, VASE ,n5l ,0p0,
snd the increase Of expenditures was S96I, 53s.
! Tho increased revenue in 1869 exceeded the
| increased revenue in 1888 by s006336 and the
increased expenditures in 500 were SO, $40
less than the Increased expenditures J. n 1868,