Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-17


legislation, but must be regarded as fixed
| by the Constitution itself, and gradually ac-
quiesced in by force Of public opinion.
| REQUEST FOR REPEAL OF TENURE-oF-oFFICE
ACT.
1t may be we'll to mention here, the en-
barra rassment possible to arise from leaving
on the statute books the so-caled Tenure of
Office Act, and to earnestly recommend its
total repeal. 1t cannot have been the III
tention of the trainers of the Constitution
when providing that appointments made by
the President should receive the consent of
the Senate, that the latter should have the
power to retain in Office persons placed there
By Federal appointment against the will Of
the President. The law is inconsistent with
faithful and efficient administration OF the
Government. What faith can the Execu-
tive put in officials forced upon him, and
those, too, whom he has suspended for rea-
son? How will such officials be likely to
serve an administration which they know
does not trust them?
There has been no hesitation in changing
officials in order to secure efficient execu-
ton of the laws sometimes, too, where in
mere party view, undesirable political re-
suits were likely to follow, or any hesita-
ton in sustaining efficient officials against
remonstrances wholly political.
THE INDIAN AND HIS FUTURE.
From the foundation of the Government
to the present, the Indians have been sub
jects of embarrassment and expense, and
have been attended with continuous rObber-
les, murders, and worse. From my own ex-
perience upon the frontiers and Indian coun-
tries, do not hold either legislation or the
conduct of the whites WHO came most in
contact with Indians. blameless for these
hostiities. The last, however, can't be I'M
done, and the question must be met as we
now find It. | have adopted new policy
| toward these wards Of the nation. They
cannot be regarded in any other light than
as wards with fair results, so far as tried,
and which hope will be attended ultimate
ly with great success. The Society of
Friends is we'll known as having succeeded
in living in peace with Indians in the early
settlement of Pennsylvania, when the white
neighbors of other sects in other sections
were constantly embroiled. They are also
known for their opposition to all strife and
violence and are generally noted for their
strict integrity and fair dealings. These
considerations induced me to give the man.
agement Of few reservations of Indians to
them, ard to throw the burden of the selec-
ton Of agents upon the Society itself, and it
} has proten most satisfactory. 1t will be
found more fully set forth in the report of
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For
Superintendents and Indian Agents not on
reservations, officers of the army were Sc
lected. The reasons for this are numerous
When Indian Agents are sent there, or near
their troops must be also the a gent and the
Commander Of troops are independent Of
each other and are subject to orders from
different Departments of the Government.
The army officer holds position for life,
the agent one at the will Of the President.
The former is personally interested in living
in harmony with Indians, and the establish
ment of permanent peace, to the end that
some portion of his life may be spent with
in the limits OF a civilized section, the latter
has no such personal interest. Another
reason is an economical one, and still an
other hold which the Government has upon
life officer, to secure faithful discharge
Of duties in carrying out given policy.
The building of railroads and the acces;
thereby given to all agricultural and miner
al regions of their country is rapidly bring
ing civilized settlements in contact with all
the tribes of Indians. No matter what ough
to be the relations between such settlements
and the aborigines, the fact is they do no
harmonic well ; one or the other has tt
give way in tie end. A system which look
to the determination OF race is too horri
bic for a nation to adopt without entaiing
upon itself the wrath of all ch7istendom, anC
engendering in the citizen a disregard TO
human life, and the rights of others danger
Gus to society. I see no substitute for sucl
system except in placing all The Indian
in large reservations as rapidly as can bt
done, and giving them absolute protection
there ard as soon as they are fitted for it
they should be induced to take their land
in community, and to set up territorial GOV
ernments for their own protection. For fnl
details on this subject. call your attention
to the reports of the Secretary Of the lnteri
or and the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
THE REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF WAR
APPROPRIATIONS.
The report of the Secretary of War show
the expenditures of the War Department fo
the fiscal year ending the 30th OF June, 1869
to be $S0,e44 ,042, of which $23,SS2 ,3ll
was disbursed in she payment Of debts con
tracted during the war, and is not chargea
bic to current army expenses. The estl
mate of $34, ,53l ,03l, for the expenses of thu
army for the next fiscal year is as low as i
is believed can be relied on. The estimates
of the Bureau officers have been CAREFUL,
scrutinized. and reduced wherever it ha:
been deemed practicable. If, however, til,
condition of the country should be such, b,
the beginning of the next fiscal year, as tt
admit greater concentration OF troops, tn,
appropriations asked for will not be expend
ed.
The appropriation estimate for river ano
harbor Improvement and for Notifications
are submitted separately. Whatever Con
gress may deem proper to appropriate fol
these purposes will be expended.
The Recommendations of the General O
the army that appropriations be made fol
the forts ut Boston, Portland New York
Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Fran
cisco, if for no other, is concurred in.
also ask your special attention to the
recommendation of the General command
ing the Military Division 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 legis
lation be had for the protection of the sea
fisheries, from which revenue should bC
derived.
The report Of the Secretary Of War con
tains synopsis of the heads of bureaus, o.
the commanders Of military divisions, and
of the districts of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas. and the report of the General Of the
Army in the field. The recommendations
contained therein have been well consider
ed. and are submit ID for your action. l
however, call special attention to the rec
ommendation of the Chief of Ordnance fcl
the sale of arsenals ana lands OF no longe
use to the Government also to the recon-
mendations of the Secretary of War, tha
the act of March Sd, 1869. prohibiting pro
motion and appointments in the staff corp
of the army, be repealed. The extent c
country to be garrisoned, and the number 0
military posts to be occupied, is the sam
with q reduced army as with large one
The number OF staff officers required il
more dependent upon the latter than the
former condition.
THE REPORT FROM THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
ACCOMMODATING this, shows the condition o
the navy when this Administration came
into Office, and the changes made since
| Strenuous efforts have been made to place