North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-12-15

IS well known as having succeeded in liy-
ing in peace with the Indians in the earlv
settlement Of Pennsylvania, when their
white neighbors of other sects in other
sections were constantly embroiled.. They
are also known for their opposition to all
strife. violence and war, and are generally
noted for their strict integrity and fair
dealing. These considerations induce me
to give the management of few reserva-
tions Of Indians to them, and to throw
the burden of the selection Of agents upon
the Society itself, and the result has pro-
ven most satisfactory. 1t will be found
more fully set forth in the report of the
Commissioners Of Indian Affairs. For
Supefintendents and Indian agents. not
on reservations, officers of the army were
selected. The reasons for this are numer-
Gus. When Indian Agents are sent there,
or near there. troops must be sent also.
The Agent and the commander of troops
arc independent of each other, and are
subject to orders from different depart.
ments 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 the Indians, and the estab-
lishment Of a permanent peace, to the end
that some portion of his life may be spent
within the limits of the civilized section.
The latter has no such personal interest,
Another reason is an economic one, and
still another hold which this Government
has upon life officer to secure faithful
discharge of his duties in carrying out a
given policy. The building of railroads
and the access thereby given to all the
agricultural and mineral regions of their
country is rapidly bringing civilized set.
Elements in contact with all the tribes Of
Indians. No matter what ought to be the
relations between such settlements and the
aborigines. the fact is they do not harmon.
lie well, and one or the other has to give
way in the end. t1- at aoasie@ q
A system which looks to the extermina.
ton Of the race is too horrible for q
nation to adopt, without entailing upon
itself the wrath Of all Christendom, and
engendering in the citizen a disregard for
human life and the rights of others dan
gerous to society. Isee no substitute for
such a system, except in placing oil the
Indians on the large reservations as rap
idly as can be done, and giving tsenl
absolute protection there, as soon as they
are fitted for it. They should be induced
to take their lands in general, and to set
up territorial governments for their own
protection. For full details on this sub.
ject, / call your special attention to the
reports OF the Secretary of the Interior
and the Commission Of Indian Affairs.
The report Of the Secretary of War,
shows the expenditures of the War De.
partment for the year ending the Both of
June, 1869, to be SSO,644, ,O42, of which
S23, ,8S2,31O was dispursed in the payment
of debts controcted during the war, and ia
not chargeable to current army expenses.
The estimate of s34, 1881, ,O3l for the ex-
penses of the army for the next fiscal year
is as low as it is believed can be relied on.
The estimates Of the Bureau officers have
been carefully scrutinized and reduced
wherever it has been deemed practicable.
If, however, the condition Of the country
should be such by the beginning of the
nezt fiscal year as to admit greater cons
centration of troops, the appropriation
asked for will not be expended. .se
The appropriation estimated for river
and harbor improvements, and for fortif-
cations, are submitted separately. What
ever amoxnt Congress may deem proper
to appropriate for these purposes will be
expended. -.s.-. ..-... ....s -........
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 Fran
cisco, if for no other, is concurred in. I
also ask your special attention to the
recommendation Of the General Com
manding 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 legislation be had for the
protection of the seal fisheries, from which
revenue should be derived.
The report of the Secretary of War
contains synopsis of the heads of bu-
reaus of the commanders of Military
Divisions, and of the Districts of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, and the report Of
the General of the Army in full The
recommendations therein contained have
been we'll considered, and are submitted
for your action. l, however, call special
attention to the recommendation of the
Chief or Ordnance for the sale of arsenals
and lands no longer Of use to the Cow
ernment; also to the recommendation of
the Secretary OF War that the act of the
Sd Of March, 1869, prohibiting the 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 reduced army as with large
one. The number of staff officers re,
quired is more dependent upon the latter
than the former condition.
The report of the Secretary of the Ma
Wy accompanying this shows the condi-
ton Of the navy when this Administration
came into Office and the change made
since.
Strenuous efforts have been made to
place as many vessels in commission, or
render them tit for service if required, Ga
possible, and to substitute the sail for
steam while cruising, thus materially re-.
ducing the expenses of the Navy and ad.
ding greately to its efficiency. Looking
to our future, ! recommend liberal,
though not extrayagant, policy towards
this branch of the public service.
The report Of the Postmaster General
furnishes clear and comprehensive ex-
hihit Of the operations Of the postal SER
vice, and Of the financial conditions of
this part of the Post Office Department
The ordinary postal revenues for the year
ending the 30rh of June, 1869, amount to
SIS, ,344 $40, and the expenditures to S23,.
$50, ,l3l, showing an excess OF expenii,
lures over receipts of S5,353'62O. The
excess of expenditures over receipts for
the previous year amounted to Sc, ,437 ,992.
The increase Of revenue for 1869 over
those of 1868 was S2,O5i 800. and the To-
crease Of expenditures was S967, ,53S. The
increased revenue in 1869 exceed the
increased revenue in 1868 by 1896, 1856,
and the increased expenditure in 1869 was
50, 527 $40 less than the increased expen.
ditures in 1867, showing, by comparison.
this gratifying feature of Improvement,
that while the increase of expenditure
ever the increase Of receipts in 1863 ~as