Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-12-14

tSu0JOSt slll6 ADMINISTRATION has most
earnestly addressed itself, with results
| believe, satisfactory to the conr...y.
There has been no hesitation in
changing officials in order to secure
the efficient execution of the laws.
sometimes too, when, in mere party
view, undesirable political results
were hkely to follow, nor any hest
.aslon IN sustaining officials against
remonstranees wholly political Tt
may be well to mention bara ~
embarrassment possible to arise From,
having on the statue books so-called
tenure-of office acts, and to earnestly
recomm ended then total repeal. RI
could not have been the intention of
the trainers of the Constitution, when
providing that tie appointments
made by the President should re-
ceive the consent Of the Senate, that
the latter should nave power to re-
tain IN office persons placed there by
federal appointment, against the will
of the President. The law is incon-
sistent with the faithful and efficient
administration of che Government.
" hat faith can the Executive put in
Ia officials forced upon him, and
ehese, too, whom he has suspended
for substantial reasons !? How will
Such officials be likely to serve an
administrator which they know
does not trust them? For the sec
ond requisite to our growth and
prosperity, time, and firm but hu-
name administration of the existing
laws, amended from time to time, as
they may prove Intellectual and IN
necessary,is probably all that are re-
CURED. The third cannot be attain
ed by special legislation, but must be
regarded as fixed by the Constitution
itself, and gradually acquiseeed in by
the force OF public opinion.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
From the foundation OF the Gov
ernment to tho present, the manage
ment of the aboriginal inhabitants of
this continent, the Indians, has been
a ss.aject Of embarrassment and ex-
peEse, and has been attended with
continuous robberies, murders and
wars. From my own experience up
on the frontiers and in the Indian
countries, do not hold either legis-
iation or the conduct of the whites
who come most in contact with the
Indians blameless for these hostilities.
The fact, however, cannot be undone,
and the question must be met as we
now find it. | have attempted & new
policy towards these new wards Of
the nation (and they cannot be re-
garded in any other light than as
wards) with fair results as far as
tried, and which hope will be at
tended ultimately with great success.
The Society of Friends are well
known as having succeeded in living
at peace with the Indians in the early
settlement of the country, while
their white neighbors of other sects
in other sections were constantly en-
broled. They are also known for
their opposition TO all strife andavio-
lence and war, and are generally
noted for their strict integrity and
fair dealings. These considerations
induced me to give the management
of 8 few reservations of Indians to
them, and to throw the burden Of
the selection Of agents upon the Soci-
ETY. itself. The result has proven
most satisfactory. 1t will be found
more fully set forth in the report of
the Commissioner Of Indian affairs.
For superintendent and Mndian
agents not on reservations, officers of
the army were selected. The rea-
sons for this are humorous. When
indian agents are sent there or near
there, troops must be sent also. The
agents and the commanders of the
troops are independent Of each other,
and are subject to orders from differ
ent departments Of the Government.
The army officer holds a position for
ife; the agents ct the will of the
President. The former is personally
Interested in living in harmony with
,he Indians, and in the establishment
If permanent peace, to the end
hat some portion OF his life may be
'pent within the civilized section.
The latter has no such personal in
crest. Another is an economical
eason, and still another is the hold
which the Government has upon q
lfe officer to secure a faithful dis
,harge of duties in carrying out a
given policy. The building Of rail-
'oads and the access thereby given
o ali agricultural and mineral re-
sions Of the country is rapidly bring
ng the civilized settlements into
'ontaet with all the tribes of Indians.
No matter what ought to be the re-
ations between such settlements and
he ahorignines, the fact is they do
aot harmonic well, and one or the
,ther has to give way. A system
which locks to the determination of
! whole race, is too horrible for ana
ion to adopt, without entaiIing upon
tself the wrath of all Christendom.
md engendering in the citizen dis
'egard for human life and the rights
II others, and dangerous 10 society.
see no substitute for such system,
Except in placing the Indians on
arge reservations as rapidly as this
an be done, and giving them abso-
ute protection there. As soon as
hey are fitted for it, they should be
1duced to take their lands In sever
lty, 80 as to set up territorial gov
rnments for their own protection.
Cor full details on this subject, | call
-our special attention to the report
f the Secretary of the Interior and
he Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of
\ ar shows the expenditures of the
Var Department for the year ending
he Both of June, 1869, to BE 800,
A, 042, Of which s23, 1872, 80 was
isbursed in the payment of debts
ontracted during the war, and is
Tot chargeable to current army ex-
'onses. The estimate of s34, 531 ,003
. 10 Il.