Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-12-15

fair dealings. These considerable induced
me to give the management of few reser>
vations of Indians to them, and to throw
the burden OF the selection of agents upon
the Society itself. The result has proved
most satisfactory. 1t will be found more
fully set forth in the report of the Commis-
sioner of Indian Affairs. For Superintend-
ents and Indian Agents not on the reserVa-
tlcns, officers of the army were selected.
The easons for this were numerous. When
Indian Agents are sent there, or near there,
troops must be sent also. The agent and
the commander of the troops are independ-
ent OF each other, and are subject to orGers
from different departments of the Govern
ment. The army officer holds a position
Tor lie; the agent one at the will of the
President. The former is personally inter.
ested in living IN harmony with the Indian,
and IN the establishment of a permanent
peace, to the end that some portion of his
life may be spent within the limits of civil
lied society. The latter has no such per
sonal interest. Another reason is an econ
omic one and still another, the hold which
the Government has upon life officer to
secure faithful discharge of duties in car
rylng out given policy. The building OF
railroads and the access thereby given to all
the agricultural and mineral regions of the
NOuitiN Ia dp.uil CaNtiiLeI SGtI lt
ments into contact with all the tribes of Ia
dians. No matter rhat ought to be the
relations between such settlements and the
aborigines, tie fact is they do not harmon
ize well, and one or the other has to give
way in the end. A system which looks to
the extinction OF race is too horrible for g
nation TO adopt without entailiBg upon itself
the wrath of all CbriSteGdom and engender-
ing IN the citizen disregard for human life
and the rights of others dangerous to socie
ty; IL see no substitute for such system
except in placing all the Indians on large
reservations as soon as can be done, and
giving them absolute protection there as
soon as they are fitted for IT, They should
be induced to take their lands in severally,
and set up territorial government for their
own protection. Fer full details on the
subject, | call your special attention to the
report of the Secretary of the Interior and
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary OF War shows
the expenditures of the War Department
for the year ending the 18th Of June, 1869,
to be $50, GA O42, OF which S23, $50, $40 was
dlsbursed IN the payment OF debts consract-
ed during the war, and Is not chargcabl to
current army expenses. His estimate of
S3i, ,53l ,03l tor the expenses of the army
for the fiscal year, is as low as it is believed
can be relied on. The estimates of the bu.
reau officers have been scrutinized and re-
duced wherever it has been deemed practi-
cable. If however, the condition Of the
country should be such by the beginning OF
the next fiscal year as to admit OF a greater
concentration of troops, the appropriation
asked for will not be expended. The alb
=, -
Improvements and for Notifications are sub
mitted separately. Whatever amount Con-
gress may deem proper to appropriate for
these purposes will be expended.
The recommendation of the General of
the Army that appropriations BE- made for
the forts of Boston, Portland, New York,
Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Fran
cisco, If for no other, is concurrcd in. i
also ask your special attention TO the recon-
mendation of the General commanding the
Military Division of the Pacific for the sale
of the Seal Islands Of st. Paul and st.
George, Alaska Territory, and suggests that
it either be complied with or that legislation
be had for the protection of the seal fish
cries from which a revenue should be deriv-
ed
The report of the Secretary of War con
tains a synopsis Of the reports Of heads of
visions, and of the districts of Virginia,
Mississippi, and Texas, and the report Of
the General of the army in full. The re-
commentators therein contained have been
well considered, and are submitted for your
action. | however, call special attention to
the recommendation of the Chief Of Ordi-
nance for the sale of arsenals and lands no
longer Of any use to tie Government; also
TO the recommendation of the Secretary Of
War, that the act of the Sd of March, 1862
prohibiting promotions and appointments
on the Staff Corps OF the army be repealed.
The extent OF the country TO be garrisoned
and the number of military posts to be oc
cupied are the same with reduced army as
with large one. The number of staff off
GERS required is more dependent upon the
latter than the former condition.
NAVAL MATTERS.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
accompanying this, shows the condition OF
the Navy when this administration came IN
to of;ce, aud the changes made since. Siren
uous efforts have been made 80 place as ma
ny vessels in commission, or render them hit
for service, if required, as possible, and TO
substitute the sail for steam while cruising,
thus materially reducing the expense of the
navy, and adding greatly TO its efficiency.
Looking to our future, | recommend z lib
eral but not extravagant policy tosard this
branch of the public service.
The report of the Postmaster-General
furnishes a clear and comprehensive exhibit
OF the opera lions OF the postal service and
of the financial condition of the Post Office
Department The ordinary postal revenues
for the year ending the Both of June, 1869,
amounted to SIS, 344, $40 aud the expendi-
lures to S23, ,696, l3l, showing an excess of
expenditures over receipts of 1888, ,620.
The excess Of expenditures over receipts for
the previous year aInonnted to 6,431, ,992.
The increase Of revenues for 1869 exceeded
the increased r-venue in 1868 by 1896. 336,
and the increased expenditure in 1869 was
50, 527, $40 less than the increased expendi
ture in 1868, showing by comparison this
gratifying feature of Improvement: that
while the increase of expenditure over the
increase of receipts in 1868 was 81, 439, ,535,
the increase Of receipts over the increase of
expenditures in 1869 was 81 ,OS4, 81.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the recommendations made by the Post
master-General for authority to change the
rate of compensation to the main trunk rail
road lines tor their services in carrying the
mails; for having postroute maps execu-
ted for reorganizing and increasing the ef-
fciency of the Special Agency service; for
the increase of the mail service on the Pacif-