The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-15
COL. DEM. -. VOL. XXXV.. NO. 43.

The prisoners will be held for regula
trial in the judicial tribunals Of th
, United States.
As soon as it appeared tn At the au
thOritie5 of the United States wer,
about to take vigorous measures to en-
|, force the law, many persons absconded
and there Is good ground for supposinl
that all Of such persons have violated
the law. A full report of what ha,
been done under this law will be sub
mitted TO Congress by tho Attorney
General.
In Utah there still remains remnant
of barbarism repugnant to civilization
to decency, and to the laws of the
United States. Territorial officers
however, have been found who are
willing to perform their duty in spirit
of equity, and with due sense OF the
necessity Of sustaining the majesty oi
tho law. Neither POlygamy nor any
other violation Of existing statutes will
be permitted within the territory of the
United States. 1t Is not with the relig.
ion of the elf.styled saints that we are
now dealing, but with their practices.
They will be protected in worship oil
God according to the dictates of their
consciences, but they will not be per.
|
cloak of religion. 1t may be advisable
Tor Congress to consider what, in the
execution of the laws against polygamy
Is to be the status of plural wives and
their offspring. The propriety of Con-
greSs passing an enabling act authoriz.
ing the Territorial Legislature of Utah
to legitimize all children born prior to
time fixed in the act, might be justi-
fled by its humanity to these innocent
children. This is suggestion only,
not recommendation.
The policy pursued towards the In
dians hasresulted favorably, so far as can
be judged from the limited time during
which it has been in operation. Through
the eXertions OF the various societies of
Christians, to whom has been entrusted
the execution of the policy, and the
Board of Commissioners authorized by
the law of April Goth, 1860, many tribes
of Indians have been induced to settle
upon reservations, to cultivate the soil,
to perform productive labor of various
kinds and to partially accept civiliza-
tion.
They are being cared for in such a
way, it is hoped AS TO induce those still
pursuing their old habits of life to EN-.
brace the only opportunity which is
left them to avoid determination.
[ recommend liberal appropriations
to carry out the Indian peace policy
not only because 1t il humane, Chris
tianlike, and economical; but because
it is right.
/ recommend to your favorable con.
sideration also the policy Of granting
a territorial government TO the Indians
in the Indian Territory, west of Ar
kansas and Missouri, and south of Kan
sas. In doing so, every right guaran.
teed to the Indian by treaty should be
secured. Such course might, in time,
be the means Of collecting most of the
Indians now between the Missouri and
the Pacific, and south of the British
possessions into one Territory or one
State.
The Secretary of the Interior has
treated upon this subject at length, and
l commend to you his suggestions.
l renew my recommendation that the
public lands be regarded as heritag,
to our children, to be disposed of onl,
, as required for occupation, and to actu
} al settlers. Those already granted hav,
been in great part disposed of in sucl
a way as to secure access to the balance
by the hardy settler who may wish tc
avail himself of them. But caution
should be exercised even in attaining
so desirable an object.
Educational interests may well b'
served by the grant of the proceeds o
the sale of public lands to settlers. l dt
not wish to be understood as recon-
mending in the least degree a curtail
ment of what is being done by the Gen
eral Government for the encouragement
of education.
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior, submitted with this, will give
you all the information collected anC
prepared for publication in regard tC
the census taken during the year 1870
the operations of the Buroau of Educa
tiOn for the year; the Patent Office
the Pension Office; the Land Office
and the Indian Bureau.
The report of the Commissioner o
Agriculture gives the operations Of hi.
Department for The year.
~ agriculture is the ground work o
our prosperity. too much importance
cannot he attached to the labors of this
Department. 1t j. in the hands of az
able head, with able assistants, nll zeal
ously devoted to introducing into tn,
agricultural productions of the nation
all useful products adapted To any O
the various climates and soils of oul
vast territory, and to giving all useful
Information as to the method OF cult
walton, the plants, cereals, and othel
products adapted to trticular localities
Quickly, but surely, the Agricultural
Bureau is working 4 great nationa
good, and if literally supported, tn
more widelyi its Influence will be extend
ed and the less dependent we shall b.
upon the products of foreign countries
The subject of compensation 10 the
; heads of bureaus and officials holding
positions of responsibility, aud requir
; ing ability and character to fill proper
ly. is one to which your attention is in
vitt d, But few of the officials receiv
support of family, while their dutie
J are such as to involve millions of inter
J est. In private life services demanI
compensation equal TO the Sc rv!ces ren
| dered. A wise economy would dictat
: the same rule in the Government scr
, vice.
| | have not given the estimates for tn
Z support of Government for the ensuin
5 year, nor the comparative statemen
I between the expenditures for the yea
just passed and the one just preceding
I because all these figures are containe
5 in the accompanying reports, or
i those presented directly TO Congress
It These estimates have my approval.
More than six years having elapse
r since the last hostile gun was fred b,
+ tween the armies then arrayed again
r each other, one for the perpetuatiol
i the other for the destruction of Il
5 Union, it may we'll be considere
whether it is not now time that the di
= abilities imposed by the fourtecnt
n amendment should not be removed.
o That amendment does not eXclut
;. the ballot, but only imposes the dis
o bilityto hold offices upon certain classe
@ When the purity of the ballot j. s.
!, cure msjorities are sure to elect office
IS rejecting the views of the majority.
= do not sec the advantage or prophet
of excluding men from office mere
|. because they were before the rebelliC
}. of standing and character sufficient
e be elected TO positions requiring the
u to take oaths To support the Constit
tion, and admitting to eligibility tho
10 entertaining precisely the same view
s. but Of less standing in their commul
M | ties II NAV lp sail that thn firm