The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-12-16


of the Secretary. OF the Interior. sub
nation collected and prepared for
publication ing regard to the census
taken during tile year 1870. the opera
tioils of the bureau of Education for
the year, the Patent Office, the PEN
sion Office, Land Office and the Indian
Bureau.
AGRICULTURAL--BUR OFFICIALS.
The report of the Commissioners OF
Agriculture gives the operations OF his
Department for the year. As agricul-
tlIre Is the groundwork OF our pros
perity. too much iinpO1tai.ce cannot
be attached to the labors Of tli, DE.
ptrtlnent i'm tie hands Of all able head
with able assistants, all ZcalotIsly de-
voted to Introducing into the agriclI-
t,lral productions of the nation all
useful products adapted to any of the
variOns climates and soils OF our vast
territory. and to giving all useful in-
formation as to tile method OF culti.
vition Of the plants and c, reals and
other products adapted to paTtieu'ar
localities. The Agricultural Bufsau
is working great national good. and
its influence will be extend. d and the
less dependent we viii te upon the
products of foreign countries.
The subject Of compensation to the
Heads Of Bureaus and officials holding
positions of responsible ity. and requir-
ing ability and character to FIJI them
properly, is one to which your atten-
fion Is invited. But few of the officials
receive a compensation equal to the re-
spectacle support OF f;imily, while
their duties are such as to involve
millions of interest. In private lift:
spGih seryIssz as1gf . w1 1se s.,sa e1sA
A wise policy would dictate the same
rule in the Government service. have
not given the estimate for the support
of the Government for the ensuing
year, or comparative statement
between the expenditures for the
year just past and the one just precei-
ing, because all those figures are con-
tained in the accompanying reports. or
in these presented directly to Congress.
These estimates have my approval.
GENERAL AMNESTY.
More than six years having elapsed
since the last hostile gun was fired be-
tween the armies then ar1ayed against
each otf,er-one for the perpetruition,
the other for the destruction of tile
Union-it may well be considered
whether it is not now time the disabil-
tiles imposed by the Fourteenth
Amendment should be removed. That
Amendment does not exclude the bal
lot, but only requires the disability to
hold office Of certain classes. When
the purity OF tlIe ballot-box is secure,
by a majority sure to elect officers re-
f1ecting the views Of the majority. do
not see the advantage or propriety of
excluding men from Office merely be-
cause they were before the rebellion Of
a standing and character sufficient to
be elected to positions requiring them
to take the oath to support the Con-
stitution and admitting the eligibility
of those entertaining the same views.
ties. 1t may be said the former viola
ted an oath, while the latter did not
have it in their power to do SO. Ifthey
had taken this oath it can't be doubted
that they would have broken it as did
the former class. If there are any
great criminals distinguished above all
others for the part they took in oppc-
sition to the Government, they might,
in the judgment Of Congress, be ex-
cluded from such an amnesty. This
subject is submitted for your careful
consideration.
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
The condition Of the Southern States
is, IlnlEappily, not such rs all true, pa
triotic citizens would like to see. So
ci;sl ostracisin for opinions sake, per
sonal violence or threats toward per-
sons entertaining political views OPP
jority of the citizens, prevent inlmigra-
tion and the flow of much needed capi-
tai into the States lately into rebellion.
1t will be a. happy condition of the
country when the old citizens of the
States will take an interest in
public affairs, tolerate an idea honestly
entertained, vote for men representing
their views. and permit the freedom of
expression and ballot in those enter
tanning different political convictions.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Under the provisions Of the act of
Congress approved February 2lst,
1871, a Territorial Government was
organized in the District of Columbia.
Its results have thus far fully realized
the expectations Of its advocates. I'm
der the direction of the territorial Off
GERS n system of improvements has
been inaugurated by means Of which
Washington is rapidly becoming a city
worthy of tue nations capitol The
citizens of the District having volunta-
rily taxed themselves to enlarge the
amount for the purpose Of contributing
| to the advancement of the seat of Gov
ernment, recommend liberal appro-
priations on the part of Congress, in
| order that the Government may bear
| its just share of the expense of carry
| ing out various systems of improve
| ments.
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
BY the great fire in Chicago the most
| important Government buildings i'll
| that city were destroyed. Those burnt
had already become Inadequate to the
wants of the Government in that grow
ing city, and, looking to the near ftl-
| ture, were totally Insufficient. | re-
1 commend, therefore, that an appro-
priation be made immediately
to purchase the remainder OF the
| square on which the burned buildings