The Russellville Democrat., 1876-12-14

--lob ulinluiou, aut tutc chS pledge of congress to resume specie payment in 1870 will be easily accomplished, even in the absence of much desired further Legislation on the subject.
 1 INDIAN AFFAIRS.
 A policy has been adopted to- ward the Indian tribes inhabiting a large portion of the territics ot the United States, which has been human, and has substan- tially ended Indian hostilities in the whole land except in DOT ton of Nebraska and Dakota, Wyoming and Montana territo
 ries, the Black Hills regions and approaches thereto. Hostilities in there have grown out of the avaricc of the white man, xho bas violated our treaty stipulations in his search for gold. The question might be asked why the government has not enforced obedience to the terms of the treaty, prohibiting the occupance of the Black Hills region by the whites? The answer is simply that the first emigrants to the Black Hills were removed by troops, but discoveries of gold took into that region increased numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantities, and an effort to remove the miners would only result in the destruc- tion of a bulk of the troops that might be sent there. All difficult ty in this matter has, however, been removed, subject to approv- al of congress, by treaty ccding the Black Hills and approach es to the settlement by citizens.
 The subject of the Indian poll cy and treatment is so fully set forth by the secretary of the in
 terror and the commissioners of Indian affairs, and my views so fully expressed therein that l refer to the mere reports and rec concentrations as my own.
 FOREIGN RELATIONS.
 The relations of the United States with foreign powers con t!nue on a friendly footing. Cues tions have arisen from time to time in the foreign relations of the government, but the United States have been happily free during the past year from the the complication and embarrass
 ment which have surrounded some of the foreign powers. The dlp- lomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information as to certain of the matters which have occupied the government. The cordiality which attends our relations with the powers of the earth has been plainly shown by : the general participation of for eign nations in the exhibition
 which has just ceased, and by the exertions made by distant
 powers to show their interest in and friendly feelings toward the
 United States, in commemoration of the centennial of the nation. The government and the people of the United States have not only fully appreciated this exhi-
 bition of kindly feeling, but it
 may be justly and fairly expect
 ed that no small benefits will
 result both to ourselves and other nations from better acquaint-
 ance and a better appreciation ol
 our mutual advantages.
 Congress, at it's last session saw fit to reduce the amount usu, ally appropriated for foreign in
 tercoulse by withholding the ap propriatioas for representatives of the United States in certain foreign countries and for certain consular officers, and by reducing the amounts usually appropriat ed for certain other diplomatis posts, and thus neccssitating [ change in the grade ot represen , tatives. For these reasons, i'm mediately upon the passage o the bill making appropriations , for the diplomatic and consular service for the present force, in structions were issued to the rep l resentatives of the United State: 3 at Bolivia, Ecuador and Colum bia, and to the consular officer. for whom no appropriation hac t been made, to close their respec . tive legations and consuiates, anc cease from the performance o ? their duties; and in like manner |, steps were immediately taken tC
 substitute charges de affairs fo 7 ministers resident in Portugal g Denmark, Greece, Switzerland
 and Paraguay. While thorough - ly impressed with the wisdom o |. sound economy in the foreign ser f vice, as m other branches of tn, 5 government, l cannot escape tn, !. conclusion that, in some instanc . es, the withholding of appropria t tions will prove an expensiv, e economy, and that the small re trenchment secured by chang, - of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not an adequate consider e tion for their influence and tn O importance which will attend ou foreign representatives under thi