The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06

of the territory of the United States
which has been humane and has sub
stantially ended Indian hostilities in the
whole land except in q portion of Ne
braska and Dakota, Wyoming and Mon
tana territories, the. Black Hills region
and approaches thereto. Hostilities there
have grown out of the avarice of the
white man, who has violated orr treaty
stipulations in his search for golf The
question might be asked why the Gov
eminent has not enforced obedience to
the terms of the treaty prohibiting the
OCCUPATION OF THE BLACK HILLS REGION
by whites. The answer is simple The
first emigrants to the Black Hills were
removed by troops, but rumors and fresh
discoveries of gold took into that region
increased numbers. Gold has actually
been found in paying quantity, and an
effort TO remove the miners would only
result IN the desertion of the bulk of the
troops that might be sent there to re-
move them. All difficulties in the mat
ter have, however, been removed, subject
TO the approval of Congress, by a treaty
ceding the Black Hills and approaches
TO settlement bv citizens The subject
of our Indian policy and treatment is so
fully set forth by the Secretary of the
interior and the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, and my views SO fully expressed
therein, that refer to their reports and
recommendations as my own.
The relations of the United States
with foreign powers continue on a
friendly footing. Questions have arisen
from time to time in the foreign rela-
tions of the Government, but the United
States have been happily free during
the past year from the complications and
embarrassments which have surrounded
some of the foreign powers. The dlplo-
matte correspondence submitted here
with, contains information as to certain
of the matters which have occupied the
Government. The cordiahty which at
tends our relations with the powers of
the earth has been plainly shown by the
general
PARTICIPATION OF FOREIGN NATIONS
in the Exhibition which has Just closed
and by exertions made by distant pow
ers to show their interest in and friend
ly feelings toward the United States in
commemOration of the Centennial of
the nation. The Government and peo-
pie of the United States have not only
fully appreciated this exhibition of
kindly feeling but it may be Justly and
fairly expected that no small benefits
viii result both to ourselves and other
nations from better acquaintance and
o better appreciation of our mutual adj
vantages and mutual wants.
Congress at its last session saw fit to re-
duce the amount usually appropriated
for foreign intercourse by withholding
appropriations for representatives of the
United States in certain foreign coun-
tries and for certain consular offices, and
by reducing the amounts usually appro-
priated for certain other diplomatic posts
and thus necessitating a change in the
grade of representatives. For these rea-
sons Immediately upon the passage of
the bill making appropriations for di-
plomatic and consular services for the
present force, instructions were issued
to the representatives of the United
States at Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia
and to the Consular offices for whom no
appropriation has been made, to close
their respective legations and consulates
and cease from the performance of their
duties, and In like manner steps were
Immediately taken to substitute charges
d'affaires for ministers resident in Port
ugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland and
Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed
with the
WISDOM OF SOUND ECONOMY
IN the foreign service as in other
branches OF the Government, cannot
escape the conclusion that in some in
stances the Withholding of appropria-
lions will prove an expensive economy
and that the small retrenchment secured
by change of grade in certain diplo-
matte posts is not an adequate consider
alton for the loss of influence and i'm
portance which VII attend our foreign
representatives under this reduction. I
am of the opinion that denomination
of the subject will cause change in
some instances in the conclusions
reached on these subjects ut the last
session of Congress.
The Court of Commissioners of the AL
ALBANIA claims whose functions were con-
tinued by an act of the last session. of
Congress until the 1st day of January,
1877, has carried on its labors with
diligence and general satisfaction. By a
report from the Clerk of the Court
transmitted herewith, bearing date Nov.
ID, 1876, it appears that during the time
now allowed by law the court will have
disposed of all the claims presented for
adjudication. This report also contains
q statement of the general results of the
labors of the court to the date thereof.
1t is cause of satisfaction that the meth
cd adopted for the satisfaction of the
classes of claims submitted to the court
which are of long standing and Justly
entitled to early consider alton should