, 1876-12-16

the Indians lnhabI;lng large portion
OF the territory of the United States
which has been humane, and has sub.
stantialiy ended Indian hos,iliries in
the whole land, except a portion Of
Nebraska and Dakota, Wyoming aud
Montana, the Black Hills REGION aud
the approaches theTeIU-hOstilities
that have grown ou, of the avarice Of
the white man, who has violated our.
treaty stipulation in his search for gold
The question might be asked why the
government has not enfarcel obedi
ence To tie terms OF the treaty, pros
hiblting the occupation of The Black
Hills region by whites. The answer
Is simple; the first emigrants TO the
Hills were removed by troops, but
rumors and fresh discoveries of geld
ouk into tnat region Increased mum
bers. G"ld has been found III paying
quantity, and an effort to remove the
miners would only result in the deSer.
lion of the bulk of the troops that
might be rent there To remove them.
A difficulties in this matter have
been removed, subject to the approval
OF Congress, by a treaty erdlng ;he
Back Hills and approaches to settle
ment 10y ciIiz-ns. The subject of
Indian policy and treatment Is 50 fully
set forth by the secretary ct the III
terror aud commissioner of Indian AT
fairs, and my views So fully expressed
therein, that | refer To these reports
and recomen lalioDs AS my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States
wiki foreign powers continue on a
friendly footing. Questions have arisen
from time To time in the foreign re
latious of the government, but ;he
UniIed States have been happily free
the past year from the complications
of foreign powers. The diploma ic
correspondence submitted herewith,
contains Information As To certain OF
the matters which have occurred The
friendly relations Of this government
with Inc powers of the Earth have
been plainly shown by the general
participation o. foreign nations III ihe
exhibition which has uSt closed, AMI
by the exerliuns made by distant pow
ers to show Iheir interest III and friend
lv feeling toward the United States,
IN cummrmuratIUn ot he centennial OF
the nation. The government and The
people of the Um,ed States have not
Oh Y fully appreciated tins exhibition
, of kindly feelings, but It may be ex
pecteh hat no small benefit viii result
both 10 ourselves and O,her nations,
from better acquaintance and better
arpreci.tion of our mutual advantages
| and mutual wants.
Congress at lis last session saw lit
70 reduce the amount usually appro-
| pr ated for foreign Intercourse 10y
! Withholding The Appropriation tor rep
| res, natives of The UDted States III
certain foreign countries and Tor Gers
tam consular offices, AID by reducing
The amounts usually appropriated Tor
certain other diplomatic posts; and II
has necessita:ed "A change III the grade
of REPRESENTATIVES. For these reasons,
Imm, dIa,ely upon the passage OF the
bill making appropriations tor dipio
mai,c and consular service for the
uresenI force, Instructions were Issued
Ia The representatives. III The United
States at Bolivia, Ecuador aud Coum
bla, and To the consular officers f"r
whom no appropriation had been made
10 close their respective Legations and
cunsulates and cease from the perform
anee of their duties and liz like man
ner steps were immedia ely taken to
substitute charges lie affairs for min
i,rers resident IN Portugal, Denmark,
Greece, Switzerland aud Paraguay.
While thoroughly impressed win The
wisdom of sound ecuBumy III the Tor
eipn flee as in OIL her brant hes OF gov
ernrnen,, cannot escape The cnnt u
s,,n That in sume instances the wl'h-
holding of appropriations VIII prove
an expensive economy, aud mat the
small retrencbment secured 10y
change OF grade i'll certain diplomatic
posts Is not an adequate consIderatIon
pnrrance which viii attend our for reign
representatives under the reduction.
am of the opinion that an examina-
uou OF The subj viii cause change
IN sune instances IN the cunc'u>lvh
reached nn these subjects at the last
session ot Cungress-
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The court of commissioners of the
ILabaJa1 CLAIMS, whnse tuuctlonS
wrre continued Dy AL act 'f The last
session of Congress until the lst DAY
of January. 1871, has carried on Its
ahors with delIgeucc and general sat
Isfaciion. By report from The clerk
If tie curt, transmitted herewith,
bearing date November II, 1876, II
appear, that during the Time nov al
lowed by law the court VIII have dis
po>-d OF ali the claims presented tor
adipd Ca ION. The report also contains
a statement of the g,nerai results i
the labors Of the court 10 the date
thereof. 1t is cause for SATISFACTION
,ha, The merhod adopted for The "a Is
fa,.,iou of the classes of claims submit
led 10 the court, which are of long
standing and justly entitled TO early
consideration, should have proved sue
cessful and acceptable
OUR NORTHERN BOUNDARY.