Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-04

1879, are estimated at an increase of three per
cent over those of 1877, making S29 034 O9S %
and the expenditures for the same year estimated
az $50, 247T7l leaving estimated defcie ncy for
| the year 1879, OF S7,2l3,672.72. The additional
| legislation recommended by the postmaster gen
eral for improvements of the mail service, and u
protect the postal revenues from the abuse prac.
tlsed under existing laws, is respectfully COM
mended to the careful consideration Of Congress
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the Attorney General contains SOW
eral suggestions As TO the administration of Jusl ice
to which invite your attention. The pressure OF
business IN the supreme court and in certain circu
courts OF the United States is now such that seri-
Gus delays to the great injury aud oppress n
| of sutOrs occur, and remedy should be sought
for this condition Of affairs.
Whether 1t will be found in the plan briefly
sketched IN the report, increasing the number OF
jadses of the circuit court, and by means of
this addition to the judicial force of creating in
termediate courts OF errors and appeals, wheth
er some other mode can be devised for obviating
| the difficulties which now exist, leave to your
mature consideration.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The present condition of the Indian Tribes on
the territory of the United States and our rela-
tions with them fully set forth in the reports
OF the Secretary Of the Interior and the commis
sloner OF Indian affairs. After series of most
depurabe conflicts, the successful termination OF
dlers who accomplished II, cannot lessen re-
gIet at the occurrence.
We are now at peace with all the lndian tribes
III our borders; TO preserve thar peace by chrs-
tlsn aud humane policy will he the object of my
honest tnueaNofs. Whatever NAV be said of he N
character aud savage prupensties, of the difficult
Ties II introducing among them the habits OF civ
ilzauOn, the obsta, les they have offered to the
PROCESS of set ment III certain parts of the
county, the indians are certainly entitled to our
: % "A far he
Justice of The claims
They were the aboi ginel oct upans of the land
now posses, they have been driven from
place to place; the purchase money paid to them
in some or what they cal ed their own has
stl left them here 10 maOy instances where they
had settlcd down upon lard assigned them nv
compscI and began to support themselves by their
own lsbOr they were idely hurried of and put
INTO the wilderness again. Most of the Indian
wars have had their origin in broken promises and
acts OF injustice on our part, and the advance of
the Indians III civilization has been slow, because
the treatment they received did not permit them
to he faster and more general. We cannot ex :.
pcct them 10 improve aud tn follow our guidance
unless we keep tain with the 10 respecting the
rights they possess; aud instead of depiving them
of the Oppor' uuitles, we leud them helping haud
and cordially receive TIE policy regarding the
management of Indian affairs outlined III the re
ports of the SrCrt'ary 81 the Interior aud OF the
Commissioners OF lud AN att AIRS.
Tue tilihtul ptrtuI nance of our promises Is the
t Il condition OF u good understanding with the
Indians. | cannot too urgently recommend to
Cougles, that prompt and liberal provision he
mad. for the conscientious fnlfllment of agree
ments entered lato.by the government with the
Indian tribes. L" withhold the means necessary
for the performance of promise is ALWAYS
false economy, and is apt to prove disastrous IN
it, consequences. | especially recommend to
provide or Indians settled on their reservations,
cattle and agricultural Implements, to aid them in
whatever Efforts they may make to support them
selves, and by the establishment aud maintenance
OF schools To bring them under control OF civilized
influences.
see no reason why Indians who can give sat
i>iHciory proof of having by their own labor sup
.psrltd tLen families for number of years, and
who are willing TO detach themselves from their
tribal relations, should not be admitted to the
ncnefit OF he Homestead act, and The privileges
Of citizenship 1 recommend the passage of a
law to that fleet. II " il act of Justice as
well as means of encouragement. Earnest
{ II 1T, are being made to parity the Indian SER
wee, 81 that every dollar appropriated nv Con-
gress shall redou to The benefit of the lLdians as
intended. Those efforts will have my firm support
With an improved service and every possible
encouragement held out to the Indians to better
their condition, and TO elevate themselves in the
scale of Civilizations We may hope TO accomplish
at the same time good work for them and fol-
ourselves.
DEPREDATIoNs ON THE PUBLIC LANDS.
invite the attention of Congress 10 the impor-
Secretary OF the Interior, Concerning the depre-
dstons committed upon the timber lands of the
intel States, and the necessity for the preserva-
ton of forests. 1t is believed that the measures
taken III pursuance of eNlslng law to resist these
depredations will be entirely succes sful if Con-
gress by an appropriation for that purpose render rs
their continued enforcement possible. The expe-
renee of other MATHS teaches US that country
cannot be stripped of its forests with impunity
We shall expose ourselves TO the gravest con-
mi a
ner IN which the forests 10 the United States
are destroyed, be eiiectua.ly checked.
| earnestly recommend that the measures sug-
gested by Secretary of the Interior for the sup
preston of depredations upon the timber lands OF
the L nted States, and the selling of TIMBER from
the public lands, and for the preservation of for
ests be embodied 10 n law, and that consider ing
the urgent necessity of enabling the people of
tain States and Territories to purchase timber
lands from the public lands in legal manner
which at present they cannot do, snch a law
should be passed without unay Oidable DELAY.
would also call attention of Congress to state
ment- made by the ietary of the Interior, con-
corning The disposition that might be made OF
the desert land, not irrigated west of the Tooth
N ridian. Tne lands al practically unstable I'M
der existing laws and the suggestion is worthy OF
cons liberation, that u system OF lease hold ten
ure would make them source OF profit to the
United States, while at the same time legsllzDg
the h1snes, ofcatte raising. which is at presen
carried ON upon them.
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture
contains the crafty ing announcement OF the eN
trnordinsry success which has rewarded the agti
cultural industry of the country for the past year
Attn he far prices which obtain for the pro-
ducts of the soil, especially for the surplus which
our peoples have to export. we may contdentl,
turn to this, the most important of all our re
sources for the revival of the depressed indus
| tries of the country. The report shows our agri
| cultural progress during the year, and contain
| statement of the work done by this department
| for the advancement of agricultural industry upoI
which the prosperity of our people so largely de
| ponds. Matters of information included o
great interest to all who seek by the experience o
| Others to improve their methods of cultva
ton The efforts of the department to increase
! the production of important articles of consump
| ton, wall, it is hoped, improve the demand foi la
| Dor and advance the business of the country, an,
| eventually result in saving some of the man,
| millions that are annually paid to foreign na
| tions for sugar and other staple products, whici
bahitual use has made necessary in our dom 5stc
every day life.
| The INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
The board on behalf of the United States Ey
ecutiye Department at the International EXhibi
, ton of 1876, has concluded its labors. The fna
/ ,,.o,, Of tho hoard was transmitted to ConUres