The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1877-12-12

rations aud conditions of the postofice de-.
partment. The ordinary revenues OF the
department for the fiscal year Guiding
june, 3Oth, 1877, including receipts
from the money order business and
from official stamps and stamped envelopes
amounted to the sum of $27, 531, 5s5.26; the
additional sum of 81, 100, 800 was received
from an appropriation from the general treas
|ury for various purposes, max ing the receipte
from Ill sources $34, 5000, The total
expenditures during the fiscal year amount.
led to $33, 4s6, 1922. "A, leaving an excess Of
total receipts over total expenditures OF
81, O58, 562S2, and an excess Of total expendi-
lures over ordinary receipts Of So, 954, 7371S.
Deducting from the total receipts the sum
Of $632, 618.41, received from international
money orders Of the preceding fiscal year,
and deducting from the total expenditures
the SUM of 81, 163,S18.2O, paid on liabilities
incurred in previous fiscal years, the expen.
ditures and receipts appertaining to the
business Of the last fiscal year were as fol.
lows: Exp nditures, So, 322, 5O4:24; receipts
ordinary; 1IOM HOAcy UIucI UNelIesc aAu
from official postage stamps, 81, 46s, S23.S2
The ordinary revenues Of the post office
department for the year ending June Both,
1879, are estimated at an increase Of three
per cent. over those of 1877, making $780,.
034, O9S.2S, and the expenditures for the
same year are estimated at $50, 427 III. leav.
ing an estimated deficiency for 1879 81
I 1895, 672.72.G The, additional Legislation
recommended by the acknowledgement for
Improvements of the mail service and to
protect the postal revenue from the abuses
practiced under existing laws, is respectfully
commended to the careful consideration Of
congress. ,..a...g w., ........,
THE REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
contains several suggestions as to the adj
ministration of justice, to- which invite at
tention. The pressure of business in the
supreme court, and in certain circuit courts
of the United States, is now such that seri-
Gus delays to the great injury and even op-
preston of suits occur, and a remedy should
be sought for this condition of affairs.
Whether it will be found in the plan briefly
sketched in the report, of increasing the
number Of judges of circuit courts, aud by
means of this addition to the judicial force
Of creating an intermediated court of
errors and appeals, or whether some other
mode can be devised for obviating the diff
tculties which now exist / leave to your
mature consideration. i
THE INDIANS.
The present condition of the Indian tribes
on the territory of the United States, and
our relations with them are fully set forth
in the reports of the secretary of the in
terror and the commissioner Of Indian af-
fairs. After a series of most deplorable con-
fiicts, the successful termination of which,
while rejecting honor on the brave soldiers
who accomplished it, cannot lessen our re-
greet at the occurrences. We are now at peace
with all the Indian tribes in our
by just and humane policy, will
Whatever may be said Of their character
and savage propensities; of the difficulties
of introducing among them the habits of
civilized life, and the obstacles they have
offered to the progress of settling in certain
parts of the country, the Indians are GER
tainly entitled to our sympathy and to a
conscientious respect on our part, for their
claims opon our sense of justice. They
were the aboriginal occupants of the
land we now possess. They have
been driven from place to place.
The purchase money paid to them
in some cases, for what they called their
own, has still left them poor. In many in.
stances, when they had settled down upon
LAM assigned to them by compact and be-
gan to support themselves by their own
labor, they were rudely jostled off and
thrust into the wilderness again. Many, if
not most all, our Indian wars had their origin
in broken promises, and acts Of injustice on
our part; and the advance of Indians in
civilization has been slow because the treat
ment they received did not permit it to be
faster and more general. We cannot expect
them to improve and follow our guidance
unless we keep faith with them, respecting
the rights they possess, and unless, instead
of depriving them of their opportunities, we
prove the policy regarding the management
of Indian affairs, as outlined in the report
of the secretary of the interior, and OF
the commissioner of Indian affairs. The
faithful performance of our promises is the
first condition of q good understanding with
the Indians. cannot too urgently recon-
mend to congress that prompt and liberal
provision be made for, the conscientious
fulfllment of all agreements entered into
by the government with the Indian tribes.
To withhold the means necessary for the
performance of a promise is always false
economy, and is apt to prove disastrous
in its consequences. Especial care is
recommended to provide for Indians settled
on, their reservations, cattle and agricul-
tural implements, to aid them in whatever
efforts they may make to support themselves,
and by the establishment and mainte.
nance of schools to bring them under the
control of civilized influences. see no rea.
son why Indians who can give satisfactory
proof of having by their own labor support.
ed their families for number of years, and
who are willing to detach themselves from
their tribal relations, should not be admitted
to the benefits of the homestead act,
and the privileges Of citizenship and
I recommend the passage Of law to that
effect. twill be an act of justice as well as
a measure of encouragement. Earnest eff.
forts are being made to purify the Indian
service so that every dollar appropriated by
congress shall rebound to the benefit of the
Indian benefited The efforts will have
my firm support. With an improved ser.
vice, and every possible encouragement
held out to the Indians to better their con.
dition and to elevate them in the scale OF
civilization, we may hope to do at the same
time a good work for them and ourselves. ;
h= THE PRESERVATION OF FORESTS sllgs