, 1877-12-15

=
Expenditnrcs. ........-.. -, -. ''''' y
Receipts from money order
business for official pos 49,
taoc STAMPS, .......... 27,+GS -" =
Excess Of expenditures, 1881, $50 %
The ordinary revenue Of the roscohice
DEPARTMENT for the year ending June 20,
1870 are estimated al ~ increase Of three
per cent. over those Of 1873, making 81
ts3t. .O9S %. and the expenditures Tor the
same year are estimated az S3",f2..fi,
lcaying an estimated deficiency for 1873
Of s. .293 .392 02
The additional legislation recommended
by the postmaster general for Improve
ments Of the rrail service, and to protect
the postal revenues from the abuses prac-
ticed under existing laws, Is respectfully
commended to TIE careful consideration
of congress.
TaR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The repor, Of the attorney general con
tains several suggestions as Ia the admin
istration Of justice to which invite Your
attention. The pressure Of business III
the supreme court and III certain circuit
courts IF the United States IS now such
that serious DELAYS, 10 very great INJURY
and even oppression, "t;en "ccur, Glh i
remedy should he snught i"r thls c1nuI-
ticn Of affairs. Whether Ii viii be found
in the plan briefly skctchcd III the report
increasing the number cf judges OF circuit
cnnrts, and by means of this addition To
iudjclarv forces and creating an intenme-
date court of errors and appeals, or
whether some other mode can be devised
for ohyiating the difficulties winch now
exist i leave IL your matureconSldcr&t!on.
INDIAN aFFAIES.
The present condition of the Indian
tribes ontha teIritnTyof the United States,
and orr relations with them, IRE fully set
forth iii the reports Of the secretary ot the
interior and commissioner lndr,guaiiarS.
After series Of most dci,lorabic conflicts,
the successful termination OF which while
rejecting honor upon the brave soldiers
who accomplished it cannpt lessen our re-
.,ret at the occurrence, We are now 1T
peace with all the Indian tribes IN cur
borders. 70 preserve that Peace by Il just
and humane policy WILDE thcobJcct Of my
earnest endcayorS. Whatever may be Sa!d
of their character and savage pr"pensitigS :;
of the difficulties Of introducing among
them the habits of civilized life and the
obstacles they have offered to the progress
of settling iii certain parts of the county,
the Indians are certainly entitled 10 cur
sympathy and to a conscientious respect
on our part for the claims upon our sense
of Justice. They were the aboriginal oc-
cupants of the land We now possess, they
have been driven from place to place.
The purchase muncypald I" them, III some
cases. for what they called their own has
still left them poor liz many instances
where they had settled down upon lamd
assigned to them 10y compact and began
to support themselves by their own labor
they were rudcly jostlel oil and thrGst
into the wilderness a@an. Many II not
most Of our Indian wars have had then
ORIGIN in broken promises and acts Of III
Justice upon our part, and the advance oi
the Indians ii civilization has been slow
because the treatment they received did
not permit it to hc faster and more gen
eral. We cannot expect them toimprovl
and follow our guidance unless We keel
faith with them III respecting the rights
they possess, and unless, instead of de
priviny them IF their opportunities, wc
lend them helping hand. cordially
approve the policy regarding the manage
ment of Indian affairs outlined III the re
port OF the secretary of the interior and OF
the commissioner of Indian affairs The
faithful performance Of our promises Is
the first condition of a good understand
in. with the Indians. | cannot too ur-
gentlvrecommend to congress that prompt
and liberal provision be made for the con
scicntious fultllment of alithe agreements
entered INFO by the government with In
dian tribes To withhold the meoi.s nee
essary for the performance of Il promise
is always false, and is apt to prove disas-
trous IN its Consequences Especial care
is recommended 10 provide for the Indians
settled on their rescrvatipnS-cat and
agricultural implements, to aid them IN
whatever efforts they may make 10 sup
port themselves, and by the re-cstabliSh-
ment and maintenance OF schools 10 brine
them under the control Of civIliz d intu-
ences. | see no reason Why Indians who
can give satisfactory proof of having 10y
their own labor supported their families
for number of Years, and VIII" are will
ing TO dvtach themselves from their tribal
relation, should not be admitted 70 the
benefits Of the homestead act andthe priv
ileges Of citizenship. and recommend the
passage If law to that effect Ii VIII be
an act of justice Us well is measure OF
encouragement. Earnest efforts are being
made 10 purify the Indian service So that
every dollar appropriated by congress shall
rebound 10 the benefit of the Indians.
The efforts VIII have my firm support.
With improved service and every possible
encouragement held out 90 the Indians I,
better their condition and to elevate
themselves in the scale oi civilization. We
may hope to do at the same time good
work for them and ourselves.
GOVERNMENT LANDS.
| invite the attention Of congress 20 tho
Importance of the statements and SuggeS-
tions by the secretary OF the interior con.
cerning the depre,lacions being committed
upon the tiYber lands of the United State.
and the necessity for tn preservation o
forests. 1t is he'll y Il that the measure,
taken in pursuance u existing law t. ar
rest the depreiators Will b, entirely sue
cessful if congress, hy an appropriation :.