The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-04

,rbst they called their own HIS sun telt
them roor; in many instances, when they
Ind settled down upon. land assigned to
thcm nv compact, and began 70 support
themselves by their own labor, they were
rudcly jostIed off and thrust into the Wit
dcrncss again. Many, IL not most, OF our
indian wars have had their origin In broken
nromiscs and acts OF injustice upon our
mart. and the advance OF the Indians in CIV
;iIization has been SLOW because the treat
yncnt thew received did not permit it to be
fa.ter and more general. We cannot eS-
ncct them to improve and to follow our
rnidancc unless we keep faith with them
in respecting the rights they possess, and
unless. instead OF dcpriving them Of their
onportuntes, VIC lend them a helping hand.
| cordially approve the policy regarding
The management OF Indian affairs outlined
in the reports OF the Secretary Of the Int
r;or and Of the Commissioner OF Indian AZ
fairs. The faithful performance Of our
promises Is the first condition OF 4 good
understanding with the Indians. | cam
not too urgently recommend to Congress
that prompt aud liberal provision be
made for the conscientious fulhlmcnt OF
oll engagements entered into by tue
Government with Indian tribes. 10
withhold the means necessary for the per-
Torrance OF 4 promise Is always false econ
omv. and is apt to prove disastrous in its
consequences. Especial care is recon-
mrndcd to provide for Indians settled on
their reservations cattle and agricultural
indictments, to aid them in whatever CT
forts they may make 10 support them
selves: and by the establishment
and maintenance OF schools to bring
them under the control Of civilized intlu-
cnccs. see no reason why Indians who
can give satisfactory proof OF having, by
their own labor. supported their families
for 4 number OF years, and who are willing
10 dct4ch themselves from their tribal rela-
,iops. should not be admitted 10 the benefit
Of the homestead act and the privileges Of
citizenship. AND / recommend the passage
OF 4 law TO that ctfcx. 1t will be all act OF
justice. a. we'll rs measure OF encourage
Incn. Earnest efforts are being made to
purify tine Indian service. so that evcSF dol
lar appropriated By Congress shall rebound
10 the benefit of the Indians. rs inteRded.
Those efforts will have my firm support.
With an improved service, and every pos
Siblc encouragement held out to the Indians
10 better their condition and TO elevate
themselves in the scale OF civilization, we
NAV hone 10 accomplish. at the same time,
4 GOOD work for them and for ourselves.
invite tho attention OF Congress 10 the
Importance OF the statements and SuggcS-
tion> made by the Secretary OF the Interior
concerning the deprcdations committed on
the timber lands OF the United States, and
tie necessity for the preservation OF forests.
II i believed that the measures taken in pur-
suancc Of exiting law to arrest those dcprc-
tlatlonS will be entirely successful il Con-
grcS>. by an appropriation for that purpose,
renders their continued enforcement posi-
bic. The experience OF other nations teaches
Us that I. country cannot be stripped OF It's
forests with impunity. and we shall expose
ourselves to the gravest consequences Mess
the was,cTu and improvidcnt MAJ Il in
which the forests in the United States .ie de-
>trovcd be e'lectually checked. I earnestly
recommend that The measures suggested by
tho secretary OF the Interior for the suppress
sion Of depredations on the public timber
lands of the United States for the selling Of
tmbcr ircm the public lands, and for the
preservation OF forests. he embodied III 4
Mw: and that, considering tn" urgent ne
rr>>itv OF enabling the people OF certain
states and Territories To purchase timber
from the public lands in Il legal manner.
which ut present they cannot do, such law
he passed without unavoidable delay. l
would also call the attention Of Congress to
the statements made by the Secretary OF the
Interior concerning the disposition that
might he made OF the desert lands not irri-
gable west OF the 1G0th meridian. These
lands are practically unstable under exist
ing laws and the suggestion is worthy Of
consideration that a system Of leasehold
tenure would make them source OF profit
10 the United States, while at the same time
lcgaizin@ the business Of cattlc-raising,
which j. At present carried on upon them.
u. . No -
culture contains the gratifying announce
mcnt OF the extraordinary success which has
rewarded the agricultural industry of the
country for the past year. With the fair
prices which obtain for the products OF the
soil, especially for the surplus which our
people have 10 export, we may confidently
turn TO this. aS the most important of all our
resources for the revival OF the depressed
industries Of the country. The report shows
our agricultural progress during the year,
and contains 4 statement OF the work done
hy this department for the advancement OF
agricultural industry, upon which the pros
pcrity of our people so largely depends.
Matters OF information are included OF
great interest 10 all who seek, by the eNpe-
rlcncc Of others, to improve their own
methods OF cultivation. The efforts of the
Department to increase the production OF
important articles OF consumption WILL it is
hoped. improve the demand for labor and
advance the business Of the country, and
eventually result in saving some Of the
many millions that are now annually paid
TO foreign nations for sugar and other Sta
pie products which habitual use has made
necessary in our domestic everyday life.
The Board on behalf OF the United States
Executive departments ut the international
Exhibition OF 1876 has concluded its laborS.
The final report OF the Board was trans
mittcd to Congress by the President near
the close Of the last session. As these pa
pers are understood TO contain interesting
and valuable information, and will conSt-
tutc the only report emanating from the
Government on the subject OF the Exhibit
ton, ! invite attention to the matter, and
recommend that the report be published for
general information.
Congress is empowered by the Constitu-
ton with the authority OF exclusive legiS-
la,ion over the District OF Columbia, in
which the seat of Government OF the nation
is located. The Interests OF the District,
having no direct representation in Con-
grcSS, are entitled to especial consideration
and care at the bands Of the General Govern
lncnt. The capital OF the United States be-
longs to the nation, and it is natural that
the American people should take pride in
the seat OF their National Government, and
desire it to be an ornament to the country.
Much has been done TO render it healthful,
convenient, and attractive, but much re-
mains to be done, which its permanent in
habtants are not able and ought not
20 be expected to do. TO impose upon
them Il large proportion of the cost
required for public improvements, which
Il