Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-07

navy-yards. The appropriations for the present
082.g0. The amount drawn from the Treasury
from July 10 Nov. l, 1877, is 15,343, 40, of
which there il estimated to be vet available FL
029,b2S.3O, showing the amount of the actual
penditures during the first four months of the
present fiscal year to have been S4,3l3, ,5O910
THE PosToFF1oE DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Postmaster-G General contains
a full and clear statement of the operations and
condition of the POstofce Department. The
year ending June 80, 1871 including receipts from
the money-order business and from official
stamps and stamped envelopes, amounted TO the
sum of 527 59l ,5s5.26. The additional sum of
S70l9,OOO was realized from the appropriations
from the General Treasury for various purposes,
making the receipts from all sources S34 .544 S9.
26. The total expenditures during the fiscal year
amounted to 533, 1856 322.i4. leaving an excess of
total receipts over total expenditures of ~ 05S,
562@ and an excess Of total l6 expenditures over
ordinary receipts of S5,754, 7H1S. Deducting
from the total receipts the sum of T69 26l "a, re-
ceived from international money orders of the
preceding fiscal year. and deducting from the to-
tai expenditures the sum of 81 169, ,S1S2O paid on
liabilities incurred in the previous fiscal year,
the expenditures and receipts appertaining to
the business of the last fiscal year were as fol-
lows Expenditures, 2 322, ,504 .2s receipts (ordi-
nary from money-order business and official
postage stsmps). 81 46s 93 AZ; excess of expendi-
The ordinary revenues for the Postofice Depart
ment for the year ending June 80, 1879, are esti
mated at an increase of 3 per cent. over those of
1871, making s290S4 O9s.2s, and the expenditures
for the same year are estimated at S36 42Il,
leaving estimated deficiency for 1879 of $685.
3g2.02. The additional legislation recommended
by the Postmaster-G General for the improvement
of the mail service, and to protect the postal reye
nues from the abuses practiced under the exist
ing laws, IL respectfully commended TO the care
full consideration of Congress-
THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
The report of the Acknowledgement contains
several suggestions to the administration of
Justice, to which | invite your attention. The
pressure of business in the supreme Court and
IN certain a 1rft N09rs oI ss S n gTeo
and even oppression of suitors, occur, and
| 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 the Circuit Courts, and by
means of this addition to the judicial force Great
ing an intermediate Court of Errors and Appeals
or whether some other mode can be devised for
alleviating the difficulties which now exist, l
leave to your mature consideration.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The present condition of the Indian tribes in
the Territories of the United States and rela-
tons with them are tnlly set forth IN the reports
missioner of Indian Affairs. After series of
most deplorabe conflicts, the successful termi-
nation of which. while rejecting honor upon the
brave soldiers who accomplished it, cannot les
sen our regret at the occurrence, we are now at
peace with all the Indian tribes on the borders.
To preserve that peace by Just and humane
policy will be the object of my earnest endeav-
ors. Whatever may be said of their character
and savage propenslties, of the difficulties Of IN
Producing 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 certainly entitled It
spect on our part for their claims upon our sense
of Justice. They were the aboriginal occupants
of the land we now possess; they have been drlv-
en- 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 INSTANCES
when they had settled down upon land assigned
them by compact, and began to support them
selves by their labor they were rudely jOstled
off and thrust into the wilderness Again, many
if not most of our Indian wars have had their or
igin in broken promises and acts OF nlquitles
upon our part and the advance of the Indians in
civilization has been slow because the treatment
they received did not permit it to be faster and
more general. We cannot expect them to i'm
prove and to follow our guild lance unless we keep
faith with them respecting the rights they possess
and unless instead of deprlving them OF oppor-
TUNES, we lend them helping hand cordially
approve the policy regarding the management OF
Indian affairs outlined IN the reports OF the Bee.
retary of the Interior and of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs-the faithful performance of our
promises as the first condition OF good under
standing with the Indians. cannot too urgently
recommend to Congress that prompt and liberal
provision be made for the conscientious tulhll-
ment of all engagements entered into by the Gov
ernmcnt with the Indian tribes. To withhold the
means necessary for the performance of a promise
is always false economy and Is apt to prove dsas-
trous its consequences. Especial care is recon-
mended to provide for the Indians settled on their
reservations cattle and agricultural implements
to aid them in whatever efforts they may make TO
support themselves, and by the re-establlsh-
ment and maintenance of schools to bring them
under the control of civilized influences.
l see no reason why Indians indiana! WI VINO .iI can give give
labor supported their families for a number of
years, and who are willing to detach themselves
from their tribal relations, should not be adj
mitted to the benefit of the Homestead act and
the privileges of citizenship and recommend
the passage of a law to that effect. II VIII be an
act of Justice as well as measure OF encourage
ment Earnest efforts are being made tn purify
the Indian service so that every dollar appropri.
ated by Congress shall rebound to the beneht OF
the Indians These 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 them
selves in the scale of civilization, may hope to
do at some time great work for them and Tor
ourselves.
| invite the attention of Congress to the lmpor-
tance of the statements and suggestions made by
the Secretary of the Interior concerning the dep
relations committed upon the timber lands of
the United States and the necessity for the pres
ervation of forests. 1t ls believed that the
measures taken I'M pursuance OF the existing law
to arrest these depredators will be entirely sue
cessful if Congress, by an appropriation tor that
purpose, renders their continued enforcement
possible. The experience of other nations teaches
us that country cannot be stripped of its for
ests with impunity, and we shall expose ourselves
to the gravest consequences unless the wastetul
and improvident manner in which the forests of
the United States are destroyed be effectually,
checked. l earnestly recommend that the
measures suggested by the Secretary of
the Interior Tor the suppression OI lnt utIl-
relations on the public timber lands of the
United States for the selling of timber
from the public lands, and for the preservation
of forests be embodied in law, and that consider
ing the urgent necessity of enabling people of
certain States and Territories tn purchase timber
from the pub bile lands IN a legal manner, which
at present they cannot do such law be passed
without unavoidable delay. would also call the
attention of Congress to statements made by the
Secretary OF the Interior c9ncernlhg the dSposi- ST.
| tion that might be made of the desert lands by
| irrigation within the one hundredth (l0nthl
| meridian. These lands are practically unsuitable
under the existing laws, and the suggestion toI
consideration is that a system OF leasehoid
| tenure would make them a source OF proht 20
the United States, while at the same time legalz.
| ing the business of cattle raising, winch IL az
present carried on upon them.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
| The report of the Commissioner OF Agriculture
| contains the gratifying announcements OF the eN-
traOrdinary success which has rewarded the agrl-
cultural 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 70 export, we may confidently turn "a
this the most important of all our resources tor
the revival of the depressed industries OF the coun-
| try. The report shows our agricultural progress
| during the year, and contains a statement
Of the work done by. this. department
| for the advancement of agricultural IN
dustry, upon which the prosperity of ouI
people largely depends. Matters. OF IN,
| formation are included of great interest TO al
who seek by the experience of Others To improve
| their own methods of cultivation. The efforts OF
the department TO increase the production OF I'M
pOrtant articles OF consumption WILL lt IL hOped
| improve the demand for labor and advance the
business of the country, and eventually result in
saving some ofthe many millions that are now an.
nually paid TO foreign nations for sugar and 9th
er staple products which habitual use had made
| necessary in our domestic everyday life.
THE CENTENNIAL BOARD.
The board on behalf of the United States Elk
| ecutive Departments at the International E&hi
bitiOn of 1876 has concluded its labors. The tina
report of the board was transmitted to Congress
at the last session, As these papers are under
stood ~ contain interesting and valuable infor
nation, and constitute the only report emanatinl
from the Government On the subject of the Elk
hibition, invite attention to the matter and rec
ommend that the report be published for genera
| information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
! Congress is empowered by the Constitution
with the authority IT exclusive legislation owe
the District of Columbia, in which the seat o
the Government of the nation is located. The in
terests of the District having direct representa-
ton in Congress-, are entitled to special cOnsid
| Grafton and care at the hands Of the Genera
! Government. The capital of the United State
belongs To the nation, and it is natural that tn
American people should take pride in the seat q
their National Government and desire it tO b
an ornament to the country. Much ha
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