Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-13

maximum of 25,00O enlisted men-being a
reduction of $500 below the force previously
authorized. This reduction was made, as re-
quired by law, entirely from the infantry and
artillery branches of the service, without any
reduction of the cavalry. Under the law as
it now stands, it is necessary that the cavalry
regiments be recruited to one hundred men in
each company, for service on the Mexican and
Indian frontiers. The necessary effect Of this
legislation is to reduce the infantry and artll-
lery arms of the service below the number re-
quired for efficiency; and concur with the
secretary of war in recommending that au-
thority be given to recruit all companies of
infantry to at least fifty men, and all batteries
of artillery to at least seventy five men, with
the power, in case of emergency, to increase
the former to one hundred, and the latter to
one hundred and twenty-five men each:
invite your special attention to the follow
ing recommendations of the secretary of war:
First That provision be made for supplying
to the army more abundant and better sup
ply of reading matter Second. That early
action be taken by Congress, looking to com.
plete revision and republication of the army
regulations. Third. That Section 1858 of
the Revised Statutes, limiting the number of
officers on the retired list, be repealed Fourth.
That the claims arising under the act of July
5, 1854 for supplies taken by the army du-
ring the war, be taken from the Offices of the
quartermaster and commissary. generals, and
transferred to the Southern Claims Commis-
sion, or some other tribunal having more time
and better facilities for their prompt investi-
CATION and decision than are possessed by
these officers. Fifth. That Congress provide
for an annuity fund for the families of de-
ceased soldiers, as recommended by the pay
master-g general of the army.
THE PosT.oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general con-
tains full and clear statement of the opera
tions and condition of the postofice depart
ment The ordinary revenues of the depart.
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877,
including receipts from the money-order bus.
iness, and official stamps and stamped envel-
opes, amount to the sum of $27, ,53l ,58l rs.
The additional sum of 81 ,013 900 was realized
from appropriations from the general treasury
for various purposes, making the receipts from
all sources $34,544,8 ,8S5.26. The total expen-
ditures during the fiscal year amounted to
$33, ,4S6, ,322.44, leaving an excess of total re-
ceipts over total expenditures of 81 ,O5S, ,56282,
and an excess of total expenditures over ordi-
nary receipts of $5,954,7371S. Deducting
from the total receipts the sum of $632,618
received from international money orders of
the preceding fiscal year, and deducting from
the total expenditures the sum of $ll6 $751;
800 paid on liabilities incurred in previous
fiscal years, the expenditures and receipts ap-
pertaining to the business Of the last fiscal
year were as follows: Expenditures So ,232,-
250, ,424 receipts, ordinary from money order
business and from official postage stamps $27,-
1853 32342; excess of expenditures $4,854,-
1882 The ordinary revenues of the post
office department for the year ending June
80, 1878, are estimated at an increase OF per
cent over those of 1877, making $29, ,O34. .O9S..
%, and the expenditures for the same year
are estimated at $36, ,427,771, leaving an esti-
mated deficiency for the year 1879 of 81 $685.
67272 The additional legislation recon-
mended by the postmaster general for i'm
provements of the mail service and to protect
the postal revenues from the abuses practiced
under existing laws, is respectfully commend
ed to the careful consideration of Congress.
THE INDIANS.
The present condition of the Indian tribes
in the territory of the United States and our
relations with them are fully set forth in the
reports of the secretary of the interior and
the commissioner of Indian affairs. After
series of most deplorable conflicts, the sue
cessful termination of which, while rejecting
honor upon the brave soldiers who accom-
plished it, cannot lesson our regret at their
occurrence, we are now at peace with all the
Indian tribes within our borders. To preserve
that peace With just and humane policy,
will be the object of my earnest endeavors.
Whatever may be said of their character and
savage propensities. of the difficulties of in.
Producing among them the habits Of civilized
life, and of the obstacles they have offered to
the progress of settlement and enterprise in
certain parts of the country, the Indians are
certainly entitled to our sympathy and to
conscientious respect on our part for their
claims upon our sense Of justice. They we're
aboriginal occupants of the land we now pos.
sess. 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 instances,
when they had settled down upon land as
signed them by compact, and began to sup.
port themselves by their own labor, they we're
rudely jostled off and thrust into the wilder
ness again. Many, if not most, ofour Indian
wars have had their origin in broken promi.
ses and acts of injustice upon our part, and
the advance of the Indians in civilization has
been slow, because the treatment they re-
ceived did not permit it to be faster and more
general. We cannot expect them to improve
and to follow our guidance, unless we keep
faith with them in respecting the rights they
possess, and unless, instead of depriving them
of their opportunities, We lend them help
ing hand. I cordially approve the policy re-
garding the management Of Indian affairs,
outlined in the reports of the secretary of the
interior and of the commissioner of Indian
affairs. The faithful performance of our
promises is the first condition Of good un-
derstanding with the Indians. cannot too
urgently RECOMMEND to Congress that prompt
and liberal provision be made for the con-
scientious fulfilment of all engagements en-
tered into, by the Government, with the In.
dian tribes. To withhold the means neces-
sary for the performance of a promise 10 al
ways false economy, and is apt to prove dis
astrous in its consequences. Especial care is
recommended to provide for Indians, settled
on their reservations, cattle and agricultural
implements to aid them in whatever efforts
they may make to support themselves, and
by the establishment and maintenance of
schools to bring them under the control of
civilized influences. see no reason why In
dams who can give satisfactory proof of hav-