National Republican., 1877-12-04

instances, whom they had settled down upon
land assigned 10 them by compact, and beeaa
10 support themselves by their own labor, they
were rudely jostlod od and thrust into the
wilderness again. Many II not most Of our
fndisn wars have had their origin in broksa
promises and acts of injustice upon our pavtt
and the advance Of the indians In civilization
has been slow because the treatment they re-
ceivcd did not permit II to bs faster and mora
general. We cannot expect them 10 improve
and follow our guidance unless We keep faith
\ with them in respecting the rights they POS
sess, and unless, instead Of dopriving them Of
thor opportunities, we lend them . helping
hand.
/ cordially approve No policy regarding the
management OF Indian afairs outlined IN tho
| reports of the Secretary Of tho Interior, and Of
| the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs. The
faithful performance Of our promises Is the first
condition of good understanding with the
Indians. / cannot too urgently recommend to
Congress that prompt and liberal provision BE-
made for the conscientious fulflment Of all
engagements, entered into by tho Government
with Indian tribes To withhold the means
| necessary for tho performance OF promise is
always false economy and Is apt toprove dis
astrous in Its consequences. Especial care Is
recommended to provide for Indians settled
on their reservations cattle and agricultural
implements. to aid them iu whatever efforts
| they may make TO support themselves, and by
the establishment and maintenance Of schools
TO bring them under the control Of civilized In
| fuences.
see no reason why indians who can give
satisfactory proof Of having, by their own labor.
supported their families for number Of years,
| apd who are willing to detach themselves from
their trt al relations, should not be admitted to
| the benefit of the homestead act and the privi-
loge ofoitizenship, and / recommend the pos.
sage Of law to that effect. II will be an act
Of Justification as well ns q measure Of encour-
| agcment. Earnest efforts are being made to
| purify tho Indian service, SO that every dollar
| appropriated by Congress shall rebound TO tho
benefit Of the Indians, rs intended Those
efforts will have my firm support. With an i'm
proved service, and every possible encourage
mcnt held ont to the Indians to better their
condition and elevate themselves In the scale
| of civilization, we may hope 10 accomplish, at
tho same time, good work for them and our
sclye.
I invite the attention of Congress to tho
imp ortancc of the statements and suggestions
made by the Secretary of the Interior concert
ing the depredations committed on the timber
lands Of the United States, and the necessity
for the preservation Of forests. II Ia believed
that tho measures taken in pursuance of ex-
isting law to arrest those deprcdations will bo
appropriation for that purpose, rem
ders their continued enforcement possible.
The experience of other nations teaches us
that u country cannot be stripped Of its forests
with impunity, and We shall expose ourselves
to tho gravcst consequences unless the waste
full and improyident manner in which the
forests In the United States are destroyed be
effectually checked. / earnestly recommend
that the measures suggested by the Secretary
Of the Interior for the suppression of depreda-
tions on the public timber-lands Of the United
States, for the selling Of timber from tho pub
lie lands and for the preservation Of forests, be
embodied In lawj and that considering the
, urgent necessity Of enabling the people Of GER
, tain States and Territories to purchase timber
, from the public lands In legal manner, which
at present they cannot do, such . law be passed
!, without unavoidable delay.
! would also call the attention Of Congress
to the statements made by the Secretary OF the
Interior concerning the disposition that might
be made Of the desert lands not irri0abls,
west Of the Tooth meridian. These lands are
practically unstable uader existing laws, and
I the suggestion is worthy Of consideration that
system of lessehold tenure would mako them
, source of profit to the United States, while
at the same time legalizins the business Of
cattle-rnising which Ii at present carried on
upon them.
. Tho report of tie Commissioners of Agricul-
ture contains the gratifying announcement Of
the extraordinary success which has rewarded
the agricultural industry Of the country for tho
. past year. With the fair prices which obtain
for the products Of tte soil especially for the
, surplus which our people have to export, We
may confidently turn to this, as the most i'm
Z portant ofall our resources for the revival Of
the depressed industries Of tho country. The
report shows our agricultural progress during
/ tths year, and contains statement Of the work
done by this department, for tho advancement
. Of agricultural industry, upon which the pros
) perity Of our people SO largely depends.
1 Matters of information ore included, Of
. great interest Of all who seek. by the oxpesi-
) onco Of others, to improve their own Methods
I.xf ..xf
) to increase the production of important arti-
cles of consumption will, IL is hoped, improve
the demand for labor, and advance the busi-
ness of the country, and eventually result In
saving some Of the many millions lthat arc
now annually paid to foreign nations for sugar
and other staple products, which habitual uso
has made necessary In our domestic every day
life.
Tho board on bShalf Of the United States
i Executive Departments at the international
Y Exhibition in 1875 has concluded Its labors.
4 The final report Of the board was transmitted
to Congress by the President near the close Of
0 the last session, As these papers are under
stood to contain interesting and valuable in
formation. and will constitute the only report
I. emnnating from the Government on the sub
ject Of the Exhibition, 1 invite attention to
4 the matter, and recommend that the report be
: published for general information.
; Congress Is empowered by the Constitution,
4 with tho authority Of exclusive legislation
n over the District Of Columbia, In which the
= seat Of Govetnment Of the nation Is located.
i The interests Of the District, having no direct
representation in Congress- arc entitled to
A especial consideration and care ut the hands Of
the General Government. Tho capital Of the
IA United States belongs to tho nation, and II Is
= natural that the American people should take
q pride in the seat of their National Govern
Q ment, and desire 1t to be an ornament To the
J, country. Much has been done to render IL
|. healthfnl convenient, and attractive, but
a much remains to be Gone, which its perman-
/ ent inhabitants are not able and ought not To be
: expected to do. To impose upon them q
large proportion Of the cost required for public
v improvements, which are in great measure
II planned and executed for the convenience ol
!, tho Government and Of the many thousands
z of visitors from all parts Of the country, who
i temporarily reside at the capital Of the nation.
Is an evident injustice.
IS Special attention u asked by the Commits
Il sonos Of the District in their report, which Is
o herewith transmitted, to the Importance Of q
d permanent adjustment by Congress Of the