The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-12-05


Both the Secretary Of the Interior and the seere-
tary Of War unite In the recommendation that pro.
vision be made by Congress for the organization OF
q coTpsO OF mounted "Indian auItliares," 70 be I'M
der the control OF the army, and 70 be used for the
purpose Of keeping the Indians on their reserya-
tons and preventing or depressing disturbance on
their part. earnestly concur In this recommended
ton. II Is believed that the organization Of such
a body Of Indian caYalry, receiving a moderate
pay from the Government, would considerably
weaken the restless element among the Indians BY
giving them c~ongenial employment I'M
der the Government, II being O mat
ter Of experience that Indians IN our ser
vice almost without exception are faithful In the
performance OF the duties assigned TO them. Such
an organization would materially aid the army In
the accomplishment Of a task for which its numer-
But. while the employment Of force for the pre-
yention or repression Of Indian troubles Is OF ocea-
slonal necessity, and wise preparation shoala DC
on humane and ciyilizing agencies for the ultimate
solution OF what Is called the Indian problem, IL
may be very difficult, and require much patient
savage Indian 10 the restraints Of civilized
life, but experience shows that IT. is not
now quiet and orderly and self-supporting were
once as savage as any that Mt present roam over
the Plains or In the mountains OF the Far West, ana
were then considered inaccessible TO ciyllizlng IN
nuences. II may be impossible 10 raise them fully
up TO the level OF the whito population OF the
United States, but we should not forget that they
are the abOrigines of the country. and called the
soil their own on which our people have grown
rich, powerful and happy. We oweit to them as a
moral mora duty to help them IN attaining IS,oh nat at
may be able TO reach. II Is not only our duty
it Is also our interest 20 do so. Indians who
have become agriculturists or herdsmen, and feel
an interest in property, will theneeforth cease TO
be a warlike and disturbing element. IL is also a
Northumberland fact that Indians are apt TO be
peaceablo and quiet wien their children arc AT
school, and / am gratiaed to know, from tho OK
pressiOns Of Indians themselves and from many
eoncnrring reports, that there is a steadily inereas-
ing desire, even among Indians belonging TO com
paratively wild tribes, TO have their children edu.
Gated. j invite attention 10 the reports OF
the Secretary Of the Interior aud the Com,
experiment recently inaugurated, in taking
fifty Indian children, boys and girls. from different
tribes, to the Hampton Normal Agricultural
Institute, In Virginia. where they are to receive an
elementary English education and training In agri-
culture and other useful work, 10 be returned to
their tribes. after the completed course, as interpre-
tiers, instructors and examples, IL Is reported that
the officer charged with the selection OF those chill
dren might have had thousands of young Indians
sent with him had IL been possible 10 make pro-
vision for them / agree with the Secretary of the
Interior In saying that "the result OF this interest
Ing experiment, II favorable, may be destined TO
become an important factor In the advancement Of
civilization among the Indians"
The question whether n change IN the control OF
the Indian service should be made was, at the last
session OF Congress, referred TO a ommitte for In
quiry and report. without desiring 10 anticipate
that report, / venture TO express the hope that In
the decision OF so important question the views
expressed above may not be lost sight of, and that
the decision, whatever 1t may be. will arrest fur
Their agitation on this subject, such agitation being
apt to produce a disturbing effect upon the service
as we'll as on the Indians themselves.
In the enrolment OF the bill making appropria-
tons for sundrv civil expenses, at the last session
Of Congress, that portion which provided for the
continuation of Che Hot Springs Commission was
omitted. As the Commission had completed the
work OF taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims, the suspension OF their labors, before de-
termining the rights Of the claimants, threatened,
for q time, to embarrass the interests, not only Of
the Government, but also OF a large number Of the
citizens OF Hot Springs, who were waiting for final
action on their claims before beginning contem-
plated improvements. In order to prevent serious
difficulties. which were apprehended, and
zens of Hot Springs, and others interested in
the welfare of the town, the Secretary Of the In.
terror was authorized to request the late Commits
sloners to take charge Of the records Of their pro-
ceedings and to perform such work as could prop
erly be done by them under such circumstances, to
facilitate the future adjudication, of the claims at
an early day, and to preserve the status Of the
claimant until their rights should be finally de-
termined. The late Commissioners compiled with
that request, and report that the testimony in all
the cases has been written out, examined briefed
and 80 arranged as to facilitate an early settlement
when authorized by law. 1t is that
the requisite authority be given at as early q day
in the session as possible, and that a fair compen-
sation be allowed the late Commissioners for the
expense incurred and the labor performed by them
since the 25th of June last.
invite the attention of Congress to the recon-
mendations made by the Secretary Of the Interior
with regard to the preservation Of the timber on
the public lands Of the United States. The protec-
ton Of the public property Is one OF the first duties
of the Government. The Department Of the In
terror should, therefore, be enabled by sufficient
appropriations to enforce the laws in that respect.
But this matter appears still more important as q
question OF public economy. The rapid destruction
Of our forests is an evil fraught with the gravest
consequences, especially in the mountainous DIS
tTicts, where the rocky slopes. once denuded Of
their trees, will remain SO forever. There the in
jury. once done, can not be repaired. fully concur
opinion that, for this reason, legislation
touching the public timber in the mountainous
States and Territories Of the West, should be espec-
ially we'll considered. ana that existing laws. in
which the destruction Of the forests is not sufi-
GENTLY guarded against, should be speedily mOdi-
fed. A general law concerning this important sub
ject appears to me to be q matter Of urgent public
necessity.
Fsom the organization of the Government, the
imnortance of encouraging, by all possible means,
the Npsrease of our agricultural productions has
beelA acknowledged and urged upon the attention
Of Congress- and the people as the surest and readi-
est means OF increasing our substantial and endur-
The words of Washington are rs applicable to-
day as when, in his eighth annual message, he said:
ut is not to be doubted that with reference either
to individual or National welfare, agriculture is Of
primary Importance. In proportion as Nations adj
vance In population and other circumstances Of
maturity, this truth becomes more apparent. and
renders the cultivation of the soil more and more
an object of public patronage. Institutions for
promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse
and to what object can 1t be dedicated with greater
proprietyi Among the means which have been
employed to this end, none have ebeen attended
with greater success than the establishment Of
Boards composed of proper characters, charged
Will collecting and difflsing information, and
enabled, by premiums and small pecuniary aids, TO
encourage and assist the spirit Of dis
ccvery and Improvement, this species Of establish
ment contributing dQubly to the increase Of i'm
p%rOvement by stimulating to enterprise and ex-
pertinent, and by drawing to q common center the
results everywhere of individual skill and Observa-
ton, and spreading them thence over the whole
Nation. Experience accordingly hath shown that
they are very cheap instruments OF immense
National benefit"
The great preponderance of the agricultural over
any other interest in the United States entities 1t
to all the consideration claimed for it by Washing
ton. About one-half Of the population Of the
United States is engaged in agriculture. The value
OF the agricultural products OF the United States
for the year 1878. is estimated at three thousand
millions of dollars. The exports of agricultural
products for the year 1877, as appears from the
report of the Bureau of Statistics, were five hun
bred and twentyfour million Of dollars. The
great extent OF our country, with its diversity of
soil and climate, enables us to produce
within our own borders, and by our own
labor, not only the necessaries but most
civilized countries. Yet, notwithstanding our ad-
vantageB Of soil, climate, and INSTRUMENTATION,
1t appears from the statistical statements in the
report of the Commissioner Of Agriculture, that we
Of dollars worth Of agricultural products which
could be raised In our own country.
Numerous questions arise in the practice Of ad-
vanced agriculture which can only be answered
by experiments, often costly, and sometimes fruit
less, which are beyond the means Of private indi-
whole Nation for the benefit Of the Nation.
It is good policy, especially In times of de-