Jamestown alert., 1879-12-09
which the maximum limit is already fixed by
law to be made in gross,


The postmaster general recommends an
amendment to the law regulating an increase
of com pensation for increased service and in
creased speed on Star routes 80 as to enable
him to advertise for proposals for such in.
creased service and speed.
He also suggests the advantages to accrue to
the commerce of the country from the enact
meut of O general law authorizing contracts
with American built steamers carrying the
American flag for transporting the mail be-
tween the United States and ports of the West
Indies and South America at fixed maximum
per mile, the amount to be expended being
equalated by annual appropriations in like
service.
The arrangements made by the postmaster
general and the secretary of the treasury fol
the collection of duties upon books received in
the mail from foreign countries has
proved go satisfactory in its practical opera
tion that the recommendation is now made that
Congress now extend the provisions of the act
of March3, 1879, under which this arrange
ment was made, so as to apply to all other
dutiable articles received in the mails from
foreign countries.
THE INDIANS.
The reports IF the secretary of the interior
aud of the commissioner of Indian affairs, set
ting forth the present state of our relations
with the Indian tribes and our territory, the
measures taken to advance their civilization
and prosperity, and the progress already
achieved by them, will be found of more than
ordinary interest. The general conduct of
our Inuian population has been 80 satisfactory
that the occurrence of two disturbances which
resulted in bloodshed and destruction of prop.
erty, is all the more to be lamented.
The history of the outbreak on the White
River Ute reservation, Western Colorado, has
become SO famii n by elaborate report in the
public press, that it's remarkable incidents
need not be stated here in detail. 1t is ex-
pected that the settlement of this difficulty
further hostile conflicts between the Indians
and the border settlements in Western Col.
orado.
The other disturbances occurred at the Mes
celaro Agency in New Mexico, where Nieland,
the head of q small band of marauders, after
committing many atrocities, being vigorously
charged by military force made his way
across the Mexican border and is no" on for
eign soil.
While these occurrences, in which com para
lively small NUN bers of Indians were engaged,
are most deplorable, vast majority of our In
dian population have fully justified the expec-
tation Of those who believe that by humane
and peaceful influences, the Indians
can be led to abandon the habits
of savage life, and to develop
a capacity for useful and civilized occupations.
What they have already accomplished is shown
in the pursuit of agricultural and mechanical
work. The remarkable success which has at
tended the experiment of employing as freight
ers a class of Indians hitherto counted among
the widest and most intractable, and the gen
eral and urgent desire expressed by them for
the education Of their children, may be taken
rs sufficient proof that they will be found ca
@f ~, oh; c>1,
time to be wisely and fairly guided.
The Indian policy, sketched in the report of
the secretary of the Interior the object of
which is to mako liberal provisions for the
education of Indian youths to settle the In
dians upon farm lots in severalty. and to give
them title il. fee on their farms inalienable
for o certain number of years, and when their
of lands on their reservations, not OCCUPIED
and used by them, a. fund to be formed ont
of the proceeds for the benefit of the Indians,
which will gradually relieve the government of
the expenses now provided for by annual
appropriations, must commend itself a. lust
ard beneficial to the Indians and is calculated
to remove those distractions which the exist
tlement and development of the country.
therefore earnestly recommend the enactment
of q law enabling the government to give Indi-
ans q title in fee, inalienable for twenty five
years, to the farm lands assigned to them by
allotment. I also repeat the recommendation
in my first annual message that a law be passed
Indians who can give
labor of supporting their families for
a number of years. and who are willing to de-
tach themselves from their tribal relations. to
the bereft of the homestead act, and to grant
them patents containing the same provision Of
for a certain period.
The experiment of sending number of In
dian children of both sexes to the Hampton
normal and agricultural institute, in Virginia,
to receive an elemementary English education
has led to results 50 promising that
it was thought expedient to turn over the cav
airy barracks at Csrliale, in Pennsylvania, to
the interior department for the establishment
Of an Indian school on q larger
scale. This school has now l5S
pupils, selected from various tribes
and in full operation. Arrangements are also
made for the education of q number of Indian
boys and girls belonging to tribes on the Pacific
slope In similar manner at Forest Grove in
Oregon. These institutions will commend
themselves to the iberality of Congress and to
The phianth.opic munifcence of the American
people.
Last spring information was received of the
organization of an extensive movement in the
" NcSGSIA OLatcos Guo oOleCG VI Wu1Cu "S1s CuC |
by unauthorized persons of certain !
lands in the Indian country ceded by the Chero. |
KEGS to the government for the purpose of set
Element by other Indian tribes. Cn the !
29th Of April issued proclamation warning
Ill persons against participation in such an at
tempt and by the cooperation of military |
force the invasion was promptly checked. 1t
is my purpose to protect the rights of the In
dian inhabitants of that Territory to the full |
extent of the executive, but 1t would be un-
wise to ignore the fact that Territory so
large, and with population so sparce, and SO
great wealth cf unused resources, will be
found more exposed to the repetition of
such attempts rs happened this |
year, when the surrounding States are more
lensely settled, and the westward movement |
If our population look still more eagerly for
fresh lands to occupy. Under such circum-
stances the difficulty of maintaining the In.
lian territory in it's present state will greatly |
bo Srihoc IN boh; - |