The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-10


| the cavalry barracks OF Carlisle, in Pennsyl-
vania, TO the interior department, for the es-
ia blishment OF an Indian school on q larger
scale. This school has now l58 pupils, Sc
lected from various tribes, and is in full OPP
Grafton. Arrangements arc also made tor the
education OF a number of Indian boys and
girls, belonging to tribes on the Pacific slope,
in a similJr manner at Forest Grove, in
Oregon. These institutions will commend
themselves 10 the liLeraliry OF Congress and
to the philanthropic muni6cence OF the.Amer.
ican people.
Last spring information was received of the
organization Of an extensive movement in the
Western States, the object OF which was the
occupation, by unauthorized persons, Of GER
tain lands in the Indian Territory coded by
the ChcIokces 10 the government Tor the pur-
pose OF settlement by other lndian tribes. On
the twenty-ninth OF April | issued a proclama.
ton warning all persons against participation
in such an attempt, and, by the co-operlion
off military force, the invasion was promptly
checked. It is my purpose to protect the
rights of the Indian inhabitants OF that Terri
tory to the iull extent OF tho executive power;
but it would be unwlse to ignore the fact that
q Territory 30 largo and 50 fertile, with a
population 50 sparse and so great a wealth OF
| unused resources, will be found moro exposed
to the repetition OF such attempts as happened
this year when the surrounding States are
more densely settled and the westward move
ment OF orr population looks still more
eagerly for fresh lands 10 occupy. Onder
such circumstances the difficulty OF maintain
ing the Indian Territory in its present state
will greatly increase, and the Indian Tribes
inhabiting it would do well to prepare Tor such
a contingency. l therefore fully approve OF
the advice given TO them by the secretary
OF the interior TO divide among them
| selves in severalty as large a quantity OF
their lands as they can cultivate, to acquire
invividual titles in fee, instead OF their present
tribal ownership in common, and TO consider
in what matter the balance of their lands may
be disposed OF by tho government Tor their
benefit. BY adopting such o policy they
would more certainly secure Tor themselves
the value of their possessions, and al the same
time promote their progress in CIVILIZATION
and prosperity, than by e~ndeavor,ng TO per-
/. petuate the present state OF things IN the Ter
ritory. The question whether a change IN
the control OF the Indian service should be
made was, in the Forty.ifth Congress, re-
terred to q joint committee OF both houses ior
inquiry and report. In m last annual mes
J sage I EXPRESSED the hope that the decision OF
| that question then in prospect "would arrest
further agitation OF this subject, such agitation
being apt to produce q disturbing effect upon
the service, as we'll US the Indians themselves"
Since then, the committee having reported,
the question has been decided in the negative
nv a vote in the House o. Representatives for
the reasons here stated, and in view OF the
G,ct that further uncertainty on this point
| viii be calculated 10 obstruct other much
needed legislation, to weaken the discipline OF
! the service, and 10 ~unsettle ~salutary measures
now in progress for the government and i'm
provement OF the Indians, l respectfully
recommend that the decision arrived at by
Congress at its last session be permitted to
stand.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Efforts made by the department OF the in
terror TO arrest the depredations on the timber
lands Of the United States have been con-
tinued, and have met with considerable sue
cess. A large number OF cases OF trespass
have been prosecuted in the courts OF the
United States. Others have been settled, the
trespassers Offering TO make payment 10 the
government for the value of the timber taken
BY them. The proceeds OF these prosecutions
and settlements, turned into the treasury, tr
exceed in amount the sums appropriated oy
Congress for this purpose. A moro important
result, however, consists in the tact that the do
struction OF our public forests by depredatfons
although such cases still occur, has been greatly
reduced in extent, and it is probable that it
the present policy is vigorously pursued and
sufficient provision to that end is mace by
Congress, such trespasses, at least those on Q
large scale can be entirely suppressed, except
in the territories where timber tor daily 20
q~uiremcnts OF the populations cannot, under
the present state OF the law, be otherwise OBJ
tanned. Therefore earnestly invite the atten-
ton OF Congress to the recommendation
made by the secretary OF the interior, that q
law be enacted enabling the government 10
sell timber from the public lands, without
conveying the fee, where such lands are prin-
cipally valuable for the timber thereon, such
salcs to be 80 regulated as to conform to
domestic wants and business requirements,
while at the same time guarding against a
sweeping destruction OF the forests. The
enactment OF such a law appears to become q
more pressing necessity every day.
AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION.
My. recommendations in former messages
are renewed, in favor OF enlarging the facil-
tiles OF the department Of agriculture.
Agriculture is the leading interest and the
permanent industry OF Our people. 1t il to the
abundance OF agricultural production, rs com
pared with our home consumption and the
largely Increased and highly profitable market
abroad which we have enjoyed in recent
years, that we are mainly indebted for our
present prosperity az n people. We must look
Tor its continued maintenance 10 the same
substantial resource. There is no branch of
industry III which labor, directed by scientific
knowledge, yields such increased production
in comparison with nnskilled labor, and no
branch OF the public service TO which the en-
conrugemcns Of liiNral appropriations can be
more appropriately extended. The omission
to render such aid is not u wise economy, but,
on the contrary undoubtedly results in losses
of immense sunls annually TINT might be
saved through well-directed efforts by the
government 10 promote this vital interest.
The results already accomplished with the
very limited means heretofore placed ut the
command OF the department of agriculture is
an earnest OF what may be expected, with in
creased appropriations Tor the several pur-
poses indicated in the report Of the commits
sioner, with a view TO placing the department
upon a footing which will enable it to prose-
cute more effectively the objects Tor which it
is established. Appropriations are needed Tor
a more complete laboratory, Tor the establish
ment of a veterinary division and q division OF
forestry, and for an increase OF force. The
requirements for these and other purposes
indicated in the report oil the commissioner,
under the head OF the immediate necessities
Of the department, will not involve any ex-
penditure OF money that the country cannot
with propriety now undertake in the interests
of agriculture.
1t is gratifying to learn from the bureau OF
education the extent TO which educational
privileges throughout the United States have
been advanced during the year. No more
fundamental responsibility rests upon Con-
gress than that OF devisirg appropriate mea-
surcs OF hnancial aid 10 education, supple
mental to local action in the States and
Territories and in the District of Columbia.
The wise iorethought Of the founders OF our
government has not only furnished tho basis
Tor the support Of the common-schoo systems
OF the newer States, but laid the foundations
Ior the maintenance OF their universities and
colleges OF agriculture and the mechanical
arts. Measures in accordance with this trndi.
tional policy, for the further benefit OF all
these interests, and the extension OF the same
advantages to every portion OF the country, it
is hoped will receive Your favorable considcra-
ton. To preserve and perpetuate the national
literature should be among the foremost cares
OF the national legislature. The library
gathered at the Capitol still remains unpro.
videi with any suitable accommodations for
its rapidly increasing stores. The magnitude
and importance OF the collection, increased as
it is by the deposits made under tie law OF
copyriuht, by domestic and foreign EXCHANGES.