The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-02

Indian children, oil both sexes, 10 the
Hampton Normal and a Agricultural Insil-
t0te, Ia Virginia, to receive an elementary
English education and practical instruction
in farming and other useful industries, has
led to results so promising that It was
thought expediens TO turn over the cavalry
barracks at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, tothe
Interior Department for the establishment
OF an Indian school on larger scale. This
school has now one hundred and fifty-eight
pupils, selected from various tribes, and IS
In FIJI, operation. Arrangements are also
made for the education of number OF In.
dian boys and girls belonging TO tribes on
the Pacific slope in similar manner ut
Forest Grove, in Oregon. These institu-
tons will commend themselves to the libe-
rality OF Congress, and to the philanthropic
munifceuce OF the American people.
Last spring information was received OF
the organization or an extensive movement
in the western States, the object OF which
was the occupation by unauthorized per-
sons OF certain lands In the Indian Terri
tory coded by the Cherokees 70 the Govern
ment for the purpose OF settlement by other
Indian tribes.
On the Goth OF April issued proclama-
ton warning all persons against participa-
ton in such an attempt, and by the CO.
operation Of Il military force the invasion
was promptly checked. 1t is my purpose
| to protect the rights OF the Indian inhabit-
| ants Of that Territory TO the full extent OF
! the Executive power. But 1t would be
unwiSe to ignore the fact that Territory
| so large and so fertile, with population so
sparse and with so great q wealth OF unused
resources, will be found more exposed TO
| the repetition OF such attempts as happened
this year, when the surrounding States are
more densely settled, and the westward
movement: OF our population looks still
more eagerly for fresh lands to occupy.
Under such circumstances the difficulty
Of maintaining the Indian Territory
in Its present state will greatly in
crease, and the Indian tribes inhab-
ting il would do we'll to prepare for such q
contingency. / therefore fullT approve OF
the advice given 10 them by the Secretary
OF the Interior on a recent occasion, TO d.
vide among themselves in seFeraity as large
q quantity Of their lands as they can cult-
vale. to acquire individual title in fee, ln-
stead OF their present tribal ownership In
common, and to consider in what manner
the balance OF their lands may be disposed
Of by the Government for their benefit. BY
adoptip.. such policy they would more
certainly secure for themselves the value OF
their possessions, and at the same time pro-
mote their progress in civilization and pros
perily, than by endeavoring to perpetnate
the present state OF things in the TERRITORY.
The question whether o change in the
control OF the Indian service should be
made, was in the Forty-tifth Congress re-
ferred 10 q Joint committee Of both houses
for inquiry and report. In nv last annual
message expressed the hope that the deci-
sion Of that question, then in prospect,
"wouid arrest further agitation Of this sub
iect, such agitation being apt to produce a
disturbing effect upon the service as well as
the Indians themselves" Since tnen, the
committee having reported, the question
! has been decided in the negative By vote
, in the House OF Representatives.
For the reasons here stated, and in view
OF the fact that further|uncertaintv on this
point will he calculated to obstruct other
much-needed legislation, to weaken the
discipline Of the service, and TO unsettle
: salutarv measures now in progress for the
government and Improvement OF the In
} dams, respectfully recommend that the
decision arrived at by Congress at its last
!; session be permitted to stand.
The efforts made by the Department oil
the Interior to arrest the dcprcda;onS or
the Understands OF the United States have
i been continued, and have met with consid
, cradle success. large number OF cases oil
trespass have been prosecuted in the courts
of the United States; others have been sci.
D tied, the trespasSers offering to make pay
3 ment to the Government for the value o.
e the timber taken by them. The proceeds
0 OF these prosecutions and settlements turn
: ed into the Treasury far exceed in amount
= the sums appropriated by Congress for this
: purpose. A more important result, how
e ever, consists In the fact that the destruc
S ton of our public forests by depreciation
b although such cases still occur, has beer
r greatly reduced in extent, aud it Is pro
g bable that il the present policy is
e vigorously pursued and sufficient pro
y vision to that end is made by Con
gress, such trespasses, of least those OF
: large scale, can be entirely suppressed
= cycept in the Territories where timber To-
5 the daily requirements OF the population
5 cannot. under the present state OF the law
Il be otherwise obtained. therefore earn
V est}y invite the attention OF Congress t
: the recommendation made by the Secretar.
+ OF the Interior, that law be enacted ena
0 bling the Government to sell timber from
4 the public lands without conveying the fee
where such lands are principally valuabl
: for the timber thereon, such sales to be S
4 regulated as to conform to domestic want
I and business requirements, while mt IL
r same time guarding against sweeping de
G struction of the forests. The enactment O
e such law appears to become more press
e ing necessity every day.
e nv recommendations in former message
u are renewed in favor OF charging the IA
e ciljties OF the Department OF Agriculture
n Agriculture is the leading interest and tn
) permabent industry of our people. 1t IS {
the abundance OF agricultural production
: as compared with our home consumption
o and the largely-increased and highl
s profitable market abroad which w
l. have enjoyed in recent years, tha
Z we are mainly indebted for our presen
!, prosperity as a people. We must loo
IL for its continued maintenance to the sam
e substantial resource. There is no bruno
= OF industry in which labor, directed by SC
enti6c Knowledge, yields such increase
e production in comparison with unskiilc
c labor, and no branch OF the pubic serVlc
/ to which the encouragement Of liberal ar
}, preparations can be more appropriately eA
;, Tended. The omission to render such al
r ia not a wise economy; but, on tue cor
trary. undoubtedly results in losses OF In
/ mense sums annually that might be save
e through wel-directed efforts by the Coy
l. eminent TO promote this vital interest.
y The results already accomplished wit
= the very limited means heretofore placed i
- the command OF the Department OF Agr
8 culture is an earnest of what may be e.
+ pected with increased appropriations 1c