Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-11

have not vessel OF war that could Keep the /
seas against hrst class vessel Of any impor-
tant power. Such condition ought not long.
or to continue. The nation that cannot re-.
sst aggression is constantly exposed to 1t. It's
foreign policy is OF necessity weak and Its
negotiations are conducted with disadvantage
because IL is not in a condition to enforce the
terms dictated by the sense OF right and JUS
toe. Inspired as l am by the hope that the
day is not very far distant when our navy will
be such as BELTS our standing among the ma
tions OF the earth, l deem it my duty to espe-
cially direct the attention Of Congress to the
close Of the report Of the secretary Of the ma
W. in which the humiliating weakness Of the
present organization OF his department is ex-
hibited and the startling abuses aud waste Of
It's present methods are exposed. The con-
viotion is forced upon us with the certainty
Of mathematical demonstration that before
we proceed further in the restoration Of a ma
Wy we need thoroughly recognized navy
department.
The fact that within II years more than
S75, 900, 900 has been spent in the construc-
ton, repair, equipment and armament OF ves-
stls, and the further fact that instead OF an
effective, creditable feet we have only the
discomfort and apprehension OF a nation un-
defended by war vessels, added TO the dis
closures now made, does not permit us to
doubt that every attempt to revive our navy
has thus far for the most part been msdirect-
ed, and all our efforts In that dirett ton have
been little better than blind groupings and eK-
pens;ve, aimless folles.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The affairs Of the postal service are e1hib-
tied by the report of the Postmaster Gt neral,
Which will be laid before you. The postal
revenue, whose ratio OF gain upon the rising
prosperity of 1882 and 1883 outstiipped the
increasing expenses Of our growing service,
was checked by the reduction in the rate Of
letter postage which took effect with the be-
ginning Of October in the latter year, AID it
diminished during the two past fiscal years
81, 700, 900, in about the proportion of So
270 600 In 1884 to 1920, 600 in 1885. Natural
growth aud development have meantime in
creased expenditure, resulting in deficiency
IN the revenue to meet the expenses of the
department OF 81, $50, 600 for the year 1884,
and IS, 1888, 900 in the last fiscal year. The
anticipated aud natural revival of the revenue
has been oppressed and retarded bv the I'M
favorable business condition Of the country,
OF which the postal service is faithful indi-
Gator.
approve the recommendation of the Post
master General TO reduce the chRrg S on do.
mestic money orders of S. and less from eight
to FIVE cents. This change will materially aid
those Of our people who most Of all avail
themselves of their fundamentally, but to
whom the element of cheapness is of the
greatest Importance. With this reduction the
system would still remain self supporting.
1t was decided, with my appreciation, after
sufficient examination to be inexpedient for
the post-office department to contract for car
rying our foreign mails under the additional
authority given by the last Congress. The
amount limited was inAdt quate to pay all
vvithin Tho V1urviaxu ~ las full "a of
so cents per mile, and it would have been un
Just and unwise to have given it to some aud
denied it to others. Some of the steamsh hip
companies, upon the refusal of the Postmas-
ter General to attempt by the means provided
| the distribution Of the sum appropriated a.
an extra compensation, Withdrew the services
of their vessels and thereby occasioned slight
Inconvenience though no considerable injury.
The mails have been despatched by other
means. Whatever may be thought of the
| policy of subsidzlng any liue of public con
veyance or trade, am satisfied that it should
not be done under cover of an expenditure
incident 10 the administration of the depart
ment. Nor should there be any uncertainty
| as to the recipients of the subsidy, or discre-
ton left to an executive officer TO its distri-
button. II such gifts of the public money
are TO be made for the purpose of aiding any
enterprise in the supposed interest of the
| public, l cannot but think that the amount TO
be PAID and the beneficiary might better be
determined by Congress than IN any other
way.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The condition of business in the courts OF
the United States is such that there seems to
be an imperative necessity for remedial legs-
lation on the subject Some of these courts
are so overburdened with pending causes that
the delays in determining litigation amount
often to denial of justice. Among the
plans suggested for relief is one submitted by
the attorney general. It's main features are
The transfer Of all the original jurisdiction
of the circuit courts to the district courts, and
an increase of judges for the latter where
necessary an addition OF judges TO the cir
cult courts and constituting them exclusively
courts Of appeal and reasonably limiting ap-
peals thereto; further restrictions of the right
to remove causes from the state TO federal
courts permitting appeals to the supreme
court from the courts of the District of Co
| lumbia and the territories only in the same
4 cases as they are allowed from state courts /;
and guarding against unnecessary appeals
from the circuit courts. l approve the plan
thus outlined, and recommend the legislation
necessary for its application to our Judicial
system.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND THE
INDIANS.
The report of the secretary Of the interior
| contains an account of the operations of this
important department, and much interesting
information will be submitted for your con
sideratiOn. The most intricate and difficult
subject in charge of the department is the
treatment and management of the Indians /
am satisfied that some progress may be noted
in their condition as q result of the prudent
administration of the present laws and regu.
lations for their control. But it is submitted
that there is lack of q fixed purpose of policy
on this subject, which should be supplied.
1t is useless TO dilate upon the wrongs of the
Indians, and as useless to indulge in the
heartless belief that because their wrongs are
retenged in their own atrocious manner,
therefore they should be eXterminSted. They
are within the care of our government, and
their rights are or should be protected from
invasion by the most solemn obligations.
They are properly enough called the wards
of the government, and it should be borne
in mind that this guardianship involves on
our part efforts for the improvement of their
condition and the enforcement of their rights.
There seems 10 be general concurrence in the
proposition that the ultimate object of their
treatment should be civilization and citizen
ship. The difficulty appears to be in the &c.
lection OF the means to be at present employ
| Cd toward the attainment OF tnIs result. Oul
Indian population, exclusive OF those in Alas
ka, is reported as numbering 2G0, 0OO nearly
all being located on lands set apart for their
use and occupation, aggregating over 1874, :
000 900 acres. These lands are included in
the boundaries Of III reservations of differ
ent dimensions, scattered in 2l states and ter,
ritories, presenting great variations in climate
and in the kind aud quality of their soils.
Among the Indians upon these several reser.
vations there exist the most marked dfferen.
ces in natural traits and dispositions, and in
their progress toward civilization. While
some are lazy, vicious and stupid, others are
industrious, peaceful and intelligent While
a portion of them are self supporting and in
dependent, and have 80 far advanced in civil
lization that they make their own laws ad-
ministered through officers of their own choice,
and educate their children in schools OF their
own establishment and maintenance others
still retain in squalor and dependence almost
the savagery of their natural state. In deal
ing with this question, desires manifested by
the Indians should not be ignored. Here
again we find great diversity With some the
tribal relation is cherished with utmost tena-
city, while its hold upon others is oonsiders-
bly, relaxed. The love of home is strong upon