The President's Message. Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House rf RepresentatireB :—Our heart felt gratitude is due to the Divine Be ing who holds in His hands the desti nies of nations, for the continued be stowal, during the last year, of count less blessings upon our country. We are at peace with all other na tions. Our public credit has greatly Iproved, tixkd is, perhaps, now stronger than e+er befOrt, , libundant harvests hve rewarded the labors of those who till the soil, our manufacturing indws tries are reviving, and it is believed thi4 general prnsperit: which has been so hag anxiously looked for, is at last wft i hm per reach. The dnj oy ment of health by our pea Se generally bus, bostever, bepn inter tupted during the past season by the prevalence of a fatal pestilence—the yel osfever—in some portions of the Southern S atea, creating an emergency which called for gropipt and extraordi-1 rmeasures bf relief. =-4- The ase appeared as an epidemic at New Orleans and at other places On the lower Mississippi soon af ter midsummer. It was rapidly spread by fugitives from the infected cities and towns, and it did not dis appear until early in November. The States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have suffered severely. About one hundred thousand cases are believed to have occurred, of which about twenty thousand, according to intelligent estimates, proved fatal. It is impossible to estimate with any ap proach to accuracy the loss to the coun try occasioned by this epideu.e. It is to be reckoned by the hundred millions of dollars. The suffering and destitu tion that resulted excited the deepest sympathy in all parts of the Union. Physicians and nurses hastened from every quarter to the assistance of the afflicted oommunities. Voluntary con tributions of money and supplies, in every needed form, were speedily and generously furnished. The government was able to respond in some measure to the call for help by providing tents, medicines and food for the sick and destitute; the requisite directions for the purpose being given, in the confi dent expectation that this action of the executive would receive the sanction of Congress. About eighteen hundred tents, and rations of the value of about $25,000, were sent to cities and towns which applied for them, full details of which will be furnished to Congress by the proper department. The fearful spread of this pestilence Las awakened a very general public sentiment in favor of national sanitary administration, which shall not only control quarantine, but have the sanita ry supervision of internal commerce in times of epidemics, and hold an adviso ry relation to the State and municipal health authorities, with power to deal with whatever endangers the public health, and which the municipal and State authorities are unable to regulate. The national quarantine set, approved April 29, 1878, which was passed too late in the last session of Congress to provide the means for carrying it into pritelical operation during the past sea son, is a step in the direction here indi oated. In view of the necessity for the most effecitiasnireasures, by quarantine and otherwise, for the protection of our seaports and the country generally, from this and other epidemics, it is re commended that Congress give to the whole subject early and care.ul consid eration. THE S ,lUTHEEN QUESTION. The permanent pacification of the country by the complete protection of all citzkna in every civil and political right continues to be of paramount in terest with the great body of our people. Every step in this direction is welcomed with public approval, and every inter ruption of steady and uniform progress to the desired consummation awakens general uneasiness and wide-spread condemnation. The recent congression al elections have furnished a direct and trustworthy test of the advance thus far made in the practical establishment of the right of suffrage, secured by the con:•titution to the liberated race in the Southern States. An disturbing influ ences, real or imaginary, had been re moved from all of these States. The three constitutional amendments %N bleb conferred freedom and equality of civil and political rights upon the colored people of the South, were adop ted by the concurrent action of the great body of good citizens who maintained the authority of the national govern ment and the integrity and perpetuity of tl.e Union at such a cost of treasure and life, as a wise and necessary em bodiment in the organic law of the just results of the war. The people of the former slave-holding States accepted i hese results, and gave, in every prac ticable form, assurances that the th:r teesitte fourteenth and fifteenth amend ments, and laws passed in pursuance thereof, should, In good faith, be en forced rigidly and impartially, in letter and in spirit, to the end that the hum blest citizen, without distinction of race or color, should, under them, receive fall and equal protection 3n person and property and in political -rights and pis-lieges. By these constitational aeweadinents the Southern section of the union obtained a large increase of political power in Congress and in the e:eatoral college, and the country just ly expected that elections would pro reed, as to the enfranchised race, upon the same circumstances of legal and constitutional freedom and protection which obtained in all the other States of the union. The friends of law an •] el ler looked forward to the conduct el these elections, as off, riug to the gen eral judgment of the country au important opportunity to measure the degree in which the right of suffrage could be exercised by the colored pee p'-e, old would be respected by their 1 , 211°w-citizens ;. but a more general enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by the colored people, and a more just and generous protection of that freedom by the communities of vhich they form a 16::, were gonerally anticipated than the record of the election discloses. In some of those States in wii;c**2. the color ed people have been unable to make ;ri4lsi their opinions felt in the elections, the result is mainly due to influences not easily measured or remedied by legal protection ; but in the States of Louisi ana and South Carolina at large, and in some particular congressional districts outside of those States, the records of the elections seem to compel the con clusion that the rights of the colored voters have been overridden, and their participation in the elections not per mitted to be either general or free. CONGRESS MUST INVESTIGATE It will be for the Congress for which these elections were held to make such examinations into their conduct as may be appropriate to determine the validity of the claims of members to their seats. In the meanwhile it becomes the duty of the executive and judiciary depart ments of the government, each in its province, to inquire into and punish violations of the laws of the United States which have occurred. I cankt repeat what I said this connectiOn'in my last message, that whatever authoili; ty rests with me to this end I shall Rot hesitate to put forth, and I am unwilling to forego a renewed appeal to the Dies lawres, the courts, the executive author ities, and the people of the States where these wrongs have been perpetrated, to give their assistance toward bringing to justice the offenders and preventing a repetition of the crimes. No means within my power will be spared to ob tain a full and fair investigation of the alleged crimes, and to secure the con viction and just punishment of the guilty. It is to be observed that the principal appropriation made for the department of justice at the last session contained the following clause: " And for defray ing the expenses which may be incurred in the enforcement of the act approved February twenty-eighth, eighteen hun dred and seventy-one, entitled An act to amend an act approved May thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled An act to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the sev eral States of the Union, and for other purposes,' or any acts amendatory there of or supplementary thereto." ' It is the opinion of the attorney-gen eral that the expenses of these proceed ings willlargely exceed the amount which was thus provided, and I rely confident ly upon Congress to make adequate ap propriations to enable the executive de partment to enforce the laws. A MATTER OF GENERAL INTEREST. I respectfully urge upon your atten tion that the congressional elections, in every district, in a very important sense, are justly a matter of political interest and oonoern throughout the whole coun try. Each State, every political party, is entitled to the share of power which is conferred by the legal and constitu tional suffrage. It is the right of every citizen, possessing the qualifications prescribed by law, to cast one unintimi dated ballot, and to have his ballot honestly counted. So long as the exer cise of this power and the enjoy ment of this right are common and equal, practically as well as formally, submission to the results of the suffrage will be accorded loyally and cheerfully, and all the departments of government will feel the true vigor of the popular will thus expressed. No temporary or administrative interests of the govern ment, however urgent or weighty, will ever displace the zeal of our people in the defense of the primary rights of citizenship. They understand that the protection of liberty requires the main tenance, in fall vigor, of the manly methods of free speech, free press, and free suffrage, and will sustain the full authority of government to enforce the laws which are framed to preserve these inestimable rights. The material pro gress and wel care of the States d epend on the protection afforded to their citizens. There can be no peace without such pro tection, no prosperity without pestee,and the whole country is deeply interested iu the growth and prosperity of all its parts. . While the country has not yet reached complete unity of fe..ling and reciprocal confidence between the CfMMEDitie3 so lately and so seriously estranged, I feel an absolute assurance that the tenden cies are in that direction, and with in creasing force. The power of public opirion will override all political preju dices, and all sectional or State attach ments, in demanding that all over our wide territory the name and character of citizen of the United States shall mean one and the same thing, and carry with them unchallenged security and respect. OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS. Oar relations with other countries continues peaceful. Our neutrality in contests between foreign powers has been maintained and respected. The universal expositicn held at Paris during the past summer has been at tended by large numbers of our citizens. The brief period allowed for the prepar ation and arrangement of the eontribu tionrs of our citizens to this great ex position was well employed in energetic and iudicions efforts to overcome this disadvantage. These efforts, led and directed by the commissioner general, were remarkably successful, and the , exhibition of the products of American industry was creditable and gratifying in scope and character. The reports of the Milled States commissioners, giving its results in detail, will be duly laid before you. Our participation in this international competition for the favor and trade of the world may be expected to produce useful and important results, in promoting intercourse, friendship and commerce with other nations. THE SILVER CONFERENCE. In accordance with the provisions of the act of February 28, 1878, three com missioners were appointed to an inter national conference on the subject of aiopting a common ratio between gold and silver, for the purpose of e*te.tblish ing, internationally, the use of bimetal lic money, and securing fixity of relative value between those metals. Invitations were addressed to the various governments which had express ed a willingness to participate in its deliberations. The conference held its meetings in Paris, in August last. The report of the commissioners, herewith submitted, will show its results. No common ratio between gold and silver could be agreed upon by the conference. The general couelusion was rcielaed that it is necessary to maintain in the world the monetary functions of silver as well at of gold, leaving the selection of the use of one or the other c f these twA metals, or of both, to be mado by each State. THE E%LIF4X AWARA. Congreps having approviiitted at its last session the sum of 3,500,000 to pay the award of the joint commission at Halifax, if, after correspondence with the British government, on the subject of the conformity of the award to the requirements to the treaty and to the terths of the question thereby submitted to the cora.nlissiob, the President shall deem it his 'duty to make the payment, communications upon these points were addreesed to the British government thrgyat the legatlim of the United States at London; 'Failing to obtain the con, t nirenoe of the British govern ment is. e vie!s of this government retipeoting , the award, I have deemed lb nzy duty to „tender the sum named, within ths2A'er fixed by the trei:ty, sc oots:panted by a qptice of the grounds of the pay,rmtitjAlla pretest against any other cp.xitiitiidon of the same. The oorresponaence. upon this subjec will be laid before yeti OTHER FOREIGN TOPICS The Spanish government has offi..ially announced the termination of the ill:Au rection in Cuba and the restoration of peace throughout that island. Confi dent expectations are expressed of a revival of trade and prosperity, which it is earnestly hoped may prove well founded. Numerous claims of Ameri can citizens for relief for injuries or re storation of property have been among the incidents of the long-oontinued hos tilities. Some of these claims are in process of adjustment by Spain, and the others are promised early and care ful consideration. The treaty made with Italy in regard to reciprocal consular privileges, has been duly ratified and proclaimed. No questions of grave importance have arisen with any other of the Elro pean powers. The Japanese government has been desirous of a revision of such parts of its treaties with foreign powers as re late to commerce, and, it is understood, has addressed to each of the treaty pow ers a request t 6 open negotiations with that view. The United States govern ment has been inclined to regard the matter favorably. Whatever restric tions upon trade withaJapan are found injurious to that people, cannot but af fee4 ibiariousay nations holding com mercial intercourse with them. Japan, after a long period of seclusion, has within the past few years made rapid strides in the path of enlightenment and progress, and, not unreasonably, is look ing forward to the time when her rela tions with the nations of E trope and America shall be assimilated to those which . they hold with each other. A treaty 'looking to this end has been made, which will be submitted for the consideration of the Senate. -- After an interval of several years the Chinese government has again sent en voys to the United States.. They have been received, and a permanent legation is now established here by that govern ment. It is not doubted that thio step will be of advantage to both' nations in promoting friendly relations.and remov ing causes of difference. The treaty with the Samoan islands, having been duly ratified and accepted on the part of both governments, is now in opera tion, and a survey and soundings of the harbor of Ps.go-Pago have been made by a naval vessel of the United States, with a view of ita occupation n.B a naval station, if found desirable to the service. Siece the iesnmption of cliplomotio relations with Mexico, oorrespondent» has been opened and still continues be tween the two governments upon the various questions which at one time seemed to endanger their relations. While no formal agreement has been reached as to the troubles on the bor der, much has been done to repress and diminish them. The effective force of the United States troops on the Rio Grande, by a strict and faith ful compliance with instructions, has done much to remove the sources of dispute, and it is now understood that a like furce of Mexican troops on the other side of the river is also making an energetic movement against the maraud ing Indian tribes. Tbis government looks with the greatest satisfaction upon every evidence of strength in the nation al authority of Mexico, and upon every effort put forth to prevent or to Trinish incursions upon our territory. Mae tent to assume any action or attitude in Vie control of these incursions, by mili tary movements ecrom the border, not imperatively demanded for the protec tion of the lives and property of our own citizens, I shall take the earliest oppor tunity, consistent with the proper dis charge of this plain daty, to recognize the ability of the Mexican government to restrain effectively violations of our territory. It is proposed to hold next year an International Exhibition in Mexico, and it is believed that the dis play of agricultural and manufactoring products of the two nations will tend to better understanding and increased commercial intercourse between their people. `4." . ' With Brazil and the republics of Cen tral and South America some steps have been taken toward the deeelopment of closer commercial intercourse. Diplo matic relations have been resumed with Colombia and with Bolivia. A. bound ary question between the Argentine Republic and Paraguay has been sub mitted by those governments for arbi tration to the President of the United States, and I have, after careful exam ination, given a decision npcn it. A naval expedition up the Amazon and Mad,-ira rivers has brought back !nforrnation valuable both for scientific) and commercial purposes. A like ex pe..nnian is about visiting the coast of A:riea and the Indian ocean. The re• ports of diplomatic and consular officers in relation to the development of our foreign commerce have furnished many facts that have proved of public interest, and have stimulated to practical exertion the enterprise of our people. THE NATIONAL FINAIiOE.34 The roporifof,the secretary of the tress tu7 gar44llo a iltktiltsl statement of SUPPLEMENT. the operations of that department of the government, and of the conditicn of the public finances. The ordinary revenues i An flt! sonrces for the fiscal year ending .1 I:1119 ;; ), 1878, were $257.763,878.70; the nrri)-; , ly ex penditures fir the same perky were 8236,961, 326.80—leaving a surpl us reve nue for the year of $20,799,551.93. -•- The receipts for the present fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, actual and estimated, are ae follows: Asitusl receipts for the first quarter commencing July 1, 1878, $73,389,743.48; estimated re oeipts for the remaining thretquutere of the year, 8191,110,256 157; total re ceipts for the current fiscal y ear, atotual and estimated, $264,500.000. The ex penditures for the same period, :will be, actual sad estimated, as follaws:'For the vertex c.lmmencing Jakf 1, 1878, actual expenditures, $78,314.578.27; and for the remaining three quarters of the year the expendttures are eetimat(l4 at $166.7€5.426.73---making the total' ex penditures 8240,100,000. and leaving an estimated surplus revenue for the year ending June 30, 1879, of $24,400,000. ,e The total receipts duriug next fis cal year, ending June 30, 1 , , estimat ed according to, existing': • we'" will be 8264 500,000 ; and the estunuted ordira ry, expenditures, for the same period, will be 8286,320,412.68 ; leaving a bur plus of 828,179,587.32 for that year. In the fort-going statements of ex- Renditurme actual s; :c1 estimated, no amount is allowed for the sinking Mild provided for by the act approved Febru ary 25, 1862, which requires that one per centnm of the Entire debt of the United States shall be purchased or paid within each fiscal yt_ar, to be set apart as a sieking fund. There has been, however, a substantial compliance with the conditions of the law. By its terms the public debt Eheuld Lace been re dnoed between 1e62 and the close of the last fiscal year 8518 . 8&1 ; 80d.28 ; the ao tual reduction of te ascertained debt, ixt that period, has been $720,644,739.- 61 ; being in excess of the reduction re quired by the sinking fnnd act $202,- 282,938.83. The amount AA the public debt, less ca,eh in tbe treasury, Novem' er 1, 1878, was $2,024.200 083.18—a reduction since the same date last year, of $23,150,617.- 89, The progress made during the last year in refunding the public debt at lower rates of interest is very gratifying. The amount of four per oentnm bonds,- sold during the present year prior to November 23, 1878, is $100,270,900, and six per centum bonds, commonly known as drp-twenties to su eanal amount, have been, or vAll be redeemed as oaiis mature. It has been the policy of the depart ment to place the four per centum bonds within east reach of every citizen who desires to invest savings, whether small or great, in these securities. The secre tary of the treasury recommends that the law be so modified that small sums may be invested, and that through the postoffloes, or other agents of the gov ernment, the freest opportunity may be given in all parts of the country for such investments. _ . - The beet mode suggested is, that the department be authorized to issue certi ficates of deposit, of the denomination of ten dollars, bearing interest at the rate of 8.65 per centum per annum and convertible at any time within one year after their issue into the four per centum bonds authorized by the refunding act, and to be issued only in exchange for United States notes sent to the treasury by mail or otherwise. Stich a provision of law, supported by suitable regula tions, would enable any person readily, without cost or risk, to convect his money into an interest-bearing security of the United States, and the money so rezeived could be applied to the re ilemptiou of six per centutn bonds. The coinage of gold, dnring the last fieeal year was $52,798,980. The coin lige of silver dolleis. tinier the *let pass ed Febenazy 28, 1878, amounted on the 231 of N.)vember, 1878, to $19,814,550, of which amount $4 , 981.947 are in cir culation, and the balance, $14,829,603, is still in the possession of the govern ment. A BEST FBCII FINANCIAL LEGISLATION. With views unchanged with regard to the act under which the coinago of sil ver proceeds, has been the purpose of the secretary faithfully to execute the law, and to afford a fair trial to the measure. - _ In the prey,-nt financial condition of the country, I ail persuaded that the welfare of legitimate business and in dustry of every description will be best promoted by abstaining from all at tempts to make radical changes in the existing financial legislaqon. Let it be understood that during the coming year the hilliness of the country will ba un disturbed by governmental interference with the laws affecting it, and we may confidently capect that tl:e resumption of specie payments, which w:Il take place at the appointed time, will be silo cessf ally and easily maintain A, and that it will be followel by a healthful and enduring revival of businc•::s pros perity. ' Let the healing influence of time, the inherent energies of our people, and the boundless resources of our country, have a fair opportunity, and re:ief from present difficulties will surely fellow. TEM ARMY, The report of the secretary of war shows that the army has been well and economically supplied, that our small force has been rctively employed and has faithfully performed all the service required of it. The morale of the ermy has improved, and the number cf deser tions has materially decreased during the year. The secretary recommern:.'s : 1. That a pension bs graute.l lo the wi,low of the late Lieutenant lieLry II Benner, Eighteenth infantry . , who lost his life by yellow fever while in com mand of the steamer J. M. C'iambers, sent with supplies for the relief of suf fers in the South from that disease. 2. The establishment of the annuity scheme for the benefit of the heirs of deceased officers, as suggested by the paymaster-general. 3. The adoption by Congress of a plan for the publication of the records of the war of the rebellion, now being prepared for that purpose. inerease of the extra per diem of soldier-teachers employed in post schools, and liberal appropriations for the erection of buildings for schools and libraries at the different poste. 5, The repeal or amendment of the act of June 19, 1878, forbidding the " use of the army as a posse comitatus, or otherwise for the purpose of execn- , ing the laws, except in such cases andl under such circumstances as may be ex pressly authorized by the constitution or by act of Congress." 6. The passage of a joint resolution of Congress legalizing the issue of rations, tents and. medicines which _were made for the the relief of sufferers from yellow fever. 7. That provision be mace for the erection of a fire-proof building for the preservation of certain valuable records now constantly exposed to destruction by fire. These recommendations are all com mended to your favorable consideration. TIIE NAVY. The report of the secretary of the navy shows that the navy has' improved dur ing the last fiscal yecr. Work has been done on seventy-fire vessels, ten of which have been thoroughly repaired and made ready for sea. Two others are in rapid progress toward oompletion. The total expenditures for - the year, La eluding the amount appropriated for the deficiencies of the previous year, were $17,438,392 65. The actual expenses chargeable to the year, exclusive of these deficiencies, were $13,306,914 09, or $767,199.18 less than those of the previous year; $4,928,677.74 less than the expenses, including the deficiencies. The estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1480, are $14,562,381.45—'.-_,x -ceeding the appropriations of the present year only $33,949.75; which exoesa is occasioned by the demands of the naval academy and marine corps, as explained in the secretary's report. The appro priations for the present fiscal year are $14,528,431.70, which, in the opinion of the secretary, will be ample for all the current expenses of the department dur ing the year. The amount drawn from the treasury from July 1 to November 1. 1878, is 4,740,514 14, of which $70,- 980.75 has been refunded, leaving as the expenditure for that period $4,669 563.- 39, or $520,899.24 lees than the cones pondipg period of the last fiscal year. THE POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT. The report of the postmaster-general embraces a detailed statement of the operations of the postoffice department. The expenditures of that department fur the fiscal year ended June 31, 1878, were $34,165,048.49. The receipts, in eliallea eel— stAuses, money-order business and official stamps, were W7;- 277,516.95. The sum of $290,436.90 in cluded in the foregoing statement of expenditures, is chargeable to preced ing years, so that the actual expendi tures for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1878, are $33,874,647.50. The amount drawn from the treasury on appropria tions, in addition to the revenues of the department, was $5,307,652.82. The expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, are estimated at $36,- 571,900, and the receipts from all sources at $39,664,023.90, leaving a de ficiency to be appropriated out of the treasury of $5,907,876.10. The report calls attention to the fact that the com pensation of postmasters and of rail ' roads for carrying the mail is regulated by law, and that the failure of Congress to appropriate the amounts required for these purposes does not relieve the governmentof responsibility, but neces sarily increases the deficiency bills which Congress will be called upon to pass. In providing for the postal service too following questions are presented : Should Congress annually appropriate a sum of money for its expenses largely in excess of its revenue, or should such rates of postage be established as will make the department self-sustaining? ' Should the postal service be reduced by excluding frobi the mails tatter which does not pay its war? Should the number of poet routes ‘ l4 diminished ? Should other methods be adopted which will increase the reTepues or diminish the expenses of the postal services ? The international Vestal congress, which met et Paris Div 1, 1878, and continued in sesrson until Jane 4 of the same year, was composed of delegates from nearly all the civilized countries of the world. It adopted a now conven tion, to take the place of the treaty concluded at Berne October 9. 1874, which goes into effect on the Ist of April, 1879, between the countries whose delegates have signed it. It was ratified and approved, by and with the consent of the Preaident,August 13, 1878. A synopsis of the universal postal convention will be found in the report of the postmaster-general, and the full text in the appendix thereto. In its origin the postal union comprised twenty-three countries, having a popu lation of three hundred and fifty mil lions of people. On the Ist of April next it will comprise forty-three coun tries and colon es, with a population of more than six hundre , ...l r fifty millions of people, and will 130012, I,y the acces sion of the few remaining countries and colonies which maintain organized post al services, constitute in fact, as well as in name, as its new title indicates, a universal union, upon a uniform basis of cheap postage rates, the postal inter course between all civilized nations. Some embarrassment has arisen out of the conflict between the customs laws of this country and the provisions of the postal convention, in regard to the transmission of foreign books and news papers to this country by mail. It is hoped that Congress will be able to de vise some means of reconciling the diffi culties which have thus been created, s as to do justice to all parties involved. THE J t7DICI A. RY The 1,1131ne. , _ , s the supreme court, and of the courts in many of the circuits, has increaced to Each, It!L extent flaring the past • cars that additional legisla tion is itni,,,eative to relieve and prevent the delay of justice, and possible op pressionto suitors, which is thus occ sioned. Tha encumbered condition of these dockets is presented anew in the report of the attorney-general, and the remedy suggested as earnestly urged for congressional action, The creation of additional circuit judges, as proposed, would afford s complete remedy, and wctUld expouse,tit the present rate of salaries—of not _mor e than $BO,OOO a year. THE INDIANS, The annual- reports of the secretary of the interior and of the commissioner of Indian affairs present an elaborate ac count of the present condition of the Indian tribes, and of that branch of the public service which ministers to their interests. While the conduct of the Indians, generally, has been orderly, and their relations with their neighbors friendly and peaceful, two local disturb ances have occurred which were de- plorable in their character, but remain ed, happily, confined to a comparatively small number of Indiana. The discon- tent among the Bannooks, which led first to some acts of violence on the part of some members of the tribe and finally to the outbreak, appears to have been caused by an insufficiency of food on the reservation, and this insufficiency to have been owing to the inadequacy of the appropriations made by Congress to the wants of the Indians, at a time when the Indians were prevented from sup plying the deficiency by hunting. Atter an ardent pursuit by the troops of the United States, and several engage resnte, the hostile Indians were reduced t, subjection, and the larger part of them surrendered themselves as prison ers: In this connection I desire to call attention to the recommendation made by the secretary of the interior, that a sufficient fund be placed at the disposal of the ,executive, to be used, with proper accountability, at discretion, in sudden emergencies of the Indian service. The other ease of disturbance was that of a band of northern Coe3ennes who suddenly left their reservation in the Indian Territory and marched rapidly through the States of Ksnsas and Na break% in the direction of their old hunt- i ing-groands, committing murders and other crimes on their way. From docu ments accompanying the report of the secretary of the interior, it appears that this disorderly band was as fatly sup plied with the necessaries of life as, the four thousand seven hundred other Indians who remained quietly on the reservation, and that the disturbance was caused by men of a restless and mis chievous disposition among the Indians themselves. Almost the whole of this band have surrendered to the military authorities, and it is a gratifying fact that, when some of them had taken refuge in the camp of the Rsd Cloud Sioux, with whom they had been in friendly relations, the Sioux held them as prisoners and readily gave them np to the officers of the United States, thus giving new prof - 4 of the loyal epirit which, alarming rumors to the contri4ry notwithstanding, they have uniformly shown ever since the wishes they ex pressed at the counoil of September, 1877, had been complied with. Both the secretary of the interior and the secretary of war unite in the ressom mendation that provision be made by Congress for the organization of a corps of mounted " Indian auxiliaries," to be under the control of the army, and to be used for the purpose of keeping the Indians on their reservations and pre venting or repressing disturbance on their part. I earnekely concur in this recommendation. It is believed that the organization of such a body of Indian cavalry, receiving a moderate payfrom the government, would considerably weaken the restless element among the Indians by withdrawing from it a num ber of young men and giving them con genial employment under the govern ment—it being a matter of experience that Indians in our service almost with out exception are faithful in the per formance of the duties assigned to them. Stich an orgin;zsqon would materially aid the army in the accomplishment of a task for which its numerical strength is sometimes found ineuffieient. a Bnt while the employment of force for the prevention or repression of In dian troubles is of occasional necessity, and wise preparation should be made to that end, greater reliance must be placed on humane and civilizing agen cies for the ultimate solution of what is called the Indian problem. It may be very difficult and require much patient effort to curb the 'unruly spirit of the savage Indian to the - restraints of a civ ilized life, but experience shows that it is not impossible. Many of the tribes which are now quiet and orderly and self-supporting were once as savage as any that at present ream over the plains or in the mountains of the far West, and were then . considered inaccessible to civil:zed influences. It may be impos sible to mit:. J them fully up to the level of the white 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 owe it to them as a moral duty to help them in attaining at least that degree of civilization which they may be able to reach. It is not only our duty—it is also our interest to do so. Indians who have become agriculturists or herdsmen, and feel an interest in pro- perty, will there:Worn cease to be a war like and disturbing element. It is also a well-authenticated fact that Indiana are apt to be peaceable and quiet when their children are at school, and I am gratified to know, from the expressions of Indians themselves and from many . concurring reports, that there 1 a steadily-increasing desire, even among Indians belonging to comparatively wild tribes, to have their children edu cated. I invite attention to the reports of the secretary of the interior and the commissioner o Indian affairs, touching the 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 aiglish education and training in agricul-iire and other useful work, to be returned to their tribes, after the completed course, as interpre. ter", instructors and examples. It 18 reported that the offi cers charged - with the selection of those children might have had thou sands of young Indians sent with him had it been possible to make provision for them. I agree with the secretary of the interior in saying that " the result of this interesting experiment, if favor able, may be destined to become an im portant factor in the advancement of the Indians." The question whether a change iZ the control of the Indian service should to made, was, at the last session of Con gress, referred to a committee for in quiry and report. Without desiring to an ticipate that report I venture to express I the hope that in the decision of so im portant a question, the views expressed above may not be lost eight of, and that the decision, whatever it msy be, will arrest frertleeragitation of this subject; such agitation being apt to produce a dlatnrbing effect upon the service ass well as on the Indians themselves. ! HOT STRINGS COMMISSION. In the enrollroant of the bill making • appropriations for sundry civil expeneee, at the last session of Congress, that portion which provided- for the •ontin nation of the Hot Syringe commission wee omitted. As the commission had completed the work of taking testimo ny on the many conflicting claims, the suspension. of their labors, before deter mining the rights of claimants, threat ened, for a time, to embarrass the inter ests, :lot only of the government, but also of a large Dumber of the citizens of Hot Spripge, who are waiting for final action on their claims before beginning contemplated improvements. In order to prevent serious difficulties, which were apprehended, and at the solicita tion of many leading citizens of Rot Springs, and others interested in the welfare of the town, the secretary of the interiorwas authorized to request the late commissioners to take charge of the records of their proceedings, and to perform such work as could properly be done by them under such circumstances, to facilitate the future adjudication of the claims at an early day, and to pre serve the status of the claimants until. their rights should be finally determin ed. The late commissioners complied with that request, and report that the testimony, in all the cases has been written out, examined, briefed and so arranged as to facilitate an early settle ment when authorized by law. It is recommended that the requisite author ity be given at as early a day in the session as possible, and that a fair corn-, pensation be allowed the late commis sioners for the expense incurred and the labor performed by them since the 251b# of June last. TIMBER ON PUBLIC LANDB. I invite to attention of Congress to the recommendations made by the sec retary of the interior with regard to the pre-ervation of the timber on the public lands of the United States. The pro tection of the public property is one of the first duties of the government. The department of the interior should, there fan; b 15,20/ 1 0-1.14 I+7 ryvtin,,iimwk srapx.pris tiOl. 8, to enforce the laws in that respect. Bat this matter appears still more im poratnt as a question of public economy. The rapid destruction of our forests is an evil fraught with the gravest conse quences, especially in the mountainous d istricts, where the roe k 7 slopes, once de nuded of their trees, will remain so for ever. There the injury, once done, cannot be repaired. I fuliy Joncur with the sec retary of the interior in the opinion that, for this reason, legislation touch ing the publics timber in the mountain ous States and Territories of the West should be especially well considered, and that existing laws, in which the de struction of the forests is not sufficient ly guarded against, should be speedily modified. A general law concerning this important subject appears to me to be a matter of urgent publio neces sity. AORICULTI7IOI. From the organization of the gov ernment, the importance of encour aging, by all possible means, the increase of onr agricultural produo toes has been acknowledged and urged upon the attention of C sn greas and the people as the surest and readiest means of increasing our sub stantial and enduring prosperity. The words of Washington are as ap plicable to-day as when, in his eighth auntie! message, he raid: " It is not to be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agricul ture is of primary importance. In pro portion as nations advance in popula tion and other circumstances of matur ity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the culivaUon of the soil more and more an object of public pa tronage. Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse —and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety ? Among the means which have been employed to this end, none have been attended with greater success than the establishment of boards composed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffusing information, and enabled by premiums and small pecuniary aids to encourage and assist the stflrit of discovery and improvement; this species of establish ment contributing doubly to the increase of improvement by stimnlating to en terprise and experiment, and by drawing to a common center the results every where of individual skill and observa tion, and spreading them thence over the. whole nation. Experience accord ingly bath shown that they are very cheap instruments of immense national benefit." The great preponderance of the agri cultural, over any other interest in the United States, entitles it to all the con sideration claimed for it by Washington. About one-half the population of the United States is engaged in agriculture. The value of the agricultural product' 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 bureau of statistics. were five hundred and twenty-four millions of dol lars. 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 of the luxuries that are consumed in civil-' ized countries. Yet, notwithstanding, our advantages of soil, climate and in. tercomniunication, it appears from the statistical statements in the report of the coratnissioner of agriculture, that we import annually from foreign lauds many miliions of dollars' aver h of agri cultural products which cuuld be raised in our own country. Numerous questions arise in the practice of advanced agriculture which can Quip be answered
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