The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1857, Page 2

Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior. | DxPARTMENT oF TH IvTERIOR, Dec. 3, 1857. Sm \—In presenting an exhibit of the operations of this | department, attention is first invited to the important and | diversified interests connected with the administration of | ‘our public domain, respecting which the accompanying re- | port of (he Commissioner of (he General Land Office fur- | interesting details, with 4 gratifying view of our | land system. American legislation has shown | ils sqstor practical wisdom by its simplicity and adapta- tion to the wants of our people in its code of land laws, im regard to the improvement of which few suggestions can be made. ‘The leading fact attracting our attention is the vast ex- tent of the operations of the Land Bureau. The public domam covers a surface, exclusive of water, of one thousand four hundred and fifty millions of acres. It stretches across the continent, and embraces every va- riety of climate and soil, abounding iv agricultural, mine. ral and timber wealth, everywhere iaviting to enterprise, and capabie of yieldiag support to man. ‘This great inheritance was acquired, first, by the vo- luntary cessions of several of the original thirteen States; then by the Louisiana purchase obtained from Napoleon by the treaty of 1803. The next enlargement of our Ter ritory was effected by the treaty of 1819 with Spain, ced sog ‘the Floridas to the United States; then its further extension was eifected by the treaty of 1848, @t Guadalupe Hidalgo, with Mexcio, ceding New’ Mexico and California’ Subsequently, Texas accepted the proposition of this goverument establish. ing her bouudaries, for the “relinguishment by the said ‘State of all territory claimed by her exterior to Said boun. dares’ The last accession to the public domain is that in 1854, from Mexico, known as the Gadsden purchase, covering a surtace of 25,161,000 acres, south of the Gila river The Supreme Court has said, in reference to acquired lands, that ifthe people change their sovereign, their right to property remains unaffected by this change.’’ Conse- -- ». When the United States succeeded to the owner- ship of that portion of our territory, derived from treaties with foreign powers, the frst and paramount duty in the disposal of the public lands was to separate private from public property In obedience to th: tled principle of public law, and under the speci gations of treaties, the United States have established Boards of Commissioners, confer red powers on registers and receivers, opened the courts of the United States for the adjudication of foreign title: qultitudes of cases confirmed such titles by special | tion classes of titles scription of “private cies, from m STATE OF THE NATION. | e known under the generic de. ail claims,” and are of every spe rm of lots in Spanish towns to rural e from one bundred arpents and less t half of acres. ‘These titles are of British, French, Spanish and Mexi NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1857. for the location of warrants, and claims have been pre- sented by several of the officers for the whole amount of fees collected. The General Land Office has decited, aud the decision has been sanctioned by the department, that in view of the limitation as to maximum in the act of 20th apa, 1818, and the terms of the second and third sections the act off22d March, 1852, in connection with the act of 1855, there is no authority of law for the allowance of apy excess over the maximum compensation for commis- sions as fixed by said act of 1815, ‘The act of 12th January, 1825, authorizes repayment of purchase money to be made from the treasury in allcases of sales of lands made by the local land officers where the government is unable, from want of title in itself, to issue = tothe have construed this act as providing for repayments in all cases where from any cause the sale could not be contirmed; and the uniform practice has been oy Peesdiens hematad in strict justi practice is unq led in ico, and I have not deemed it best to disturb it, altheugh in clined to the opinion that a strict construction of the law would limit its operation to the class of cases specifically embraced therein. Should any doubt be entertained of the preprict; <o- ramen - is penne emaan ds tory le respect recomme! as may bo cle oe ae ae which palate interesting communi i a report, of the late Secretary of the wyoury A of New Mexico, respecting the mineral resources of that it Territory, suggests the propriety of providing for a geological sur vey thereof. It 18 not doubted that vast quantities of gold and silver, copper, lead znd iron ores are to be found em- bedded in its soil, and their discovery and developement could not fail to conduce to the public prosperity. The report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs fur- nishes an interesting view of a peculiar people, with whom this government holds the most complicated relations. The members of the Indian tribes within our limits, while they are not citizens, cannot with strict propriety be termed foreigners. ‘Domestic dependent nations, their relations to-the United States resemble those of a ward to his guardian. They took to our government for protec- tion, and appeal to it for relief to their wants.’ While we negotiate treaties with them, which are ratified with all the solemnity befitting a contract to which nations are parties, we undertake to construe and execute their pro- visions, acknowledging no responsibility but such as we may owe to truth, honor and justice. As the limits of our civilization have been extended, the number of these children of tke forest with whom our people are brought into immediate contact, is greatly increased. Treaties multiply, rights are acquired, mutual obligations are a3- ‘sumed, obedience is promised on the one part, protection is guarantied on the other. The Indian Bureau is grown to be a great foreign office, conducting the correspondence and adjusting the relations of more than sixty interior governments; while it is at the same time charged with the control, regulation and protection of the rights of the individual members of these governments. In the performance of these duties, questions are pre- sented of the most difficult character, in the solution of which it 4s almost im) ible to arrive ata conclusion which shall réconcile the necessities of sound policy with the requirements of the law. The intercourse act of 1834 Was acapted to a condition of affairs which n> longer ex ists, and it might be judiciously modified. The wide dissi milarity, too, of the’ provisions of the various treaties re cently negotiated with the several tribes—agreeing, how cau origin, all depending for validity on the colonial laws of their different sovereiguties. And there is no branch | of jurisprudence w reater research and extent of ie- | gai erudition have displayed by our judicial tribu nals than in the determination of the intricate questions | which have arisen, been discussed, and judicially deter mined in connection with this brangh of the service. These foreign claims are of every diversity of shape, and everywhere scatiered over the public domain, interrupt. | ing the regularity of our surveys, with which they are | necessarily interlocked, and exhibit in striking contrast | the irregularities of the foreign surveys, when compared with the simplicity and beauty of our owa rectangular system; showing the difference in the modes of distribut ing estates, one of which concedes to the favorites of prine » bod the choicest lands, whilst the plic territory so as to deal with every citiz t of enlarged liberality. In the growth of our : Territory, in the way and by the ready mentioned, there remained and still remain rguished the cla ‘hts and possession of the ees. The general covernment of the Union, at the down of our political existence, adopted the principle as. serted by tbe colonizing governments of Europe, to the effect thai the absolute title was in the United States, sub: Ject only to the Indian right of occupancy, and with the huconditioual privilege of extinguishing that right. Under the operation of these principles, the purchase and extinguishment of the Indian right bas been gradually progressing im the ratio inj which lands in Indian occu paucy were demanded by our peopie for settlement. Pari passu ave the Lnes of the public surv carried, in preparing the way for homesteads, means by which to pass to our people unincumbered and iadofeasibie titles ‘The surveying system now organized into twelve dif. ferent districts, and the lines of the public surveys have already been extended over more than oue-fourth of the whole surface of the public domain — That surface, as heretofore stated, is, .1,450,000,000 acres Of this, theré have been surveyed and prepared for market, of net public lauds, that is, exclusive of school lands, &e.... ¥ sat Of which quantity... have never beca offered, Consequently, now liab! sale, iD addition to whieh, there were upwards of...... ccna 80,000,000 acres Subject to entry at private cale on the 30th Sept. last Of the public domain, there have been disposed of by private claims, grauts, sales, &c., embracing surveyed and unsurveyed land +++ 385,562,404 acres Which, deducted from th face, as above state poaed of an area of. During the fiscal yei ‘ending Sept. 30, 18: 4 reported to the exient of same per . 1 disposed of as follow 604,983 acres, 2,870 acres whe! leaves undis 5,300, 5: ” 7,081,010.00 « For casts #ean 2 Located with til tary warrants ever, in this, that legislation by Congress is’ made & pre. requisite to the full enjoyment by the Indian of the rights they were intended to secure to him—furnishes a weighty | reason for the revision and coditieation of the laws now ti, force; and it isto be hoped that Congress will give its early attention to the subject and prescribe, in one comprebeu sive enactment, a well considered, compact and uniform system of laws for the regulation of Indian intercourse. ‘The Indian tribes within our limits, nnmbering about three hundred and twenty five thousand souls, may be di vided into three classes. The first, wild, roving, flerce, retaining all the traditionary characteristics which marked the race before the advent of the white man—eke out by plunder the uncertain subsistence derived from the chas To this class, comprising nearly three fourths of the whole p amber, belong most of the bands whose hunting rrounds: ive in the interior of the continent, and in the Territories of Oregon and Washington. These tribes are controllable only through their fears. They are, ostensibly, our friends, because they daré not openly avow hostility; aud this must continue to be the case as long as they retain their roving habits. The Indian Office is powerless to ef- fect any amelioration of their condition until they can be induced to adopt fixed habitations. To the accomplish- ment of this preliminary step the efforts of the Indian Ba- reau are now directed; and it is hoped that, with the aid of the military arm of the government, the system of coloni- zation, which has elsewhere been so productive of good, may be successfully applied to these tribes. The tribes of California, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, and a portion of those in’ Oregon, constitute the second class. Some three years since the policy was adopted of concentrating these Indians on smali reservations, where they might be practically taught the industrial arts, and labor for their support under the immediate su- rvision of their it. eee establishments are, in t, manual labor schools on # large scale; and I am gra tified to be able to state that the happiest results have followed their introduction. The two great difficulties to be encountered in effecting the civilization of the Indian. are his impatience of restraint and his aversion to labo and these are not to be overcome by abstract teachin; He must be taught practically, it at all, the immense s periority of a settled over a roving life, and the value and dignity of labor. This, the colonization system aj rs to be accomplishing, and it is certainly the most ef and economical plan yet devised for his reclamation. The Indians along the west bank of the Mis- souri, those of Kansas, and the tribes occupying the — ter form a third class, differing in many particulars from either of the others. Gi ly true and reliable, they constitute a people for whom we justly feel the deepest sympathy and the test solicitude. The degree of civilization to which these tribes have attained varies greatly in different localities. Some of them, steeped in ignorance, thoroughly degraded, seem, in their contact with ovr people, to have lost the rude virtues that cha- racterized them fn a savage state, and acquired from civi- lization only its vices. Others have rapidly advanced, socially, morally, and in the knowledge of the useful arts, until they have become fit to be recognized as citizens. Here and there is found one whose talents, attainments, and integrity constitute hitn an ornament to his race, and, while he challenges our admiration and respect, furnishes Returned under swatup land grant... 3,368476.96 “ Estimated quantity of railroad grants h, 18 5,116,000.00 ‘of M eived ou cash sales is $4.2 1 145 99. With a falling off during the same p location of lands with warrants, of more than twenty | n the cause of this diminution that, long before the prostration of m of the banking institutions ds had greatly decreased. \ United States’ ther stricts, each having a and disposal of the publ have no land district for either the T Ub \ are eighty. | Iu Utah th idly progressed, | abandoned urveyor is post, owing to hostilities of the Mormon authorities at Salt Lake extent of the surveys, since the beginning of ns ia Utab, exhibits ‘a sphere of eld work ic interests, as well as prosperity 4 advance- | justify, if ni iy call | land office and a Board | udication of Spanish and Mex. | | | | ican claims in that Territ It is important to its futare prosperty promptly to property from the public lands before the settlements become dense, and conseqnent conflicts of claim and title arise By the uct of April 24, 1820, the old credit system of saies of land was abolished, the cash system instituted, | aod the minimum price fixed at $1 25 per acre. This is the great basis of oor present system of salee. The policy of the law is to fi he actual settler. It is a humane, | wise and just pol ‘When the harty pioneer breaks off | the comforts and security of a long settled commu nity, and encounte rd and endures the hard chips and deprivat Settiement in the forest | be has rendered a positive service to the government, to deny bim the right of securing his home and impr: meats, in preference to all others who would profit by his | sacrifices, would be a crying Injustice When an actual settier gos upon lands which have been offered for sale, and builds himself a house, the law allows him twelve months within which to pay | fora pre-emption right of ohe bundred and sixty acres. If he enters upon uuoffered land, or lands which have never heen #urveyed, he is permitted to file his declara tion of intention tw enter, and i¢ not required to pay for | his preemption til! the day ted by proclamation | for public sale of the lands. P policy may cause an indefinite postponement of the sale of the land, and the consequence is that, with this inchoate, imperfect right he cont.mwes to occupy without perfecting his title privilege to enter being a personal right, its transfer or | emignwent is prohibited by law } By thus conceding a privilege and fixing no time in which he ie required to perfect his title, an interat is created in opposition to a public sale by proclamation when the good of the country may require it. The sux: gertion. therefore, that settlers upon unoffered Ianda shonld | 4 to make their proof and payment with. to a Bpec 1 is approved . 4 od land: now himited to A general law author mptions upon lands of this character, super yealing spec.al statutes on the subject, would duce to the harmony of the system; and such a law is recommende In order to remove al! doubt in the constraction of ex isting law, pre emption privileges should also be extended to alternate reserved railroad sections, in cases where settiements have heen ma enhanced value of » son why preference others The mode of disposing of the public lands under exist the fina! allotment. The esenta only a stronger rea be given to setilers over all ing legisiation ia simple, uniform aod complete. Lanns are introduced into market and opened to free compe tition at public sale by the President's prociamation, which at the same time notifies settlers to come forward and secure their homes at the minimum pr risk of competition at public sale The a remain thus wndisposed of are open 0 free purebase at private sale, at the ordinary min tum of $1 25 per acre, or when in market ien years fnd upwards, at reduced prices; always, however, with the preference right of purchase awarded to the actual pettier The public domain is the property of the United States , ‘fund the individual citizens thereof have equal rights of purchave Actual settlers. as already shown, are amy protected by law from interference, and efficient safe guards are thrown aroun’ their rights. As an evidence of thia estimated that in the sales of the iaet year three fourths of the sold and located lands were taken for actual settlement. Large distriets of the public lands are valuable, however, only for the timber found upon them; | Ubey are unsuitable for settlement; and to restrict their alone would prevent their sale for an | ihold out a standing temptation to | der. An Ameudment of the law fixing the maxiinum compen- sation of the registers aud receivers, so as to restrict the payment for aby cne quarter or fraction of & quarter toa pro rata allowance b for salary aod commissions, is ape d reomnmended Wester aos VOOR TCE Tod at some O Muy iyval kaud viioes at | the means of hastening on his bitter fate. practical evidence of the capacity of the Indian for high civilization. When those tribes who once resided east of the Mississippi river were induced to leaye the ‘ex of their fathers and emigrate to the West, the ngress of the United States gave them a solemn pledge that the country where they now reside sshould be forever ‘secured and guarantied”’ to them. The westward mach | of emigration, however, has overtaken the Indian, and ns to press upon him, and it is evident that a To at now be critical period in his history bas been reached. tempt his removal still further west is impracticable. The | country is unsuited to his wants; it has no sufficient sup ply of wood or water, and a removal there would but be Where he now and struggle for existence, or his ne cannot adopt the habits and rise w white neighbor, he must pass away; and devising some policy which sball me presses itaelf upon the government ai th tine with peculiar force. So far a the Indians of the Central and Northern superintentencies are concerned, the question is especially embarrassing. Treaties have, within the last three years, been negotiated with most of these tribes, by which their lands, with the ex- ception of small reservations, have been ceded to ed States. (ther treaties have been made, vidual reservations have been seeured, in that the Indian would settle down, each and insensibly attain ly for the success of migration pressed is he must make a st of his neighbors this scheme, an unprecedented tide into Kansas and Nebraska. The fertility of the reserva. tions, greatly enhanced in value by Ue rapid settlement of the country, tempted alike the cupidity of the Iand speculator and of a Class of settlers by no ineans puncti Hous in their respect for the right of the Indian. The result bas been disastrous. Trespassed upon every where. his timber spoiled, himself threatened with per | sonal violence, feeling unable to cope with the superior race that surrounded and pressed upon him, the Indian proprietor has become disheartened. y of them have abandoned their reserves, and still more desire to sell These Indians now ask for patents, ax they have a right to do, for their selection. treaties the power of providing for t “with sueb guards and restrictions as m. advisable for their protection therein.” There can be no doubt that our people will succeed in getting possession of these homes of the Indians. If Congress shall fail to act, And thus open no door by which the Indians can divest themselves of their titles, it may be apy ded that un Serupulous men will, without law, obtain possession of their lands for a trifling consideration, and stand the chances of an ultimate title The interest of the reserves requires the passage of a law regulating the alienation of bis right to his land, and securing him the payment of a fair equivalent for the same For their numbers, the income of most of these tribes, in the way of annuity, is large; but experience has shown at the system heretofore pureued of paying them in mo- ney at stated periods, has productive of evil rather an good. It represses industry and self-reliance; it en. courngea idleness and extravagance, and draws around them aswarm of unprincipled traders. In many of tho treaties which have lately been negotiated with these tribes, this provision has been inserted: — “The object of this instrument being to advance the in terest of said Indians, it is agreed” that “Congress may hereafter make such provision by law as experience shail prove to be necessary.’ i , in the exercise of this power, should clothe this department with some discretion in the pa ment of annuities, sothat the same could be used as a meane of their moral reform and elevation, instead of the injurious syetem now prevailing, of distributing money per capita, decided advantages may be reasonably antici vated 7 The plan which has suggested iteelf as most likely to arrest the demoralization now rapidly increasing, and at vest the same time lay a solid foundation for their witimate | civilization, may be briefly outlined thus — They should be gathered on smaller and jn denser settlements, They must be familiar proverty by encouraging t to erect omes for themeelves w their families. For this purpose the reservations should be divided into farms of suitable size, and distributed among the individuals of the tribes, to hold, in se s their separate and private estate, bot without the power of selling, mortgaging, leasing, or n any manner alienating the same, except to members oa tribe with themer!ves. Settioments by white b within the reserves should be prohibited, and the probibition rigidly enforced, and increased efforts should be made t suppress the sale of ardent sprite, to effect which the cooperation of the Indian authorities shoul besecured. Farms should be established in central pos! Yona, at which ali the children of the tribe should be co! lected and required to labor, and where they could be taugbt the rudimonta of an edueation. A certain portion of them should be apprenticed to useful trades, and the surplus of the proceeds of their labor, whether on the Samy ten inay we should be divided among their ir Jere they would be taught the great truths— That Inbor tw honorable, and that Sane and suffering in vitably follow in the train of improvidence and idlenes+ Implements of husbandry, blankets and clothing, useful articles of furniture, books, and indeed everything whica promises to give comfort to their homes, should be pu reservation: 1 | chased and divided per capita Should their ineame be more than eof wey Fequued lvl Hivew pulpoors, ica Wwe ioumuder might be in money. Now the annual indiscriminate Marien of thelr nationa! funds among the Indians is gradually working their ruin; whereas a wise policy, such as any parental government should adopt, would necessa- rily produce the resulta, details of the system shoald, of course, be modified of the several tribes; but the of its ideas to the government Northern superintenden- to suit the varied ‘application uniform steadily morals, in hension of and respect for the the re of persons and of , aad in a tneviodge the the ry and Priooipee of goveraa 'y have regularly organized governments, construct upon the mode! of our own, fiaso , Gover: nors, Legislatures, codes of laws, and judicial magistr: cies to expound them. There the of duty is pia o. Every encouragemeat should be held out to them to per severe in well doing, until Mouens arrives when, ripe for citizenship, they ball be admitted to the full enjoy- ment of all its rights and sores One grievance, however, to wi they are subjected, and of ‘which they justly compiain, deserves the conside- ration of Cong . While the constitution, laws and trea- ties of the United States are in force over this territory, there is no local tribunal empowered to take cognizance of the causes which arise under them, which, therefore, are sent for trial to the United States District Courts in the Sate of Arkansas. not only causes great exponso ‘and inconvenience to the suitors, but, iu criminal cases especially, interferes with the impartial administration of justice. A Choctaw or Chickasaw, accused of an offence against the laws of the United States, is hurried away from his friends, to be tried at a remote point, in a community which has no sympathy with him. Unable to compel the attendance of bis witnesses, and deprived of the aid and comfort extended to the white man similarly situated, he defends hinselt under great disadvantages. ‘here is a manifest injustice in this which should be reme- cied at once, and I would suggest the establishment by Congress of a District Court of the Usited States for this territory, to bold at least one term annuaily for each of the four tribes of Cherokeos, Crecks Choctaws and Chicka- saws. Amoug those tribes there are educated, well read lawyers, and the holding of a court in their country would create in the minds of the people respect for the laws, and give dignity to the administration of justice. ‘The Indians of the Territories of Washington and Oregon are still restive and belligerent. This disposition on their part evidently springs from disbelief in the strength and ability of this government to punish them for tres; committed upon our settlements. It is the duty of the government todisabuse their minds. This can best be dope by peaceful means. Let au appropria- tion be made to defray the expenses of a delegation from each of the large tribes in those distaat Territories, to Washington and ether eastern cities. Let them know, by personal observation, our numbers, see our improvements and estimate our strength. They would readily conclude that further hastitity would be absurd; and when they carried the story of our greatuess and power to their peo- ple, change would come over their minds, and we might then reasonably hope for the establishment, by treaties, of good understandivg and perpetual peace ‘between us. Such an appropriation would be, in my judgment, an act of true econowy. During the past year a large ameunt was paid into the treasury of the United S#ites on accountof moneys belong- ig to certain Indian tribes. The several treaties under which this amount was derived evolved upon the Presi. ‘ausing it to be invested im some ‘safe and profitable stocks,” to be held by the Scretary of the Interior in trust for the respective tribes. In pursuance of your directions, these Indian trust funds were invested in State stocks which were deemed safe and profitable. ‘The amount of bonds purchased was $1,481,476 08, cost- ing $1,291,077 49. investment having beep made at @ time of unusual financial embarrassment, we were enabled to make a profit of $190,398 54 for the Indian tribes, and at the same time to afford relief, to some extent, to the business com- munity. The report of the Commissioner of Pensions presents a satisfactory View of the operations of that bureau during the last year. The business of the office has been brought up to date, as nearly as it is practicable; and the large cierical force required to despatch the heavy labors de- volved upon it by the recent laws granting bounty land, has been reduced, so 4s to copforin to the present exigen- cies of the office. For some years past the practice has prevailed of pay- ing to the children, and sometimes to the administrators of deceased revolutionary soldiers and their deceased widows, the amount of pension to which such sol diers or widows would have been entitled had they succeeded in making good their claims during their life- time, but never to grandchildren, as such. At the last term of the Supreme Court it was decided, in a case in- volving the distribution of certain pension which had been paid to au administrator for the exclusive benetlt of the children of a deceased widow of a revolutionary soldier, that grandchildren—per stirpes—stood in the same relation to such claims as children, and it was subsequent. ly contended that the effect of that decision was not only to affirm the legal correctness of the practice alluded to, but to enlarge it so as to embrace a class of claimants not previously nized by it. Seeing that a meg amount af money had already been drawn from the treasury under practice of the office, and doubting whether the court had we be- yond the mere question of distribution invol in the cause before it, and decided as to the law on which that practice was founded, 1 availed myself of the first case that arose to elicit the views of the Attorney General, doth as to the effect of the decision of the court and the legality of the previous ruling of the office. He | thoroughly investigated te whole subject, aud gave a most Incid and cunvineing opinion on the law of the cave; | in which he came to the conclusion that soldiers or wid- owe who might bave been entitled to pensions in their lifetime, but died without establishing their right or re- ceiving the same, left no estate in their claims which could be inherited either by grandchildren or children; that arrears of pensions, which alone, by the statut | wore inheritable, only existed in cases Where a pension | had once been received, and, at the death of the pension- er, & portion was left unpaid; and that the Supreme | Court, in the decision referred to, had not passed upon that question. In this opinion I concurred; and as there was no law for the Fay ment of pensions in such cases, | and ax po money could be drawn from the treasury with- out @ previous appropriation, any paymentordered by me would bave been against law, and would have amouutet to a naked act of legislation by an executive officer. I felt no hesitation, therefore, in ordering a discoutinuance of the practice in question, and all the cases coming within | it'will be indefinitely suspended, unless Congress shall pass a law giving to children and’ grandchildren the pea cious their deceased ancestors would have received bad the proper proof been made out during their lifetime. A pension is a bounty given by goverament for merito- | rious personal service, and the drst law granting pensions | for revolutions 3 rvices confined the bounty to Ure indi | gent soldiers whether this restriction be correct or not, it is self evident that the great inducement, in all pea- sion lows, Is to relieve and compensate, in bis own proper | person, the self-sacriticing soldier, risked his life, wasted hie energies, and neglected his private affairs in the service of his country. The law has extended its be nificence from the soldier to bis widow, and there it has stop) If Congress shall take one step further, and pro- vide for children and grandchildren on account of the | services of their ancestors, the question arises, why take care ot the children and grandchildren of those whose fortune it was to live till Congress had passed a pension act, and not of those equally meritorious, who died in the service or who dragged out a miserable existence , uncared for and umrecognived by the government ? dent the duty of w ¢ ebiidren and grandchildren and great grandchildren should be contented in the rich inberitance derived from @ glorious ancestry. in the liberties they enjoy. and in the institutions w: ve of our revolutionary heroes; it has dealt out ty then no sparing hand. Upto the 30h J 867, und pension laws of 1818, 1828 and 1832, 011,960 had heen paid to revolutionary soldiers; and under the acts of 1836, 1838, 1848 and 1863, $18,302,660 bad been paid tothe widows of our revolutionary soldiers—making an aggro. gate in money of sixtyone millions three hundred and fourteen thousand six hundred and twenty dollars, be sides large donations of land aud disbursement: of mo- ney, under otber laws, ou account of revolutionary ser views The diseriminations ted out by the Commissioner of Pensions, as existing between the invali halt-pay pensions for the army and navy, would seem to demand revision and correction by . Some reorganization of the eystems upon which thode pensions are granted is desirable, not only because of the inadequacy of the low- ef rates to relieve the wants of those Inte to be bene. fitted, but because of the manifest propriety of making like provision for those of corresponding grades in the two arte of the service who may disabled while in the faithful discharge of duty. During the past year 41,483 warrants for bounty land have been iseued, requiring, to satisfy them, five millions nine bundred aod fiity two thousand one hundred and sixty acres of the publie domain, and the umber issued under all the bounty land acts of Congress from the revo- lutionary war to the present time is 547,250, by yD to satisfy them, sixty millions seven hundred and four thou sand nine hundred and forty two acres of land. The frauds practised upon the Pension Office in at tempts to procure, and in the actual procurement of land warrants, are bumerous; but owing to the short statutory limit of two years the frauds are not discovered, and many guilty persons escape. I would, therefore, recommend an extension of the limit now made by the law for the prose- cution of offences of this kind, The Commirrioner of Pensions har called my attention, also, to the fact that the forging of land warrants is ren dered penal by no existing law. The extent to which thi« evil practice exists js not known, bat the importance of some legisiative action upon the subject is obvious, and [ would respectfully recommend that Congress provide some law which may serve as a protection to the government, The report of the Commissioner of Public Buildings far. hishes a detailed and satisfactory statement of the appli tion of the appropriations placed under bis more imine Je direction. The west wing of the Patent Office building is nearly throughout, aud presents an elegant and taste ful appearance. The vorth front of the building is in pro: coms of erection. Satisfactory contracts have been en | tered into for the granite and marble work, the sub: basement has been finished ; rind the contractors are pross ing forward their Operations with a commendable zeal This portion of the building will be completed by the ap. propriations already made,and no estimate is now deemed necessary for the improvement and enclosure of the grounds it, ‘Ao extraordinary flood during the last winter swept y several sections of the bridge across the Potomac. authorities of the city of Washington repaired the breach, and the bridge bas has been otherwise in such condition as to make its passage safe how ever, ia a temporary arrangement, but it is the only one on! by which a convenient connexion between the chy of Washington and the shore of Virginia can be bad at pre- sent. A nent bridge across the Potomac is a heoes- eity. and i ie for Congress to determine its location and its character. The District of Columbia has been set apart for the cap: tal of the nation, and the relations of its people to the general government are altogether anomalous. About s representative in Congress, and with no vote the lection of their chief magistrate, os political rights are concerned ite tants occupy the attitude of a dependent Re we nevertheless Amor tizens, and, 8 igus aud uberecte Wack arg dear to tueus, © to guard which facilities should be afforded them, as to other of our fellow citizens, of hb thoir own representative, to the suthority fo supply theme, tinction wl every portion known their wants has a that they have no accredited interests can be fuirly and favorably consideration of Congress. incorporate the city of Washington, passed May 16, 1820, Congress invested with full power and authority to “ y and collect taxes; ‘ to erect and repair bi 37 to and keep in repair streets, avenues, lanes, alleys, dri and sewers, agreea- bly to of the city;” ‘to erect lamps, and to oc- cupy and improve for public ‘poses, by and with the consent of the President of the United States, any part of the public and open spaces and squares in said city, not prevent ‘with private rights.” oie In conforring powers upon the co jon, Con- ess must have acted on the conviction that it was tne uty of the city, and not of the general government, to open and repair sircets and avenues, ax well us to mike the other improvements indicated. It is evident that the city authorities, under the influence of a city constituency familiar with the localities, and well informed as to the true interests and require- ments of the people, are less liable to be misied in such matters by the representations of private interests than those whose attention is chiefly taken up with subjects of more general concern, and who are notsupposed to be spe- cially interested in the material advancement of the city. It seems to be eminently proper, therefore, that improvements should be made, in pursuance of the pro- visions of the charter, under the direction of the city au. thorities; aud hence no estimates have been submitted therefor by this department, Beyond the appropriations made by Congress for these objects, neither the Commis- sioner of Pubic Buildings nor the Secretary of the Interior has been entrusted with tnis duty, The law relieves this department from the obligation, not unfrequently urged, of initiating plans and suggesting appropriations for the opening, improvement and lighting of streets and ave- hues, aud tor the construction of drains and sewers in the city. The government, however, is a large real estate pro. prietor in the city of Washington, and vision is made in the charter of incorporation, by which the Commission- er of Public Buildings is directed to reimburse the corpo- ration a just proportion of the expense incurred in open. ing and improving streets passing through and along public squares, ‘This expense been _hereto- lore defrayed out of money arising from the sale of lots “belonging to the governmeat; but this resource hus now fuiled ua, and an estimate has been sub- mitted for an appropriation out of the national treasury on_that account. ‘The reservations owned by the United States within the city of Washington require to be improved by the general government. Much attention has been bestowed upon these during the last few years, and several of them have been substantially enclosed and tastefully embellished. But while much bas been accomplished more remains to be done, and liberal appropriations might, with propriety, be made for the continuation of these improvements whenever the condition of the treasury will admit of it. ‘The grounds around the Capitol are particularly com mended to the favorable consideration of Congress, in the hope that curly measures may be taken to relieve them of their present uncomely appearance. The time bas come when some plan should be agreed upon for their ex. tension; but how far they should be extended is a question: to be determined by Congressional action. ‘The auxiliary guard isa police force provided by the government for the protection of property and the preser vation of the peace within the city of Washington. Its members are paid from the public treasury, through the Commissioner of Public Buildings, but derive their ap- pointmentsfrom the Maygr of the city, to whom alone they are responsible for the faithful discharge of their duties. Itis respectfully recommended that the law on this sub ject be so far mended as to require these appointments, before they can take effect, to be reported toand approved by some oflicer of the government, either the Commis- sioner of Public Buildings or the Marshal of the District of Columbia, and to give such officer the power of removal from office whenever, in his option, the public good may render it necessary. The _— of the Superintendent and the Board of Visi- ters of the government hospital for the insane accompany this report. The number of patients in the hospital, July 1, 1866, was ninety-three. During the fiscal year ending June 20, 1867, fifty-two were admitted, and thirty-five dis- charged, leaving in the institution, at ‘the last mentioned date, one hundred and ten, four of whom are independent or pay patients. This number exceeds the rated capacity of that part of the building now completed, but an appro- jation has been made for the construction of the centre uilding ahd three sections of the wings, according to the original plan adopted, which are in process of erection, and which will be pressed to completion with all proper despatch and economy. When these portions of the build- ing are finished, it is believed its capacity will be suill- cient to meet all present demands for the accommodation of this unfortunate class of our people. ‘The institution is conducted with skilland fidelity, and reflects credit upon all who are concerned in its manage- ment. At the last session of Congress, an act was passed incor: ‘ating the Columbia Institution for the instruction of the deaf, dumb and blind. In the charter of incorporation it is made the duty of the Secretary of the Interior, when- ever he is satisfied that “any deaf and dumb or blind per. son of teachable age, properly belonging to this District, is in indigent circumstances, and cannot cotamand the means 10 secure an education,”’ to authorize the said person to enter the said institution for instruction, and to pay for his or her maintenance and tuition therein, at the rate of $150 per annum. In pursuance of this provision of law, fourteen Pupils have been in the institution. report of the President of the institution, which he is required to make annually, is horewith communicated. Tt exhibits the nstitution in rather a crippled condition. It is in é and it needs more land, better buildings, and a larger income to pay the teachers. It has Bfteen pupils, fourteen of which are maimtained by the government. ‘The charity is a noble one; but as it is not a government institution, it is for Congress to determine whether further assistance shall be extended to it. The report of the inspectors of the penitentiary, with the accompanying reports of the warden, clerk, physician, matron snd chaplain, are herewith submitted. They furnish « detailed account of the administration of the aflairs of the penitentiary for the past year. The views expressed by the inspectors of the present working of the penitentiary, and their recommendations for its future improvement, are approved and commended to your favorable consideration. e Teport of the engineer in charge of the construction of the bridge across the Potomac at Little Falls exhibits the progress of that work, and the probability of its ear! completion. There have been unavoidable delays, which are explained, but the work, when finished, will be cre- ditable alike to the engineer and the government. By a joint resolution of the last Congress the duty was devolved upon this departinent of distributing a portion of the Journals and Congressional documents to public libra: &c., previously distributed by the Department of Ftate. As the resolution preseribed no rule by which the distribution should be made, it is proposed to send toeach State copies in proportion to its federal representation, and the distribution will be made on that basis, unless Congress shall otherwise direct. It is_res ly sug: gested thata law be passed for the futare goverament of the department in reference to this subject. To this department belongs the supervision of the ac counts of Marshals, District Attorneys and Clerks of the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, and no ther branch of the public service is encompassed with in its administration. In some respects night be made, oni additional gislation is recommenred. By the act of February 28, 1799, fees for services ren- dered by District Attorneys in the performance of their duticn Were specifically ‘prescribed, and in certain dis. tricts named an annual salary wat provided “as a full compensation for all extra services.” All District Attor ney®, except the one in Southern New York, now draw a salary, the greater part of them at the rate of, and none | less than, two hundred dollars per annum. But the re- peated applications for compensation for extra services by these officers is becoming « serious evil. Some of the District Aitorneys assume that they are under no official obligation to render any service for the government for which no fee is prescribed under existing laws, h as preparing a case for trial, proctring and examining witnesses, examining title to property purebesed for the use of the United States; and they in. fist, as a matter of equity, if not of strict legal right, that they are entitled to compensation for all professional ser vices than those specifically enumerated in the fre act, notwithstanding they receive @ fixed compensation for all extra services, and the act iteelf declares, “ no other compensation shall be taxed or allowed” than the fees therein preset 5 T recommend an increase of the salaries of the respective District Attorneys, graduated by some equitable rule, coupled with a provision devolving op those offears the duty of faithfully performing all such services, in the line of their; jon, as shoul i be required of them in every case in which the interests of the government are in an, way involved, and Cay! that the receipt of sue! salary shall operate as a fall discharge of all claim on the part of the reciptent for ox jon for all services not enumerated in euch fee bill as may at the time be in foree, a ce has demonstrated that & change nay bs j¢ with propriety in the law providing for the appoint. ment of clerks of the several United States courts. ‘Theee officers are now appointed by the Judges, to whom. Alone they are responsible for theif official conduct. law requires their fees and The them, semiannually, to make returns of emoluments, But in case of failure or re tment is powerless to enforce obedien delinquents. It can, however, withhold any money that may be due them by the United States, until they shall r their accounts. This is the whole extent of ite power. It is made the duty of this department to restrict the expenditures of these offlcers within per limite, al though defrayed out of the proceeds of their offices; to allow no one #lerk to retain of his fees and emoluments a sum exceeding three thousand five bundred dollars per annum for bie personal compensation, and to re- quire him to pay into the treasury of the United State, semi-annually, any surplus of the same, A duty ia thas im} w the head of the department, while he is clothed with no adequate authority to enforee a compliance with hie orders and requirements. As au evidence of this, it ts proper to state, that in order to answer a resolution adopted by the last House of Repre- sentatives, circulars, calling for the requisite information, were addrested 10 all these offizers on the Lat of Septem ber last, and although proper commondation is wo thore who replied promptly, yet fourteen in the States and nineteen in the Territories have wholly failed to re- spond thereto. Some remedy for this state of things should be providud, and it f respectfully suggested, as the most ¢flectual, to change the re of the office, so as to require ail the clerks of all the courts to be appoint- ed in the eame manner ax Marshals and [istrict Attorneys Clerks of Courts, in many cases, are and act a United States Commissioners. This Heved, adds largely to the expenses of public serviee, especially in the large cities, comes necessary, in the absence of the Clerk, to employ additional number of deputies in his office. This evil uires correction at the hands of Congress. v "the clerk of the Supreme Court cannot, by the received comet rnetion of the he required te make a retnen of le ibe Aud ORU/UMEULS A lag Yili, MoE dm Yeap ele 3 | policy is sation limited; yet xy and spirit of this law cludes this officer, as as the clerks of the Circuit and Di Courts. If the existing law be wise and ought to istrict ‘be maintained, then no valid reasons exist why this officer sbould be made an ¢1 ¥ ‘The late Attorney General tg an opinion that a clerk was a ‘collecting agent for government, and should be held to account for all the fees of his olive, received or receivable, deducting therefrom the maximum allowed by although the clerk or other officer may carn a large surplus, still one-half of the maximum may not have been actually received. And, notwithstanding the fact that they are legally powerless in some cases to collect their errnings, they are positively required to pay into the treasury, with each semi-annual return, surplus which the same exhibits. The oflicers , generally, that they have a right to retain the com- pensation to which they ‘are entitled, and that they aro not in a position to it until it is actually collected, which leads to much diffioulty. ‘To remedy this, it is suggested that all clerks and mar- shals in the respective States and Territories, and in the District of Columbia, be explicitly authorized to demand the payment of their fees, or take security therefor, when they are not properly ble to the United States, in advance of the ren allofiicial services. Du ‘the last session of Congress an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars was made for the erection of a Court House in the city of Boston. This was coa- strued not to authorize this department to purchase a building, however suitable for the purpose. Masonic Tomple, por egg bay ore in the business part of that ity, was offered to the department for one hundred and five thousand dollars. The proposition was accepted, sub- ect to the approval of Cong) ubmitted covering the expenditure. ‘The fourth section of the act of 26th Webruary last, au- thorizing the people of Minnesota ‘to form a constitution | and State government,” made it the duty of the United States Marshal for said hela & “to take a census or enumeration of the inhabitants wi sk enw ‘State, under such rules and regulations as should Y Dewalt ba therefor by the Secretary of the Interior, with the view of ascertaining the number of representa- tives to which said State may be entitled in the Congress of the United States.” ‘The necessary instructions have been issued to enable the Marshal to perform that duty, and an appropriation | will be asked, as soon as full returns of his oe have been received, to defray the expenses he has thus been directed to incur—uo provision therefor having yet been made. By an act of the last Congress, this department was charged with the construction of the following wagon roads:—One from Fort Kearney, Nebraska, by way of the South Pass, to the eastern boundary of California, near bane 4 Lake; one from El Paso, on the Rio Grande, to Fort Yuma, atthe mouth of the Gila river, and one from the Platte river, via the Omaha reserve and Dacotah city, to the Running Water river. Provision had been previously made for opening a road from Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, to the South Pass, and ope- rations bad been commenced thereon, under instructions from my predecessor. Work has been commenced on ail these roads, and mea- sures have been taken for its vigorous prosecution. TI obvious design of in these ajfpropriations, was to locate and open js which should meet present emer- Dyed and the demands of emigratiou, and not to intro- luce a system of improvements which would require other and larger appropriations to be made, trom year to year, for their completion. With this view, and to secure the speedy and economical construction of these great and extended thoroughfures, it was deemed expedient to appoint a superintendent, and organize a suitable corps of operatives on each’ road. Each superintendent was instructed to pass over the entire length of the section of the route assigned him, locating it on the most direct and advantageous ground, and opening and improving it in such a manner as to ad mit of the easy passage of a loaded wagon. The immediate direction of the movements of these several parties was placed by me in charge of a geatle- man of experience; and so soou as full information of the operations of the past season is received, I will cause him to make a detailed report of their progress, for the pur- pose of laying it before Congress. ‘The Fort Ridgely and South Pugs road has already been opened as far west as the Missouri river, a distance of abont two hundred and fifty miles, and the country through which it runs is reported to be a rich and desira- ble one for settlement. The appropriation for this work has, however, been exhausted, although some four hun- dred and fifty miles remain to be completed. To finish this portion of the road, should it be the pleasure of Con- gress to carry out its original design, an additional appro- priation of thirty thousand dollars will be required, and it should be made at an early day. ‘The joint commission for running and marking the boun- dary between the United States and Mexico, under the treaty of Dec. 30, 1853, concluded its labors and on October 1, and the commissioner on our part has turned over to this department the maps, (with one or two ex- , which are inthe bands of the engraver) jour. |, astronomical determinations, and other public pro- pew in his the to be ‘possession. heretofore ordered by ar the first volume is completed, and be ready distribution early in January. The second volume ,or appendix, which contains the reports upon the zoology and botany of the region surveyed, is still incomplete. The engraved plates to illustrate this part of the work are in ot of this department, so far as they are com- pleted. During the last Congress, the Senate, by resolution, or- dered the printing of five thousand extra copies of the re port proper and accompanying maps, and two thousand extra copies of the second volume,or appendix, to be paid for out of the fund for rupuing the boundary , The execution of order will cost from thirty-fiv: to forty thousand dollars. The resolution of the Senate, without the concurrence of the House of Representatives and the President, will not furnish to this department a efficient warrant to justify the payment of these expenses outof the fund designated. By the 14th section of the act approved March 3, 1837, the Commissioner of Patents is required annually, in the month of January, to made a to Congress, detailing the operations of his bureau. is law was enacted while the effice was under the supervision of the Secretary of State; and as it was not required of him to make an an- nual report, it was deemed more convenient, without doubt, for the Commissioner to report directly to Congress. ‘The act approved March 3, 1849, transferred the super- visory and appellate powers, in relation to the acts of the Commissioner of Patents, previously exercised by the Secretary of State, to the Secretary of the Interior. All the other bureaus of the department make anpual re. ports to the Secretary to be laid before the President, and by him communicated to Con; But, in the case of the Commissioner of Patents, while the rales and regula. tious for the management of his office, bis acts and the con duct of all those under his immediate supervision are sub- ject to the control of the Secretary, aud, through him, of the President, yet the annual report required of him is not, in any way, under existipg law, open to the revision of either. There is nothing in the peculiar nature of the subjects or duties pertaining to that bureau which makes this exception necessary; and as the reason for the law has ceased to exist, it might be changed with propriety. From the Istof January to the 30th of September, 1857, 4,096 applications for patents have been received, aud 820 te fled; 2,006 nis have been issued, and 2,287 cations rejected. receipts for the three quarters ending 30th Septem- 1857, were $161,415 97. The expenditures were 042 04. Excess of expenditures over recvipts, $2,528 o7. ‘The policy indicated in the law establishing the Patent Office is, that it should be a self sustaining bureau. This sound one, and should be observed. ‘The law now authorizesa return, upon the rejection of ‘An application , of two-thirds of the fee required to be de ited by the applicant on presenting his claim, Of the 163,942 04 expended during thé last three quarters, $27,999 99 was made up of fees restored to applicants, | after the labor of examining their cases had been perform ed. There seems to be neither justice nor expediency in thie requirement. Ite consequence has been to bring into » office a large amount of business, frivolous in its cha- and which seems, in fact, obtruded but as an ex Periment upon ite credulity, If it is desired that this bu reau should be, as heretofore, supported by its own earn- ings, this feature of the financial administration of the office should be revised and reformed. Py the ninth section of the act approved July 4, 1836. ‘applicant for @ patent, if a subject of the King of Great Britain, was required to pay a fee of five hundred dollars. At that time, american citizen applying for a patent tn that kingdom was required to pays fee of one hundred pounds. But recently the Englieh government has re. duced the fee required of an American citizen from one hundred to twenty pounds. As the fee originally required seems to have been determined on a principle of retalia- tion, it i proper and becoming in our government to re- epond to the liberal policy shown by Great Brilain toward podp md by reducing the fee in such cases to one bun. red dolla ‘The existing law authorizes an appea! from the decision of the Commissioner to either of the Judges of the Cireuit Court for the District of Columbia. This law is an ano- maly in our legislation. It confounds the executive and Judicial departments, which the genivs of our institutions requires should be kept separate and distinct from each cther. Its violation of principle is not a_ more serious dif- feulty than ite tical operation. The appellant not only selects the Judge who shall try the case, but also pays the fee of twonty-five dollars allowed him. The amount of com us received will depend the number cases brought before him; that number will inevitably be influenced by hie course of decision. The Judge is ‘tins placed ia a position of embarrassment. if not of humiliation, alike ta be deplored by himeeif and the country. This law should be repealed, and some other system snbstituted which will put this office in a position of inde- pendence in its executive action, and at the same time | secure all the rights of Inventors, The most feasible plan yet rr to effect this is, in my judgment, to autho: tize the creation of a permanent Board of Review, to con sist of three members, selected from the examiners of the office, etd who shall be known as examiners in chief. This board shall be charged with the duty of hearing and determining wpon all appeals from the j) nt of the pri. mary examiners, except in cases of appeal where any of these may have previously formed and ex an opinion, in which case another examiner may be substituted to act in his stead, and then their judgment and action will be anbject to the iwion and review of the Commis- sioner. This alteration of existing law @ust necessarily in- fos ache me-porns Baby) office and at the same time secure, uniformity and inty in its rules of action. And while the inventor will be saved from vexatious delays, and heavy coats to judges and counsel, he must fect satisfed that, in pad any made for the th examination of his application by the examinot in the first instance, then by the board of | examiners in chief, and lastly, by the Com. missioner, he has secured to him the amplest opportunity for the establiehment of his rights. The activity and snocess of the inventive genius of the country, the limited circumstances of this worthy class of our fellow citizens, who are badly prepared to k de lay of expense in the prosecution of their claims, the rapirt enlargement and [ sy importance of this branch of business, and the fact that this office asks nothing fron the national treasury, but only seeks such an organiza. tion of ite internal machinery as will place this branch of the public service wpon the most efficient footing, justify fn earnes. invocation of the attention of Congress to the wants of this office. ‘The sgricuitaral division of this office is grow- ing in popularity with the country. and increasing in usefniness. It rf be well questioned whether any other expenditure of the publte money has ever proved Fo Inrerly remmnoraticn and eo heneficant in its inflrence | ple Coy Oe Uaioe aud AL Cal SUgAE GANG Bde, LOF ae ress; and an estimate has'been thin the limits of the | com) for money tn this bel be Measures bave been taken for the establishment of @ more satisfactory system for the distribution of seeds; the introduction of the tea plant; the collection of the seed and cuttings of the native grape vines with the view of testing their value for the manufactare of wine; the inves- tigation of the nature aud habits of the insects that infost the cotton plant, with the view of ascertaining whether some plan can be devised for the protection of tho cottom yar ‘and forthe chemical analysis of various piants soils. ‘The cases required by the act of March 3, 1857, to be construeted in the hall of the Smithsonian Institution, for the of the collections of the Exploring Expedi- tions and other o! of curiosity and interest, now ia the main hall of the Patent Office building, have been con buil tracted for, and sufficient progress has beon made to war- rant the belief that the removal can be made before tae expiration of the current fiscal year. The object of the transfer of these collections to the Smithsonian Institution evidently was to ilove the Patent Office from the res; sibility and trouble of their custody; the force, therefore, | heretofore employed to take care of ‘them will then be as hears, ey ghd this oer, we . estimate has beer submitted for that purposo. I am, sir, very respect! your obedient servant, asad | alive |. THOMPSON, Secretary of the Interior. To the Presibent oF Tins Untrep States. Our Albany Correspondence, Aunanr, Dec. 7, 1867. | The State Officers—Condition of the Finances—The Comp- | troller’s Report—AMr. Church and His Appointments—The Auditor's Office and the Policy of the Contracting Board — Where is Canal Commissioner Sherrill? —The Kane and Hartstene Medals, do. As the time approaches for a change in a portion of the State offices the present occupants of the departments are | busily engaged in preparing their annual reports, to be . Submitted by their successors to the incoming Legislature. | It will be gratifying to newspaper publishers in particular, and to the public in general, to know that the documents issued this year will be commendably brief and pointed. ‘The Comptroller’s report, in which the main interest cea- | tres, will probably ve confined to matters of fact, con- | densed as much as consistent with a clear, understand- | able statement, and will avoid as much as possible those “guggestions”” which, however well considered and valua- ble, experience has shown fo be seldom regarded by the Legislature. ‘The finances of the State will be surrendered into the hands of the Comptroller elect in a condition far better than that in which they found their way into the hands of Mr. Burrows, who has reversed the policy of hie predecessors, and instead of using the last few weeks of his official term in paying out just as muc! joney as he could conveniently lay his hands upon, has striven by the exercise of a wise discretion in his outlays to preserve a respectable balance in the Treasury for his successor. Of course there are a great number of the appropriations ofthe last republican Legislature still unsatisfed—pro- bably to the hmm amount of nearly one millioa—but itis not likely that Comptroller Burrows will be censured for suffering these legislative liberalities to lie over until the finances of the State are ina more flourishing condi- tion than at present, The United States deposit fund wilt show a deficiency of some two or three millions. There will be nominally @ balance of some $200,000 in the Trea- sury, but this will not all be available. ‘The receipt of “the proceeds of the recent sale of the arsenal um New York helped the Comptroller in payiag | offa considerable amount of indebtedness, but the dis- | turbed condition of all financial affairs and the embarrass- ments of the banks have rendered the management of the “affairs of State” during the past year any but a pleasant or easy task, and kave demanded no little skill, judgment and fidelity'to bring us safely through. What ‘ever may be thought of the political associations of the re- tiring Comptroller, he |certainly has the satisfaction of yielding up his office with the knowledge that he has dia- charged its duties ably and faithfully, and takes with him. into private life the respect of the people of the State. The Comptroller elect has, it is rumored, already marked out those upon whom he will bestow tho patronage of the office. It will be well for Mr. Churcl to bear in mind that his is by far the most important de- partment of the State governinent, and that for his owm sake he should call about him none but ca- le and honest men. the more important from the fact thmta general change will take place in all the clerkships; for probably ouly one dealc wAl pags into the hands of its old oceupant—a clerk whe was dismissed by Mr. Burrows for having rendered sor- vice to the democratic State ticket during the recent cam- . Mr. Church will doubtless exercise proper Judg- ment in these matters, and particularly in the selection of hom he entrusts the management of that of his oflice connected with the business of insu- rance This bureau should not be placed under the con- trol of any green subject, and especially should it be kept out of the hands of any man who bas at any time beou mixed up with swindling insurance schemes and bogua Some indications at the retga indications at present appear to favor the tion of Mr. N. 8. Benton in the Auditor's office. Indeed, i¢ would seem that the better of the republicans do not desire hia,removal. It will, however, depead upon the sort of arrangement made in the o1 ization af the two houses, and upon the action of the two American | members of the Board, as reorganized on the Ast of January—Auditor Benton and Canal Commissioner Whallon. As your readers are aware, the last Legisia- ture took the bpd genes of the canal patronage froua | the Canal Board, and bestowed it upon the | Board, then enjoying a republican | made the Auditor a member of the ng the Ist of January next, in place of the Comptroller, | who is until that day a member of the Board; and then, | by legislating Mr. Benton out of office, and giving the ap- pointment of his successor to Governor King, they secured, | as they believed, two members out of the tive, and tr: | ed to Providence to give them a third. The Contract | Board will, therefore, after January 1, consist of the fal- | 1 State Fangincer State and Surveyor—Van R. Richmond, Proal- dent of the Board, democrat. Canal Commissioner—Jobn M. Jaycox, democrat. Canal Cowmissioner—Samuel H. Sherrill, republicas Canal Commistioner—Samuel 8. Whallon, Americaa. Anditor—N. 8. Benton, American. —Democrats, 2; Americans, 2, republican, 1. Now, should Gor. King dixpiace Mr. Benton, and nomi- pate & Ls ag im bis stead, the American member of the Board, Mr. Whallon, would, in all human probability, throw his casting vote with the democratic members of the Board, and share with them its patronage and iatu- ence. The only hope, in fact, of the republicans must be to conciliate the two American members of the Board, and by inducing them to act with Mr. Sherrill secure a share in the good things in the giftofthe Board, It je on this ground that the retention of Mr, Boa- ton in bis offlee may be considered amo the probabilities; but it must be remembered. th the policy Ihave bamed may be mightily upset should Mr. Sherrill think it best to return to his first love, and “ bolt” to the democracy, where he originally belonged. This, entre nous, may be on the cards, and may spol @ very pretty game. But we shall see. It is really to be hoped, however, that Mr. Benton may be retained. He is a faithful man, eminently qualified for that arduous and responsible office, and will save tons of thousands of dollars to the State in the course of the year, And while we bave on the wishing cap we may as woil express a sincere and earnest that however the patronage of the Con Board may be wielded,acieam sweep tay be made of the entire Board of Kugincers who have been fastened upon the canals under the present State Engineer. Ax the present engineers are busily lobbying Mr. Richmond, in the hope of being suffered to recun their offices, gi is well that he should know their true character. The organi of the two houses will donbtless be | effected by the anion of republicans and Americans, bus of this something more hereafter. Gov. King has to day received the medals appropriated the State Legislature to Dr. F.K. Kane and Lieut. tone. The former isa most beautiful specimen of workmanship. It weighs nearly eight hundred dolla’ and is of pure gold. On one side is a finely cut view the discovery of the Polar Sea by the officer who was seat by i forward with the dog train. Two men, ia Arctic costume, stand in the foreground, and at their feet lie crouched the Exquimaux dogs, weary with their journey. Before themn spreads the o- lar Sea, in the midst of the ice rocks, illuminated by the of the aurora borealis, On the reverse, the arms of the State appear, beautifully engraved. medal is sot in heavy crystal cases, like a wateh, and on the edge is engraved the inscription: — Presented to Dr. K. K. Kane, United States Navy, for hia gallant services in search of Sir John Franklin, by the Site ‘of New York, 1887. The Hartstene medal is amaller, but exquisitely worked. Gn one side is a fine view representi ‘Lieut. Hartstene and the juiMaux standing on the rocks, the latter point- ing to the #l Mp Just discovered locked in the icy sea. arme of the re on the reverse, and the inscription round the edge is as follows:-— Presented by the State iy ier HS. alrremet oy | of New York to Commander H. J, Both were wrought by hand, like cameos. They will be at once forwarded by the government to Lieut. Hart stene and the representatives of the lamented Kane. . ‘Theatrical and Mi le Ninto's.—Gabriel Ravel is to perform this evening im the “ Fote Champetre,”' in which the double tight rope formances are introduced. M’Ile Rolla plays in the bat- | let of“ Flora and Zephy: and the whole closes with | * Medina, Bowrny.—The surprising feats of the gymnasts, oquos- trians and acrobats, together with the comicalities of the _ clowns and the favorite monkey ime called ‘Jocko,"? prove as attractive as ever ie honse: Reontox’s.—Messrs. Burton and Brougham are to sustaim their original characters in the renowned play of the © se. rious Family” to-night. “ Crinoline,”” in which Mr. Ro- Kors has a good part, is to be the afterpiece. _ WALLACK'#.—The new local drama entitled the “ Poor of New York,’ in which Mesars. Blake, Lester, Johnston and Sloan, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Hoey and others have charactors, is to be repeated till further notice. Lacra Keevn's.—The popularity of the romantic a cle called the “Sea of Tee” continues uninterrupted, dae pite the long time it haa been performed. The acting scenery, music, &c., in this piece cannot be excelled. Otyaric.—The principal artists attached to the coms ¥ will appear to-night in the drama of the farmer,’ and laughable furces of the « jature aud Philosophy.’ American Mvarem.—Two very amusing pieces are to be be ey thi : a 9 = drama ceuiied the © Crome sand a whimsical affair styled « Lay Fas” in the evening. lyled “ Laugh and Grow Crrers:—Managet Tryon's efficient trowne of aymnaata one cxnestrnne, wie appear in an unusual variety of on evening The y Weaseriel piriernse ® man monkey is realiy @ Rrioriaxism.—Besides burlesque, songs and dances, the fun-loving community are promis I the f eof the Manne Wan” We Gen Chelote ant Wet yaad ie“ Cluaved Actulale by te Bryauls,