Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-21 00:00:00

INCREASB OF Tali NAVY.

I would call the sp3c.al attention of Cong ess to. the, recommen-
dation of the Secretary 01 the Navy to favour of the construction of
ten small war steatners of light draught. For some yearathe govern-
ment has been obliged, on rimy cece,ions, to hire suchstearaers from
iudiviluals to supply its pressing vents. At the present moment Ivo
have no armed vessel in the navy which can penetrate the rivers of
Chins, We have but a few whtet can enterso9 of the harhoura south
of N,rfa:k, although many millicms of foreigu and domestic. eom.nerce
annually t ass in and ont of these harbours, Some of our most
valnablo interests and moat vulnerable points are thus left exposed.
This cla s of vessels of light draught, great speed, and heavy gins
would be formidable in coast derenr.e. The cost of their construction
wilt not he great, aiid th y will require but a comparatively small
expenditure to keep them in commission. In time of peace they will
prove as effecti•e as much larger vess_is, and often more useful. One
of theta sh uld b 3 at every cation where we maintain a squadron,
and three or four sh uld be constantly employed on our Atlantic aid
Pacific coasts. Eernomy, utility, ani eft' :iency combi .te to re outmend
them as almost indispensable. Ten of these small vessels 'Mild be of
inca'cu able advantage to the naval service, and the whale cost of
their constru:ti .n wou'd not exceed ta o mil ion ttiree hundred.
thousand dollars, or 230,000 dolv. each.
The r eport of the Secretary of the Interior i, worthy of gravU_
eonstlereuell. treats Of the numerous, inapertaet, tad, diveratka

Lranches of dour stic adminisir.tion ettrusted to him hi NV;
mong these the mcst prcminent hre the pubic lands and our
relations with the Indians

TIiB PUBLIC lA*DS.

Our syst'm for the dine's! of the lands, oeginatithr with the(
fa!h?rs of the re?nblic, has been imp-ovrd as exper en ce pointed the
wiy and cradually ad tote to the .g owth and sett'ement of our
western States and ter.itorles. It has worked wril in practice.
A'rea iy thirteen states and seven territories have ben e :rued o t of
I hes. lands, and still m r, than a thousand millions or acres remain
:Insold. What a boundless prospee: this presents to oarcountry of
tazta.re prosperity* and power !
W O have h retofore disposed of 34-3.8,52,•64 acres of the public
lan d.

- Whilst the r iic lands as a senree of revenue are of great imw
Po-tince, their iazzaortan:e is far greater as fcroishinz homes for a
heedy and inclepens:Zat race of hones: and industrious citizens
who desire to sublue aid cultivate th' soil. Tt.ry ought to bef
a rctri*erel main y with. a view of promtting this wise and be-
nevolent policy. 1-s appropriatin: them for any other purpose
we ought to use even grrater economy than if they had been con-
venal Moto money and the proce,ds were a'rea,ly in the pullEd"
treasury. To squander awl, the richest anti Aohlest inheirance
tO3lOl an people have ever enjoyed upon objects' of donbtfuP
constituttooality or expediency, would be to violate cn2 ef- the most
npo: tent 'Musts ever committed to any people. Whilit I do not'
deny to Congilbss the power, when, actin; bona fide' as a prOrietor,-..
to give away portions of them tor the purpose of increasaig the'
value of the remainder, yet, considering the great ten ptation to'
abuse this power, we cannot to, to csiti,ass in its exertiSs.
Actual setth4S- under existing laws ere protected argainst other
purchasers at thTpublic sates, in their'right of Pro et:actor', to the'
extent of a quarter Fettion, or 160 acres eflani. The remainder mar
then be disposed Ora public or entered at private sale in unlimited
cpanti•i s
Speculation has of :Ate years prevailed :ay a' great ex ett in the;
public leads. The consequence has been that large portionirof them,'
have become the property of indiridnsls and companies, and thits
price is greatly enhanced t s those who desi e tb purchase for actual"
;settlement. In order teilimit the area of spent:fatten as mei' as
the extinction of the Indian title and the extension of
the public surveys ought onry to keep pace with the tide of mi.- •
gration.

If Congress should hereatittr grant alternate r.cetiens to State or'
companies, 113 they have done heretoro recut-nix:end that the intsr- '
mutate sszti,,ns retained by 'the Government shoutd be bu')jact to '
pre-empt on by actual settlers:.

It melt ever to be our eardiaal pllley to r !serve the peblie
as much at may Le for actual settlers, au I this at zr (Mar.:to prices.
We shall thus not only best promota the prosperity of the new States
and Territories, and the p,wer of the Union, but shareware homes
tor out' posterity for many generatfons.