The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-23 00:00:00

LAND SALES,

I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Interior,
which is herewith laid before you, for useful and varied in-
formation in relation to public lands, Indian affairs, patents,
pensions, and other matters of public concern pertaining to
his department.

The quantity of land disposed of during the last and the
first quarter of the present fiscal year was 3,841,549 acres,
of which 161,911 acres were sold for cash. 1,456,514 acres
were taken up under the Homestead Law, and the residue
disposed of under laws granting lands for military bounties
for railroad and other purposes.
It also appears that the sale of public lands is largely on
the increase. It has long been a cherished opinion of some
of our wisest statesmen that the people of the United States
had a higher and more enduring interest in the early settle •
went and substantial cultivation of the public lands than in
the amount of direct revenue to be derived from the sale of
them.

This opinion has had a controlling influence in shaping
legislation upon the subject of our national domain. I may
cite as evidence of this the liberal measures adopted in refe-
rence to actual settlers, the grant to the States of the over-
flowed lands within their limits in order to their being re-
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation, and the grants to
railway companies of alternate sections of land upon the
contemplated lines of their roads, which when completed
will largely multiply the facilities for reaching our distant
possessions.

- This policy has received its most signal and beneficent
illustration in the recent enactment granting homesteads to
actual settlers. Since the first day of January last before
mentioned the quantity of 1,456,514 acres of land have been
taken up under its provisions.
This fact and the amount of sales furnish gratifying evi-
dence of increasing settlement upon the public lands, not-
withstanding the great struggle in which the energies of the
nation have been engaged, and which has required so large
a withdrawal of our citizens from their accustomed pursuits.
I cordially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary of
the Interior suggesting a modification of the act in favour of
those engaged in the military and naval service of the United
States.
I doubt not that Congress will cheerfully adopt such mea-
sures as will, without essentially changing the general fea-
tures of the system, secure to the greatest practical extent
its benefits to those who have left their homes in defence of
the country in this arduous crisis.

THE INDIAN SYSTEM.

I invite your attention to the views of the Secretary as
to the propriety of raising by appropriate legislation a re•
venue from the mineral lands of the United States. The
measures provided at your last session for the removal of
certain Indian tribes have been carried into effect. Sundry
treaties have been negotiated which will, in due time, be
submitted for the constitutional action of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for extinguishing the possessory rights
of the Indians to large and valuable tracts of land. It is
hoped that the effect of these treaties will result in the esta-
blishment of :permanent friendly relations with such of
these tribes as have been brought into frequent and bloody
collision with our outlying settlements and emigrants.
Sound policy and our imperative duty to these wards of
the Government demand our anxious and constant atten-
tion to their material well-being, to their progress in the
arts of civilisation, and, above all, to that moral training
which, under the blessing of Divine Providence, will confer
upon them the elevated and sanctifying influences, the
hopes and consolations of the Christian faith. I suggested
1,1., my last annual message the propriety of remodelling our
Indian system.
detailsB4b sesequt eint events have satisfied me of its necessity. The
urgent seed
in the report of the Secretary evince the
hitoiswvieenrycee7then, upon a
for immediate legislative action.
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