The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-11 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

(From the New York Tribune.)
Few have any just conception of the vastness
of the public domain of the United States. The
whole, prior to the Alaska purchase, embraced
An area of
The Russian purchase 369,529,6,,0 acres

Grand total.. 1,816,245,672 acres
or more than 2,837,882 square miles. There have
been granted, out of this vast domain, for sundry
purposes, as follows :

Acres.
To purchasers and homestead settlers 165,001,359
For military services 60,627,142

For agricultural colleges
For railroad and other internal improve-
ments
For schools and universities .. 69,066,802
To States as swamp lands
For Indians 13,280,699
For other purposes—public buildings,
salines, &c., &c

Total
•• 412,688,262
In round numbers, 500,000,000 acres have been
surveyed, and more than 400,000,000 have been
disposed of, and yet there remained, on the 30th
June, 1868, 1,405,366,678 acres unsold, or more

than 2,195,000 square miles. Since that time large
grants have been made in aid of the magnificent
system of Pacific railways and other purposes,
perhaps to the extent of 100,009,000 acres. This
great and beneficent policy of the Government
has bound with bands
.stronger than iron the
whole Republic. It has opened and is opening
vast regions for settlement in the interior of our
continental empire, prepared highways for emi-
gration from Europe, Asia, and. Africa to peo-
ple them, and supplied them with churches and
schools, colleges and universities, railroads, ca-
nals, and telegraphs,--with all the elements of
a rapid and healthy growth in material wealth
and Christian civilization. And yet this more than
royal bounty of the Government has not destroyed
the public domain thus given ; hut, like the spared
books of the Sybil, the remaining public domain,
by this liberal p )liey of giving away, has become
more valuable than the whole was before. It has
been a d 'nation that has enriched the donor; and,
more than anything beside, in connection with our
free Government, has made us a rich, populous, and
prosperous nation. As before shown, we had on
the 30th June, 1868, about 1,400,000,000 acres un-
sold. flow insignificant in view of this imperial
domain are 100,000,000 acres granted in aid of
other great lines of railways and canals needed for
the full development of our immense natural re-
sources, and for the establishment of lines of iron
steamships that shall make our commerce whiten
every sea, and the power and enterprise of the
United States be acknowledged in every part of the
world—not for conquest and oppression, but for
enlightenment, for liberty, and Christian civiliza-
tion. Guard these grand donations to the people
for great enterprises, for railways, canals, steam-
ship lines, and telegraphs, with every precaution to
secure their use for the public good, and the truth
of the old proverb will be vindicated—" There is
that scattereth, and yet maketh rich ; there is that
withholdeth, and yet tendeth to poverty."

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

It is not often that this paper appears without a
'all summary of American news up to the day fortnight pre-

ceding its publication, but this has been the case to-day.

It is probable that the United States mail steamer has been
delayed by the easterly gales which disabled the City of
Brussels, as she must have left New York on the 26th ult.,
and run into the henvy weather experienced by the Inman
steamer. Of course, to us this is a serious inconvenience,
which will be felt by our readers, who look to us for full
reports on money and business in America.
The remarks published in our last number on Fe-
nian Plans derive confirmation from the telegram for-
warded from Toronto last Tuesday :—" The Canadian
Government has received notice from the British Minister
at Washington of an intended Fenian raid along the whole
frontier on the 15th April. The authorities here are fully
prepared if a movement be made at all, but the lateness of
the season makes an early attempt impossible." The
Fenians must settle their domestic quarrel before they
begin the invasion, and of that settlement as yet there
are no signs.
The other telegrams of the week inform us that the
President has nominated Mr. Joseph Root, of Kansas,
United States' Minister at the Hague. Gen. Grant and the

members of the Cabinet were to attend the funeral ceremo-
nies of General Thomas, to be solemnized yesterday (Rl-
day) at Troy. A great Meeting was held at Toronto on Wed•
nesday, under the presidency of the Mayor, to express in-
d'gnation at the murder of Scott and the imprisonment of
British subjects at Fort Garry, and to urge that energetic
measures should be taken to suppress the insurrection and
to punish Scott's murderers. Much excitement prevails
throughout Canada, arising out of the affair, and meetings
are to be held in Montreal and other places. In the House
of Commons the Premier stated that the Imperial and Do-
minion Governments were acting in unison, and had de-
cided on adopting a policy of action. The announcment is
made here that the French Government have cancelled the
exclusive concesssion to a French.company to land a cable
from tho United States in France, thus ending the diplo-
matic dispute on the subject with the United States.

We hear through the Times correspondent at
Philadelphia that on Thursday President Grant had sent
a special message to Congress, announcing that, on learn-
ing stringent measures might be adopted by Canada to
exclude all foreign fishing-vessels from the inshore
fisheries unless provided with licence; the President has
directed a small active naval steamer to be sent, at the
beginning of the approaching fishing season, to the waters
in which those fisheries are chiefly carried on, for the pur-
pose of warning and protection to the United States fisher-
men. The commander of the vessel is instructed to pre-
vent infractions by citizens of the United States of the
Treaty with England of 1818, and of the laws in force
relating to fisheries within British jurisdiction, or any
illegal interferon ce with the pursuits of American fishermen.

Neuter's message adds, " that the Commanders of the
American fleet in t'le waters of Canada, Newfoundland,
and Nova Scotia have been instructed to give special at-
tention to cases arising under the change in the British
laws relating to the fisheries."

The Senate, by 41 votes, against 12, eventually ad-
in:tted General Arne!, late military commander of Mis-
sissippi, to a seat as Senator from that State. The objec-
tion urged by Senator Conkling against Adelbert Ames,
was grounded on the following provision of the Constitu-

Lion No person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained to the age of thirty year; and been nine years a
citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall
be chosen." The Senator contended that Gen. Ames was a
military officer stationed in Mississippi by order of the Exe-
cutive, and was acting as Provisional Governor under
General M'Dowell's appointment, when elected. In the
opinion of the majority of the Committee such did not
constitute the residence required by the Constitution, not-
withstanding the declaration of General Ames at the time
of election that ho intended to leave the army and reside
in Mississippi, and the resignation of his army commis-
sion accepted by the President before signing the bill to
admit the State. The presence of a U. S. officer in any
place in the discharge of his duty neither takes away his
old domicile nor establishes a new one— a rule yearly
acted on by Government officers who proceed from Wash-
ington to vote in their different States. However sound
in principle, General Ames is a good Republican, and the
Senate could not see in his case what they would have
been quick enough to see had he been a Democrat.
There was an incidental debate lately in the
Senate on the effect of office-holding which was not com-
plimentary to the employes of the Republic. One senator
declared that a few years of office unfitted young men for
work ; that many of them became paupers, their usefulness
being destroyed for life. Another senator was always
grieved when a young man applied to him for office, re-
garding the individual as on the high road to ruin. A third
senator gave it as his opinion that the Departments were
full of incompetent persons, who ought to be weeded out,
theforce reduced to a half, better men appointed, the work-
ing hours lengthened, and the pay doubled. Senators and
Representatives talk in this way glibly enough, though they
always burke the trub remedy—a specially trained Civil
Service, permanency, and promotion for competency, effi-
cient work, and seniority.

Two amusing resolutions have lately been offered ;
the one by the Wisconsin Legislature, that "all persons act-
ing in the capacity of lobbyists shall, during the remainder
of the session, wear a badge on their hats or caps, or in a
conspicuous place on- the broadest part of their person,
with the name of the scheme they represent plainly
printed thereon." A New York paper says that this would
enable every honourable member to know his purchaser at
once, and save no end of expensive introductory suppers
and interlocutory cocktails. The other was passed by the
ladies of Annapolis (Maryland), who, in view of the de-
caying condition of the Annapolis Cemetery, held a meet-
ing and voted " to raise money to replenish our dilapi-
dated grave-yard." "Replenish" is a curious word to use
in connection with a burying-ground, considering that it
means " to fill completely ; to stock abundantly ;" and it
is suggested that these ladies might be better employed
in replenishing the world.

General Sheridan has applied to be relieved from
the command of the Western Department, which brings
him into such close contact with the Indians, and to be as-
signed to another Division. He asked that Colonel Baker be
promoted, and he announced his readiness to accept the
action of the Government in promoting or not promoting
the officer who commanded in the Piegan affair as proof of
its judgment on his own part in that transaction. As Presi-
dent Grant did not send Colonel Baker's name to the SeLate
for promotion General Sheridan considers that the Exe-
cutive does not uphold his course, and has therefore asked
for a new field of duty, which is likely to be granted. Had
the President sent Baker's name to the Senate for promo-
tion it would have been rejected, as the voice of the coun-
try has condemned the severity of the measures against the
Indians. How does the London Standard reconcile these
facts with its recent leading article ?
The Secretary of the Treasury *shows by his last
monthly statement, April 1, that the total debt, less cash
and bands in the Treasury, was $2,432,562,127, being a de-
crease during March of $5,766,350. The gross amount of
the debt is $2,650,500,000, but from this has to be deducted
the bonds purchased with the accrued interest amounting
to $105,229,308, and the money in the Treasury, amounting
to $105,413,745 in gold, and $7,472,729 in currency. I tis in-
correct to deduct all the gold in the Treasury from the gross
amount of the debt, for a considerable portion of it does
not belong to the Gavernment, being merely held as a de-
posit. The enormous sum the purchased bonds now repre-
sent shows with what facility the Republic can pay off
the National debt; for it simply means the liquidation of
more than four per cent. of the whole debt within a year ;
at which rate the total would be discharged, we presume,
in about fifteen years or less ; though we leave our readers
to make the calculation. By expunging $100,000,000 of
the principal every year, the debt would be annihilated in
twenty- five years; but the difficulty of the calculation is
to work ont the progressive decrease of interest by absorp-
tion of the principal, and the application of the funds thus
saved to the further liquidation of the principal, which,
though not felt much at first, would in a few years become
enormous. We merely guess at the time requires.
POLITICAL NEWS. —The Rhode Island Democra-
tic Convention met March 17. Lyman Pierce was nomi-
nated for Governor; Charles B. Cutter for Lieutenant-
Governor; W. J. Willey, Secretary of State; George H.
Bliss, Attorney General ; and Philip Ryder, General
Treasurer.—The Louisiana Legislature has adjourned
sine die after passing bills appropriating sl3,ooo,ooo.—The
Senate of Massachusetts by a vote of 22 to 17 has rejected
the Liquor License Bill recently passed by the House.—
The School Board at Memphis has adopted a resolution
prohibiting all religious exercises in the public schools.—
It is intimated that the Sub-Committee on Elections wil
report that Strader, Democrat, is entitled to the seat from
the Cincinnati district.—Montgomery Blair is announced
as a candidate for Congress from the Fifth Maryland Dis-
trict. now represented by Frederick Stone, Democrat.—ln
the Wisconsin Legislature a bill removing the State capi-
tal was defeated on the 10th Mar, h.— The Lower House
of the Kentucky Legislature has passed a bill that Con-
gressmen shall be elected on the first Monday in August,
and not the second Tuesday in November, as now.
BUDGET OF PERSONAL.—Gen. J. W. Shaffer, of
Freeport, 111., the newly-appointed Governor of Utah, was
to leave Chicago March 15, for Salt Lake City, to enter
upon his official duties.—Gov. Alcorn has offered a reward
of SI,OOC for the apprehension of Yerger.—The Queen of
the Netherlands dined with the American Minister to St.
James's, in Arlington-street, last Monday. The guests
were literary ; including Lord Houghton, the Hon. Mrs.
Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Froude, Charles Dickens, Wilkie
Collins, and other celebrities.—Miss Morgan, of London,
lately pasted the Doctor disputation at Zurich with great
éclat, before an audience of more than 400 persons. She
is the second lady who has obtained the M.D. diploma at
that university.—The Hon. Anson Burlingame's Chinese
name was "Poo-an-Chew."—Mr. James Gordon Bennett,
jun., vice-commodore of the New York Yacht Club, is soon
to sail for Europe, preparatory to the'yacht race announced
for July.—Gustave Dore is expected in America in May.—
General Logan wants to succeed Yates as Senator from
Illinois.—Mrs. Esther Morris, Wyoming Police Justicess,
holds court in a calico gown, worsted breakfast shawl,
green necktie and green head-dress.—Postmaster-General
Cresswell is talked of for a diplomatic appointment.—
President grant has acknowledged, in an appropriate let-
ter, the reception of a handsomely engraved certificate of
his election as an honorary member of the Seangerbund
Musical Society of Philadelphia.—The widow of General
Joseph Mower has been appointed Postmaster at New
London, Connecticut.—Governor Alcorn of Mississippi
was inaugurated March 10.—Jerome Bonaparte has ar-
rived in New York from France.—A movement is on foot

in Congress to settle a liberal pension upon Miss Ida
Lewis, the heroine of Lime Rock Light.—Lydia Thomp-
son, having made $70,000 since she left New York, is
spending it in lawyers' fees and legal fines at Chicago.—
Professor P. B. Du Chaillu is having great success in his
lectures throughout the:West.—The President has accepted
the resignation of Daniel Butterfield as Brevet Major-
General, taking effect from the 14th Ilarch.—Golloday
already has three candidates against him in Kentucky, and
more are expected.—Gen. Lewis Wallace is said to be a
candidate from Indiana for Congress, as the successor of
the Hon. Godlove S. Orth, who declines a nomination.—
Abe! Ratbbono Corbin has sold his New York City resi-
dence and retired to Hudson, New Jersey, whence he
writes that he "ought to have removed here several years
ago."—The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia is preparing for
a visit to the United States.

OBITUARY.—Antoine La Fountaine, the oldest
resident of Monroe county, Michigan, died recently, aged
100.—David Makepeace, who died in Boston in his 103 d
year, March 8, was one of the few who brought the
memory of a vote for Washington to the polls when vot-
ing for Grant.—Dr. John A. Cummings, a prominent
Boston dentist, die 1 March 5, at the age of fifty three.

He was the discoverer and patentee of the invention now
controlled by the Godyear Dental Vulcanite Company.
.Hatnilton Taylor, a member of the Mississippi Legislature'
from Harrison County, died on Monday night, March 14,
in Jackson, Mississippi.— S. K. Head, formerly connected
with the Boston press, died in Savannah, March 15.—Gen.
James W. Ripley, of the United States Army, died at his
residence in Hartford, on Tuesday, March 15. He was
born in Windham, Connecticut, Dec. 10, 1794, and received
his first commission in the army June 1, 1814. Ho had
been for some time in feeble health.--Mr. Verplanek, the
well-known author and 'philanthropist, died March 18, at
his residence in Fourteenth-street, New York, in the 81th
year of his age.