The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-22

debt, they may be repeated when The e.
meryency which gave riFe 10 mem shall
cease 10 exist. and constitute no part oil The
ornament policy oil The country.
The act Of the 9Th of August last, TO pro-
vide for the better organization OF the ireasu
ry. and for The collection, safckeepins trans
Ter, and dsburse ment ol tue public revenue
has been carried into execution as rapidly as
the delay necessarily arising out OF The APP
pointment Of new officers, taking and appro-
wing their bonds, and preparing und securing
proper places for the safe keeping OF The
public money. would permit. 1t is not pro
posed 10 depart ia any respect from the prin-
ciples or policy on which this great measure
is founded. There are, however, defects in
The details of the measure developed 10y its
PRACTICAL operation, which are fully sci forth
10 the report af the Secretary Of the Tressu-
~, 10 which the attention OF Congress is in
viied.-rhesc dclccIs would impair 10 some
extent the successful operation Of the law
al all times, but are especially embarrassing
when the country is engaged IN war, when
the expenditures are greatly increased, when
loans are to he effected. aud sbuiserncnts
are 10 he made at points many hundred
miles distant, ID some cases, from any de-
pUsltOry, and large portion of them in a
foreign country. The notifications suggest
cd in The report of the Secretary of Treasury
ale recommended 10 yonr favorable consider
alton.
In connection with this subject, invite
your attention TO the importance of establish
ing branch of the mint Of the United STATES
+ al New York. TwO-thirds Of the revenue
derived from the customs being collected at
that puinI. The demand for specie TO pay the
duties will be large; aud branch mint, where
foreign coin and bullion could be Immediate
w converted into American coin, would
greatly facilitate the TRANSACTION of the public
business. enlarge The circulation Of gold and
silver. and be AT tho same time, safe depOs-
itory of tina public money.
The importance Of graduating and redu-
cling the price Of such Of the public lands as
have been long offered in the market, AT the
minimum rate authorized ny existing laws, d
remain unsold, induces me again 10 recon-
mend the subject to your favorable considera-
ton. Many millions of acres Of these lands
have been offered in the market Tor more than
thirty years, and larger quantities for more
Than Ten or twenty years and being Of an in
fer,or quality. they must remain unsaleable
for an indefinite period, unless the price at
which they may be purchased shall be re-
duced. To place price upon them above
their real value is not only to prevent their
sale, and thereby deprive the Treasury of all
income from that source. but is unj ust TO the
States in which they lie, because it retards
their growth and increase of population, Il
because they have no power 10 levy tax up
on them as upon other lands within their
limits, held by other propretors than the U.
States, for the support OF their local govern
ments.
The beneficial effects of The graduation
principle have been realized by some of the
STATES owing 10 The lands within their limits,
III which il has been adopted. They have
been demonstrated also by the United States
acting as the trustees OF the Chickasaw tribe
Of Indians in The sale OF THEN lands lying
within the Sta'es of Mississippi and Alaba-
ma. The Chickasaw lands, which would not
command in the market the minimum price
established by the laws of this United States
for the sale of their lan1s. were, in pursuance
Of the treaty Of 1884 with that tribe, subse-
quently offered for sale at graduated and re-
duced rates for limited periods. The result
was, that large quantities Of these lands were
purchased, hich would otherwise have re-
manned unsold. The lands were disposed Of
IT their real value, and many persons Of lin
tied means were enabled TO purchase small
tracts, upon which they have settled with
their families.
That similar results would have been pro-
duceG by the adoption Of the graduation
policy by the Unire6 States in all the States
in which they are the owners oflarge bodies
oflands which have been long in the market,
cannot be doubted, 1t cannot be a sound
policy 10 withhold large quantities Of the pub
lie lands from the use and occupation OF our
citizens, by fixing upon them prices which
experience has slow they VIII not e. mmand.
On the contrary, it is wise policy to afford
facilities 10 our citizens TO become the own
ers, at low and moderate rates, offreeholds Of
their own, instead Of being the tenants and
dependents OF others. II it be apprehended
that THESE lands, ifreduced in price. would be
secured in large quantities by Spectators or
capitalists. the sales may be restricted. in
limited quantities TO actual settlers or persons
purchasing for purposes of cultivation.
In my last annual message submitted for
the consideration of Congress the present
system of managing the mineral lands of the
United States and recommended that they
should be brought into market aud sold, upon
such terms and under such restrictions as
llfh Of July last the reserved lead mines and
contiguous lands in the states Of Illinois and |
Arkansas. aud Territories of Wisconsin and |
Iowa, were authorized to be sold. This act |
is confined. in IFS operation, to lead mines g. |
contiguous lands
large portion Of tho public lands contain
ing copper and other ores is represented TO
he very valuable, and / recommend that pro-
vision be made authorizing the sale of these |
lands. upon such terms and conditions as
their supposed value may, in the judgment Of
Congress, be deemed advisable having due |
regard to the interests of such of our citizens |
as may be lorated upon them.
1t will he important during your present
sessian, TO establish a territorial government
and TO extend the jurisdiction and laws of the
United States over the Territory of Oregon.
Our laws regulating trade and intercourse
with the Indian tribes east of the Rocky
Mountains should be extended 10 the Pacific
ocean and for The purpose Of executing them,
and preserving friendly relations with the In
dian tribes within our limits, an additional
of Indian agencies will be required,
and should he aCthoTZ ed by l,w