Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-12-30

10 levy tax upon them as upon other
lands within their limits, held by other
proprietors than the United States, for the
support of their local government.
The beneficial effects of the graduation
principle have been realized by some OF
the States owning the lands within their
limits, in which it has been adopted. =
They have been demonstrated by the Unit
ed States acting as The trustees OF the
Chickasaw tribe of Indians IN The sale OF
their lands lying within the States OF Al
ALBANIA and Mississippi. The Ch'ckasa"
lands, which would not command IN me
market the minimum price established ny
the laws of the United States for the SAFE
of their lands, were, in pursuance OF Inc
treaty of 1884 with that tribe, subsequent
Iy offered for sale at graduated and re-
duced rates for limited periods. The re-
suit was, that large quantities OF these
lands were purchased, which would other
wise remained unsold The lands were
IdisDosed of at their real value, and many
persons of limited means were enabled to
purchase small tracts, upon which they
| have settled with their families. That 81
miIar results would be produced by the
adoption of the graduation policy by the
United States in all the States in which
they are the owners of large bodies of
lands which have been long in the market
cannot be doubted. 1t cannot be Il sound
policy 10 withhold large quantities of pub
lie lands from the use and occupation Of
our citizens, by fixing upon them prices
which experience has shown they will not
command. On the contrary, it is a wise
policy to afford facilities to our citizens to
become the owners, at low and moderate
rates, of freeholds of their own, instead
Of being the tenants and dependents OF
I others. If it be unprecedented that these
lands, if reduced in price, would be secur-
ed in large quantities by spectators OF
capitalists, the sales may be restricted, in
limited quantities, to actual settlers or per
sons purchasing for the purposes of cult,
walton.
In my last annual message | submitted
for the consideration of Congress the pre-
sent system of managing the mineral lands
Of the United States, and recommended
that they should he brought into market
and sold, upon such terms and under suct
restrictions as Congress might prescribe
reserved lead mines and contiguous land,
in the States Of Illinois and Arkansas, ant
Territories of Wisconsin and Iowa." were
authorized TO be sold The act is confn
ed in its operations TO dead mines ant
contiguous lands"
A large portion of the public lands con
tanning copper and other other ores is re
I presented 10 be very valuable, and | re
. commend that provision be made author
, ling the sale of these lands, and upo
> such terms and conditions as their sup
posed value, in the judgment of Congress
\ be deemed advisable, having due regard t
! the interests of such of our citizens a
D may be located on them.
e OREGON TERRITORY.
e it will be important, during your pre-
sent session, TO establish territorial O.
vernment and 10 extend the iurisdctio
land laws of the United States over tn
f Territory of Oregon. Our laws regula
inc trade and intercourse with the India
), tribes east of the Rocky Mountains shout
/. be extended to the Pacific ocean; and fC
e the purpose of executing them, and pre-
O serving friendly relations with the India
. tribes within our limits, an additional nun
: Der Of Indian agencies will be required
= and should be authorized by law. TIL
V establishment of custom houses, and of pc
u offices and post roads, and provision f
- the transportation of the mail on sue
IS routes as the public convenience will su!
A gcst, require legislative authority. it wi
g lie proper also, to establish a surveyor @
+. neral's office in that Territory, and t
J. make the necessary provision for survey
e ing the public lands, and bringing thei
W into market. As our citizens who now n
j. side in that distant region have been sui
r, jected to many hardships, privations, an
l. sacrifices in their emigration, and by the
/ improvements enhanced the value Of tn
e public lands in the neighborhood of the
n settlements, ii is recommended that llbt
a raj grants be made to them OF such POI
=. lions of these lands as they may occup,
1T and that similar grants or rights OF pre-
!. emption be made to all who may emIgrai
thlher within limited period 10 be PR
scribed by law.
Re REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF WAR.
5 The report Of the Secretary Of WI
,e contains detailed information relative
(. the several branches of the public servIC
m connected with that department. The OPP
,e rations of the army have been of a sati
Ill factory and highly gratifying character.
o. recommend TO your early and favori
IL bic consideration the measures propose
Id by the Secretary OF War for speedily f
he ling up the rank and file Of the regular a
of my, for It's greater efficiency in the fioI
lie, and for raising an additional force to ser'
during the war with Mexico.
Embarrassment is likely to arise for wa