American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-09

the price OF such Of the public lands as have
been long offered in the market at the mini
mum rate authorized by existing laws, and
remain unso'd, induces me again TO recon-
mend the subject 10 your favorable consldera-
ton. Many millions of acres of these lands
have been offered in the market for more than
thirty years, and larger quantities for more
than ten or twenty years; and being of an in
ftrlor quality, they must remain unsaeabe
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 i. not only 10 prevent their
sale, and tb, reby deprive the Treasury Of
any income lrum hat source, but is unjust to
the States in which they tic, because it re-
tards their growth ard Increase OF population,
and because they have no power to levy a
tax upon them os upon other lands within their
limits, held by other proprieto's 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 owning the
lands within their limits in which it has been adopted.
They have been demons tracd also by the United
States acting us the trustee of the Chickasaw tribe of
Indians in the sale of their lands lying within the
States of Mississippi and Alabama. The Chickasaw
lands which would not command in the market the
minimum price established by the laws Of the United
States for the sale Of their lands, were, in pa
OF the treaty of 1884 with that tribe subsequently Of
frred for sale graduatcdHnd reduced rates for limit
ed periods. The result was, that large quantities Of
these lands were purchased, which would otherwise
have remained unsold The lands Were disposed ofat
their real value, aud many persons of limited means
were enabled TO purchase small tracts upon which
they have settled with their families That similar
results would he pr0dncedb by the adoption of the gra
uaton 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 doubt
ed. 1t cannot be a sound policy TO withhold large
quantities of the public lands from the and occu-
pf GxD,
which experience has shown they will not command.
TN the contrary, it is wise policy TO afford facilities
to citizens to become the owners nj low and mod
rates, Of frccbOd> Of their Own instead of being
The and dependents OF others. lf be appre-
hended that these lands, il reduced in price, would he
secured in large quantities by spectators capital
! lists, the sales may be- restricted in limited quantities,
to actual settlers or persons chasing for purposes Of
cultivation.
In my last annual message submitted for the con-
sideritOn of Congress the present system Ofmanagiug
! TIL mineral lands of the United States, and recon-
mCnded that they should be brought into market and
sold, upon such terms and under such restrictions as
Congress might prescribe. BY the act Of the eleventh
of July last ''tIG reserved lead mines and contiguous
lands III the States OF Illinois and Arkansas, and Ter
rtorrs OF Wisconsin and Iowa " were authorized to
be sold. The act is confined, in lis operation, TO dead
mines and contiguous lands"
/ A large portion orlhe public lands containing cop
per and other ores is represented to he very valuable,
and recommend that provision he made authorizing
the sale Of these lands upon such terms and conditions
as th,r supposed value may. in the judgment of Con-
.
interests Ofsuch of our citizens as may be located up
on them.
1t will be Important during your present session. 10
establish 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 he extended To the Pacific ocean;
and for the purpose of executing them and preserving
| friendly relations with the Indian tribes within our
| limits additional number of Indian agencies wiz
| be required, and should be authorized by law. The
] is lDlSpS
aud post roads, and provision for the transportation of
| the mail en- such routes as the public convenience
will suggest, require eg latve authority. 1t will be
proper also to establish surveyor generals office in
that Territory, and to make the necessary provision
for surveying the public lands and bringing them into
| i market. As our citizens who now reside in that
region have been subjected to many hardships, prva-
tons, and sacrifices in their emigration, and by their
improvements have enhanced the value Of the public
lands in the neighborhOOd of their settlements il is
recommended that liberal grants be made TO them of
such proportions of these lands as they may occupy,
and that similar grants or rights Of p.e-empton be
made TO all who may emigrate thlther within limited
period, to be prescribed by law.
The report of the Secretary of War contains detail
ed information relative 10 the several branches of the
public service connected with that department. The
operations Ct the army have been OF satisfactory and
! highly gratifying character.
| | Recommend to your early and favorable consd-
Grafton the measures proposed by the Secretary of
War for speedily filling up the rank and file of the reg
ular army, for its greater efficiency in the field, and
for raising additional force TO serve during the war
with Mexico.
Embarassments is likely to arise for want of legal
provision authOriSing compensation to be made the
agents employed in the several States and Territories
to pay the revolutionary and other pensioners the a
mounts allowed them by law. Your attention is in
Vitcd to the recommendations of the Secretary of War
on this subject These agents incur heavy RESPONSE
bilitics and perform important duties AMI reason
! exists why they should not be placed the same
footing, as to compensation, with other dibursins
| officers.
Our relations with the various indian tribes con-
tinue to be of pacific character The unhappy dis
sentiOns which have existed among the CherOkecs for
many years passed have been healed. Since my last
annual message, important treaties have been negoci-
atGd with some Of the tribes by which the Indian title
to large tracts of valuable land, within the limits OF the
States and Territories, have been extinguishcd, and
arrangements made for removing them to the country
west OF the Mississippi. Between three and four
thousand of different tribes, have been removed 10
the country provided for them by treaty stipuIatiOns
ard arrangements have been made for others TO follow
In our intercourse with the several tribes, particular
attention has been given TO the important subject of
educa On, The number of schools established among
them has been increased and additional means povi
ded, not only for teaching them the Iuiments of edu
cation, hut of nstrucing them in agriculture and me-
chanic arts.
| refer you to the report of the Secretary of the
Navy for a satisfactory view of the operations of the
department under his charge during the past year IL
is gratifying to perceive, that while the with Mex.
leo has rendered il necessary TO employ unusual
number of our armed vessels her coasts, the pro-
tecuon due to our commerce i'll other quarters of the
world has not proved insufficient. No means will be
spared to give efficiency TO the naval service, in the
prosecution of the war; and am happy to know that
the officers and men an1iousy desire to devote them
selves TO the service of their country in any enterprise
however difficult Of execution.
There are other suggestions in the report which
deserve, aud doubt not, will receive your consider
alton.
The progress and condition of the mail service for
the past year, fully presented in the report of the
Postmaster General. The revenue for the year end
ng on the thirtieh of Juue last, amounted to three
million four hundred aud eighty-seven thousand one
hundred and ninety nne dollars which is eight hun
dred and two thousand six hundred and fory-two dol
lars and oryve cents less than tina, of the preceding
year. The payments for that department during the
time, amounted to four million eighty four thou
sand two hundred and ninety dollars and TWEEN
tY-lMo cents. OF this SUM five hundred and ninetY-