Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-11

ton to be proclaimed fol sale during the year 1885,
In my last annual message presented the reason
which, in my judgement rendered it proper to gradu
ate and reduce the price Of such of the public lands
have remained unsold for long period after the
| have beeen offered for sale at public auction.
!, Many millions OF of public lands lying within
the limits of several Of the western states, have bee
offered in the market. and have been for sale at PR
vate entry for more than twenty years. andlarge guam
titles for than thirty years at the lowest piic
prescribed by the existing laws and as 1t has beei
found, that they will not command that price, the.
must remain unsold Thirty years and uncultvated 10
an indefinite period, unless the price demanded o.
the government shall be reduced. NO SATISFACTORY
reason is perceived why they should longer be hele
at rates above their value. At this period an add
tonal reason exists fo~ adopting the measure recon-
mended. When the country is engaged In iorel5i
war, and must resort to loans. would
seem to be the dictate oil wisdom that should avail
ourselves of all resources and thus limit the a
mount of our public Indebtedness to the lowest posi-
| bic sum.
Recommend that The existing laws on the. subjec
of pre-cmption rights be amended so to act pros
pectvly, and to embrace all who may settle upon the
public lands and make improvements upon them be
fore they surveyed, well lands in ALL cases
where such settlement may be made after the Indian
1 title shall have beer extinguished.
IL the right pre- emption be thus extended, it viii
embrace large and meritorious of our citizens
lit viii increase the numbsr of small freeholdefs up
on our borders who win be anabed thereby to edu
cate their children, and otherwise improve their con-
dition, while they with be always found, in the houl
danger to country, among the best OF our voun
teer soldiers. ready to tender their services IN
of emergency, and the last TO leave the ielc
as long enemy remains to be encountered. sucf
a policy will also impress the pioneer emgrants
with deeper feelings of gratitude 10 the parental care
of their government when they find their dearest IN
erest secured to them by the permanent law of the
land and they no longer in danger OF losing thei
houses and hard-eaIned Improvements by being
brought into competition with more wealthy class
purchasers at the land salss.
The attention of Congress was invited al their last
and is again at their present session, to the inpor
lance Of establishing territorial government overoul
possessions in oregon, and II Is to be regretted that
there YVES no legislation upon the SUBJECT cur citl
zens, who inha that distinct region of country, are
still left without the protection ofour laws or any reg
ular organized government. Before the question OF
tina limits and boundaries of the territory OF oregon
was definitely settled from the necessity or their con-
dtiGn the citizens of that Territory had erected tenn
porary government of their own. Besides the want
Of legal authority for continuing such government
is wholly inadequate TO protect them in their rights
of person and property, to secure TO them the pl
vileges and enoyments of other citizens, to wmcf
either ase entitled under the constitution of the Cniet
States. They should have the right of sufffaee-bt
represented in aterritoal legislature, and by dele
gate in Congress, possess the rights and privileges
which citizens Of the United States have heretofore
enjoyed, or may now enjoy. Our judicial system
revenue, laws regarding trade and intercourse with the
Indian tribes, and the protection OF our laws general
~. should be extended over them.
i recommend that Surveyor Generals office be es
tabshed in that territory and that the public lands be
surveyed and brought into market at an early period
Recommend also, that grants upon liberal terms OF
limited quantities of the public lands, be made to al
citizens of the United States, who have omigraed,
lmay hereafter, within prescF I'd period, eni5rate
Oregon and settle upon the land
Those hardy and adventurous citizens who have en-
c0untered the dangers and privations of long ant
tiresome journey and have at length found an abdins
place for themselves and their families upon the ut
most verge OF our western limits. should be
i'll the homes which they have improved by their Ia
Dor.
In addition to the inhabitants of that territory whC
had previous enigrated TO il, large numbers Of ou
citizens have followed them during the present year
and it is not doubted that during the next year, thei
numbers will be greatly increased. Congress-, at it,
last session, established post routes leading 10 Oregon
and between different points within that territory, AM
authorized the establishment of postotices at Asto
ria and such other places on the coast OF the Pacific
within theserritoTy of the United States, the public
interest may require. Postotfces have accordingl,
been established, deputy postmasters appointed,
! provision made for the transportation of the mails.
! should Congress avail itself of this additions
source of revenue not only would the amount of pub
lie loans rendered necessary by the with Mexico
be diminished to that extent, but the public credit
the public confidence in the ability and determination
of the government to meet all its engagements prompt
ly would be permanently established, and the
reduced amount Of the loans which it may be neces
sary to negotiate could be obtained at cheaper rates.
Congress is, therefore, called upon 10 determine
whether it is wiser to impose the duties or BY
emitting to do so, increase the public debt three mil
lions of dollars annually, long loans shall be
quired 10 prosecute the war, and afterwards provide
in some other FORM to pay the semi-annual interes
upon it, ami ultimately extngHish the principal Il
in addition 10 those duties, Congress could graduate
and reduce the price OF such of the public lands a.
experience has proved will not command the pric,
placed upon them by government, an additional an
nual increase to the Treasury of between half mill
ion and million of dollars it is estimated, would bt
derived from this source. Should both measures re
ceive the sanction of Congress, the annual amount o
public debt TO be contracted during the
ttnuance of the would be reduced four millions
of dollars. The duties recommended to be levied
tea and coffee, should be limited in their duration L
the end of the and until the public debt rendee,
necessary to be contracted BY it shall be discharged
The amount of The public debt TO be contracted shou
be limited to the lowest practicable sum, and shout,
be extinguished early after the conclusion of hi
| war, as the means of the treasury will permit
, With this view, it is recommended that as soon
the be ove the surplus in the treasury not need
ed for other indispensable objects, constitute sink
ing fund to be applied to the purchase of the funde
debt, and that authority be conferred by law for tia
purpose.
The act ofthe 9th of August, 1886, to establish
EaS neen III operation more Ut
year, and has proved tobe important auxiliary I
the tariff act of ls4s, in augmenting the revenue
| extending the commerce of the country. Whilst
has tended to enlarge commerce it has been ben
effcial 10 our manufactures, by diminishing force
sales at auction of foreign goods at low prices, t
cause the duties TO be advanced on them, and b
checking fluctuations in the market. The system
although sanctioned by the experience ofother coun
tries, entirely in sthe United States, and
| susceptible of improvements III of its prcvis
ions The Secretary of the Treasury. upon whor
was devoived large discretionary powers in carryin
this measure into effect, is collecting the pfact
cal results Of the system other countries, where
has long been established, and win report at an earl
period of your session such further regulations su.
gested by these Investigations may render il sti
4 more effective and beneficial.
BY the act providing for the better organization
The Treasury. and for the collection, So le keeping an
disbursement ofthe public revenues. all banks wer
discontinued as the fiscal agents of the government
ana paper currency was no longer allowed TO be re
/ ceived in payment for the public dues.
4 The Constitutional Treasury created by this aci
went into operation the 4th of January last. IN
der the system established by if, the public monte
have been collected, safely kept and disbnrsed by tn
q direct agency of the officers of the government. i
gold and silver; and transfers of large amounts hav
been made from the points of collection to the point
of disbursement without loss to the Treasury or in
convenience 10 the traffic of the country.
While the fiscal operations of the government hav
been conducted with regularity and ease, under tn