The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-12-18

10 cSuiuutCu 0t WI ,fOOyOOO.
The whole number OF land warrants il
sued for services in the revolutionary waSs
is 1858; in the war Of 1919, 28,O78;a
number of claims for land warrants aud
scrip in lieu thereof, for services in The.
Mexican war;, 84,705. The number Of
claims already presented under the Bouu-a
ty Land Law OF September last, up to the
5th Of November, was 9,4f8, and the
number is increasing rapidly. tits esti-i
mated that the whole number of claimants
will be about 100000. II will thus be
seen that this is by far the most important,
Bounty Land Law that has ever been
passed. All necessary arrangements have
been made to insure its prompt and efii-2
cient execution. Forms and instructions
have been prepared, and assurance given,
that every proper facility will be afforded
for the establishment Of just demands IN.
der the law. Plates have been ordered 70
be engraved for printing The warrants. and
every precaution has been adopted 10
guard against fraud and forgery These
plates will soon be completed, and there
need then be no delay in commencing the
issue Of the warrants. The warrants,
having been decided not 10 be assignable.
cannot be made available to the holders
until they have been located and patented
As this process will require considerable
time, il is proper, in order to insure the
enjoyment OF the bounty by those for
whom il was intended, that no unnecessa-i
ry delay should be encountered. To avoid
this evil, the Secretary recommends that
provision be made for the employment OF
two or more efficient clerks, and such
temporary assistance as may be required,
from time to time, to investigate the claims
of applicants. % ta* '.'',.'e-'
The report Of the Commissioner OF tho
General Land Office exhibits some yesv
interesting facts. The surveys Of the
public lands have been pushed forward
with commendabls activity. The ag9re-
gate amount of lands sold, located by
warrants, and otherwise disposed Of Ia
the lst, ed and part of the Sd quarters Of
1850, is 2,8l5,366 AZ acres. The public
lands have been a rich source of. revenue
to the Government, averaging about ono
and quarter million of dollars per an.
mum for the last fifty years, over and
above all costs and expenses. Among the
most prominent subjects claiming the q.
tention Of Congress is the necessity ofex-
tending our land system over our posses-
sions on the Pacific. .l5 4 ,.9'se
With regard to the mineral lands, tho
Secretary recommends that they be divi.
ded into small tracts, and sold in fee sim
pie to the highest bidder at public, auction.
The extent Of the lots should depend on
the apparent richness of the mines; but
they should be small enough to afford per-
sons in moderate circumstances an op-
portunity of becoming bidders. .s
Our relations with the Indians will de-
mand the prompt attention Of Congress-.
The annexation Of Texas and the treaty
with Mexico have added about one hun.
dred and twenty-four thousand persons
to our Indian population-many or them
fierce in their disposition, and predatory
in their habits Agents have been ap-
pointed for the Indian tribes Of California
and of Oregon; and two special agents
have been commissioned to cooperate
with the resident agent in Texas in con.
ciliating the Indians of that State. Three
commissioners have been appointed under
the same act to accompany the Mexican
Boundary Commission, for the purpose Of
obtaining information in regard ~ tho
tribes on our south western frontier, and,
If possible, TO establish friendly relations.
with them. 1t is TO be regretted that-no.
authority was conferred by law for the
establishment Of resident agents in New
Mexico. The Indians of that country are.
the most savage within our boundaries.
II is essential for the ful6lment Of our.
treaty stipIlations, as well as for the pro-
lection Of our own citizens, that agents
should be sent among them, who can ex--
ercise restraining influence over them
The necessity for this measure has been.
painfully illustrated by the outragss COM
mitted upon our citizens travelling to and
from Santa Fe; as an instance Of which
the attack upon Mr.. White and his party
is mentioned.
The importance Of great national
highway to the Pacific is considered in the,
report; and the Secretary suggests tas
propriety Of authorizing an Immediate sx-
animation OF the country and such sass
veys as may be necessary to determine
the practicability and probable cost Of the
work. &, ,a .ss ~ !. y. sss.t7a
The establishment of an Agricultural
Bureau is recommended by the report,
The purchase Of a farm in the vicinity OF
the National Metropolis, 10 be managed
under the direction Of the bureau, has
been suggested as an auxiliary in illustra-
ting the best modes Of culture. The SEQ
retary adds that, If this idea be favorably
received, Mount Vernon might with great
propriety become model farm, to illus
trate the progress Of that pursuit TO which
the Father Of his Country was 20 much
devoted. sssi,a