The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-06
THE @ ALEDO OMAN /.

laNtf, hot only - explain the causes 81 the de- 1
lay in filling the commission, but % call your
Attention tp tho propriaty NJ increasing the
compensation ~ the commissioners. The Of
dde 4 one 81 great laLqr and responsibility,
aud the compensation Should be- such az 10
command men Of a high order Of talents and
the most uHquesti0nable integrity
The proper disposal Of tlie mineral lands
~ California Is a subject surrounded by great
difficulties 10 my last annual message REQ
pgWebded the survey and sale Of Them w
SMALL parcels, under surh Restrictions - would
eliectually guard against monopoly and spec
ulA1op. Hot upon further information, aud
10 Difference 20 the opinions OF familiar with
the subject, ! am inclined 10 change that rec
opmepdalon, and 20 advise that thoy be- per.
mtied "a remain, ~ az present, common
dud, open 10 the enterprise and Industry Of
all 0ur citizens, until further experience shall
have Developed the best policy 20 be- ultimate
y adopted 10 regard 10 them, Il Is safer 90
suffer The nfOuy6niencea that now exist, Cor
q short period, Than, by premature Legislation
tn iaston on the country u system founded IN
error, which may plvco the whole subject be-
yond the future control Of Congress.
The agricultural lands should, however be
surveyed and brought into market with a. IT,
tie delay a. possible, that the titles may be-
come settled, and tho inhabitants stimulated
I 70 make pormanenp improvements, aud enter
on the ordinary pursuits u life, To effect
those objects u IL desirable that the aercssa-
~ provision ha ll,ads by lau for tho establish
ment Of land offices IN California and Oregon
and for tho efficient prosecution OF the sur
yeys at an carly day
some difficulties have occurred IN nrpanik-
| Ing the Territorial Governments OF New
J MrSico aud Utah and when more accurate
\ Information shall be Obtained " Ti6 rAuEUT y
] IuVfhNr communication ,rtli T.. mad. 90,
subject
/ Ia my last annual communication TO Con
| gress, ! recommended the establishment Of an
, Agricultural Bureau, aud ! take this occasion
again 90 invoke your favorable consideration
Of the subject
Agriculiurc-may Justly be- regarded nc the
interest Of the people, Four.Gnhs Of our ac-
two population are employed Ia ihe cultiya-
ton OF the soil, aud the rapid expansion of
our settlements over new territory i daily
adding 20 the number Of those engaged ia that
vocation. Justice and sound policy, there
f1ru,aika roduiEe that the Government should
use all tho means authorized by the COnsti-
Iution 20 promote the Interests aud welfare
Of that Important class OF our fellow citizens.
Ana yet " u singular Gtrt that, whilst the
manufacturing and commercial interests have
engaged the attention of Congress during a
large portion OF every session, aud our stat
uics abound IN pro,isIons Tor thuir protection
aud encouragement, litilo has yet been done
directly for the advancement Of agriculture.
IL u line that this rcproaab TO our legislation
should loo removed aud sincerely hope that
the present Congress will Not close their Ia
L0rs without adopting efficient means to sup
ply the omissions Of those who have proceeds
cd them.
An Agricultural Bureau, charged with the
duty OF collecting aud disseminating correct
information ~ 90 the best modes Of rultiva.
ton, aud o. ~ most cfl,'rtual means Of pre-.
serving aud restoring the fertility Of the soil
aud of procuring aud distributing seeds aud
plants aud o.hcr vegetable prolu,tiun5 with
Instructions IN regard o. the sOil, climate and
treatment best adapted TO thrir growth could
not itl 10 BE-, ia the language Of Wnhinaton
in lis last annual message 10 Congress- I'VE
~ cheap Inatruuunt VI iui.aensu national bon.
lrGL"
Regarding the act Of Congress approved
2sth September 1850, granting bounty land.
20 pcriOns who had been engaged la The mil
iiaTy service of the country, AS "A great meas
urc ofuatioOa justice aud muniGceuuc, AZ,
anxious desire has been felt, by the officers
entrusted with it, immediate cxecution,to Civ,
prompt Mlect TO IL provisions. All the mean,
within u,tir VoutrOl WUfc, tbtTrI0rt, tIUaHtTl
iuto requis ton 10 expedite the adjudication
state that near one hundred thousand appli.
rtTuTIs srr-rr t-rf-iti---, md ;rt71,it
cnty thousand warrants issued, withiny the
short space ofnine months. Ii adequate pro,
vision to be made BY law to carry into eiIec,
the Recommendations of the Department il il
confidently expected that. before the close OF
the next fiscal year, nil who are entitled e.
the benefits Of the act will have received tlion
warrants.
The Secretary OF the Interior has suggested
IN his report, various amendments OF the laws
relating to pensions aud to bounty lands, for
the purpose of morc ctfrctually guarding n.
gaiust abuses aud frauds on the Government
10 all OF which ] invite your particular atten-
ton.
Thesargc accessions to our Indian popula-
ton consequent upon the acquisition of Now
Mexico and California, and the extension o.
our settlements into Utah and Oregon, have
given increased interest aud importance to
i ourrelations with the aboriginal rare.
No material change has taken place with.
in the last year, in the condition and pros
poets of the Indian tribes who reside ia the
! Northwestern Territory and west Of the Mis-
tsissippi River. We are at peace with all OF
them; and it will DO source of pleasure 10
you TO learn that they are gradually adyanc-
ing in civilization and the pursuits of social
life.
Concluded merit peek.