Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-11
VOL. ~.


mitted to remain a. 1t present, common
Held, open 10 the industry and enterprise
ut sllsour citizens, until further expert
ence shall have developed the best policy
70 be ultimately adopted in regard to them
II is safer TO suffer the Inconvenience thai
now exists for short period, than, b,
premature legislation, to fasien on tht
country system founded in error, which
may place the whole snhjeci beyond The
further control oil Congress. The agri.
cultural lands should, however, be sur
veyed and brought into market, with al
little delay as possible, that the titles may
become settled, and the inhabitants stimu.
lated 10 make permanent improvements
AMI enter onthe ordinary pursuits Of life
To effect these objec.s,it is desirable that
the necessary provision be made by law
for the establishment Of land Offices il
California and Oregon, and for the eff.
Client prosecution Of the surveys al an ear
~ day.
Since the difficulties have occurred il
organizing the Territorial Governments
of New Mexico and Utah; and wher
snore accurate information shall be obtain.
ed or the causes. a further communication
will be made on That subject.
In my last annual communication it
Congress, recommended the establish
ment of an Agricultural Bureau, and
take this occasion again to invite your ia.
'vorabl~ consideration toshe subject. Ag-
ricuiIure may justly be regarded as the
great interests OF our people. Fonr-fiflh'
VI onr active population are employed ir
the cultivation al the soil, and our rapid
expansion OF settlements over the terrific.
ry, is daily adding to the number Of those
engaged in that vocation. Justice and
ss,ini policy, therefore, alike require thai
Government should use all the means au.
tAorixed hy the Constitution, to promote
The interest and welfare of this important
class Of our fellow citizens. And yet il
is a singular fact, that while our manufac-
turing and commercial interests have en-
gagged the attention Of Congress, during .
PARTON Of every session, and our statute,
abound in provisions for their protection
and encouragement, little has yet beer
done directly Tor the advancement Of agri.
culture. Il Is due that the reproach IL
our Legislation should be removed, and
sincerely hope thu, the present Congress
will NOT close lis labors without adopting
efficient means TO supply the missions OF
those who have preceded them. An Ag.
ricnlnral Bursai, charged with the dny
Of collecting and disseminating correct in
f.rmaticn as 10 the beat mode Of cuitiya-
tior, aud the most eFrctual means Of pre-
serving and restoring the fertility Of the
coli, and Of procuring and distributing
seeds ard plants, and uther vegetable pro.
dustiuns, Nth instructions in regard Il
che svil. .clmstr, anil trea,men, best aiop.-
ell TO their growth, could moi iailIo be, II
the lvng,iagr oil Washington, in his last
annual message To Congress: avery chear
instrument OF immense rational benefit.
Regarding the act Of Congress, approx.
I'd 2S:h September, 1850. granting Conn.
~ lands 10 persons who had been engaged
I'm the military service Of the country, a,
Agreat measure of national justice and
mnnificence, an anxious desire has isfcr
felt " the officers entrusted with lis Iii.
mediate execution, To give prompt effect I,
its provisions. Ailihe means within Their
control were. therefore. brought into re.
.qaiSiiion, to expedite the adjudication Of
claims, and | am gratiti-d to be able tc
state, that nrsr one hundred thousand ap-
plications have heen Considered, and about
seveDay Thousand warrants issued, within
she short space Of nine months. If ade-
q,,ate provision be made by law TO carr,
into effect the recommendations Of the
Department, j, i. confidently expected
chat, before the close or the next fscal
year, all who are entitled TO the benefit VI
ihe act will have rereised their Warrants
The Secretary of tie Interior has in
dictated ia his report various amendments
- the laws relative to pensions and boun-
" lands, for the purpose Of more eiiec'u-
ally guarding against abuses and frauds on
the GovernReut--to all OF which inyit,
Your attention.
The large accessirns to ourIndlan pop
.slaiian, cnnseqaent on the acquisition Of
New Mexico and C,ii'o rnia, and the ex-
tension OF our settlements into Utah and
Oregon, have given increased interest and
importance 10 onr relations 20 the aborig-
/. iaal race. No material changc has taken
place within the last year in the condition
and prospects of the Indian tribes who
reside in the North western Territory
and West Of tho Mississippi river. We
are q peace with all If them and it will be
! source Of pleasure 10 you TO learn thai
they are gradually advancing 10 ciyiliza-
lion and the pursuits oil social life. Along
the Mexican frontier, and III Caliisrnia
and Oregon. there have been occasional
manifestations Of unfricndly feeling, and
come depredasions committed, more from
the destitute and starving condition Of III.
Indiass, than from any hostility against
abe whites. As The settlement OF our cit
liens progresses, and the game upo,
which they mostly rely for subsistence, j.
driven of OF destroyed, the only alterna-
tive left to them is starvation or plumber
Il becomes ,is to consider, in view Of the
condition Of things. whether Justice and
humanity, . well . enlightened economy
do not require us, instead or seeking Il
IL Al r 4 - -