The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-14

lie lands of june 30, 1853, amounted to
the sum of sj3 $50, l65
recommend the extension Of the land
system over the Territories Of Utah and
New Mcxico, with such notifications as
their peculiarities may require
Regarding our public domain rs Chiefly
valuable to provide homes for the indus
trious and cntcrprising, | am not pre-.
pared to recommend any essential change
in the land system. except by modi6ca.
tions in favor of actual settlers, aud an
extension Of the presumption principle
in certain cases, for reasons. and on
grounds, which will be fully developed
in the reports laid before you.
Congress, representing the propric-
tors of the territorial domain, and
charged especially with power to dis
pose of territory belonging to the Uni
ted States, has, for long course of
years, beginning with the administra.
ton of Mr.. Jefferson, exercised the
power to construct roads within the
territories and there are so many and
obvious distinctions between this exer-
else Of power and that of making roads
within the States, that the former has
never been considered subject to such
objections as apply to the latter, and
such may now be considered the set
tied construction of the power of the
federal government upon this subject.
Numerous applications have been,
and no doubt will continue to be, made
for grants of land, in aid of the con-
struction of railways. 1t is not bcliev.
ed to be within the intent and meaning
of the constitution, that the power to
dispose Of the public domain, should
be used otherwise than might be ex-
pccted from prudent proprietor, and =,
therefore, that grants of land to aid in
the construction of roads should be re-
strlcted to cases, where it would be
for the interest OF proprietor, under
like circumstances, thus to contribute
to the construction. Of these works. For
the practical operation of such grants
thus far, in advancing the interests of
the States in which the works are loca.
ted, and at the same time the substan.
tial interests Of all the ether States, by
enhancing the value and promoting
the rapid sale of the public domain, |
refer you to the report of the Secrc-
tary Of the Interior. A careful exam.
iHation, however, will show that this
experience is the result of Just dis.
elimination, and will be far from affor-
ding encouragement to reckless or
indiscriminatc extension of the prin.
cipic.
| commend to your favorable con.
slderation the men Of genius of our
country, who, by their inventions and
discoveries in science and art, have
contributed largely to the improve
mcnts Of the age, without, in many in.
stances, securing for themselves any
thing like an adequate reward. For
many interesting details upon this sub
ject, | refer you to the appropriate re-
ports, and especially urge upon your
early attention the apparently slight,
but really important, notifications of
existing laws therein suggested.
The liberal spirit which has SO long
marked the action Of Congress in rcla.
ton to the District of Columbia will, |
have no doubt, continue to be manifes-
ted. The erection Of an asylum for
the insane Of the District Of Columbia,
and Of the army and navy Of the Uni
ted States, has been somewhat rctar.
dcd, by the great demand for materials
and labor during the past summer !;
but full preparation for the reception
Of patients, before the return of anoth,
er winter, is anticipated and there is
the best reason to believe, from the
plan and contemplated arrangements
which have been devised, with the
large experience furnished within the
last few years in relation to the nature
and treatment of the disease. that it
will prove an asylum indeed to this
most helpless and afflicted class of suf
ferers, and stand as noble monument
Of wisdom ard mercy.
Under the act of Congress of Au-
gust 81, 1862, and of March 3, 1858,
designed to secure for the cities of
Washington and Georgetown an album,
dant supply of good and wholesome
water, i. became my duty to examine
the report and plans of the engineer
who had charge of the survey first
named. The best, if not the only plan,
calculated to secure permanently the
object sought, was that which contemp
lates taking the water from the Great
Falls of the Potomac, and, consequent
ly, | gave it my approval.
For the progress and present con-
dition Of this important work, and for
its demands, so far as appropriations
are concerned, l refer you to the re-
port Of the Secretary Of War.
The present judicial system of the
United States has now been in opera
ton for so long a period of time, and
has, in its general theory and much of
its details, become so familiar to the
country, and acquired so entirely the
public confidence, that if modified in
any respect, it should only be in those
particulars which may adapt it to the
increased extent, population, and le-
gal business of the United States. In