Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-15

this subject are so apparent, and so Iatal 10 ths
euds Of justice, that your early action relating
to it is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, 9,Sl9,4ll acres Of
Sc pebliS lands have been surveyed. and
363s7 acfezbsQ1ght into ;;6s nfE11ka1z s'ie
same per6d. che sales tss y y Chase and
private entry alr an = - - q, 495 acres; To-
Gated under military bounty land warrants g.
l42 3604Iesz, iocdted under other certificates, =
9 ,427 acres; feeded to the States as swamp
lands, l6664,254 acres; selected for railroad
and other objects under acts Of Congress, Az
457 acres. Total amount of land disposed Of
within the fiscal year. IS 346,992 acres; which
is an increase in the quantity sold, and located
under land warrants and grants, Of I2231,6iS
acres over the fiscal year immediately preceding.
The quantity Of land sold during thesecoHd and
third quarters of 1852 wss 1874, 45I acres Tho
amount received therefor was SOS 6G7. The
quantity sold the second and third quarters of z
the year 1853, SOS, 8 10 acres; and the amodnt
amount received therefor, S2225676
The whole number Of land warrants issued
under exstinglaws, PRIOR 70 the 30ih of Sep.
TENDER last, was 266 05g, of which there we're
outstanding, at that date, sc, 947 The quantity
OF land required to satisfy these outstanding war
rants, is AYE, 100 acres.
| Warrants have 5eenissued TO the both of Sem
TENDER last under the act Of Illh Of February.
l847, calling for 1859 280 acres; under acts
of September 25sls50, and March %, 1852,
calling for IL sos 800 acres; making total Of
25 1884 $40 acres.
| 1t is believed that experience mas verified the
wisdom and justice OF the present system, with
regardtG the public domain, in most essential
particulars.
You will perceive from the report of the Sec
retuy Of The Inferior, that opinions which have
often been expressed IN relation to tho operation
oil the land system, as not being source OF
revenue to the federaltreasury, were erroneous.
The net profits from the sale Of tho pbb1ic lands
to June 30, 1853 amounted to the sum Of $751;
28g, 465
| Numerous applications have been made, and
no doubt will continue TO be made for grants of
land, in aid OF the construction OF railways. 1t
is no. believed to be within the intent and mean.
ing of the Constitution, that the power tu dispose
of the public do main shold be used Otherwise
than might be expected fro n prudent prootie-
tor, aud, therefore, that grants OF land to aid in
the construction Of roads should be restricted to
cases where it would be for the interest of
proprietor, under like circumstances. thus to
contribute tn the construction Of these works.-
For the practical operation Of such grants thus
|
which the works ae located, and at the same
time the substantial interests of all the otner
States by enhancing the value and promoting
the rapid sale Of the public d,nain, | refer you
to the report of The Secretary If the Interior. A
careful examination. however, will show that tins
experience is the result of just discrimination,
and will be far from aff,rdlny encouragement
to reckless or indiscrninate extension of the
principle
Ic1nn,nd to your favorable confederation
the men of genlns cf our country, wholly their
inventions and discoveries in science and art,
have contributed largely to the improvements
of the uge, without, in many instances securing
for themselves anything like an adequate coal-
pensation. For many interesting details upon
this subject refer you to the appropriate re-
ports, and especially urge upon your early at
tenton the apparently slight, but really impor-
tand modification Of existeng laws therein sug-
gps'ed.
The liberal spirit which has SO long marked
the acton of Congress IN relation to the Dis.
trlct Of Columbia will, have no doubt, con-
Time to be manifested.
The erection of an asylum for the insane of
, the D'slrci of Columbia, and Of the army and
navy OF the Unred States, has been somewhat
tetar led. by the great demand for materials and
D labor during tn, past summer but tuI prepara-
ton for the reception of patients, before the re-
n turn OF another winter, is anticipated; and there
is best rea son to believe, from he plan and COLI
templated ARA nyements which have been devils.
3 ed, with The large experience furnished within
the hast tew years IN relation TO the nature and
3 treatment of the disease thatit will prove an
1 asylum indeed to this most helpless and affcl-
ed class of sutfeI ers, and stand az a noble mon
0 unent of wisdom and mercy.
Under the acts of Congress of August 81,
q 1852 and OF March 9, 1853, designed to secure
h for the cities OF Washington and Georgetow n
: an abundan, supply of good and wholesome
0 water. 1t became my duty to examine the re
e port and plans OF the engineer who had charge
g OF the SUI seys under the act first named. The
E best IT not the only plan, calculated TO secure
permanently the object sought, was that which
conempIates taking the wafer from The Grea,
J., Falls OF thu Potomac, and, consequently, gave
/ It my approval
For the prGgress and present condition Of this
> important work, and tor it's demands, so far az
E appropriations are concerned, refer you to the
I report of The Secretary OF War.
The PRESENT judicial system of the United
! States has now been in operation for so long
period OF time, and has, in lIs general theory
I and much of its details, become 80 familiar e
g the country, and acquired entry the public
/ confidence, that ii noditi in any respect, i,
(, should only be in those particulars which MAY
adapt it TO increased extent. population, and le
3 gal business OF the United States.
In this relation, the org nizilion OF the courts
y is now COME ssedy inadequate to the duties to
/ be performed by them; in consequence Of
e which the States of Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa
Texas and California. and districts of Other
g States, are in effect excluded from the full bene.
fits OF the general system, by the functions Of
n he circuit court being devoved On the district
judges 10 all those States or parts Of the States
d TIM spirl OF the constitution and due regard
A to justice require that all the States Of the I'm
: Ion should be placed Oh the same footing in re.
I gard to the Judicial tribunals. therefore con
mend to yonr consideration this important sub
n ject, which, in my judgement, demands the
e speedy action Of Congress. will present t.
+. you it deemed desirable, a plan, which | am
II prepared to recommend. for the enlargement ant
modification of the present judicial system.
: The act of Congress establishing the Smithso.
r MAN Institution provided ihatthe President o.
t the United Sates,and other persons therein dies
,gnatsd. should c.,ss,i.,s,e an establishment
r by that name, and that the members should hold
). stated aud special meetings for supervision Of
r the affairs OF the Institution.
:, The organization not havang taken place, it
II seemed 10 me proper that it should be effected
r without delay. This has BEEN done and al
e occasion was thereby presented for inspecting
e the condition Of the lnstituHon, and aptrecia
ting Its successful progress tl,s far and It's high
: promise of great aud general usefulness.
have omilted 10 ask your favorable consid
: Grafton Tor the estimates az q local character in
}, twenty seven Of the thirty one States, amount
e kfng 10 one million seven hundred and fly thou
sand five hundred dollars, because, independent.
o ly OF the grounds which have been so often urg-