Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-12-09

taH Sire suggestions uH this subject, made DE- tie
secretary Of the Navy. | respectfully submit
thu the army. which, under our system. must al
Ways be regarded with the highest interest,
nucleus around which the volunteer forces OF the
nation gather in tie hourof danger. requires aug
menluton. modification, to adapt II 10 the
present extended limits aud frontier relations Of
the country, and the condition Of the Indian
tribes in the interior of the continent; the neces-
sitY Of which will appear IN the inmunieations
OF the Secretaries Of War and the Interior.
In the administration Of the Post Office Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 36th, 1853
the gross expenditure was seven million nine
hundred and cghty-two thousand seven hundred
and fifty siA dollars. and the gross receipts da-
ring the snIne period, five million 9l2,70O
aud tlilrty-tour dollars showing that the current
revenue tailed to meet the current expenses Of
the department by the sum Of two million forty
tive thousand aud thirty two dollars. The caus
- which, under the present postal system aud
law, led inevitably to this result. are fully
planned by the report of the Postmaster Gcner-
al one great cause being the enormous rates
the department has been compelled 10 pay for
mail service rendered by railroad companies.
The exhibit in the report of the Postmaster
General of the income aud expenditures by mail
steamers will be found peculiarly interesting, and
of a character to demand the immediate action Of
Congress.
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the Pen
sion Bureau have been brought 10 light within
thu last year, and, in some instances, morted
ponislments intiieted; but, unfortunately, in
others, guilty parties have escaped, not through
the want Of sufficient evidence To warrant a
vietion, but in consequence Of the provisions Of
limitation IN the existing laws.
From the nature of these claims, the remote
ness of the tribunals to poss upon them, and the
mode in which the proof is, of necessity, furnish
cd, temptations to crime have been greatly slim
uated by tho obvious difficulties OF detection
The defects IN the law upon this subject are
apparent and 20 fatal to the ends ofjustice, TINT
yoar curly action relating 10 it is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine million eight
hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred and
eleven pcres of the public lands have been sur
vtNed and ton million three hundred and sixty
three thou-a and eight hundred aud ninety one
acres brought into market. Within the same
period the sales by public purchase and private
entry amounted 10 one million eighty three thou
~and four hundred and ninety-iye acres; located
under military bounty land warrants six million
one hundred and forty-two thousand three hun
drcdand sixty acres located under other ccrth-
cafes, nine thousand four hundred and twenty
seven acres; coded to the States swamp lands,
sikernm million six hundred and eighty four thous-
mud Two hundred and fifty three acres; selected
for railroad and other objects. under acts of Con
gree, one million four hundred and twenty-scy-
en- thousand four hundred and ffty-seyen acres.
Total amount of land disposed of within the fs-
cal year, twenty five million three hundred and
torty-~iN thnu- aud nine hundred and ninety-t two
acres; which is an increase in quantity sold and
located under land warrants and grants, of twelve
mition two hundred ndthirty one thousand eight
hundred and eighteen acres over the fiscal year
Immediately preceding. The quantity of land
sold during the second and third quarters of 1852
was three hundred and thirty four thousand four
hundred aud itty-one acres The amount recei-
we'd therefor, was six hundred and twenty three
thousand six hundred and cighty-seven dollars.
The quantity sold the second and third quarters
of tie year 1903 was one million six hundred and
nine thousand nine hundred and nineteen acres;
aud the amount received therefor, two million
two hundred and tweuty-six thousand eight hun
dfed and seyenty-siX dollars.
The whole number of land warrants issued I'M
der existing laws, prior TO the 30th September
lat, was two hundred and sixty-sx thousand
and forty-two; of which there were outstanding.
at that date, siXty-six thousand nine hundred and
torty-scyen. The quantity of land required 10
satisfy these outstanding warrants, is four mil
lion seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand
one hundred and twenty acres.
Warrants have been issued to Both of Sep
tember last, under the act of 18th February.
lslI, calling for twelve million eight hundred
and seventy nine Thousand two hundred and eigh-
~ acres; under acts of September -, 1850 and
]
hundred and five thousand three hundred and
sixty acres. making total of twenty-five mil
lion three hundred and eghty-four thousand six
hundred and forty acres.
Il is believed that experience has verified the
wisdom and Justice of the present system, with
regard 10 the public domain, in most essential
particulars
You will perceive, from the report of the Sec
rotary at the Interior thai opinions, which. have
often been expressed in relation to the operation
of the land system, ms not being source of rev
cnue to the federal treasury, were erroneous.
The net profits from the sale of the public lands
toJmc 30, 1853 amounted to the sum of fifty
three million two hun ned and eightv-nine thou
-and four hundred and siNty-fvc dollars.
recommend the extension of the land system
over the Territories Of Utah and New Mexico,
with such notifications as their peeuliarities may
require
Regarding our public domain as chiefly yalua-
Bile Ia provide homes for the Industrious and en-
tcrfrising, am not prepared to recommend any
essential change in the land system except hy
notifications in favor of the actual settler, and
an eNtonslonot the pre- empton principle in GER
tam cases. for reasons, and on grounds, which
will he fully developed in the reports to be laid
before Won.
Congress, representing the proprietors of the
territorial domain, and charged especially with
power to dispose Of territory belonging to the l.
nlted States has, for Il long course of years. be-
ginning with the administration of Mr.. Jefferson
exercised the power to construct roads within the
territories and there 50 many and OBJ
yIoaS distinctions between this exercise of power
and that ofmakng roads within the Statas that
the fromer has never been considered subject 10
such objections as apply to the lattcr,and such
may now be considered the settled construction