Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-10


lie purchase and private entry amounted to one mil
lion egllty-three thousand four huddred and ninety
five acres located under military bounty land war
rants six million one hundred and forty thou
sand three hundred and sixty acres located under
other certificates, nine thousand four hundred and
twenty-seven acres I; coded to the States swamp
lands, sixteen million six hundred and eighty-four
thousand two hundred and ffty-three acres select
ed for rail road and other Objects under acts of Con-
grcss million four hundred and twenty seven
thousand four hundred and ffty-seven acres. Total
amount of lands disposed of within the fiscal year,
twenty five million three hundred and forty six thou
sand nine hundred and ninety-two acres which is
increase in quantity sold, and located under land
warrants and grants, of twelve million two hundred
and thirtyone 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 three hundred and thirty
four thousand four hundred and fifty The
amount received therefor, six hundred and TWEEN
ty-three thousand six hundred and eighty dol
lars. The quantity sold the second and third quar-
tiers of the year 1858, million six hundred
and nine THOUSAND nine hundred and nineteen acres;
and the amount received therefor, two million two
hundred and twenty-six thousand eight hundred and
Seventy-SiX dollars
The whole number of land warrants issued under
existing laws, prior to the 30th of September last
two hundred and sixty-six thousand and forty
two; of which there outstanding, at that date
sixty-siX thousand nine hundred and forty-seVen
The quantity of land required to satisfy these out
standing warrants is four million hundred and
seventy-cight thousand one hundred and twenty
acres.
Warrants have been issued to Goth of September
last under the act of 18th February, 194, calling
for twelve million eight hundred and seventy nine
thousand two hundred and eighty acres under acts
of September IS, 1850, and March o. 1852, calling
for twelve million five hundred and five thousand
three hundred and sixty acres; making total of
twenty-five million three hundred and eighty
thousand six hundred and forty acres.
1t is believed that experience has verified the wis
dom and justice of the present system, with regard
to the public domain, in most essential particulars
You will perceive, from the report of the Secretary
of the Interior that opinions which have often been
expressed in relation to the operation of the land
system, not being source of revenue to the fedc
raj treasury, erroneous. The net profits from
the sale of the public lands to June 80, 1858, "a
mounted to the of tity-t!lrcc million two hum
dred and cightynine thousand four hundred and six
ty-fivc dollars
recommend the extension of the land system over
the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, with such
notifications their peculiarities may require.
Regarding our public domain chiefly valuable
to provide homes for the industrious and entcrprs
ing, l am not prepared to recommend any essen
tal change in the land system, except by mOdiGca-
tons in favor of the actual settler, and extension
of the presumption principle in certain cases, for
reasons, and on grounds which will be fully dcvcl-
opcd in the reports to be laid before you.
Congress, representing the propretors of the ter
ritorial domain, and charged especially with power
dispose of territory belonging to the United States
has, for long course of years, beginning with the
to construct roads within the territories and there
are so many and obvious distinctions between this
exercise of power and that of making roads within
the States that the former has never been consid-
cred subject such objections apply to the latter
and such may be considered the settled con-
struction of the power of the federal government up
on the subject.
Numerous applications have been, and doubt
will continue to be, made for grants q land in aid
of the construction of railways 1t is not believed
to be within the intent and meaning of the consttu
ton, that the power to dispose OF the public domain
should be used otherwise than might be expected
from prudent proprietor and therefore, that grants
of land to aid in the construction of roads should be
restricted to cases. where it would be for the inter-
est of proprietor under like circumstances, thus to
to the construction of these works. For
the practical operation of such grants thus far, i'll
the interests of the States in which the
works located, and at the same time the substan-
tia interests of all the other States by enhancing
the value and promoting the rapid sale of the public
domain refer you to the report of the Secretary OF
the Interior. \ careful examination, however, Will |
show that this experience is the result OF just dis
crimnation and will be far from atfording encour- !
agement to reckless or indiscrimlnate extension OF
the principle. ,
| commend to your favorable consideration the
men of genius of our country, who, by their nVen-
tons and discoveries in science and art have con-
tributed largely to the improvements OF the age.
without, in many instances securing for themselves
anv thing like an adequate reward. For many inter-
estng details upon this subject refer you to the APP
propriate reports and especially urge upon your
" attention the apparently slight but really impor
tant notifications of existing laws therein sugges-
ted.
The liberal spirit which has so long marked the
action of Congress in relation to the District of
Columbia will l have no doubt, continue to be mani
tested.
The erection of an asylum for the insane of the
District of Columbia and of the army and navy OF
the United States, has been somewhat retarded, by
the great demand for materials and labor during the
past summer; but full preparation for the reception
Of patients before the return of aooher 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 fur
nished within the last few years in relation to the
nature and treatment of the disease thai will prove
asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted
class of sufferers and stand noble monument of
wisdom and mercy.
Under the acts of Congress of August IL, 1852,
and of March 3, 1868, designed to secure for the
cities of Washington and Georgetown an abundant
supply of good and wholesome water, it became my
duty to examine the report and plans of the engi-
necr who had charge of the surveys under the act
first named The best if not the only plan, calcula
ted to secure permanently the object sought, was
that which contemplates taking the water from the
Great Falls of the Potomac, and, consequently,
gave it my approval.
For the progress and present condition of this i'm
portaut work, and for its demands, far appro-
Dratons are concerned, refer you to the report of
the Secretary OF War.
The present judicial system of the United utates,
mas now been in operation for SO long period of,
.me and has, in its general theory and much of its
details, become familiar to the country, and
luired so entirely the pnblic confidence, that if mod