Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-16


of limitation in the existing laws.
From the nature Of these claims, the re
motcncss Of the tribunals to pass upon them
and the mode in which the proof is of ncces
sity, furnished, temptations to crime hav
been greatly stimulated by the Obvious dif
liculties Of detection. The defects of the Law
upon this subject are so apparent. and SO ia
tai to the ends Of justice, that your actio
relating to it is mot desirable.
During tho last fiscal year. nine million
ei5ht hundred and nineteen thousand lou
hundred and eleven acres of the public land
have been surveyed, and ten million thre
hundred and sixty-thrcc thousand eight hun
dred and ninety-Onc acres brought into mar
ket
Within the same period, the sales by pnblit
purchase and private entry amounted to on,
million eighty-hrec thousand four hundred ant
ninety five acres located undt. the n,lnr,
bounty land warrants, SIX million one hundre,
and iorty-two Thousand three hundred and sxt,
acres ; located under other certificates; nine
tn usand four hundred and twenty-seven acres
coded to the States as swamp land, sixlee,
mi lion six hundred and eighty four thousant
two hundred md titty~thrce acres selected lo
raiircad and other oh ects, under acts of Con
greSs, one million four hundred and twenty
seven thousand four hundred and fifty-sever
acres.
p Total amount Of lands disposed Of wilhir
the fiscal year, twenty-five million three hun
dred and iorty-slX thousand nine hundred ant
nnctv-two acres which is an increase il
quantity sod and located under land warrant.
and grants. OF twelve million two hundred anc
thriy-onc thoGsanl eight hundred anj. a.gh,cer
acres over the fiscal year immediately pre-
ccdinr.
The quantity Of land sold during the second
and third quarters of 1852. was three bqndrcd
and thirty four thousand four hundred and fllv.
one hcrrs. The amount received. therefore,
was SIX hundred and elghty-scven dollars
The quantity sold the second ard third
quarters tt the year 1853, was one million SIX
hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and
nineteen acres and the amount received there
for two million two hundred and twenty six
thousand eight h"ndrGl ard 3c?cnty SIX dollars
Ihc whole number of land warrants issued
under casting laws. prior TO the Both Of Sep
tember last. wac, two hundred and s:Xtv-slX
thousand anG tory-t"9; ul which there were
Outstanding, nj That date, sixty thousand nine
hundred iorty-Scrrn. The quantity of land
required to satisfy these outstanding warrants
Is four million seven hundred and seventv-eirht
Thousand one hundre, and twenty acres
Warrants have been issued To Both of Sen.
tomhcr last. undrr the act of lIth February
lSII ealing for tive We million cluht hundred
AMI Srventy-r'ne Thousand two hnndrel and
"lght acres; tni,or a-fs of ft}eptemhcr -, 1850
and iihrch -, iH'.!, calling for twel,c million
tl'e hundred and five thousand three hundred
ana sixty acres; making IA total of twenty-five
million three hundred and eighty tour thousand
SIN hundred and forty acres
Il is believed that Fvporiencc has verified the
wisdom and Justice of the present system. with
regard to The public domain, in most essential
Eatt g.. lur7
You viii prrccirc .ror, the roper; oc,he Sc
cretary ot the Interior. that opinions, which
nave often h"rn expressed in relation to lfc
operation OF III" land system, as not being a
source ot revenue to the federal treasury, were
erroneous. The net profits from the sale OF
public lands to June 30. 1888 Amounted to the
SUN of fiiy.three million two hundred and
clghty-nn' thousand four hundred and sixty
five dollars.
| recommend the extension Of the land sys-
tenn over tie t1~r..orc, e Utah ard New
Mex co. with shch hio,Iificaii0;is as their pccu.
llarl'lcS Way require.
Regarding nrr public domain rs chiefly val
liable to provide homes for the industrious and
cn'erprlSlnT, am not prepared to recommend
any essential change IN the land system, cXccp
by notifications III favor Of the actual settler
ana an extension of the pre- -rmp,on principle
/ III certain cases, tor reasons, and on ground,
which will be fully dcvc.o; cd in the reports tc
be laid before you
Congress, representing the proprictors of tho
territorial domain, and =, grgcd especially witt
power 10 dispose OF territory belonging 10 tho
United States, has for a long course of years
beginning with the administration of Mr.. JEFF
frrson exercised the power tn construct roa,.
within the tcrrtnrioS md there arc s. man,
and obvious distinctions between this cxcrcis,
ot power and that Of E.nh..4 roads within tn,
States. that the former has never been consId
cred subject to such oh cctions as apply to th
latter, and such may now be considered th
settled construction of the power of the fedora
government upon the subject.
Numerous applications have been, and n
doubt will continue to be made for grants a
land in aid OF the construction of railways.
is not believed to be within the intent and mean
ing of the constitution, that the power to lsrCs
OF the public domain, s.in, 10 be used olerMis
than might be expected from prudent propri
tor, and, therefore, that grants IF land to aid il
the construction of roads should be rrstricte,
to caScS where it would be for the interest o
proprietor, under like circumstances, thus t
contribute to the construction of these works
For the practical operation of such grant
thus far. n aayan-jr. ;ia interests of tn
States in which the works are located and a
the same time the substantial interests of a.
the other States, by enhancing the value an
promoting the rapid sale OF The public domain
refer YOU to the report Of the Secretary of til
Interior.
a careful examination, however, will sho,
that this experience Is the result Of ust dis