Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-12-10


| cultes OF detection. Che defects in the law
upon This subec, are so apparent, and so ia
! tai 10 the ends Of Justice, that yoUy early ac-
! lion relating TO it is most desirable.
Duiing the last fiscal year, 9,8i9,41t acres
of The public lands have been surveyed, and
10, ,363, SO acies btoUgb, inio ulalkeil Wiih-
in the same period, the sales by public pur-
chase aud private entry amouH,e,ii TO 4, ,os3,.
495 acres; located under military bounty
land warrants, 6, ,i42 SEQ acres loraied under
other certificates 9,427 acres; coded to the
States as swamp lands, I6 6S4 253 acres se
lected Tor railroad aud other objects, uudui
acts oil Congress, l,427, ,457 acres. .4'-a1.- s-s-
Total amount of lands disposed of within
the fiscal yent, 25,3ls 992 acres; " hich is
an increase in quantity sold aud located nn-
der land watra Is and grants, OF t12 IS ,Sl8
acres over the fiscal year Immediately pre-
| ceding, The quantity of land sold during
the 2d and 81 quarters of 1852, was 334 451
acres. The amount received lherefor, was
623,6S7 dollars The quantity sold the ID
and 81 quarters oil the year 1853. was ,609,-
9l9 acres and The amount received there
for, 2.226 S76 dollars
The whole number OF laud warrants issucd
under existing Jaws, piior 10 The 30lh of SEP
tember last, was 266, ,042; of which there
quantity Of land required 10 satisfy these out
standing variants is AIS l20 acres.
Warats have been issned TO 3olh OF Sep
iember last, under The ant of 1lth FEBRUARY,
lSi7, calling for - S79, $50 ncIes; under acts
OF September 2S, 1850, aud March % 1852,
calling for - sos, $50 acres; making total
Of 25 38i640 acres,
1t is believed that experience has vsrifed
the wisdom 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 10 the
operation of the land system, as not beirg a
source OF revenue to the federal treasury,
were erroneous. The ueli profits from the
/ sale OF the public lands TO june 30. 1853,
amounted 10 The sum of SO, 259 4G5 dollars
! | recommend The extension of the land
| system over the Territories OF Utah and New
| Mexico, with such notifications as ihsir pe-
cullarllles may require.
! Regarding uur public domain as chiefly
valuable 10 provide homes for The industrious
and enlerprlsng, am NOT prepared 10 recon-
mend any essential change ia The land sys-
tenn, except by notifications in favor Of the
actual settler, and All eXlehsion OF tie pre-.
empi0n principle in certain eases, for reasons,
and on grout,ds, hich viii be fully devr-
uped in the reports TO be laid heture you
Congress, representing The prupreiurs Of
the territorial domain, and cha Gpd especial
/ y with power To dispose Of Territory belong
ing TO lie United States, has for long course
OF yeas, beginning with he administration
of Mr.. JetleIson exercised the power 10 CON
slrucl roads wirhi the territories and lhere
are So many and obvious distinction between
this exercise Of pnwer aud that oi making .
roads wilhiu the States, that lhe former has
\ never been considered subject 10 such ohltc-
iiouS as apply to the latter, and such may
| now be considered jhe settled construction oi
! the power OF the federal government upoE
| the sub lect
Nurnerous applications have been made,
and no doubt will continue TO be, made ior
grants Of land in aid Of the construction OF
railways. Ii is not believed 10 be within the
intent and meaning of the constitutions that
the power 10 dispose Of The public domain,
| should be used Otherwise thau might hs eX-
pec,ed irom prudent proprleIor, and there
! iore that grants o.laud 10 all in the cons rnc-
| ton Of roads should be restricted Ia Gases,
where it would be far the Interest of pro.
! prIeOr, under like circumstances, Tins 10
! contribute To The construction OF these works
/ For the practical operations of .nch grants
( Inns lar, IN advancing The interests OF the
States in which the works are located, and at
4 The same lime the substantial interests OF all
the other States, by enhancing The value aud
| promoting the rapid sale OF lhe public do
! man, reier you 10 The report Of The Secro-
tary OF the Interior. A careful examination,
| however, viii show that This experience is
the result OF just discrimination, aGd viii
be far from allordng encouragement to a
! mai
/ principle. ...-....... ...-.-. -..s.
! commend TO your favorable considera-
! lion The men Of genius of our country, who.
/ by their Inventions and discoveries in sci.
once and art, have contributed largely to the
! improvements Of the age, without, in many
! instances, securing for Themselves anything
/ like an adequate reward. For many inter
esling details upon this subject refer you 10
the appropriate reports, aud especially urge
upon early attention the apparently slight,
but really important, ntoditcaiions Of eXis-
I ting laws herein suggested
! The liberal spirit which has 50 long mar
ked the action Of Congress III relation 10 The
| District OF Columbia will have no doubt,
continue to be manifested.
| The erection Of an asylum for The insane
of The District of Columbia. and of the army
and navy Of Ihe United States, has been
SOMEWHAT retarded pY lne great demand Tor
materials aud labor dnrug The pisl summer !;
bnt full preparation for Tho reception of pa
tienis, before the return Of anniher winier is
anticipated; and there is The best reason TO
| believe, from The plan and contemplated ar
| rangemenis which have been devised, with
! the large experience furnished within the
( last few years ia relation TO the nature ani
treatment of the disease thai il will prove an
asylum Indeed TO this most helpless aud al
/ icled class Of sufferers, and stand as noble
monument of wisdom aad mercy.
! Under The acis OF Congress of August 81,
| 1852, and OF March g. 1888, designed 10 Sc
cure for The cities OF Washington and George
town an abundant supply of good and whoe-
some water, il became my duly TO examine
the report and plans Of the engineer who had
charge of The surveys under the act FIRST
named The best, if not The only plan, cal
culaled 10 secure permanently the object
sought, was that which contemplates taking
The water irem the Great Fails Of the Polo.
mac, and consequently, give il my ap.
proval. H
For The progress and present condition of
this important work, and for its demands, so
lar as appropriations are concerned. | refer
you to The report of the Secretary of War.
The president judicial system ofihe United
States has now been ia operation for so long
a period of time, aud has, in It's general the.
oTy and mDch of lis details haran,. e.