The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-12-15
NUMBER SO.

by the report Of the Postmaster General;
one great cause being the enormous rates
the department has been compelled TO pay
for mail service rendered by railroad
companies
The exhibit in the report Of the Post.
master General of the income and expen-
dtures by mail steamers will be found peV.
fecty interesting, and Of a character to-
demand The immediate action OF Congress.
Numerous and fagrantfrauds upon the
pension bureau have been brought to light
within lbe last year. and, in some insfan.
ces. merited punishment inflicted; but,
unfortunately. in others. guilty parties
have escaped. not through the want of
sufficient evidence 10 warrant eonvic-
tian. but in consequence Of the provisions
Ct limitation in the existing laws.
From the nature oil these claims. the
remoteness of the tribunals to pass upon
them, and The mode in which the proof is.
Of necessity. furnished, temptations TO
crime have been greatly stimulated by the
obvious difficulties Of detection. The de.
tects of the law upon this subject are 30
apparent and so fatal TO the ends of jus.
lice, that your early attention relating to-
it is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine mil
lion eight hundred and nineteen thousand
four hundred and eleven acres Of the pub.
lie lands have been surveyed. and fen
million three hundred and sixty three
thousand eight hundred and ninety-ose
acres brought into the market. Within
the same period, the sales by public pur.
chase and private entry amounted to one
million eighty three thousand four hun
dred and ninety.6ve acres; located un-
der military bounty land warrants, six
million, one hundred and forty-two thou.
sand three hundred and sixty acres, loca-
ted under other certificates, nine thou.
sand four hundred and twenty.seven a.
creS ceded TO the States as swamp lands,
sixteen million six hundred and eighty.
four thousand two hundred and fifty.three
acres selected for railroad and other OBJ
jects, under acts Of Congress, one mil.
lion four hundred and twenty seven thou.
sand four hundred and flty.seven acres.
Total amount of lands disposed OF with
in the fiscal year, twenty million three
hundred and forty six thousand nine hun.
dred and ninety.two acres which is an
increase in quantity sold, and located un.
der land warrants and grants, Of twelve
million two hundred and thirly-one thou.
sand eight hundred and eighteen acres
over tine fiscal year Immediately prece-
ding. The quantity of land sold during
the second and third quarters Of 1889,
was three hundred and thirty.four thou
sand four hundred and ify.one acres
The amount received therefor, was six
hundred and twenty three thousand six
hundred and eighty.seven dollars. The
quantity sold the second and third quar-.
ters Of the year 1858, was one million six
hundred and nine thousand and nine hun.
dred and nineteen acres; and the amount
received therefor. two million two hum
dred and twenty six thousand eighty hun.
dred and eighty six dollars. i'
The whole number OF land warrants is.
sued under existing laws, prior tothe 50th
September last. was two hundred and elk.
ty.six thousand and forty.two; OF which
there were outstanding, at that date. six.
ty.six thousand nine hundred and forty.
seven. The quantity Of land required to
satisfy these outstanding warrants, is four
million seven hundred and seventy. eight
thousand one hundred and twenty Rcres.
Warrants have been issued 10 3Oth
September last, under the act Of Februa.
ry, l847, calling for twelve million eight
hundred and seventy nine thousand two
hundred and eighty acres; under acts of
Sept 28, 1850, and March e2. 1859, call.
ing for twelve million FIVE hundred and
five thousand three hundred and sixty
acres; making total OF twenty FIVE mil
lion three hundred and eighty four thou.
sand six hundred and forty acres.
II is believed that experience has veri.
fed the wisdom and justice Of the present
system, with regard to thepublic domain,
in most essential particulars. aa a1l h
You will perceive, from the report Of
the Secretary of the Interior, that opin-
ions which have often been expressed in
relation to the operation OF the land sys.
TEN, as not being source Of revenue to
the federal treasury, were erroneous
The net profits from the sale of the pub.
lie lands to June 80, 1853, amounted to
the sum Of fifty three million two hundred
and eighty nine thousand four hundred
and sixty nine dollars.
recommend the extension Of the land
system over the territories of Utah and
New Mexico, with such notifications as
their peculiariiieS may require.
Regarding our public domain as chiefly
valuable to provide homes for the indus.
trious and enterprisng, | am not prepared
to recommend any essenstial change in
the land system, except by notifications
in favor of the actual settler. and an en-.
tension Of the preemption pri ciple in
certain cases, for reasons and on grounds
which will be fully developed in the 70.
ports laid before you la
Congress, representing the proprietors
of the territorial domain. and charged
especially with power to dispose ofterri.
tory belonging 10 the United States. has,
for long course Of years, beginning with
the administration OF Mr.. Jefferson, ex.
ercsed the power to construct roads with.
in the territories; and there so are many a.
obvious distinctions between this exercise
of power and that Of making roads within
the States. that the former has ever bean
considered subject to such objections as
apply To the latter. and such NAV nov ha