The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-12-15

peculiarly interesting, and of character
to demand the immediate action of Con-
gress.
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the
Pension Bureau have been brought to
light within the last year, and, in some in
stances, merited punishments inflicted;
but, unfortunately, in others, guilty par
ties have escaped, not through the want of
sufficient evidence to warrant convic-
tion, but in consequence of the provisions
of limitation in the existing laws.
From the nature of 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
defects in the law upon this subject
ale SO apparent, and so fatal to the ends
of justice, that your early action relating
to it is most desirable
During the last fiscal year, nine million
eight hundred and nineteen thousand four
hundred and eleven acres of the public
lands have been surveyed, and ten million
three hundred and sixtythree thousand
eigh hundred and ninety acres brought
into market. Within the same period,
the sales by public purchase and private
entery amounted to one million eighty
three thousand fourhundred and ninety
five acres; located under military bounty
land warrants, six million one hundred
and forty-two thousand three hundred
and sixty acres, located under other GER
tifcates, nine thousand four hundred and
twenty-seven acres; ceded to the States as
swamp lands, sixteen million six hundred
and eighty-fo thousand two hundred
and ffty-three acres; selected for railroad
and other objects, under act of Congress,
one million four and twenty-seven thou
sand four hundred and ffty-seven acres
Totrl amount of lands disposed of with
in the fical year 25, ,546, ,999 acres; which
is an increase in quantity sold, and loca-
ted under land warrants and grants, of
1921, ,819 acres over the fiscal year i'm
mediately preceding. The quantity of
land sold during the second and third
quarters of 1852, was 334, ,45l acres.-
The amount received therefor was $685.
687. The quantity sold the second and
third quarters of the year 1853, was
1909, ,9I9 acres. and the amount receiv-
ed therefor So, ,226, 876
The whole number of~1and warrants is
sued under existing laws prior to the 30th
of September last, was 256, ,O42; of which
there were outstanding at that date
66,947. The quantity of land required
to satisfy these outstanding warrants is
4,778, 1870 acres.
Warrants have been issued to both of
September last, under the act of 18th of
February, 1847, calling for 12, ,879, ,280
acres; under acts of September 28, 1850,
and March 22, 1852, calling for 12, $685.
$50 acres, making total of Is, ,384, $40
acres.
1t is believed that experience has veri-
fed 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 rela-
ton to the operation of the land system as
not being a source of revenue to the feder-
al treasury were erroneous. The net
profits from the sale Of the public lands to
June 80, 1858, amounted to the sum of
53, ,289, ,465 dollars.
Recommended the extension of the land
system over the territories of Utah and
New Mexico, with such notifications as
their peculiarities may require.
Regarding our public domain as chiefly
valuable to provide homes for the indus
trious and enterprising. l am not prepar-
ed to recomend any essential change in the
land system, except by notifications in ia
vor of the actual settler, and an extention
of the pre- emption principle in certain ca
ses, for reasons, and On grounds, which
will be fully developed in the reports to be
lain before you.
Congress, respecting the proprietors of
the territorial domain, and charged espe
cially with power to dispose of territory
belonging to the United States, has, for a
long course of year, beginning with the
administration of Mr.. Jefferson, exercised
the power to construct roads within the
territories; and there are so many and OBJ
vious distinctions between this exercise of
power and that of making roads within
the States, that the former las never been
considered subject to such objections as
apply to the latter, and such may now be
considered the settled construction of the I
power of the Federal Government upon
the subject.
Numerous applications have been, and
no doubt will continue to be, made for
grants of land, in aid of the construction
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