Washington sentinel., 1853-12-11

II
were disposed of; whereas, in all the month OF
September, lSi9 the quantity sold was only 2,3oS
acres.
| The lands Withdrawn from market in June, 1852,
10 enable the State OF Missouri TO locate the routes
and select the lands granted her. by the act APP
proved the 10th of that month for the construction
of certain railroads. were restored TO market ON
the 9th of July last and between that day and the
30th of September following 3lS,SS9 acres We're
sold being nearly 10000 acres more than were
sold IN the corresponding quarters IN $780, 1901,
| and 1882 combined,
| A like effect has been produced upon the sales
| OF the alternate sections reserved to the United
States wherever similar grants have been made.
! Previous to the grant for the construction of the
Saut Ste. Marie canal, the sales of lands in the
Lake Superior region were not large, amounting,
in the second and third quarters of 1852, TO only
46,6o9 acres whereas, during the corresponding
| quarters in 1853, after the canal was commenced,
the sales increased 10 S9,073 acres-and this when
the work is in progress of construction. Doubtless
the increase will be far greater when the canal is
| completed.
There can be as little doubt Of the constitutions
| ality of such grants of their proprety. The
right to donate part for the enhancement Of the
value of the residue no longer be justly ques-
toned. The principle has been adopted and acted
upon for nearly thirty years; and since experience
has shown il to be productive OF so much good, no
sound reason is perceived why it should now be
abandoned II has been of incaculable importance
TO the great west and either directly indirectly,
| TO all the States.
As many projects have been, and many others
probably will be, presented to Congress by inter-
terested parties, it may be difficult, practically, to
| discriminate between those that are worthy and
those that not. Congress will have all the facts
in each before it, and, in its wisdom will de-
eide as in similar cases of legislation BY making
every grant specific, and throwing proper guards,
restrictions, and limitations around it. the object
to be attained may be secured, and plans and COM
binations for mere speculation frustrated and de-
| feated L
| Something is manifestly due to the hardy pio-
neer, without whose labor, industry and enter
| prise the west would now be of little moment.
| No one who has not been an eyewitness can APP
| preciate the hardships aud privatons endured by
him, and government should certainly not hesitate
to aid him, especially when it can be done without
detrment to the other States, or to any other in
| terests.
Attention is particularly invited TO the impor-
| tance of extending the present land system over
the Territories of Utah and New Mexico with
| such notifications as the peculiar features of the
country require.
The report Of the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office contains some recommendations on
| this subject, which are commended TO your con
| sideration.
The disposition of the mineral lands in Cali
forna has widely engaged public attention. The
| various projects heretofore suggested, some of
L
| objections.
| To guard against their becoming a dangerous
source of speculation and monopoly seems the
most important point Of considerations. The vast
results already realized from unrestricted individ-
ual industry and enterprise have been so manifest,
! that whether any further restriction than that
| above Indicated with the addition of confning
the work Of the mines to our own citizens, and
| those who may declare their intention to become
such, requires mature deberaton.
| The commission 10 ascertain and settle the pri-
vate land claims in the State of California expires
| by limitation on the 4th Of March next From
reliable information, i have no doubt many cases
OF great Importance will have remained unde.
cided the public interests, therefore, require that
| the law creating the commission be so amended
as TO fulfil the object for which it was enacted.
Officers connected with the sale and survey OF
the public lands are frequently purchasers, and,
owing 10 their facilities of dealing unfairly with
bona tide applicants, often excite grave and per-
haps well-founded suspicious
They can now with impunity commit many acts
which should be discountenanced. To prevent
such mischief they should be prohibited, under
severe penalties, from purchasing or being inter-
ested in the purchase Of the public lands.
Tne business of the Pension Office has been
conducted with great promptness, energy, and
ability. In none of its branches is il now in ar
rear, everything having been brought up to the
The labor performed within the last six months
has been very great and the number Of cases
daily disposed Of is for more than usual
The act of Sd February, 1853, extended the
benefits of the pension laws 10 the widows of
officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army who
| were married subsequent to January, in the year
| 1900. 1t was supposed there were but few cases
| that could properly come within its provisions,
and the estimate, and the appropriation based
thereon, for the present fiscal year meet its re-
quirements was only $24 900, which has proved
| total inadequate, the deficiency being upwards of
| $200,000 The number examined, admitted, and
placed upon the pension list to the first lst Octo-
Der, 1853, was LIS, and il is estimated that
it will reach 1900, and require annual appro-
| praton Of $240,000.
| The widows Of the officers, non-commissioned
| officers, Marines and mariners who served in the
navy during the same period, are not embraced
| by the act but why such discrimination should
| be made cannot be well conceived,
Numerous frauds have been committed under The
! pension laws. In perpetrating them, perjury and
forgery have been frequently resorted to. Several
| prosecutions have been successfully instituted !;
the criminals have been convicted, and are ex
plating their offences. Some, whose guilt was
| palpable. have escaped in consequence of the act
| Of Congress limiting prosecutions of this charac-
| ter 10 two years from the commission of the of
| fence. These offences are committed in secret.
| Every expedent is adopted TO avoid detection !;
and it is seldom that, with the greatest vigilance
they are discovered within the time limited by
law fOr their prosecutions. n cnaHSe is therefore
earnestly recommended and if any limit is fixed
| OF which the propriety is doubted, it should be
much extended.
| From recent examinations, il has been dscov-
ed that invalid pensions have been obtained by
persons who do not come within the provisions of
| the laws; and many, since the issue of the pen
sion certificates, have been found without any
| disability whatever To prevent this, in future,
| and to detect such impostions, the Commissioner
| Of Pensions recommends the enactment of law
similar to that Of 1919, requiring an immediate ex-
animation of the invalid pensioners, and bien-
nial examination thereafter, by two approved sur
geons. In this most heartily concur, believing
that il would afford an effective remedy against the
| abuse OF the laws, and save TO the government
| large sums fraudalently obtained from the trea-
sury.
! The laws relating TO pensions have become so
numerous and complicated so many various and
conflicting constructions have been given to them,
and they are involved in so much doubt and un-
certainty, that revision and codificaton seem me-
cessary. If judciousy and carefully executed, it
would conduce greatly TO the dispatch of business,
relieve by its simplicity The applicants and benei-
ciares from large expenses and gross impositons,