Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-15


nine hpDdrad and fnTtyrseyen. The, quantity
Of land repaired vi satisfy these OUTSTANDING
warrants, 10 fSurs million seven hundred ahd
seVenlyYeights thOusand one hundred and TWEEN
~ acrea.i1 " aufbFoa5H E9ifnar Ans boiarG "
Warr9Dis have been issued 90 s3Oth' Of San.
teulbpr lasI under ther act of llth Februarr.
lS47 calling for txslss million eight hundred
and seSenty -nins .thousahd Two hundred and
eight acfest; under acts of September %, 1850,
and March %, 1881, calling ior twelve million
fve huKdfed and hss Thousand three hundred
and sixty acres making total of twenty-five,
million three hgndFs4 and eighsy-lOur ihous.
aud six hHndged ahd Forty acres. ~''l
r. II is believed that experiences has verified the
wisdom and justice Of the present syslem, with
regard 70 the public domain, in moa. essential
particulars. y4 aasesf, fra--. a.ff NJ
Yoa viii perceiye, from the report of lho
Secretary of the Interior, thai opinions, which
have often been Expressed in relation 10 the
operation Of the land system, as not being
source of revenue to the federal treasury. were
erroneous. The net profits from the sale Of
the public lands to June 80, 1853, amounted 10
the sum Of ffty-three millions two hundred
and eigh.y-nine thousand four hundred and
sixty-fve dollars '4 7hl 'o a"i''IHe
/ recommend the extension Of the land sys-
tenn over the Territories of Utah and New
Mexico, with such notifications a their Pc
culiarities may require. ,l,.rs afrrg.t,t7l-
Regarding our public domain no chiefly val
liable to provide homes for the industrious aud
enterPrlsing, 4 am not prepared 10 recommend
any esseniial change in the land system, ex-
cept by notifications i'm favor Of the actual set
tier, and an extension Of the presumption prin-
Nir1m - 4fr 4. =. a
grounds, which will be fully developed in the
reports 10 be laid before you. io A7a1's.9a
Congress, representing the proprieIors Of
the territorial domain, and charged especially
with power 10 dispose Of territory belonging 10
the United States, has for long course Of
years, beginning with tho administration, of
Mr. Jefferson, exercised the power to construct
roads within the territories and there are SO
many and ObviOSs distinctions between this ex-
ercise Of power and that of making roads with
IN the States. that the former. has never been
considered subject TO such objection az apply 70
the latter, and snch may now be considered the
settled construction of the power Of the federal
government upon The subject. iafoh ias' rno.
Numerous applications have been made, and
no doubt will continue 10 be made, for grants
Of land, ,in aid of the construction of railways.
II is not believed 10 be within the intent and
meaning Of the constitution, that tho power 10
dispose Of the public domain should be used
otherwise than might be expected from = pru-
dent proprietor, and, therefore, that grants OF
land 10 aid in the construction of roads, should
be restricted 10 cases where it would be for the
interest Of n proprietor, under like circumstance
e., thus % coniribuse 20 the construction Of
these works. \ 1aq1b ofrfifie
\ For the practical operation Of such grants
thus far, in advancing the interests Of the States
in which the works are located, and at the
same time the substantial interests Of all the
other States, by enhancing the value and pro-
noting the rapid sales Of the public domain, /
refer you 70 the report Of the Secretary Of the
Interior. A careful examination, however,
will show tha, this experience is the result of
just Discrimination, and will be far from az
fordlne encouragement Co reckless or indis-
crlmlBate extension Of the principle.
!. commend 90 your favorable consideration
the men Of genius Of our country, who, by
their inventions and discoveries in science and
art have contributed largely 10 the improve
ments Of the age, without, ia many instances,
securing to themselves anything like an ade-
quate reward. For many increasing details
upon this subject, refer you 10 the appropri-
ate reports, and especially urge upon your ear
ly attention the apparently slight, bot really
important, notifications Of existing laws there
in suggested. .,ii, 1- f---,. r7l r --.,F.
VI The liberal spirit which has SO long marked
the action Of Congress in relation 10 the Dis
trlct Of Columbia viii, i have no doubt, con-
time 10 be manifested. la r l1rra aaT hra
No The erection Of mn asylum for the insane Of
the District Of Columbia, and Of the army and
navy Of the United States, has been somewhat
retarded, by the great demand for materials
and labor during the past summer; but full
preparations for the reception of patients, be-
fore the return of another winter, is anticipal-
ed and there 10 the best reason 20 believe,
from the plan and contemplated arrangements
which have been devised, with the large ex-
perience furnished within the last few years,
in relation to the nature and treatment Of the
disease, that il will prove an asylum indeed 10
this most helpless and afflicted class of suffer-
ers, and stand as noble monument Of wisdom
and mercy. ssl G HshW
Under the acts of Congress of Aug. 81,
1852, and Of March 3, 1853, designed to Sc
cure for the cities of Washington and George
town an abundant supply of good and whole
some water, it became my duty 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
culated to secure permanently the object
sought, was that which contemplates taking
the water from the Great Falls Of the Poto-
mac, and consequently, ! gave to i my aP-
proval. ..i f... 4-t
For the progress and present condition of
this important work, and for its demands, SO
far as appropriations are concerned, / refer
you to the report Of the Secretary of War.
The present judicial system of the United
States has now been in operation for so long q
period Of time and has, in its general theory,
and much of its details, become SO familiar to
the country, and acquired SO entirely the pub
Tic confidence, that If modified in any respect,
it should only be in those particulars which
may adapt it 10 the increased extent, popula-
ton, and legal business of the United States.
In this relation, the organization Of the
duties to be performed by them in conse-
quence of which the States of Florida, Wis
consin, Iowa, Texas and California, and dls-
tricts of other States, are in effect excluded
from the full benefits Of the general system,
by the functions of the circuit court being de-
yolved on the district judges in all those states
or parts of States.
The spirit of the constitution and due re-
gard to Justice require that all the States of
the Union should be placed on the same foot
ing in regard to the judicial tribunals.
therefore commend 10 your consideration this
important subject, which, in my Judgment, de-
mands the speedy action Of Congress. will
present to you, if deemed desirable, a plan,
which ann prepared to recommend, for the