The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-15


has been compelled to pay for mail Sc
vice rendered by railroad companies. Th
exhibit in the report Of the Postmaste
General Of the income and expenditure
by mail steamers will be found peculial
ly interesting, and of a character to dt
nand the immediate action Of Congress.
Numerous and Aagrant frauds upon tn
Pension Bureau have been brought to ligt
within the last year, and in some instances
merited punishment has been inflicted, bu
unfortunately in others guilty parties hav
ESCAPED, not through the want of eydenc
to warrant conviction, but in consequenc
of the provisions of limitation in the existin
laws. From the nature of these claims
the remoteness of the tribunals to pass npo
them, and the mode in which the proof is o
necessity furnished, temptations to Grim
have been greatly stimulated by the Oh
vious difficulties Of detection. The defect
Of the law upon this subject are SO apparent
and SO fatal to the ends of justice, tha
your early action relating to it is most de
s.rable.
During the last fiscal year 9.Sl9.4ll acre
of the Public Lands have been SURVEYED
l0003,s9l brought into market. Within
the same period the sales by public purchas,
and private entry amounted to 1853 ,i9(
acres; locatad under Military Bounty Ian.
Warrants. 6.l42,360 acres; located under
other certificates, 9,427 acres: ceded to the
States as Swamp Lands, lG,6Si.253 acres
selected for railroads and other objects. un
der acts of Congress, l,427,450 acres
Total amount of land disposed of within the
fiscal year a5,3t6, ,992 acres, which is an in
crease in the quantity sold and located un.
der land warrants and grants Of l2.e3I,sls
acres over the fiscal year immediately pre-
ccding. The quantity of land sold during
the second and third quarters Of the yea
1852 was 33l, ,l5I acres. The amount receiv
ed thereforwas SGo3 ,GS7. The quantity sole
the second and third quarters Of the yeai
1853 was l,60a,9l9 acres, and the amount re-
ceived therefor 81 226.S76. The whole num-
Der Of Land Warrants issued under existing
laws prior to the 30th September last, was
2GG,oia, Of which there were outstanding a,
that date 66.o47. The amouht Of land re-
quircd to satisfy these outstanding warrants
is4T7S,l 100 acres. Warrants have been issu-
cd to the 30th September last. under the Act
of the | lth Of February. l947, calling for 10
S79,2S0 acres: under acts Of September 18th
1850. aud March 22d, 1852, calling for Il, :
5Oj, 800 acres: making a total OF 25,3S1 .6i0
acres. 1t is believed that experience has
modified the wisdom and justice Of the pres
ent system with regard to the public domain
in the most essential particular.
You will perceive from the report of the
Secretary of the Interior that opinions
which have often been expressed in relation
to the operation of the Land system as no,
being a source OF revenue to the Fedora
Treasuay. were erroneous. The nett profits
from the sale Of the public lands to June
3Oth. 1853. amounted to the sum OF Si3,-
2S9.4G5. recommend the extension oi
the land system over the Territories oi
Utah and New Mexico, with such modifi-
cations as their pecuiartie2' may require
Regarding our public domain as chiefly val
liable to provide homes for the industrious
and enterprising, | am not prepared to rec
ommend any essential change in the lano
system, except BY modification in favor OF
the actual settler, and an extension of the
pre-elnption principle in certain cases for
reasons and on grounds which will be fully
developed in the reports to be laid before
Congress
Representing the proprietors ofthe terri
toral domain, and charged especially with
power to dispose Of territories belonging t.
the United States, it has for long course oi
wears, beginning with the administration of
Mr.. Jefferson, exercised the power to con-
struct roads within the Territories, and there
IRE so many and obvious distinctions between
this exercise of power and that of making
roads within the States. that the former has
never been considered subject to such
objections as apply to the latter, and may
now be considered the settled construction
Of the Federal Government upon the sub
jcct. Numerous applications have been
and no doubt will continue to be made. for
grants of lands in aid of the construction oi
highways. 1t is not to be expected withir
the intent and meaning Of the constitution
that the disposition of the public domain
should be otherwise than must be expected
from a prudent proprietor, and therefore
that grants of land to aid in the construct ior
If roads. should be restricted to cases where
il would be for the interest of 4 propret l
under like circumstances thus TO contribute
to the construction Of the work. For the
practical operation Of such gran IS thus tal
in advancing the interests OF the State iT
which the works are located, and at the
same time the substantial interests of all
the other States in enhancing the value and
promoting the rapid sale OF the Public Do.
main. refer YOU to the report Of the Secre
tarv of the Interior a careful examination
however, will show that this experience Is
tho result of n wise discrimination, and will
be far from alfiording encouragement to q
reckless or indiscrinlinatc extension OF the
principle.
| recommend to your consideration tht
men of genius of our country who, by then
inventions and discoveries in Science ane
Art, have contributed largely to the improve
mcnt of the age, without in many Instances
receiving for themselves anything like al
adequate reward For many interesting
details uron this subject refer you 70 thu
appropriate report, and especially urge up
on vour early attention the apparently
slight hu, really important notifications oi
existing laws therein suggested,
The liberal spirit which has SO long mark
ed the action Of Congress in relation to th'
District of Columbia will, have no doubt
continue to be manifested The erection 0
an asylum for the District of Columbia, an
for the army and navy Of the United States
has been somewhat retarded by The great de
manh for materials and labor during th
summer, but full preparation for the rccep
ton Of putients, before the return OF anotf
or winter, is anticipated. and there is III
best rcueau to believe, from the plan an
contemplated arrangements, which hav