Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-12-22

Total amount of land disposed OF with.
in the fiscal year 25,346 992 acres; hich
is az increase in the quantity sold and
luca,ed under land warrants and grants
of l223I,8 ,8ls acres over the fiscal year
Immediately preceding. The quantity
of land sold during the second and third
quarters of the year 1852 was 3s5, ,45f
acres. The amount received therefor
was s623.6s7. The quantity cold for
the second and third quarters of the year
1853 was 1909. 900 acres: and the a.
mount received therefor was SO ,226,S76.
The whole number Of Land Warrants
issued under existing laws prior to the
3Olh September last was 266 .042; of
which there were outstanding at this date
66.947. The amount Of land required
1" satisfy these outstanding warrants is
Ats, ,l20 acres. Warrants have been
issued to the 30,h September last, under
the act Of The ll,h February, lS47. call
ing for l2,s79 $50 acres; under acts of
September 9th. 1850. and March 22d,
1853, calling for l2.505. $50 acres; max.
ing total Of 25.3s4,6 acres. 1t is
believed that experience has modified the
wisdom and justice oi the presen, sys-
TEN with regard to the public domain
in The most essential particular.
You will perceive from The report of
The Secretary Of the Interior, that opin-
ions which have often been expressed IN
relation TO the operations of the land sys.
TO- nrt hair .>c
The Federal treasury, were erroneous
The net profits from The sale Of public
lands To June I3. 1853. amounted to the
sum Of $53,5s9.46s.
recommend The extension Of The land
system over the Territories of Utah and
New Mexico, with such notifications
as their peculiariies may require.
Regarding our public domain as chief.
ly valuable to provide hnmes for the in.
das,rious and enterprising. am no, pre-.
pared to recommendany essential change
OF the land sy stem. except bv modifica-
tinns in favor of actual settlers, and an
extension Of the p Exemption principle
IN certain cases, for reasons. and on
grounds. which will be fully developed
IN Tie reports to be laid before YOU.
Congress representing the propretors
of The territorial domain. aud charged es-
pecialIv with power to dispose of terri
tory belonging to the United States, has.
for course of years. beginning with The
Administration OF MIR. Jefferson, exer.
clsed the power TO construct roads with
IN the Teniiories; and there are SD m any
aud obvious distinctions between this ex.
ercise nf power and that OF making roads
withrn the States. that the former has
never been considered subject to such
objections as apply to the latter, e. such
may now be considered lhe settled con-
slrucIion Of the power Of the Federal
Government upon the subject.
Numerous applications have been. and
no doubt will continue To be, made for
grants nf land IN aid Of the construction
nf railways. IL is not belle, ed ,o be
within the intent and meaning Of the
Constitution, that the power to dispose
OF the public domain, should be used
otherwise than nigh, be expected from
prudent proprietor. and, therefore. ;ha,
grants OF land to aid in the construction
of roa'is, should be restricted in cases
where il wonlt! be for the interest of a
proprietor, under like circumstan res thus
to contribute To The construction of these
works. For the practical operations of
such grants. thus far advancing the inter.
esIs Of the States in which the works are
located. and at the same time the sub
stanttal interests nf all the other States,
by enhancing the value and promoting
the rapid sale Of the public domain. re.
fer YOU 10 the repor, of The Secretary of
the Interior. A careful examination,
however. will show, that this experience
Is The resul, of a jus, Discrimination. and
will be far from aifording encouragement,
Ia a reckless or intiscriminate extension
oi The principle.
! commend to your favorable consid.
rraii"n the men nf genius Of our country.
who by their inventions and discoveries
III science and art. have contributed
largely To the improvement Of the age.
without. in many instances, securing for
themselves any thing like an adequate re.
ward. For many interesting details up
ON This subject. refer you to the ap-
pTopriaie reports. Bnd especially urge
npon your early attention the o. pparen,ly
slight. hu, really imporlan, modification
al existing laws therein suggested.
The l,oera! spirit which has SO long
marked The action Of Congress in re.
la ion to The District Of Columbia, will.
| have no doubt, commune 10 bs nantes.
ted.
The erection Of an Asylum for The
Insane ot The District of Columbia, and
of the Army aud Navy of The United
States. has been somewha. retarded by
the great demand for materials and Labor,
during the past summer, but full p.epa.
ration for the reception Of patients before
the return oi analher winter. is anticipated
and there is the best reason TO believe,
from the plan contemplated. and the ar
Engagements that have been devised, with
The lnrge experience furnished within the
last two years. in relation to the nature
and treatment Of the disease, that il will
prove an asyium indeed IN this p,o.,