Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-12-15


fatal to the ends of justice, that your
early action relating to it is most de-
sirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine mil
lion eight hundred and nineteen thou
sand four hundred and eleven acres Of
the public lands have been surveyed,
and ten million three hundred and sixty
three thousand eight hundred and nine
ty-one acres brought into Market
Within the same period, the sales by
public purchase and private entry
amounted to one million eighty-three
thousand four hundred 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
certificates, nine thousand four hundred
and twenty-seyen acres; eeded to the
States as swamp lands, sixteen million
six hundred and eighty-four thousand
two hundred and fifty-three acres; Sc
lected for railroad and other objects,
under acts of Congress, one million four
hundred and twenty-seven thousand
four hundred and fifty-seven acres
Total amount CT lands disposed of with
in the fiscal year, twenty-five million
three hundred and forty-six thousand
nine hundred and ninety-two acres
which is an increase in quantity sold,
and located under land warrants and
grants, of twelve million two hundred
and thirty-one thousand eight hundred
and eighteen acres over the fiscal year
Immediately preceding. The quantity
of land sold during the second and
third quarters of 1852, was three,hun-
dred and thirty-four thousand four hun
dred and ffty-one acres. The amount
received therefor, was six hundred and
twenty three thousand six hundred and
eighty-seven dollars. The quantity
sold the second and third quarters o.
the year 1853, was one million six hun.
dred and nine thousand nine hundred
and nineteen acres; and the amount re-
ceived therefor, two million two hun.
dred and twenty-six thousand eight
hundred and seyenty-six dollars.
The whole number of land warrants
issued under existing laws, prior to the
30th of September last, was two hun
dred and sixty-six thousand and forty
two; of which there were outstanding,
at that date, sixty-six thousand nine
hundred and forty-seven. The quantity
of land required to satisfy these out
standing warrants, is four million seven
hundred and seyenty-eight thousand
one hundred and twenty acres.
Warrants have been issued to 3Oth
of September last, under the act OF
11th February, 1847, calling for twelve
million eight hundred and seventy-nine
thousand two hundred and eighty acres;
under acts of September %, 1850, and
March 22, 1852, calling for twelve mil
lion FIVE hundred and five thousand
three hundred and sixty acres; making
total of twenty-five million three hun
dred and eighty-four thousand six hun
dred and forty acres.
1t is believed that experience has
verified the wisdom and justice of the
present system, with regard to the pub
lie domain, in most essential partic-
ulars.
You will perceive, from the report oi
the Secretary of the Interior, that opin-
ions, which have often been expressed
in relation to the operation of the land
system, as not being a source ofreve-
nue. to the federal treasury, were er-
roneous. The net profits from the sale
of the public lands to June 80, 1853, a.
mounted to the sum of fifty-three million
two hundred and eighty-nine thousand
four hundred and sixty-five dollars.
l recommend the extension of the
land system over the Territories o.
Utah and New Mexico, with such mod.
ifcations as their peculiarities may re-
quire.
Regarding our public domain as
chiefly valuable to provide homes for
the industrious and enterprising, l am
not prepared to recommend any essen
tial change in the land system, except
by notifications in favor of the actual
settler, and an extension of the pre-emp-
ton principle in certain cases, for rea-
sons, and on grounds, which will be full
ly developed in the reports to be laid be-
fore you.
Congress, representing the proprie-
tors of the territorial domain, and
charged especially with power to dispose
of territory belonging to the United
States, has, for long course of years,
beginning with the administration OF
Mr.. Jefferson, exercised the power to
construct roads within the territories;
and there are so many and obvious dis
tinctions 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 such may now
be considered the settled construction of
the 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 construc-
tions of railways. 1t is not believed to
be within the intent and meaning of the
constitution, that the power to dispose
of the public domain, should be used
otherwise than might be expected from
a prudent proprietor, and, therefore,
that grants of land to aid in the con-
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