Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-02

'o n.nu,eo ana thlrty-three dollars. The aggregate
aouht Oh lands sold located under military scrip and land
selected swamp lands by States and by locat
ing under grants for roads upwards Of nty three mil
ons OF acres The increase of lands sold over the pre
as year about six millions of and the sales
curing the two first quarters Of the year present
the extraordinary result of FIVE and half millions sold ex
ceedng by nearly four millions of the sales Of the
quarters Of the last year. thus increasing 10
an extent unparalleled during any like period in our past
history the amount Of revenue provided from this source
for the Federal Treasury.
Ihe commcndabe policy of the government in relation
setting apart public domain for those who have served
teir country In time of illustrated by the fact that
since 1870 no less than thirty millions of have been
applied to this object.
The suggestions which submitted my annual message
OF last year. reference grants land aid of the con-
structon of railways lees full and explicit than the
magnitude of the subject and subsequent Developments
would seem to render proper and desirable OF the sound
ness Oh the principle then asserted with regard the i
auon OF the power Of Congress- entertain doubt but
In It's application enough that the value of lands in
particular locality may be enhanced that in fact lar
ger amount OF money probably be received in given
me for alternate sections than could have been realised
or all the sections without the impulse and influence of the
proposed improvements prudent proprietor looks be.
yond limited sections Of his domain beyond present re
su.s 70 the ultimate effect which particular line of
Pohcy is likely 20 produce upon all his possessions and
interests The government which is trustee in this matter
Tor the people of the States bound to take the same wise
and comprehensive view Prior to and during the last
SESSION oil Congress- upwards Of thirty millions of acres of
n
cations Tor grants of this character pending before Con
careful review of the whole subject led me 90
direct that all such orders be abrogaed and the lands re-
stored to market and instructions were mmedisy given
20 tha effect The applications the last session contem
plated the construction of than thousand miles of
road and grants to the of nearly twenty millions
OF acres of the public domain. Even admitting the right
on the part OF Congress TO be unreasonable ia IL ouite
that the proposed grants would be productive of good
ana not evil The different projects confined for the
TO eleven States of this Union and Territory
he reasons assigned for the grants show pro-
posed 10 put the works speedily process of
When we reflect that the commencement Of the con-
structon OF railways in the United States stimulated AZ
they have been by the large dividends realised from the
carrier works over the great horOughfares and between
The most important points of and population
encouraged by State legislation and pressed forward by
the amazing energy of private enterprise only seventeen
thousand miles have been completed in all the States in
quarter OF cenry-when the crippled condition Of
many works commenced and prosecuted upon what
deemed to be sound principles, aud safe calculations
when We contemplate the absorption of cap-
lta withdrawn from the ordinary channels Of business
the exravagan rates of interest this moment paid to
continue operations the bankruptcies merely money
but in character and the inevitable effect upon finances
generay-can it be doubted that the tendency 20 run
to excess in this matter Is il augment
by encouraging hopes of sudden wealth expected flow
from magnificent schemes dependent upon the action of
Congress- Does the spirit which has produced such
Suits need to be stimulated checked! L. not the
better rule TO leave all these works private enterprise
of Ststes If constructed by private capital the stnuant
and the check together and furnish sautay restraint
against speculative schemes and extravaganza But il is
manifest that, with the effective guards there is
danger of going too fast and too far.
We may well pause before proposition contemplating
Simultaneous movement for the construction of railroads.
which, in extent will equal exclusive of the great Pacific
road and all its branchas nearly onethrd of the entire
length of such works. completed in the United States
and which cannot cost with equipments less than hun
dred and fifty millions of dollars. The dangers likely
result from combinations of interest of this character
hardly be estimated But independently of these
sderatiOns where is the knowlcdcc conpre
hensiye intelligence which shall discriminate between the
relative claims of these twenty eight proposed roads, in
eleven States and Territory Where will you begin
and where end If to enable these companies
their proposed works that the aid of the gen
eral government be primarily given the policy will present
problem comprehensive i'm its bearings, and mpor
political and social well being claim
uclpatOn, the severest analysis Entertaining these views
with satisfaction the experience and action Of the
last session of Congress- furnishing that the
subject will fail elicit careful reexannation and
rigid scrutiny.
1t my intention present, this occasion some
suggestions regarding internal improvements by the gene
raj government which of time the close of the last
session prevented submitting the the House
OF Representatives with objections of the bill entitled
making appropriations for the repair and
completion of certain publ works heretofore commenced
under authority of law but the space in this communca
ton already occupied with other matter of immediate public
exgency cOnstrans that subject for special
message, which will be transmitted the houses of
Congress at an early day.
The judicial establishment of the United States requires
modification and certain reforms the conduct
ing the legal business of the government also much
needed but have addressed you upon both of these
subjects at length before have only call your attention
to the suggestions then made
My former recommendations in relation to suitable pro-
vision for various objects of deep the inhabitants
of the District of Columbia renewed Many of these
objects partake largely of national character and
independently of their relation the prosperity
of the only considerable organized community in the Union
entirely unrepresented in Congress.
have thus presented suggestions such subjects
appear TO me to be of particular interest importance,
and therefore most worthy of during the short
remaining period allotted the abors of the present Con-
gress.
Our foreathers of the thirteen United Colonies in
qurng their independence and in founding this Republic
of the United States of America have devoved upon u
their descendants the greatest and the noble
ever committed to the hands of imposing upon ALL
and especially such the public will may have invested
for the time being with political functions the most sacred
obligations. We have maintain nvOlae the great doc
trne of the inherent right of popular segovenment
reconcile the largest liberty of the individual citizen with
complete security of the public order; render cheerful
obedience to the laws of the land, unite in forcing
their execution and to rown Indignantly all combina-
tons to resist them 70 harmonic sincere and ardent
devotion to the institutions of religious faith with the most