Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-05

small extent a charge upon the general Treasury.
The cost Of mail transportation, during the year
ending Juno 80, 1854, exceeds the cost Of the pre-
ceding year by four hundred and ninety-ive thou
sand and seventy -four dollars. again call your
attention TO the subject OF mail transportation by
ocean steamers, and commend the suggestions OF
the Postmaster General TO your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million seventy
thousand nine hundred and thirty-fve acres of the
public lands have been surveyed, and eight million
one hundred and ninety thousand and seventeen
acres brought into market The number OF acres
sold is seven million thrty-fve thousand seven hun
dred and thirty five and the amount received there
for nine million two hundred and eighty-fye thous-
and five hundred and thirty-thr dollars. The
aggregate amount of lands sold located under mill
tary scrip and land warrants, selected as swamp
lands by States, and by locating under grants for
roads, ID upwards of twenty-three millions Of acres.
The increase Of lands sold, over the previous year,
Is about six millions of acres; and the sales during
the two first quarters of the current year present
the extraordinary result OF five and half millions
Sold exceeding by nearly four millions OF acres the
sales Of the corresponding quarters Of the last year.
| thus increasing TO an extent unparalleled during
any like period In our past history the amount OF
revenue provided from this source for the Federal
| Treasury.
| The commendable policy of the government, in
relation 10 setting apartpubc domain for those who
have served their country In time of war, 10 Illus
trated by the fact that since 1870 no less than
thirty millions of acres have been applied to this
| object.
| The suggestions which submitted in my annual
Of last year. in reference to grants Of land
in aid of the construction of railways, were less
full and explicit than the magnitude of the subject
and subsequent developments would seem to rem
| der proper and desirable. OF the soundness of
the principle then asserted with regard to the lim
| tation Of the power OF Congress- entertain no
doubt but in its application II is not enough that
the value Of lands in particular locality may be
cnhanced that in fact, larger amount Of money
| may probably be received, in given time, for al
ternate sections than could have been realized for
all the sections, without the impulse and influence
of the proposed improvements. A prudent pro-
pretor looks beyond limited sections of his domain
beyond present results to the ultimate effect which
particular line Of policy is likely to produce upon
all his possessions and interests. The government
which is trustee in this matter, for the people Of
the States is bound to take the same wise and
comprehensive view. Prior to and during the last
session Of Congress, upwards Of thirty millions Of
acres Of land were Withdrawn from public sale with
view to applications for grants of this character
| pending before Congress-.
/ careful review Of the whole subject led me to
| direct that all such orders be abrogated, and the
lands restored to market; and instructions were
Immediately given to that effect. The applications
at the last session contemplated the construction
of more than five thousand miles Of road, and
grants to the amount of nearly twenty millions Of
! acres of the public domain. Even admitting the
right on the part of Congress to be unquestionable
is 1t quite clear that the proposed grants would be
productive of good, and not evil? The different
projects are confined, for the present, to eleven
States Of this Union, and one Territory. The rea-
sons assigned for the grants show that 1t Is pro-
posed to put the works speedily in process Of con-
| struction. When we reflect, that since the CON-
mencement of the construction of railways in the
United States, stimulated they have been by the
large dividends realized from the earlier works
over the great thoroughfares, and between the
most important points of commerce and population
encouraged by State legislation, and pressed for
ward by the amazing energy of private enterprise,
| only seventeen thousand miles have been COM
peted in all the States in quarter Of century |;
when we see the crippled condition of many works
commenced and prosecuted upon what were deemed
to be sound principles and safe calculations when
we contemplate the enormous absorption Of capital
Withdrawn from the ordinary channels Of business,
the extravagant rates Of interest at this moment
paid to continue operations, the bankruptcies not
merely in money, but in character, and the newt
able effect upon finances generally; il be doubt
ed that the tendency is to run to excess in this
| matterg Is ii wise to augment this excess by en-
couraging hopes Of sudden wealth expected to flow
| from magnificent schemes dependent upon the ac-
| ton of Congressp Does the spirit which has pro-
duced such results need to be stimulated or checked?
Is ii not the better rule to leave all these works to
private enterprise, regulated, and, when expedient
aided by the cooperation of Statesp If constructed
by private capital, the stimulant and the check go
together, and furnish a salutary restraint against
| speculative schemes and extravagaINe. But it Is
manifest that with the most effective guards, there
is danger Of going too fast and too far
We may wen pause before aproposition contem-
plating simultaneous movement for the construc-
ton of railroads. which, in extent, win equal excu-
sive of the great Pacific road and all its
branches nearly one-third of the entire length of
such works, now completed in the United States,
and which cannot cost, with equipments, less than
one hundred and fifty millions Of dollars The
dangers likely TO result from combinations Of inter-
est of this character, hardly be over estimated
But, independently of these considerations, where
| is the accurate knowledge, the comprehensive in
| telligence, which shall discriminate between the
relative claims Of these twentyeight proposed roads
| in eleven States and one Territory? Where will
| you begin and where endy If to enable these COM
panies to execute their proposed works II Is neces-
say that the aid Of the general government be pri'
marily given, the policy win present problem so
comprehensive in It's bearings, and SO important to
our political and social well being as TO claim, in
anticipation the severest analysis Entertaining
these views recur with satisfaction to the expert
ence and action Of the last session of Congress- as
furnishing assurance that the subject win not fail to
elicit careful REORGANIZATION and rigid scrutiny.
II was my intention to present, on this occasion,
some suggestions regarding internal improvements
by the general government which want Of time
at the close of The last session prevented my sub
hitting on the return TO the House Of Representa-
tives with objections of the bill entitled "an act
making appropriations for the repair, preservation,
and completion Of certain public works heretofore
commenced under authority Of law !" but the space
in this communication already occupied with other
matter Of immediate public exigency constrains me
TO that subject for special message, which
will be transmitted to the two houses of Congress
at an early day.
The judicial establishment Of the United States
requires modification, and certain reforms in the
manner Of conducting the legal business of the
government are also much needed; but as have
addressed you upon both Of these subjects at
length before, have only to call your attention to
the suggestions then made.
NV former recommendations, In relation 10 suit