Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-09

Seventy-f0ur
dollars again call your attention to the subject Of mail
transportation by steamers and the sug-
gesons OF the Postmaster General to your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million seventy thou
sand nine hundred and thirty-fve Of the public
lands have been surveyed and eight million hundred
and ninety thousand and seventeen acres brought into
market The number Of sold is million thirty
nve thousand hundred and thirty-fve, and the
amount received therefor nine million two hundred and
eghtyfve thousand five hundred and thirty three dol
lars The aggregate amount of lands sod located under
military scrip and land warrants selected swamp lands
by States and by locating under grants roads up
wards OF twenythree millions Of The increase Of
lands sold over the previous year about six millions Of
and the sales during the two first quarters Of the
year present the extraordinary result Of FIVE and
half millions sold, exceeding by nearly four millions Of
ne sales OF the corresponding quarters Of the last
year. thus increasing to an extent unparalleled during
like period in past history the amount of revenue
provided from this source for the Federal Treasury
The commendabe policy Of the Government in relation
setting apart public domain for those who served
their country in time of Is illustrated by the fact
that since 1870 less than thirty millions of acres have
been applied to this object.
The suggestions which submitted in my annual mes
of last year, in reference grants of land in aid Of
the construction of railways we're less full and explicit
the magnitude of the subject and subsequent deye-
lopmens would to render proper and desirable OF
the OF the principle then asserted with regard
the Limitation OF the power Of Congress entertain no
doubts but in application enough that the value
of lands in may be enhanced that in
fact larger amount of money may probably be received
/
been realized for all the sections without the impulse and
influence of the proposed improvements prudent pro-
pretor looks beyond limited sections of his domain be-
yond present results the ultimate effect which parti
cular line Of policy is likely to produce upon all his pos
sessions and interests The Government which is trus-
tee in this matter for the people of the States bound
to take the same wss comprehensive view Prior to
and during the last of Congress upwards Of thirty
millions Of of land Withdrawn from public sale
with view to applications for grants Of this character
pending before Congress careful review Of the whole
suh N that
and the lands restored to Market and instructions were
Immediately given to that effect The applications at the
last session contemplated the construction of than
ve thousand miles OF road and grants the Of
nearly twenty millions of acres Of the public domain
Even admitting the right the part Of Congress be
unquestonabe is it quite clear that the proposed grants
would be productive of good and not evil? The different
projects confined for the present. eleven States Of
this Union and Territory The assigned for
the grants show that it is proposed put the works
speedily in process of construction When reflect that
since the commencement of the construction of railways
in the United States stimulated they have been by the
large dividends realized from the earlier works the
great thoroughfares and between the important
points OF commerce and population encouraged by State
legislation and forward by the amazing energy Of
private enterprise only thousand miles have
been completed in all the States in quarter of centu-
ry when we see the crippled condition of many works
commenced and prosecuted upon what deemed be
sound principles and safe calculations; when
plate the enormous absorption of capital withdrawn from
the ordinary channels Of business the extrayagan rates
the bankruptcies not merely in money but in character
and the inevitable effect upon finances generally, it
be doubted that the tendency Is to to in this
matterI Is 1t wise to augment this by encourage
ing hopes Of sudden wealth expected flow from magn
fceut schemes dependant upon the action Of Congress?
Does the spirit which has produced such results need to
be stimulated checked! Is it the better rule to
leave all these works to private enterprise regulated
and when expeden aided by the cooperation of States2
If constructed by private capital the stmuant and the
check go together and furnish sautary restraint against
nd Rufi ID mi
fest 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 rail-
roads which, in extent will equal exclusive of the great
Pacific road and all its branches nearly oneth Of the
entire length Of such works completed in the United
States, and which cannot cost with equipments less than
hundred and fifty millions of dollars. The dangers
likely to result from combinations of interest Of this cha
racter can hardly be over-estmaed But independently
Of these considerations where accurate knowledge
the comprehensive intelg which shall discriminate
between the relative claims of these pro-
posed roads in eleven States and Territory Where
will you begin and where end If to enable these
panies to execute their proposed works it is necessary
that the aid Of the General Government be primarily
given, the policy will present problem conprehen-
sve IN its bearings and important to political and
social welbeing to claim in anticipation the seyerest
analysis. Entertaining these views, with salts
faction to the experience and action of the last session of
Congress as furnishing that the subject will
not fail to elicit careful REORGANIZATION and rigid
tiny
1t was my Intention to present this occasion some
suggestions regarding internal improvements by the Gem
era Government which Of time the close Of the
last session prevented my submitting the to the
House of Representatives, with objections the bill en-
titled An act making appropriations for the repair pre-
servaton and completion Of certain public works hereto
fore commenced under authority of law " but the space
in this communication, already occupied with other mat
ter of immediate public exgency already constrans me
to that subject for special message which will
be transmitted to the Houses Of Congress at an early
day.
The judicial establishment Of the United States REQUIRES
modification and certain reforms the manner of con-
Quoting the legal business of the Government are also
much needed but have addressed you upon both of
these subjects at length before have only to call your
attention to the suggestions then made
My former recommendations in relation to suitable pro-
vision for various objects of deep interest to the nhabi
tants of the District Of Columbia renewed Many Of
these objects parake largely of national character and
Important independently of their relation to the PROS
pery of the only considerable organized community in
the Union entirely unrepresented in Congress.
have thus presented suggestions on such subjects as
appear to to be of particular interest Importance
and therefore most worthy of consideration during the
short remaining period allotted to the abors Of the pre-
sent Congress.
Our forefathers of the thirteen United Colonies
qurng their independence and in founding this Republic
of the United States Of America have devolved upon us,
their descendants the greatest and the most noble trust
committed to the hands of man. 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 to maintain invioate the great doc
trne Of the inherent right Of popular sefgoyernment