Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-01-24

! located With military scrip or idn'
warrants, taken up under grants To-
roads, and selected as swamp lands by
States, is "a, 4,557, 400 acres, of which
the portion sold was l5,729,O24
acres, yielding in receipts the sum o
Sl1,4S5,3S0. In the same period
of time, S,723,S54 acres have beer
surveyed; but in consideration of the
quantity already subject to entry, nc
additional tracts have been brought
into market.
The peculiar relations of the gen
eral government to the District Of
Columbia renders it proper to com
mend to your care, not only its ma.
terial, but also its moral interests,
including education, more especially
in those parts of the district outside
of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to
revise and codify the laws of the Dis
trict, have made such progress in the
performance of their task as to In.
sure its completion in the time pre-
scribed by the act of Congress.
Information has recently been re-
ceived, that the peace of the settle
ments in the Territories of Oregon
and Washington is disturbed by hos
tilities on the part of the Indians,
with indications of extensive combl-
nations of hostile character among
the tribes in that quarter, the more
serious in their possible effect by
reason of the undetermined foreign
interests existing in those Territories,
to which your attention has already
been especially invited. Efficient
measures have been taken, which, it
is believed, will restore quiet, and al
ford protection to our citizens.
In the territory of Kansas there
have been acts prejudicial to good
order, but as yet none have occurred
under circumstances to justify the
interposition of the federal Execu-
tive. That could only be in case of
obstruction to federal law, or of Or
ganized resistance to territorial law,
assuming the character Of insured
ton, which, lift should occur, it would
be my duty promptly to overcome
and suppress. l cherish the hope,
however, that the occurrence of any
such untoward event will be prevent
ed by the sound sense of the people
of the Territory, who, by its organ
ic law, possessing the right to deter
mine their own domestic institutions,
are entitled, while deporting them
selves peacefully, to the free exercise
of that right, and must be protected
in the enjoyment oft, without in
reference on the part ofthe citizens
of any ofthe States.
The southern boundary line ofthis
Territory has never been surveyed
and established. The rapidly-exten-
ding settlements in that region, and
the fact that the main route between
Independence in the State of Missou-
ri. and New Mexico, is contiguous to
this line, suggest the probability that
embarrassing questions of jurisdic-
ton may consequently arise. For
these and other considerations, com-
mend the subject to your early at
tenton.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF THE GOV
ERNMENT.
| have thus passed in review the
general state of the Union, including
such particular concerns Of the fede'
raj government, whether of domestic
or foreign relation, as it appeared to
be desirable and useful to bring to
the special notice of Congress. Un.
like the great States of Europe and
Asia, aad many of those Of America
these United States are wasting thell
strength neither in foreign war mol
domestic strife. Whatever OF dis
content or public dissatisfaction ex
lists, is attributable to the imperfec
tions of human nature, or is incident
to all governments, however perfect
which human wisdom can DEVISE
Such subjects of political agitation al
occupy the public mind, consist, TO
great extent, Of exaggeratlon OF IN
evitable evils, or over zealln socia
, IMPROVEMENT, or mere imagination
of grievance, having but remote con
nexion with any of the constitutions
functions; OF duties Of the fedora
, government. To whatever exten
these questions exhibit a tendenc.