Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-01-08

Suuiry petitions presented which will be
o. motion Mr. CHRISTIAN, the House adjourned.
detained from his seat ia the House OF Delegate by
position
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
ExTEAcTsl
LAND OFFICE
The quantity of land ready be brought into market
during the coming year will be large and added to that
subject private entry, WILL is presumed be a
| Pile TO supply the most extensive demand
The quantity of land sold At graduated prices during
the last fiscal year was ,2O474 received
the reor, S2,35S,9lS.
In the year ending 10th September last I5,sl52s3 Is
of land have been surveyed. Besides Til. th trn
boundary line between Alabama and Florida has been o..
tabished and mnny other surveys made correct errors
and defects in ancient surveys aud prepare for the
dcontnuancc of the Office OF surveyor general in several
OF the Districts
No new land brought into market however
owing to the large body OF lands already subject to en-
try.
Quantity sold for cash during the fiscal year
was l5,729, .24ss
Located with military scrip aud land
rants, 1915 $500
Swamp lands selected for States q47n74Gsa
Selected donations for railroads &c, IL 55s 90
Making total OF 2i557, I0o.5O
exhibiting increase of G93 1881 acres over the pre-
vous year ol lands sold for cash and decreae of on
2222G acres located with scp and warrants The guam
uty that will be- eutrcd the present fiscal wear with land
warrants WILDE much hrge', the number being greatly
multiplied bytte requirements OF the recent bounty land
The amount of lands sold during the second and third
quarters of the present calendar year about pol lGg
being an increase of about s21 $50 acres lin lash
sifii2OG on that Of the corresponding quarters Of the
preceding wear
Tlis is owing in great to the extraordinary
advance aud prosperity OF the country but il is feared in
some degree, to the influence of speculation
The quantity OF land covered 10y issued TO sol
dcrs OF all the in which the United States have been
engaged is 37gJs 4I2 acres which cnormo. ,uoun, t
ken in connection with liberal system Of pensions
evince- in emin ut degree that the gratitude of our
country for the patriotism Of it, citizens i not Unmarried by
the lapse OF time, nor it acknowledgment extended with
| an illibcra hand
rENstoy-
The affairs Of the Pension Office have been conducted
with great efficiency and signal ability lis business has
largely increased aud rendered the labors of the Coming
ioncr and hs subordinatcs auous and severe Most of
the difficulties have been overcome aud every branch il
up Ia date except that having charge OF bounty land.
granted by the recent act Of Congress certain officers
and soldier. who have been engaged in the military ser
vice 0i the United States. Strenuous aud unreuittine
cxeriions have been made promptly this
Some complaint FROM the apparent Of promp-
iitude of the Pension Office but the facts lucidy sta
ted IN the accompanying report Of the head Of that bu
rcn clearly show there not the slightest foundation
for ~ The amount Of preparatory labor was very great
To perform which with desirable dispatch was beyond the
power Of the force in the Pension Office aud had tn de-
tail in aid Of it many Of the Clerks from the Land Office
being carried into efficient effect than any of like
character before. The whole work will be- com
plcted IN less time than anticipated. The number Of
applications a. the 10Th ul'ro was 225qli those ex
amncd number Jop Which 81 500 have been allow.
ed COS suspended rejected and the number Of war
rants issued 15,9l5, covering G,j1s 800 acres
The pension laws crude, undigcsicd aud conhc.
ting that il Is morally impossible them saii-fc.
tofiy They possess neither uniformity, equality, just
ness Their defects obvious and glazing that
examination will satisfy the most skeptca of the ne.
of "A IA harI
more inconguous ~ perpeSng system than the present
complicated one
u may become advisable to fall back upon the old prin.
ciple Of Indulgence, to which every having any claim
10 humanity would cordially subscribe IT, il were resl.
med and the mertoous and needy soldier his widow Or
minor children could receive enough TO supply their ue.
ccs.ary wants would raise the slightest objection
to such manifestation Of the public gratitude. Nov they
are IN RECEIPT u few dollars month which I'll know i
entirely insufficient for the most ordinary purposes II
pensions confined 70 this class aud their gratues
properly enlarged the system would meet with universal
approval
beg leave again 20 bring n your notice the statute
committed 10 pension and land warrant ca-.-- MANY
criminals have Get up this plea and cscaped the vigilance
Of the bureau aud The prosecuting officers In most case.
j. bard u detect the cupi before the time for the in.
stutou Of criminal proceedings has expired There we're
nine convictions during the last year and like number
Of prosecutions are now pending
The number n pensioners the rolls Of the several
agencies for paying pensions, was, on the thirteenth day
June last lass. aud the disburscd during the
last fiscal year was ~ ,505 1l2sI
Wf.fLLA BOZ SpARY
The field work Of the Mexican boundary survey I r.
juice 70 SAY has been completed The profnphtuIc d.
patch aud eminent ability displayed in IL recent prose
cuton reflects the highest credit upon the Commis
Under the scvcrct harIshps aud greatest privaons he
has run the line through country generally destitute Of
every Thing necessary 20 the sustenauce Of human life n
remarkably short space Of time, and vet e nothing M.
done which the duty required. The appropriations made
for fhs spechc purpose have been exhausted hut
large balance remains uuevprnded The onc. Wogk will
nov b. prosecuted with ygor aud finished soou as
practicable.