Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-09

boCAG " hO POoNhzC COululTcu
with that charged ON letters /; and 10 the
great cost of mail service on railroads
and by ocean steamers. The sugyeS
tons OF the Postmaster General ON the
subject deserve the consideration of Con
gress.
The report Of the Secretary OF the In
terror will engage your attention, as we'll
for the useful suggestions. il contains. as
for The interest and impor ance Of the
subject Ia which we refer.
The aggregate amount of public land
sold during the last iscal year, located
with military scrip or land warrants, IT,
ken up under grants for roads, and select
ed as swamp lands by STA e., is twenty
four million i've hundred and ifIy-seven
thousand four hundred and nine acres,
of whi;h the portion sold was fifteen mil
lion seven hundred and twenty nine thou
sand five hundred and twenty four acres.
yielding in receipts the sum of eleven
million four hundred and eighty 6vethou
sand three hundred and eighty dollars.
In the same period oftime, eight million
seven hundred and twenty three thou
sand eight hundred and fifty four acres
have been surveyed; but in considera
ton Of the quantity already subject to
entry. no additional tracts have been
brought into market. ,rf
The peculiar relation Of the general
government to the District of Columbia
lenders it proper 10 commend to your
care not only its material, but also IFS
moral interests, including education,
more especially in those paris Of the
District outside of the cities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revise
and codify the laws Of the District have
made such progress in the performance
of their task as 10 insure its completion
in the time prescribed BY the act OF Con
gress.
Information has recently beenreceived.
that The peace of the settlements in the
Territories of Oregon and Washington is
disturbed by hUsIliIies on the part of
the indians with Indications of extensive
combinations OF Il hostile character among
the tribes in that quartet, the more seri
Gus in their possible effect by reason Of
the undetermined foreign interest existing
in those Territories, 10 which your at
tention has already been Z: ~pecially in
vited. Efficient measures have been Ia
ken, which, it is believed. will restore
quiet md afford protection to our eli
ZenS.
In the Territory Of Kansas there have
been acts p%rejudicial 10 good order, buI
as yet none have occurred under circum-
stances to justify the iuterpoSiuon of the
federal executive. That could only be
IN case of obstruction 10 federal law. or OF
organized resistance 10 territorial law, as
suming the character Of instruction,
which, If it should occur. il would be my
duly promptly to overcome and supI ress.
| cherish The hope, however, that the oc-
courlence of any such untoward event
will be prevented b. the sound sense OF
the people of the territory. who 10y It's or
game law, possessing The right To deter
mine their own domestic instItul ions, are
entitled. while depOruns themselves
peacefully. To the free exercised o that right,
and must be pro ected in the enJuym5ni
of it. without interference, On the part of
the citizens of any Of the States.
The southern boundary line Of This
Territory has never been surveyed and
established. The rapidly ~extendin! Set
dement's in that region, and The fact that
the main route between independence,
end the Stale Of Missouri. aud New
Mexico is contiguous to7this line, suggest
the probability thatemt arras>ingguesuuns
OF jurisdiction may consequently arise.
For these suI other considerations
commend the subject to your early at
tentIon.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF TIE GOVERN
1 have thus passed in review the gen.
eral state Of the Union, including such
particular concerns of the federal gov
eminent, whether of domestic or foreign
relation, as it appeared 10 me desirable
and useful 10 bring to the special notice
of Congress. Unlike the great states Of
IN ! Asia. and msny of those of
America. these United States are vast ng
their strength neither in foreign war nor
domestic strife. Whatever OF discomfort
or public dissatisfaction exists. is atlribu
to the imperfections of human ma
ture, or, is incident to all governments,
however perfect, which human wisdom !
can devise. l I
Such subjects of political agitation as
Occuy the public mind consist, 10 a great !
extent, of exaggeraiion ofinevitable evils,
or over zeal in social improvement, or
imaginat on Of greiveance, having but re- :
mote connection with any Of the cunsti-
functions or duties of the federal {
government. To whatever extent these
questions exhibit u tendency ~menancing {
10 the stability of the Constitution, or the $
integrity Of the Union. and no ia Their.
hey demand the consideration Of the Ell a
and require TO be presented by :
lin to Congress. a
Before the Thirteen Colonies became =
! confederation Of independent States. I
hey were associated only by community :
Trans atlantic origin, Dy geographical
and by the mutual tic OF con .
dependence on Great Britain When u
hat tie was sundered. they SeveralIy as {
umed the powers and rights of absolute $
elf government. The municipal and so a
ial institutions OF property and of per- $
onal relation. events pulircal organize c
on, were such only as each one chose s.
, establish. wholly without interference L
rUm any other. o
In the language of the Declaration of e
Independence. each State had tull power >
} levy war, conclude peace, contract al =
ances, establish commerce., and To do all II
her ACTS and things which independent
iales may of right do" The several :
differed in climate in soil. in nat a
raj productions. in religion. IN systems e
+ education. in legislation, and in the e
rms of political administration; and they te