Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-12-12


ment Of tho present fiscal year twenty-n mil
lions sixty thousand three hundred and ci gty-six
dollars and ninety cents, {S29, 060, $50 90.)
The amount redeemed since the Ist OF July was
Il rse million sight hundred and ninety-fivc thou
sand two hundred and thirty two dollars and Cir
ty-nine cents fS3. s95, 1882 35)-leaying balance
unredeemed at this time OF enty five millions one
hundred and sixty five thousand one hundred and
ffty-f6ur dollars and fifty cents, (925 fG5,-
l54 SID
''Ihe amount Of estimated expenditures for the
remaining three quarters OF the present iseal year
fiFS in all probability, be inc eased from the
ses set forth in the report OF the ecre.ary. His
Suggestion, therefore, that authority should be
given to supply any temporary de efficiency by the
issue of limited amount Of treasury notes. is APP
proved, end Iactdrdirgly recommend the passage
Of sueiT law.
AS stated in the report Of thc Secretary. the ia
riff of March 3 1851, has been in operation for so
short a period of time, and under circumstances
so unfavorable to just development Of its results
as a revenue measure, that should regard II q.
inexpedent, at least for the present, to undertake
its revision. 81
transmit herewith the reports mad 60 iiis By
the Secretary of w ar and ofthe Navy, of the n
terror and of the Postmaster General. They all
contain variable and important reformation and
suggestions which l. Commend u the favorable
consideration of Congress
have already recommended the raising OF four
additional regiments, and the report OF the SecIe-
tary Of War presenes strong reasons, proving this
increase of the army, under existing circuus stan
ces, to be indispensable.
| would call the especial attention al Congress
to the recommendation of the Secretary Of the
Navy in ia OF the construction oil ten small war
steamers of light draught. For solnc years the
government has been obliged on many occasions
to hire such steamers from individuals to supply
its pressing wants. At the present moment we
have no armed vessel in the navy which can peDe
ttate the rivers Of China We have but few Which
can enter any OF the harbors south OF Norfolk, al
though many millions of foreign and domestic com
merce annually pass in and out Of these harbots--
Some of our NEST valuable Interests and most yul
nerahle points thus left exposed. This class Of
vessels Of light draught, great speed. and heavy
guns, would be formidable IN coast defence 1he
cost OF their construction will not be great and
they will require but comparatively small eSpeu-
diture to keep them in comn ;sion. In time OF
peace they will prove as effective IS much larger
vessels, and often useful. One i'thcm should
be at every station whore we maintain + squadron,
and three or four should be constantly employed
on PaciTic coast. Economy utility, and ei'i
cheney combine to recommend'th them as almost in
Gispensabe Ten Of these small yes3els would be
OF incalculablc advantage to the naval service and
The whole cost of their construction world not ex
coed two million three hundred thausand dollars,
$3.50 900 each.
Tile report of the secfeTary4 of'stlc Interior 'is
worthy of grave consideration. tlt treats of the
numerous. important, and diverp:h' II brarciGp5 of
domestic administration entrusted to him by lsw.
Aneng these the most prominent are the pne,c
lands and our relations with the Indians.
Our system Ger the disposal eftte fsblie lands o
originating with the fathers Of the republic has been
II
dally adapted to the growth and settlement Of our
western States and Territories. 1t has wolke,
well IN pIactices already thirteen States and
Territories have been car-ed ont OF these lands.
and still mere han tlousgfd millions OF acres
main unsod. What boundless prospect thispfe
sents to our country OF future prosperity power
Wehave heretofore disposed Of 963. G2 i6i aefes
of the public land.
Whilst the pubic lsn'sas sure s revenue
are oil great Importance their Importance is far
greater as furnishing BONES for hardy and inle-
pe ndent race of honest End Industrious citizens,
who desire to suhdue and cttitfrttesthe soil They
on shl to be administered mainly 9Th vie8 ot
projecting this wise and benevolent policy Ia ap-
proprIating them for any other puli9se We ought
TO use even greater economy thar II they had been
converted into money and tie proceeds were al
ready in the pubic treasury. Pc sJnander Away
this richest aud nabest inheritance winch any peo
pie hepe ever enjoyed upon objects &c do.baai cen
stitutionality OF eSpedency Mouts - u vteate
one of the most important trusts ever committed %
any people Whilst Do rot d.ny l. Congress &c
power, when acting bona tide as proprietor; e
give away portions of than ior tue purpose Of n
ereasi,g the value OF the remainder, yet, consider
ing the great temptation to abuse this power, we
cannot be too caati MS III its exetciss.
= etas settlers under existing law are protected
against other purchasers at the halitic ssles, in
their right of prcemption to the extent q quar-
ter section, or leo acres of land. The remainder
may then BE disposed of at public or entered at
private sale in unlimited quantities
Speculation has OF late years prctale1 II igfeat
xtcat in the public lands. The consequence hes
6cou that large pnrtious of them hava beco'rn 80
property OF individuals and ca5npaH - iai ihus
The price Is greatly enhanced to thuse who desire
e purchase Tor actual settlement. In nrd9r tn
lim the of speculation as puell possible, the
extinction eI the Indian title and the extension of
the public surveys ought only to keep pace With
The time oil emigration.
If Congress ehouid hereafter Trsut alternate sec
lions to State companies, rs thy have cone
heretofore, | recommend that the intermediate
sections retained by the government should be sub
ieet ~ Yte-eunti"a by actual settlrrs.
1t ought ever to be our cardinal policy To reserve
the pubic lands as much DIS may BE- iof actual set
tiers, and this At modefate prices. We snail thus
not only best promote q prosperity eff the ncw
States and Territories and the ppwef ct the Uniun
but 81 I'll secure homes for postefity ior many
generations,
The extension OF our limits has brought within
our jurisdiction many additional aud populpus
tribes of Indians, lurge proportion OF which are
wild untractable, and difficult to ol. Pteda-
tory and waIlike in their dspos ton and hants, u
sssmpossihe altogether te restrai tBeta tram com,
hitting ageressons each other, WITH as upon
Our frontier citizens and those ENGRAVING to our
distant States and Territories. Hence expensive
military expeditions are Frequently necessary To
and chasise the more Ia wleys and hos tile
che present system ct making them valuable
presents 10 influence them To renrain at peace itas
proved Intellectual. 1t is believed to be the better
policy colonies them in suitab localities. where
they receive the rpdiments oi cdpsTtftn andre
gradually indrced % adept habits efindusts Y. 50
far as the experiment has been tried. has worked
less expensive than the present system.
The whole number Of indians within our terrific
rial limits is believed 20 re, from he ues. data in
tire Interior department, about 325, 600. 4
The tribes Of Cherokces Choctaws, Chiekasaws,
and Greeks. settled in the territory set apart Ter
them west cf A RIA nsas, rapidly advancing IN
education aud in all the arts &c eli llizaton aud SELF
government and we may indulge tie agreeable az
ticipaton that at very distant day they will b.
Incorporated into the Union OF The sever
eigu States .
Ii will be seen from the report of the postmaster
General that ,hepost Office Department still con.in
ues depend on the treasury, it has been cetn-
PEELED do for several years past, for important
portion Of the means Of sustaining and extending
lis operations The rapid growth and expansion ARE
shown by decenn,al statement OF the number a.
post offices, and the ngth 81 post satg, ecnipcnc
ing with the year ls27 La That yer iheie s,n'o
pest offices IN 1881, lll1l III lstl, -, AZ; andi
lSa1 they number S6,5s6. In this yefr 40 post
oil ,es have been established and 1o4 discontinued,
leaving net increase Of l,o2l The posinasiers ri
36s offices appointed by the President. :,
The length of post roads in le27 was la5,SSS aiet
in 1887, III, zl2 miles, in ls4J, l5"sls mIlcs, and
i'll the year ls7 there 24z COL mie7 Of Post i,nd
including ~, $50 s,iiles Of railroad on which the
mails ARE transported. ..= 4.
The expenditures Of the departmert 'or the 'scs'
year ending the s0th June, 1900, adj 'sed BY
the Auditor amount to s II ,50,6lO To deiray these
expenditures there was to the credit ct the depart