Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-12-17

ter General. They all contain valuable
and important information and suggestions
which l recommend to the favorable con
sideration of Congress.
have already recommended the raising
OF four additional regiments, and the report
Oh the Secretary of War presents strong
reasons proving this increase of the army.
under existing circumstances, to bc indi,
penSable.
Ten New War Steamers.
would call the special attention &C Con.
gress to the recommendation Of the Secre-
tary of the Navy in favor of the construction
of ten small war steamers Of light draugh,.
For some years the government has been
obliged on many occasions to hire such
steamers from individuals to supply its
pressing wants. At the present time We
have no armed vessel in the navy which
can penetrate the rivers of China VS.
have but few which can enter any Of tbs
harbors south of Norfolk, although many
millions of foreign and domestic commerce
annually pass in and out of these harbors
Some OF our most valuable interests and
vulnerable points are thus left exposed
his class of vessels of light draught, great
NPeet, ami heavy guns would he formula
Die In coast defence. The cost of their
construction Will not he great, and they will
require but comparatively small expendf
ture 10 keep them in commission. In time
Of peace they will prove as effective az
much larger vessels, and often more. useful
One of them should be at evsry station
where we maintain a squadron, and three
or four should be constantly employed on
our Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Economy,
utility, and efficiency consbine TO recon-
mend them as almost Indispensable Ten
of these small vessels would he of incaIcu-
liable advantage to the naval service, and
the whole cost of their construction would
not exceed 81, 500, 600, or $3.50 900 each.
Department of the Interior.
The Report of the Secretary of the In
terror is worthy of grave con ,dcratioD. IL
treats OF the numerous important and ,Ii-
ver,ited branches of administration in
trusted to him by law Among these the
most prominent are ;hc public lands AMI
oar relations with the Indians
Public Lands,
Our system for the disposal Of the pull
lie lands. originating with the fathers of
he republic, has been improved as experi
ence pointed the way, and grmiuaiiy alsp-
tel to the growth AMI settlement of our
western States AMI Territories. 1t has
worked well IN practice. -Already thirteen
States AMI seven Territories have been
rarve,l out of these lands, anil stilI more
bo, ,l,.,,,.a,I ,,,.il,,,,.. -
unsold What boundlc>s prospect this
presents to our country of future I,r.,speri-
" and power, We have hcrct otOIs diSpo-
vel OF So. 90, I'll acres of the public
anil.
Whilst the public lanl> as source of
rcvcnue of great Importance their ina
portan-e i far greater as furnishing homes
ior hardy and independent race Of honest
aud Industrious citizens. who ,.eaJr. to sub
Tue AMI cultivate the soil Ts-T ought Ia
be administered mainly with :, .;cw of pro-
noting this wise and Lcncvulcns policy
Ia appropriatns them for any other pur-
pose. we ought to use even greater cruno-
my than if they hal been converted into
money anil the proceeds were aysalv ia
he public treasury. To >quanslcr ava,
he richest and nobIe>t Inheritance viii
my people have ever enjoyed, upon Objects
# doubtful constitulionality ,,a cvpclisn-
", would be 10 violate one 81 the most
important trusts committed TO anv ,colll,
Whilst 10 not DENY to Congress tho
power, when acting bona tiie a. a Irorrie
OF. to give away portions of them ivr TIA.
,urpose OF increasing the valuc of the re-
naiuier. yet. considering tie great temp
alton to abuse this power, We rannot he
on cautions in its exercise.
Actual settlers under existing laws are
protected against other purchasers at their
public sales. IN their right of pie-cmption.
. the extent OF a quarter section. or l6o
lrres of lanl. The remainder may then be
disposed of at public sale or entered at
private sale i'll unlimited quantities.
Speculation has Of late wears prevailed 10
great extent in the public lands. The
consequence has been that large portions of
hem have become the property Of individ
lals and companies, and thus the prize Is
greatly enhanced To those who desire 10
purchase for actual settlement. In order
to limit the area of speculation as much as
possible. the extinction of the Indian title
mi the extension of the public surveys
ought only to keep pace with the tide of
mi grafton.
Ii Congress should hereafter grant al
ornate sections to States or companies, as
hey have done heretofore. | recommend
hat the intermediate sections retained hy
he government should be subject to PFC
mption bv actual settlers.
1t ough, To be our cardinal policy to re-
erve the public lands as much as may for
lctual settlers, and this at moderate prices.
We shall thus not only best promote the
prosperity of the new States and Terrific
les. and the power of the Union but shall
ecure homes for our postcrity for many
,enci ations.
Indian Affairs.
The extension of our limits has brought
within our jurisdiction many additional
md populous tribes OF Indians, large
proportion of which are wild, intractabe
md difficult to control Predatory and
varlikc in their disposition and habits. IT Is
altogether to restrain them from
aggrcSsions upon each other.
5 well as upon the frontier citizens aud
hose emigrating to our distant States and
territories. Hence expensive military ex