Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-12-10

Of future prosperity and power. - |
We have heretofore disposed Of 1868, 862, 464
acres cfthe public land.
Whilst the public lands as a source Of revenue |
are of great importance, their Importance is far
greater o furnishing homes for a hardy and in |
dependent race OF honest and industrious citi- |
Gems who desire to subdue and cultivate the soil |
they ought TO be administered mainly with I
REV of promoting this wise and benevolent pol- |
icy. In appropriating them for any other pur-
pose we ought to use even greater economy than
II they had been converted into money and the /
proceeds were already in the public Treasury |
To squander away this richest and noblest in !
aeritance which any people haze ever enjoyed |
upon objects of doubtful constituionality ex-
pedency, would be to violate one Of the most
importans trusts ever committed to any people.
Whilst 1 do not deny TO Congress the power,
when acting bona .'ide as proprietor TO give
away portions of them for the purpose of in
;reasing the value of theremaindeg yet eonsid
.ringthe great temptation 10 abuse this power,
We cannot be too cautious in its exercise '@
Actual settlers under existing laws are pro-
tected against other purchasers mt the puolic
sales, i'll their right of pre- emption 10 the ex-
tent Of quarters section, or 100 acres Of land.
The remainder may then be disposed of at pub
nc or entered at private sale in unlimited guam
titles aa. es
Speculation has of late years prevailed TO a
great extent in the public lands The couse-
luenee has been that large portions OF them have
become the property of in .ividuals and compa-
lies, an thus the price is greatly enhanced to /
hose who desire to purchase for actual settle
nent. In order TO limit the area of speculation
IS much as possible, the extinction ofthe Indian
tile and the extension of the public survey
ought to keep pace with the tide OF emigration
III Congress should hereafter grant alternate
sections to States or Companies, as they have
| done heretofore, recommend that the interme-
date sections retained blythe Government should
| be subject to presumption by actual settlers.
Ii ought ever TO be our cardinal policy 10 re-
| serve the public lands as much as may be for
actual settlers, and this at moderate prices. We
shall thus not only promote the prosperity ofthe
new States and Territories and the mower of
Union but shall secure homes for our posterity
| Tor many generations. 81
The extention OF our limits has brought with
in our Jurisdiction, many additional and popu-
lous tribes of Indians. laroe portion of which
| are wild, untractable and difficult to control
Predatory and warlike. in their Il sposition and
habits, it is impossible altogether TO RESTRAIN
them fro n committing agcressions on each 9TH
er, rs well rs on our frontier citizens and those
migrating to our distant States and Terri.oriog
Hence, expensive military expeditions are e.
| luently necessary to oyerawe ana ehastisp tho
| more lawless and hostile
The present system of making them Valuable
presents TO influence them to remain. at peace
has proved Intellectual. 1t is believe ia he the
better policy to colombo them in SUI table locaIi.
ties, where they can receive tie rudiments of
education, and be gradually in Iuced 10 adont
habits o. industry. SO far as the evnorip,ent
| mas been tried, II has WORKED well in nrac,ioe
ana II VIII doubtless pro se TO be less extensive
than the present system ~
Inc whoie nlmber Of Indians within on1. ter
''orIeS' "ccoraihS to the best data in the Tnte-
riQr department Number about 325.OJU
Inc Post Office, for several wears. has dener
ued on me treasury for an important portion of
the mea rs of extending its operations. Their
rapid growth and extension are shown by a de-
cen NAL statement of the number of post offices
End the length Of postroad, CONNIE ncing with
| the year 1927. In that year there were :, 900
post Offices; in 1887, II, l77 in 1S47, Is, 146 ;
and in 1851, they number 20, $50 In this year
40 post offices have been established, and 704
discontinued, leaving net increase of l02I
Inc post masters OF 1868 Offices are appointed by
| the President
The length of post roads in 1927 was los. 1856
miles IN 1887, HIP miles in 1S47 l53, 1913
miles and IN the year 1857 there are 242 GQl
miles OF post roF,ds, including ., $50 miles Of
railroad on which the mails are transported
The expenditures of the department for the
hscai year ending June Both, 1861 as adjusted
| by the Auditor amounted to ST. go, 900 To
defray these expenditures there was TO the credit
| OF the department on the lst of July 1856 the
sum OF $3.50, 599; the gross revenue of the year,
lncluding the annual allowance for the transpor-
tation OF free mail matter, produced SIS 053 95l;
ana the remainder was supplied by the appro-
priation of $3.50 600, granted ly The Act of
Congress approved Aug. Is, 1856, and by the
appropriation OF S666, 1888. made by the Act of
| March 81. 1857, leaving 1852 763 TO be carried
TO the credit of tho
! OF the current year. | commend to your consid-
Grafton the report of the department in relat on
70 the establishment Of the overland mail route
from the Mississippi ri'5er to San Francisco Cal
iiornia'e The route was selected with my full
concurrence as the one, in my Judgment, best
calculated to attain the important object con-
templa!ed by Congress.
| q The late disastrous monetary reyulsion NAV
nave one good effect should it cause both the
government and the people to return to the prac-
uce of wise and judicious economy both in pub
! iIc and private expenditures
| An oyertiowlng treasury has led to habits of
PRODUCTIVITY and extravaganza in our legislation
IL mas induced Congress to make large appro-
priatlons TO objects for which they never would
nave Provided had it been necessary to raise the
amount of revenue required to meet them by in
creased taxation or byloans. We are now com
pelied to pause in our career, and to scrutinizc
cur expenditures with the utmost vigilance and
In performing this duty, pledge my co-opera-
'ion to .he extent of my constitutional compe-
tency.
II ought to be observed at the same time that
.rue Paplic economy does not consist in with
hoAaihg the means necessary 10 accomplish i'm.
portant national objects entrusted to us by the
constitution, and eg pecally such as may be nee
essary Tor the eorlmon defense. In the present
crisls OF me country, it is our ddty 70 conhne
our aPproprl" tions TO objects Of this character,
unless IN cs SEES where justice to individuals NAV
uein"hd different course. In all cases care
ought r. be taken that the money granted by
cohgrf IS shall be faithfully and economicall' !,
applied. &. 80,
'-nder The Federal Constitution. every hill
hich shall have passed the House Of Repre-.
sentaiyes and the Senate shall, before il bS comes
aIaw, be approved and signed by the Py esiiIeut
and, If not apprc we'd she shall return it with
his objections to that House from which il orig.
| mated In order to perform this high and
responsible DUTY sufficient time must be allowed
the President TO read and examine every hill
presented to him for approval Unless this af-
forded, the Constitution becomes deadletteri in
TINS particular; and even worse, il becomes N
means OF deception. Our constituents seeipc,
he PRESIDENTS approval and signature to each
Act of Congress. are induced to believe that be
mas actually performed this duty, when in truth,
nothing Is, IN many cases, more unfounded
FROM 'hr praetlce or Congress. such an ex-
animation of each bill as the Constitution re-
luires has been rendered impossible The most
important business OF each session is generally
crowded INTO its last hours, and the alternative
presented 10 the President ii, either to violate
he constitutional duty which he owes to thei
people and approve bills which, for want oil
-sime' 1t IS impossible he should have examined.
'r' by his refusal to d. this, subject the coutry
ana individuals TO griat lass and ncon yenieDce.
Besides, practice has grown up Of of late
years to legislate is in appropriation bills at the