Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-17

annually pass in and out of the harbors. Some
If our most valuable interests and most vul-
nerabe points are thus left exposed.
This class of vessels Of light draught, grea,
sneed. and heavy guns would be formidable in
coast defence The cost of their construction
will not be great, and they will require but a
comparatively small expenditure to keep them
in commsso In time Of peace they will
nroye as effective as much larger vessels, and
afteu more useful. Que of them should be at
every station where we maintain squadron
and three or four should be constantly on our
Atlantic and Pacific coasts Economy, utiI-
~. and efficiency combine to recommend them
os indispensable. Ten of these small vessels
would be of incalculable advantage to the na-
val service, and the whole cost of their con-
struction would not exceed two million three
hundred thousand dollars, or $230. 600 each
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
is worthy of grave consideration. 1t treats of
the henumcrous, important, and diversified branch
es of domestic administration intrusted to him
by law. Among these the most prominent
are the public lands and our relations with the
Indians.
Our system for the disposal of the public
public, has been improved as experience point
the way, and gradually adapted to the growth
and settlement of our western States and Ter
ritores It has worked we'll in practice. AL
ready thirteen States and seven Territries have
been carved out of these lands, and still more
than thousand millions of acres remain I'M
sold. What o boundesS prospect this presents
to our country of future prosperity and power
We have therefore disposed of 363, ,S62, AGA
acres of the public lands
Whilst the public lands, as source of reve-
nue. are great Importance, their Importance is
far greater as furnishing homes for hardy and
independent race of honest and industrious cti-
Gems, who desire to subdue and cultivate the
soil They ought to be administered mainly
with view of promoting this wise and benev-
olent policy. In appropriating them for any
other purpose, We ought to use even greater
economy than if they had been converted into
money and the proceeds were already in the
pablo treasury. To squauder away this rich
est and noblest inheritance which any peo-
pie have ever enjoyed upon the objects of doubt
ful constitutionality or expediency, would be to
violate one of the most important trusts ever
committed to any people. Whilst do not de
U1 " COllSIcSS luc lcNtIy WHICH, dCIiiIB UOntL
fSs as proprietor, to give away portions Of
them for the purpose Of increasing the value
Of the remainder, yet considering the great
temptation to abuse this power, We cannot
be too cautious in its exercise
Actual settlers under existing laws are pro-
tected against other purchasers at the public
sales, in their right of pre-exemption, to the
extent of a quarter section, or 60 acres of land
Tne remainder may then be disposed of at pub-
lie, or entered ut private sale in unlimited guam
titles.
Speculation has of late years prevailed to a
great extent in the public lands. The conSe-
Qucnce has been that large portions Of them
have become the property of individuals and
companies, and thus the price is greatly enhan-
ced to those who desire 10 purchase for actual
settlement In order TO limit the area of spec
UIation as much as possible, the extinction of
the Indian title and the extension of the sur
veys ought only to keep peace with the tide of
emigration.
If Congress should hereafter grant alternate
sections to States or companies, as they have
done heretofore, recommend that the nterme-
date sections retained by the government,
should be subject to pre-cXemption by actual
settlers
1t ought to be our cardinal policy to pre-
serve the pnbIic land as mach as may be for
actual settlers and this at moderate prices -
We shall thus not only best promote the pros
perity Of the new States and Territories, and
the power of the Union. but shall secure homes
for orr pOstcrity for many generations.
The cxtcntcn of limits has brought within
oHr jurisdiction many additional and popuIous
tribes Of Indians, large portion of which are
wild, intractable, and difficult to control. Pre-
datory aud warlike in their dispositions it is i'm
possible altogether to restrain them from CON-
hitting aggreSSionS on each other, as well as
upon our frontier citizens and those emigrating
70 oar distant States and Territories. Hence
expensive military expiditions are frequently
necessary to overawe and chastise the more
awIe>s and hostile
The present system of making them valuable
presents to influence them to remote at peace
has proved cffectual 1t is believed to be the
better policy to colonize them in suitable lOca-
les, where they can receive the rudinents Of
elucatlOn and be gradually induced to adopt
habits Of industry So far as the experiment
mas been triedyit has worked we'll in practice, !
and it will doubtless prove to be less expensive
than the present system. .a|
The whole number of Indians within our ter
Ftorial limits is believed to be, from the best
data in onr IntcriorD Department, about 325 900.
The tribes Of Cherokces, Choctaws, Chcka
saws and Creeks settled in the territory set
aDar, for them'weSt of Arkansas are rapidly ad
sancng in education and in all the arts of civ
'Ea;ion and selt-goycrnmcnt and we may in
GaIge the agreeable anticipation that at no We
Bg5A 7
Tue Lnon as one Of the sovereign States.
II will be seen from the report of the Post
master General that the Post Office Depart
Ielt still continues to depend on the Treasury,
N 1t has been compelled to do for several years
pdst, Tor an imnortant nnrtnn of the means of