The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-12-15

Arizona route near the 81 paraHei. OF north
latitude, between the western boundary of
Texas on the Rio Grande and the eastern
boundary of California on the Colorado,
from the best explorations now within our
knowledge, does not exceed four hundred
and seventy miles, and the face OF the coun-
try is. in the main, favorable. For obvious
reasons the government ought not to un-
dertake the work itself by means of its own
agents. This ought to be committed to
other agencies, which Congress might as
sist either by grants of land or money, or
by both, upon such terms and conditions as
they may deem most beneficial for the
country. Provision might thus be made
not only for the safe, rapid, and economi-
cal transportation Of. troops and munitions
of war, but also of the public mails. The
commercial interests of the whole country,
both East and West, would be greatly pro-
noted by such road and, above all. it
would be powerful additional bond of
union. And although advantages of this
kind. whether postal, commercial, or polti
cal, cOnnot confer constitutional power,
yet they may furnish auxiliary arguments
in favor of expediting a work which. in my
Judgment, is clearly embraced within the
war making power. f
THE Message here refers to the state of
the finances. He states that the report of
the Secretary of the Treasury shows the
amount of revenue received into the Trea-
sury for the, year ending Both June, 1857
to be SOS, 63f ,5l3 81, which, with Sl9,9oI,-
325 % on hand at the commencement of
the year, made an aggregate of S58,532,-
S;}9 ~. The expenditures for the same
time amounted to $40, 822, 724 IS, of which
S., 943. 500 81 were applied to the redemp
ton of the public debt-leaving in the trea-
sury at the commencement of the present
year S17,7IO,114 81. The public debt at
the commencement of the present year (lst
| July) was $29, 060,3S6 80, of which amount
! So. S95, 232 80 have been paid, leaving a
balance uuredeemed of $35, lG5, I54 81.
i The expenses of the government for the
4 present year are estimated to be S74.963,-
05s Al. The present tariff having been IN
operation SO short time, he thinks it in
expedient to revise it now.
lie recommends that four additional regi-
ments be raised for the army, and that ten
small war steamers be constructed.
. [The President objects to the hasty man
ner i'll which bills are passed during the
last hours of a session of Congress and pre-
scented to the Executive for his signature
without allowing him sufficient time to ex-
anime them as the law requires. He says
he has determined to approve no bill which
he has not examined; and therefore recon-
mpnds that the two Houses allow the Presi-
dent at least two days previous to the ad-
iournment of each session within which no
new bill shall be presented to him for APP
prevail
The report of the Secretary of the Interior Is
| worthy OF grave consideration. IL treats OF the
| numerous important, and diversified branches oil
domestic administration Inlrusted 10 hum by law
Among these the most prominent are lie pubic
= Lands and our relations with The Indians.
: Our system for the disposal OF the pubic lands
, originating with the fathers OF the republic, has
been improved as experience poinled The Nay, aH0
gradually adapted To the growth and settlement o.
our western SIales and Territories. Ii has worked
r we'll in practice. Already - States and Tern
have been carved out OF these lands, aud Still
more than a thousand millions OF acres remain un
| sold. What a boundless prospect ms presents Il
u our country OF future p osperIty and power
{ We have heretofore disposed oil 363,662 ,i64 acres
e of The public land.
Whist the public land; as source of revenue
are OF great Importance, their importance IS lal
" greater as furnishing homes tor hardy and lhde
" dependent of honest and industrious czehs
who desire To subdue and cultivate The SOIL lhey
q ought TO be administered mainly with view O
| uTomotIng this wise and benevolent policy. LII
! appropuatIng them for any other purpose we
u ouu Int To use even greater economy than II they
= had been converted into money and the proceeds
| were already in the public treasury. To -quande
h away this richest and nobest inheritance ~hlci
any people have enjoyed upon otJecIs OF douht
:u cOnSIItutIOHdIy or expectancy "OuIu oelo
one OF the most important trus ever committed t'
. an, peopIe Whilst do not deny to Congress thu
: power, when acting bona tide as proprietor, Il
e give away portions OF them tor the purpose or III
creasing the value OF the remainder, yet, CONSIDER
lug he great temptation TO abuse this power, W.
= cannot be TOO cautious in It's exercise
: Actual settlers under existing laws are protect
# ed against other purchasers at The PUBIC Saies.
Their right of presumption to the extent OF quartz
" section or 100 acres OF land. The remainder MAJ
: then be disposed OF at public or entered at private
e sale unlimited quantities
V Speculation has OF late years prevailed 10 Srea
a extent in the public lands. The consequence ma
been that large portions of them have become tn
properry OF individuals and companies and thu
: the price is greatly enhanced to those VINO oeslr
i TO purchase for actual settlement. In order I
h limit the area of speculation as much as possible
the extinction of the Indian title and TIE extension
of the public surveys ought only 70 keep pace VIII
. ! the tide of emigration.
Il IfConrress should hereafter grant alternate sec
: tons to States companies, as they nave ooh
= heretofore | recommend that the intermediate sec
, tioIrs retained by the government should be sntJec
" to presumption by actual settlers. - ~. 800.
II ought ever 10 be cardinal policy to reserV
the public lands as much may be tor actual sci
tiers, and this at moderate Prlccs' we sEail thU
-, | not only best promote the prosperity OF me nt'
ST ties and Territories, ard the power OF the UIuo
= but shall secure homes Tor our pos'erlty Tor man
l. generations
our Jurisdiction MANY additional ard populOas tribe
| of Indians large portion OF "hicn are "iiu' u"
tractab BILE, and difficult TO control. Predatory an
warlike in their disposition and HABITS, is lnposs
:. bIe aItooether TO restrain them from commtIn
v aggressions on each other, as well as upon GU
# frontier citizens and those eElgrating TO our dls
: tant States and Territories. Hence eApenslv
. military expeditions are frequenty necessary I
e overawe and chastise the more awless and hostile
o The present system of making item Valiaol
Ii presents to influence them TO remain al peace ha
proved Intellectual. 1t is believed 10 be IN
better policy TO colonIze them IN suitable locahie
where they can receive the rudIments OF ednCatlo
C and be gradually induced TO adopt habits OF n
: dusiry. So tar as the experiment has been tTed
: has worked we'll in Practice, and 1t Will doubles
prove to be less expensive than the present system
II The whole number of Indians within our telr'te
, rial limits believed to be, from the best data
/, the Indian Department, about 325, GOO:
IS The tribes of Cherokees, ChOctaws, CHIC asaws
I and Creeks, settled in the territory set apart 10
! them west OF Arkansas, are rapidly advancing !
a e ucation and in all The arts OF civilization an
y selfgovernment and we may indulge the agrees
ell bic anticipation that very distant day they WI
n be incorporated into the Union as one OF the SOY
| eTelUn States.