Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-13

30 Indispensable
would cali the special attention Of Congress 70
the recomeneatiOn Of the Secretary Of the Navy il
favor Of the construction Of small war steamers
Of light draught For some years the government
has been obliged on many occasions 70 hire such
steamers from individuals to supply its pressing I
wants. At the present moment we have no armed /
Vessels inthe May which can penetrate the rivers Of
Snln@' we nave but few which c. n enter OF the |
harbors south of Norfolk although many millions Of
foreign a1d domestic commerce. a1nualIvpsss in and
out OF these harbors. Some of our most valuable !
interests and most vulnerable points are thas left
This class Of vessels Of light drauvbt Srsat spesd
and heavy guns, would be Formidable IN eoast de-
fences. The cost Of their eonstructien ziu rot he |
great, and they viii require but comna-s,;vslvsI
small expenditure 70 keep them in commission, In /
time Of peace they win prove effective as much
larger vessels aud often more useful One az them I
should be at every station where we maintain a 4
squadron and three four should be constantly on
our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Economy, utility. |
and efficiency combine to reeommend them az almost
indispensable. Ten Of these small vessels would be
of incseulabie advantage 10 the naval service and
the whole cost Of their construction would not ex
ceei two million three hundred thousand dollars, or
$3.50, 900 each. aa-re 49,
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior is
worthy Of grave consideration. It treats Of the
numerous important and diversified branches Of
domestic administration Entrusted to him by Law
Ameng these the most prominent are public lands
and cur relations with the Indians
Our system for the disposal Of the public lands,
originating with the fathers OF the republic, has
been improved as experience pointed the way, and
gradually adapted to the growth and settlement Of
Western States aud Territories II has worked well
| in practice. Already thirteen States and seven
Territories have been carved out Of these lands and
| still more than thousand millions of acres remain
unsold What bOundless prospect this affords 70
our country Of future prosperity and power!
/ "a hi horaf ofor -
Of the public land
4 Whilst the public lands as a source Of revenue are
of great Importance their Importance is far greater
as furnishing homes for hardy and independent
race Of honest and industrious citizens who desire
to subdue and cultivate the soil They ought TO be
administered mainly with view Of promoting this
wise and benevolent policy. In appropriating them
for any other purpose, ought to use even greater
economy than if they had been converted into mon
ey and the proceeds already in the public treas
ury. To sauander away this richest and noblesl
I Inheritance Whieh any people have ever enjoyed
upon objects of doubtful constitutionaity or expe
l dieney, would be oYiolafe of the most import
ant trusts ever committed to any people. Whilst
do not deny to Congress the power when acting bona
hde as proprietor, TO give away portions of them
for the purpose Of increasing the value Of the
mainder, yet, considering the greh temptation to
abuse this power, we cannot be too cautious in its
| exercise.
Actual settlers under ex sing laws are protected
against other purchasers the pubic sales IN their
/ ngoto of pre- emptioD, to the extent OF a quarter
section, of l60 acres Of land. Tae remainder mty
theH b. disposed Of at public or catered at private
sale in unlimited Quantities
Speculation has of late years prevailed to great
* ent in the pubic lands. Toe consequence has
been tnst large portions Of them have become toe
/ proper Of individuals and companies, and thus
| the prICe ia gresly enhanced to those who de-
sire 70 purchase tor actual settlement In order to
limit tie area Of speculation as much as possibl'
extinction Of Il lncian title and Il ex ers oa
OF TIE public surveys oog-t o1ly to keep pace
! with Il tide of ennis rliiol. 1900
If Congress should hereafter grant alternate sec
tons TO States or companies, they have done
heretofore, recommend that the inter mediate sec
tons retained by the government should be subject
to presumption by actual settlers.
1t ought ever TO be cardinal policy to reserve
the public lands as much as may be for actual set
tiers, and this at moderate prices We shall thus
net only best promote the prosperity Of the new
States and Territories and the power of the Union,
but shall secure homes for our posterity for many
generations.
The extension Of our limits has brought within
our jurisdiction many additional and populous
tribes Of Indians, large proportion of which are
wild, untraetable and difficult TO control Preda-
tory and warke in their dispositions aud habits, it
Is impossible altogether to restrain them from com
hitting sggressions on each other, as we'll as upou
I
/ distant States and Territories. Hence expensive
military expeditions are frequently necessary to
Over-aEe and ehastse the more laWless and hostile
The present system Of making them valuable pres
ents, to influence them to remain at peace has proved
Intellectual 1t is believed to be the better policy 20
COLOMBO them in suitable localities where they can
receive the rudiments Of education and be gradually
induced to adopt habits Of industry. So far as ex-
pertinent has been tried it has worked well in prao
tee and it VIII doubtless prove to be less expensive
than the present system. 90 -
The whole number of Indians within our territorial
limits is believed to be- from the best data in the In
terror Department, about 325 O0O
The tribes Of CherOkees, ChoctaWs, ChiekasaWs
and Creeks, settled in the territory set apart from
them west Of Arkansas, are rapidly advancing in
education and 10 all the arts of civilization and self.
government; and We may indulge the agreeable ami
ePation that at no very distant day they will bn
incorporated into the Union of the sovereign
States.
1t viii be seen from the report Of The Postmaster
General that the Post Office Department still cen
tnues to depend on the Treasuryas it has been COM
PEELED &c do for several years past for an important
portion Of the means of sustaining ard extending
its operations Their rapid growth and expansions
are shown by decennial statement of the number |
Of post Offices, and the length of post roads, con-
meneing with the year 1927. In that year there |
were 1000 post Offices; in 1897 IL III; 1S47 I5 l46
and in 1851, they number &c. $50. In this year |
LIS post offices have been established and 704 dis
continued, leaving net increase Of OIL The |
post masters of 1858 Offices appointed BY the Pre-
sident
The length of post roads in 1921 was los $50 miles in
1887, l422l2 miles in SAT- 1888 SIS miles and in The
ysar 1857 hsrs are sol mics post road inc udIng
pJrled.
Thsexpsndtues of the department for the fiscal year
ending on the 8OIh Ju1e 1851 adjusted BY the Auditor
there Was TO the credit C tbe department on the LIST Juy
1856 tne sum OF s7S25s9 the gross Of the year
intending the annual allowances for the transportation o.
Tree mail matter, pTodaeec IS 0jS s5t and the remainder
was supplied by the Appropriation from the treasury OF
50 $50 0O0 granted by the act Of Congress approved
gust 49, 1856, and by the appropriation Of S6sg SAG made
BY the act OF March 1857 leaving $l5ZO5 be carried
TO the credit OF the department The accounts OF the
rent year commend TO your consideration the report
OF the department IN relation 10 the establishment Of the
overland mail route from the Mississippi river 10 San
FranciAeo California The route was selected with nv
full concurrence as the one, judgment best calcu
lated 10 attain the important objects contemplated by Con-
grsss. sF r
The late disastrous monetary revulss On nav have one
good effect should Il cause bob the government and the
people 70 return TO the practice of wise and udeious
economy, both IN public and private ex9endi lures.
An Overlooking treasury has led habits of prodigal-
ity and extraVsgauee IN legislation Il has induced
Congress 70 make large appropriations to ObJec for
which they never would have provided bad il been see
sary to raise the amount OF revenue required them
By increased taxation by loans We now compelled
to pause and scruinzs our exDsndtures
with The utmost vigilance aud performing this duty
Psoge my cooperation to Tue extent OF my constitutional
ought to be observed at the time that true pub
lie economy does not consist in Withholding the means
necessary accomplish imp rant national objects en-
trusted 70 rs By The constitution a1d especially such as
may be necessary for the common defence In the pres
ent crisis Of the country, il duty confns our ap
prOpraons % objects Of this character unless eases
where justice to individuals may demand different
In all ouShtto be taken that the money
granted BY Congress shall be faithfully and economically
applied. LII .... t..l. ~. ~ 5
Under the Federal Constitution "every bill which shall
have passed the house OF Repre- senttves and nate
SHALL before becomes law, be approved and sgned
by the Presidenh and il not approved "he shall return il
with his objections to that house which il OrignatSd"
In order TO perform this high and responsible duty sum
cient time must be allowed the Pre- ideJE read and
anime every bill presented to him tor approval. Ualess
this be afforded, the Constitution becomes dad letter
this particular; and worse It becomes Of 4
deception Our constituents, seeing the Presidents sp
prOVal and signature attached TO each act Of Congress-
induced to believe that be has actually performed this
duy. which in truth nothing is in many cases.
founded. I
FrUm the prlctcs Of Congress such an examination OF
each bill the constitution requires been rendsrel
impossible The most impOrtaaI business Of each session
generally crowded into It's Last hours and the atena-
=. to-