The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24

the States under the swamp improvement and
other grants OF the twenty.four millions OF
acres granted since l849 to railroads in differ.
ent States, ten States and one Territory nearly
twenty-one millions were disposed of by the last
Congress. The bounty land warrants TO eff.
cers and soldiers granted since le47 cover nearly
itty-four millions Of acres. (which about thirty.
! eight have been located Under this head. there
are still awaiting location about fifteen millions
of acree.
! The views of the Commissioner touching the
policy of the Government in the disposal of the
puohc domain favor the interests of the actual
settlers, and oppose any policy that would allow
monopoly In the hands of spectators. Upen
this subject, he uses the following language:
" The wisdom of the presumption policy is no
| longer the subject of controversies is estab-
lished by the history of every neighborhood and
settlement throughout the West This ia said
IN full view of the fact that many fraudulent
pre-enptlon claims are established by invasion
and perjury; and that such will be the case.
even under the most diligent administration Of
tnis and the local Offices, especially during peri
DDS such az that through which we have recsntlv
passed, whsre the spirit of speculation has DOS
session OF the public mind
" But this class of cases, when compared with
tne great BODY Of honest claims made by men
iVing upon the lands, is too ipconsiderable to
weigh against our policy. The title to the lands
should psss Immediately from the Government
70 the men who are TO cultivate the soil. so
far as It may be avoided, the Spectator should
not be allowed to intervene. With view to
uniformity and prscticsbiiity in the system, i'm
portant amendments of the presumption laws
are recommended"
The report shows an activity in cur survey.
Ing operations, during the five quarters endicg
September 30, 1857, beyond that of any prece-
ding period; and that the quantity of new lands
now liable to be disposed of exceeds, by many
millions of acres, the surveyed lands of any
former period.
On the Pacific slope, the surveys have been
pushed with extraordinary rapidly. Upwards
OF eighty thousand miles have been executed
IN California, at the expense of million of
dollars.
report OF the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
The report of General Denver, the Commits.
sloner of Indian Affairs, concurs in the views
OF his predecessor, that our Indian policy has
two radical mistakes First the lands assigned
TO them are too large secondly, the payment
OF large annuities. The former prevents the
Indians from acquiring settled habits the lat
ter causes them to foster q feeling OF depend.
ence and habits of idleness, exposing them to
the wiles and Vaccinations Of inhuman trafick.
ers In ardent spirits, unprincipled gamblers,
and greedy and avaricious traders and specula
tors. No more land ought to be given them
than they can cultivate; they should not be
allowed to lease or sell their lands, EXCEPT to
members Of their respective tribes, and their
annuities should be used for the erection of
schools and mechanics shops. Especially, they
should be relieved of the presence of worthless
ldlers and Migrants of their own tribes, whose
wild habits and rsviDg disposition preclude
them from settling down quietly and orderly
Little information has been obtained respecting
the actual condition and feeling of the Utah In
dinns towards the United States, but it is be-
lieved by the head of the department to be gen.
orally hostile.
The report recommends the investigation and
final settlement of the claims for supplies fur.
nlshed the lLdiau service In California in 1851
and 1882, tor whicb special appropriation was
made by Congress in July, 1854.
The necessity ofspeedlly coming to some set
ington Territories is sso strongly ehf5ffced lby
the Commissioner. lie represents the state of
affairs III those Territories as exceedingly crit.
zeal, owing to the ncu-rgt6 cation Of our treaties
with the different trlDea.
lac Commissioners suggests the propriety of
acquiring from the Cherokees 500, 600 acres,
on winch the whites have already made settle
Lnents, entirely against toe law, and which the
Indians are wiling TO dispose Of.
The colonization of the Texas Indians on the
reservations set apart By thai Stale is progress
ing favoraby.
The Indians in New Mexico are beginning to
have come understanding aud appreciation of
bur power and resources, and the necessity of
heir preserving peace with one another and
with the whites