The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-12
xould c.rl The special attention of Com.

has been obliged on many occasions to hire
such steamers from individuals to supply its
pressing wants. At the present time we
have no armed vessels in the Navy which
can penetrate the rivers Of China we
have but few which can enter any OF the
harbors south of Norfolk, although many
millions of foreign and domestic commerce
annually pass in and out Of these harbors.
Some OF our most valuable interests and
most vulnerable points are thus left expos
ed, This class Of vessels of light draught
great speed. and heavy guns would be for
midable in coast defence. The cost of their
construction will not be great, and they will
require but comparativelo small eXpendi-
ture to keep them in commission. In time
of peace they will prove as effective as much
larger vessels, and often more useful. One
Of them should be at every station where
We maintain squadron, and three or four
should be constantly employed on our At
lantic and Pacific coasts. Economy, utility,
and efficiency combine to recommend them
as almost indispensable. Ten of these small
vetsels would be of iDcalculable advantage to
the naval service, and the whole cost of their
construction would not exceed two million
three hundred thousand dollars, or $3.50, 900
each.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interi-
or is worthy of grave consideration. 1t
treats of the numerous, important, and di-
versifie, branches Of administration intrust-
ed to him by law. Among these the most
prominent are the public lands and our rela-
tons with the Indians.
Our system for the disposal of the pub
lands. originating with the fathers of the
Republic, has been improved as experience
pointed the way, and gradual adapted to
the growth and settlement Of our western
States and TerritoriaS has wrrkp,I wei
in practice Already thirteen States and Sc
ven Territories have been carved out Of
these lands, and still more than a thousand
millions OF acres remain untold. What
boun1less prospect this presents to our
country Of future prosperity and power.
We have have heretofore disposed of
800, $50 ,46i acres Of the public land
Whilst the public lands as source Of rev
enue are of great importance, their import
ance 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 adj
ministered mainly with view of promoting
this wise and benevolent policy. In appro-
priatins them for any other purpose, we
ought to use even grerter economy than II
teey hat. been converted into money and
the proceeds were already in the public
treasury. To sguander away the richest and
noblest inheritance which any people have
evea enjoyed, upon objects of doubtful con-
tionality or eGpedioncy would be to violate
one OF the most important trusts ever com
United to any people, Whilst do not de-
ny TO Congress the power, when acting
bona iide as proprietor, TO giAe awaw .Or-
tentioes Of them for the purpose of increas-
ing the value of the remainder, yet consid-
ering the great temptation to abuse this
powsr we cannot be TO cautious IN its eXer-
else.
Actual settlers under existing laws protected
against other purchasers 1T the public sales, IN
their right of presumption. the extent of guar
ter section. or 100 acres of land The remainder
NAV then be disposed Of at public or entered at
private sale III unlimited quantities
Speculation has of late years prevailed to great
extent in public lands. The consequence has been
that large portions of them have become the pro
pertw of individuals and companies, and thus the
price Is greatly enhanced to those who desire 10
purthas. for actual settlement In order To limit
the area of speculation much possible fhe eN-
rion of the Indian title and the extension of the
public surveys ought Oaly to Keep pace with the
tide of emigration.
If Congress should hereafter grant alternate sec
tions To States companies. a. they have done
heretofore / recommend that the intermediate sec
tions retained by the Government should be sub
iect 10 pTe-emption BY actual settlers.
IL ought ever to be our cardinal policy TO reserve
the public lands much a. may Tor actual settlers
and this at moderate prices We shall mus not
only best proIete the prosperity OF the new states
and Territories and the power of the Union, but
shall secure homes for our PosterIty Tor many gene
ratOnS
The extension of our limits has brought within
oar jurisdiction many additional and popIious
tribes of Indians, large portion OF which are
wild untractable and difficult 10 control. Preda-
tory and warlikc IN their disposition and habits. II
is impossible altogether to restrain them iToi com
hitting aygrcssOns each other, a. wen a, upon
our frontier citizens and those eHIigratng 10 our
distant States and Territories Hence expensive
military expeditions are frequently necessary 70
overawe and cllaStiSe the more iawlcss and hostile
The present system Of making them valuable
presents To iBtiusnce them 70 remain at peace haS
proved Intellectual IL l. believed To be the better
POLICY 10 coOnize them in suitable localities, where
they can receive the rudiments of educaiIon and
be gradually induced to adopt habits oil industry
80 far as the experiment has been tired 1t has
worked well in practice. and II VIII doubtless prove
10 he les, expensive than the present system.
The whole number Of Indians within our teril-
torial limits Is believed to be from the best data IN
the Interior Department, about 325JOo
The tribes OF Cherokees, Choctaws, Chichasaws,
and Creeks settled IN the territory set apart Tor
them west of Arkansas, are rapidly advancing IN
education and IN all the arts oil civiiIza'l"n ana
selfgOvernment; and We may indulge the aSreea-
bic anticipation that at no very distant day they
will be incorporated into the Cuion as one OF the
sovereign States
twill be seen from the Report Of the Postmas- :
terGeueral that the Post Office Department still |
continues TO depend the treasury. Is II has been
compeIIen TO do for the few years past for an I'M
pOrtant portion Of the means OF sustaining ana eA
tending its operations Their rapid growth ana
evanston are shown by dccennIal statement oi
the number Of pos, offices, and the leng:h Oh posi-
roads, commencing with the year IsZ.; III u.a'
wear there were % post offices; an 1897, Liz;
in Is4- 1915: and IN 1887 they number 26,3>b
In this year rs post Offices have been established
and 1Oi discontinued, leaving net Increase OF
lUzI The po-tmasters Of Jos Offices are appoint
ed BY the President 80.
The length of post roads II ls2. was l01,356
mills: in 1887, al. 2f2 miles; IN 1917, l53,olS
Il .yl.F Al UVIs-H
of post roads, including 22,53J miles Of railroad,
Oh which the mails are transported
The expenditures of the Department for the fiscal
wear ending the 3'th June. l,5I, a adjusted by
the Auditor amounted To ell, 20. $40. To defray
these expenditures there was to the credit OF the
Department ON the LIST July, the sum OF s1sg,59';
the gross Of the year including the annual
allowances for the transportation OF Tree mail mat
ter produced 50, Cj3. 95I; and the remander was
supplied by the appropriation from the treasury OF
$4,000 granted by the act OF congress ap-
proved August Is, 1876, and by the appropriation
II ssf; s{ made bv the act of March 3, 1857, leaA
ing sl5s753 to be carried 10 the credit OF the De
parrment in the accounts oi the current year
recommend 10 your consideration the report OF the
Department relation 10 the establishment oil the
overland mail route from tie Mississippi kiver 10
san Francisco. California The route was selected
with nv full concurrence, the one, III my JudP
menf bes, calculated 10 attain thS important Oh !
iecfs contemplated BIZ Congress
Use late disastrous monetary reg uision may nave |
one good effect should If cause both the eminent
and the people 10 return 10 tine pracuce 9i wise
and judicious economy both in public and private ,
expenditure
An overfowing treasury has led 10 habits OF
prodyaIity and extrav agaDce in our legislation 1t
has iediccd Congress to make large appropriations
TO object, for which they never would have pro-
vided had il been necessary to raise the amount OF
revenue required Ia meet them by an Increased tax
alton OF by loans We are now compelled To pause
in career and 10 scrutinIze our expenditures
with the utmost vigilance, and in performing this
duty pledge my cooperation 10 the extent of my
constitutional competency. tipj< nv A
Ii oucht 10 be Observed at The tine that true