The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-24


other purpose, We ought to use even greater
economy than IL they had been converted into
money, and the proceeds were already in the
public Treasury To sqaander away the rich.
est and noblest inheritance which any people
have ever enjoyed, upon objects Of doubtful.
constitutionality OF expedency. would be to vii
olate one of the most important trusts ever
committed to any people. Whilst ! do not de-.
ny TO Congress the power. when acting bona
hde ~ u proprietor, TO give away portions VI
them for theSpurposs Of increasing the value Of
the remainder, yet, considering tae great temp
tation TO abuse this power, we cannot be too
cautious in its exercise.
Actual settler under existing laws are pro-
tected against other purchases ut the public
sales, in their right Of pre'enption, to the ex.
tent OF quarter section, or l60 acres OF land.
The remainder may then he disposed Of at pub
lie or entered ut private sale In Unlimited guam.
titles.
Speculation has Of late years prevailed to
great extent in the public lands. The conse'
quence has been that large portions Of them
have become the property OF individuals aud
companies, and thus the price II greatly en-
HANGED TO those who desire TO purchase tor
actual settlement. 10 order to limit the area
OF speculation as much as possible. the extinc
ton of the Indian title and the extension OF the
public surveys ought only TO keep pace with the
tide OF emigration.
II Congress should hereafter grant alternate
sections to States or companies, a. they have
done heretofore, recommend that the inter
mediate sections retained by the government
should be subject to presumption by actual
settlers.
Il ought ever TO be our cardinal policy to
reserve the public lands rs much 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, aud
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, untractable, and difficult to control
Predatory and warlike in their disposition and
habits. IT is impossible altogether TO restrain
them from committing aggressions on each
other, ~ well as upon our frontier citizens and
those emigrating TO our distant States and Ter
ritores. Hence expensive military expeditions
are frequently necessary to Overawe and chas-
tise the more lawless and hostile.
The present system Of making them valuable
presents to influence them to remain 1T peace
has proved Intellectual. II is believed TO be the
better policy to colonize them In suitable local
lite where they can receive the rudiments OF
education and be gradually induced TO adopt
habits OF industry. 80 far as the experiment
has been tried it has worked well in practice.
and il will doubtless prove TO he less expensive
than the present system.
The whole number OF Indians within our ter
ritorial limits Is believed 10 be, from the best
data in the Interior Department, about 5000.
The tribes Of Cherokces Choctaws, ChEka.
saws and Creeks. settled IN tho territory set
apart for them west Of Arkansas. are rapidly
advancing in education and in all the arts OF
civilization and self government and we may
indulge the agreeable anticipation that al no
distant day they will be incorporated into the
Union a. one Of the sovereign States.
1t will be seen from The report Of the Post
master General that the Post Office Depart
mont still continues to depend on the treasury.
az it has been compelled to do Tor several
years past, for AN important portion OF the
NEAR OF sustaining and extending its opera
tons. Their rapid growth and expansion are
shown by a decennal statement of the number
Of post Offices. and the length Of post roads,
commencing with the year isl1. In that year
there were 1000 post offices; in 1881, IL III;
in lsi7. lac; and in lsj7, they number De-
$50 In this year 72j post offices have been
established and 20! discontinued, leaving net
increase Of Loci. The posimasters Of 35s Of.
fees are appointed by the President.
The length OF the post roads IN Isl, was lGJ,-
1886 miles: in 1887, al. 2t2 miles; in ls.7 l53,.
81, miles: and IN the year l~i1 there are 2i2,
COL miles Of post road. inclu ling 1850 miles Of
railroad on which the mails are transported.
The expenditure OF the department Or the
fiscal year ending on the J0'h June, 1887. a. sd-
justed by the Auditor, am0unted' TO 81 ,507. go.
To defray these expenditures there was to the
credit Of the department on the LIST July, 1906,
the sum of t7s3, 5J3; the gross revenue Of the
year, including the annual allowances for the
transportation Of free mail matters, produced
1853 gil; and the remainder was supplied by
the appropriation from the treasury OF s2,L,0,-
900, granted by the act Of Congress approved
August 1850 and by the appropriation Of $500,
ss3 made by the act OF March 3, lS51, leaving
q -.E ts.I h. ..l Ia d..
partmcnt in the accounts 81 the current year
] commend TO your consideration the report Of
the department In relation 10 the establishment
of the overland mail route from the Mississippi
River TO san Francisco. California. The route
was selected with my full concurrence, as tie
one, in my judgment, best calculated TO alta
the important objects contemplated by Con
gress.
The late disastrous monetary reVulsion may
have one good effect should II cause both the
government and the people 10 return TO the
practice Of wise and jadlcious economy both
in public and private expenditures
An overlooking treasury has led to habits OF
prOdlgality and extravaganza iR our legislation.
II has induced Congress TO make large sppro-
priattons 10 objects for which they never would
have provided had II been necessary TO raise
the amount Of revenue required 10 meet them
by increased taxation or by ioans. We are
now compelled 10 pause ia our career, and 10
scrutiuize our expenditures with the utmost
vigilance; and in performing this duty, pledge
my cooperation 10 the extent o. my consiiin.
tional competency.
II ought 30 be observed at the same time
that true public economy does not consist in
withholding the means necessary 10 accomplish
important national objects intrasted to US BY
the constitution, and especially sucs as may lie
necessary for the common defence. 10 the
present crisis Of the country, Il ia our duty a.
conhne our appropriation. 10 object. Of ths
character. unless IN eases where justice 10 indi
viduAls may demand different course. In all
cases care ought to be taken that the money
granted by Congress snail be faithfully aud eco
nomic ally applied.
THE yETo PO.EE-
Under the federal Constitution. every bill
which shall have passed the House Of Repre-.
septs'iVes and the Senate shall, before IL he.
comes law. be approved and signed by the
President: ADD, II not approved, ''hs shah re-
turn h with his objections to that house in
which II originated" 10 order % perform TIA.
high aad responsible daty, .gfcien, time mas,
be allowed the Presldsn; to read and examine