Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-12-19

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| republic, has been improved as experience
pointed the way, and gradually adapted to
the growth and settlement OF our western
States and Territories. 1T has worked well
in practice. Already thirteen States and
seven Territories have been carved out of
these lands, and still more than q thousand
millions OF acres remain unsold. What a
boundless prospect this presents to our coun.
try OF future prosperity and power
We have heretofore disposed Of 3G3e62,-
464 acres of the public land.
Whilst the public lands as o source Of re-
venue are of great Importance, their impor-
tance is far greater as furnishing homes for
a hardy and independent race Of honest and
industrious citizens, who desire to subdue and
cultivate the soil They ought to be admin
istered mainly with a view OF promoting this
wise and benevolent policy. In appropra-
ting them for any other purpose We ought 10
use even greater economy than if they had
been converted into money and the proceeds
were already in the public treasury. To
squander away this richest and noblest iuher-
itance which any people have ever enjoyed
upon objects Of doubtful constitution ally or
expediency, would be to violate one Of the
most important trusts ever committed TO any
people. Whilst do not deny to Congress
the power, when acting bona .jfde as prcpre-
purpose Of increasing the value of the remain
der, yet, considering the great temptation to
abuse this power, We cannot be too cautious
in its exercise.
Actual settlers under existing laws are
protected against other purchasers at the
public sales, in their right of preempton to
the extent of o quarter-Section, or 100 acres
of land. The remainder may then be disposed
OF at public or entered ut private sales in
unlimited quantities.
Speculation has Of late years prevailed TO
o great extent in the public lands. The con-
sequence has been that large portions of them
have become the property of individuals and
companies and thus the price is greatly en-
HANGED to those who desire to purchase for
actual settlement. In order to limit the area
olspeculation as mnch as possible, the ex-
tinction of the Indian title and the extension
of the public surveys ought only to keep pace
with the tide of emigration.
IF Congress should hereafter grant alter.
nate sections to States or companies, as they
have done heretofore, recommend that the
immediate sections retained By The govern
ment should be subject by pre-emption to
actual settlers.
1t ought ever TO be our cardinal policy 10
reserve the public lands as much rs many 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, 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
popuous tribes of Indians, q large portion OF
which are wild untractable aud difficult 10
control. Predatory and warlike in their dis.
position and habits, it is impossible altogether
TO restain them from committing aggressions
on each other, as well rs upon our frontier
citizens and those emigratng to our distant
States and Territories. Hence expensive
+ military expeditions are frequently necessary
TO overawe and chastise the more lawless and
hostile.
The present system OF making them valua.
BILE presents, to influence them to remain at
peace has proved Intellectual 1t is believed
to be the better policy to colonize them in
suitable localities, where they can receive the
rudiments or education and be gradually in.
duced to adopt habits of industry So far as
experiment has been tried it has worked well
in practice, and it will doubtless prove to be
less expensive than the present system.
The whole number of Indians within our
territorial limits is believed to be, from the
best data in the Interior department, above
325, 900.
The tribes of Cherotees, Choctaws, Chick.
asaws, and Creeks, settled in the territory set
apart for them west Of Aarkansas,' are rapid.
ly advancing in education and in all the nrts
OF civilization and selEgovernment aud We
may indulge the agreeable anticipation that al
no very distant day they will be incorporated
into the Union as one of the sovereign States
1t will be seen frc,n tho report of the
POSTMASTER GGueral that the Post Office De-
pnrtment still continues to depend on the
Treasury, as it has been compelled to do for
: several years past, for an important portion
of the means Of sustaining and extending It's
operations. Their rapid growth and expan
sions are shown by decennal statement Of
the number Of post Offices, and the length o
post roads, commencing with the year 1927
, In that year there were 1000 post Offices il
> 1887, ll,l7T; in lS47, IL, lac; aud in 1857
r they numbered 2G,5S6. ln this year l72!
: post Offices have been established and TO-
| discontinued, leaving net increase of 1921
f The postmasters OF 500 Offices are appointe,
by the President.
# The length of post roads in lS225. Eaas &c 8
II 33G miles in 1887, l4l,242 miles; in l64-
S l53,Sl6 miles; and in the year 1851 there ar
: 242, ,G0l miles OF post road including 22, SO
miles of railroad on whith the mails ar
i transported.
y The expenditures OF the department fo
jf the fiscal year ending on the 30th June, 1851
e as adjusted by the Auditor amounted {
n Sll,5O7 go. TO defray these expenditure
i there was TO the credit Of the department, o
e the lst of July 1857 the sum of $7S9,599
n the gross revenue of the year including tn
,f annual allowances for the transportation {
n free mail matter, produced SS,053 s5l, an
h the remainder was supplied by the appropr
l. alton from the treasury ofS2 900 granite
r. by the act OF Congress approved August
Is 1856, and by the appropriation of S666,SS;
<. made by the act Of March 3, 1857, leavin
$3.50, 763 to be carried to the credit of the Dc
t. partment in the accounts of the current yea
i commend TO your consideration the repoi
ir of the department in relation 10 he establish
II ment of the overland mail route from tn
j. Mississippi river to San Francisco Califo
le MIA. The rOute was selected with my fu
IA concurrence as the one, in my judgmeD
le calculated 10 attain the important Object
'e contemplated by Congress.
q The late disastrous monetary revulsior
cy botn@aye one good effect should it caus
is turn to the prsJnent and the people TO r,
Id economy both in public antse and judiciou