, 1858-01-22

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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 exposed.
This class Of vessels Of light draught great
speed and heavy guns, would be formidable
in coast defence. The cost OF their con
struction will not be great, and they will
require but a comparatively 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 Atlantic and Pacific coasts Economy,
utility and efficiency combine TO recommend
them as almost Indispensable Ten of these
small vessels would be of incalcuable ad-
vantage to the naval service, and the whole
cost Of their construction would not exceed
two million, three hundred thousand dollars,
or $4,000 each.
The report of the Secretary Of the Irte-
rior is worthy of grave consideration. 1t
treats Of the numerous, important and di-
versiied branches Of domestic admnistra-
lion intrusted to him by law. Among
these the most prominent are the public
lands and our 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 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 thous-
and millions remain unsold. What a
boundless prospect this presents to our
country of future prosperity and power
We have heretofore disposed of 500, ,s62,-
AGA acres of the public land.
Whilst the public lands as a source Of
revenue are Of the greatest Importance,
their Importance is far greater MS 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 pur.
pose, we ought to use even greater econo.
my than if they had been converted into
money and the proceeds were already in
the public treasury. To squander away
this richest and noblest inheritance which
any people have ever enjoyed upon objects
Of doubtful constitutionality or expediency
would be to violate one Of the most impor-
tant trusts ever committed to any people
Whilst L do not deny to Congress the pow
er, when acting bona fde as a proprietor,
to give away portions of them for the pur-
pose of increasing the value of the remand
er, yet, considering the great temptation to
abuse this power, we cannot be too cautious
in its exercise.
Actual settlers under existing laws arc
protected against other purchasers at the
public sales, in their right of pre-emption,
to the extent Of quarter-sectiOn, or l6O
acres Of land. The remainder may then be
disposed Of at public or entered at private
sale in unlimited quantities.
Speculation has Of late years prevailed to
a great extent in the public lands. The
consequence has been that large portions
Of them have become the property of indi
vduals and companies, and thus the price
is greatly enhanced to those who desire tc
purchase for actual settlement. In order t
limit the area Of speculation as much a,
possible, the extinction 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 intermediate sections retained by
the government should he subject to pre-,
emtion by actual settlers.
1t ought ever to be our cardinal policy
to reserve the public lands as much as may
be for actual settlers, and this at moderate
Y prices. We shall tins not only best pro
mote the prosperity Of the new States and
Territories, and the power Of the Union
but shall secure homes for our posterity fol
many generations.
The extension Of our limits has brought
within our jurisdiction many additional aud
populous tribes of Indians, large proper
tion Of which are wild, untractabls, and diff
fcult to control Predatory and warlikt
in their disposition and habits, it is impos
sible altogether to restrain them from com
mitting aggressons on each other, as wei
upon our frontier citizens and those cmigra
ting to our distant States and Territories
Hence expensive military expeditions are
frequently necessary to overawe and chas
tise the more lawless and hostile.
The present system Of making them val
liable presents to influence them to remain
at peace has proved Intellectual. 1t is be
lieved TO be the better policy to coloniz(
them in suitable localities, where they car
receive the rudments of education and be
gradually induced to adopt habits of indus
try. So far as the experiment has beer
tried it has worked well in practice, and il
will doubtless prove to be less expensive
than the present system.
The whole number of Indians within ouI