Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-01-05
Report of the Secretary of the 1nterio,

Report of the Secretary of the Interior
 The report of the secretary of the interior, Hon. Jacob Thompson, is an elaborate, able and instructive state paper, and contains matter no less interesting to the philanthropst than to the statesman.
 The first portion is devoted to the disposal of that magnificent and unparalleled national her- tage, our public lands What noble field is there here for new states and hence for the wid- ening of the area of free institutions! Our pub lie domain covers, exclusive of water, one thou- sand four hundred and fifty millions of acres, stretching across the continent; embracing every variety of climate and soil; abounding in agri- cultural and mineral wealth; everywhere invit- ing to enterprise and yielding support to man. What We got by purchase was received with n- dividual owners who held their property under foreign titles; the contrast of these grants with our system of division, shows the difference ln the modes of distributing land, between mo- narchical government, which comedies to favor- ties of princes immense bodies of the choicest lands, and our republic which subdivides terri tory so as to deal with every citizen in spirit of enlarged lberality. The secretary, in his statesmanlike exposition, warmly and justly commends the existing policy of favorng the actual settler, as humane and wise and just" The hardy pioneer, in subdung the forest, rem ders positive service to the country, and Tor this country to deny him the right to home, "would be a crying injustice"
 Immediately following this excellent view of our public lands, is an instructive account of our Indian population. They number three hun dred and twenty five thousand, and one of the great mears of their civilization, the secretary regards to be policy that shall familiarize them with the idea of separate property; that shall divide their reservations into farms of suitable size, and distribute them among individuals, to be'hed as their private estate, without the power of alternating it except to one of their own tribe; and thus of giving each home, and filling it with blankets furniture, and the comforts of home, and training up the children in schools and to labor. Here they would be taught the great truths that labor is honorable, and that want and suffering inevitably follow in the train ofiimprovidence and idleness" Thus far, attempts to secure to the Indians their lands have been thwarted by spectators and hence the occasion of the secretary's humane sugges- tions.
 It is cheering to read the accounts of the four great tribes of Choctaws, Chickasaws, Chero- kees and Greeks, and portion of the Semi noles Their condition has steadily improved in morals, in education in the comprehension of and respect for the rights of persons and of property, and in knowledge of the theory and principles of government. They have regularly organized governments, constructed upon the model of our own, state constitutions, governors, legislatures, codes of laws, and ju- dlclal magistrates to expouad them. There the path of duty is plain. Every encourage ment should be held out to them to perseverc Tn well doing until the period arrives When ripe for citizenship, they shall be admitted 10 the full enjoyment of all its rights and privil- eges''
 The business details of this report are given with great clearness and the accompanying suggestions indicate just economy and yet a liberal spirit. Thus, in urging on congress the necessity of remedial measures on the patent laws the secretary remarks that such action is demanded by :" the activity and success of the inventive genius of the country" and that |" the limited circumstances of this worthy class of onr fellow citizens are badly prepared to brook delay or expense in the prescott ion of their claims"
 When so general an effort is made to pervert or deprecate every thing that comes from the south, it is well to remember that this truly democratic view of the way in which the pub- lie domain shall be parcelled out to actual set tiers; this humane Indian policy; and this re- spect for mechanical labor, are from a southern statesman, and one of the class often held up by the fanatic enemies to labor. Such sug- gestions are honorable to the head of this de- partment, aud give assurance to the country, that the important concerns entrusted to this branch of the public service will suffer no de- triment in the hands of the present incumbent.