Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-08

ETY. OF the recommendations contained IN my iss
report first that in spirit Of liberay 70 all settlers
upon unofered lands years should be allowed from
the date of settlement within which to make proof and
payment snd second thati should be made incumbent
upon the Executive to offer at public sale, by procama-
ton within two years alter survey all the hnos tnas
/ have not been Gained by settlers.
'sThe income from the public lands during four years
past has not been great as was expected Ine com
mercal revulsion Of 1857 followed as 1t was by short
crops in most Of the new States and Territories, checked
emigration and also the inclination OF capitalists to make
further investments But this is not the sole cause OF
the reduction in this The manner oil oiPosng
of the public lands has been made atopc OF ponca ais
cusson and whilst emigrant families have MADE
settlements and delayed giving the proper notice. or ma
| king any payments in the expectation OF donation,
other persons who are contemplating emigration, have
deferred their removal from their old homes and the pur-
chase Of lands for settlement awaiting some definite leg
islaton upon the subject Should the discussion oil al
teraous in our land system cease it believed that the
revenue derived from sales would speedily rise to rea-
sonabe annual average especially if the quantity OF I'M
located land outstanding should continue TO d.
| minish from year to year as for three years past
The controversy in relation TO the title TO the four sec
tons of lands at the Hot Springs in Arkansas is review
ed and the conclusion arrived at that there is no reason
for reservng the title in perpeuiy It therefore recon-
mened that the disposal OF the four sections be provided
for Reference is next made TO the grant OF lands TO
Iowa to improve the navigation of the Des Mones river;
and the grant Wisconsin TO improve the Fox and WIS
consin rivers The action of the Interior Department
concerning these grants fully set FORTH as is also the
progress of the public surveys in Washington Territory
It recommended that the Surveyor General OF the Ter
ritory be authorized TO decide upon the validity oil the
claims Of the Pugets Sound Agricultural Society, and
determine upon their location with the view OF final
settlement
The operations of the Indian Office next reviewed.
Peace has prevailed during the year among the treaty ln-
dams with the exception Of the Koways whose ncreas-
ing turbulence would TO render military opera
lions advisable The same may be said OF the IGnc-
tOnuas and CutHeadbands of the Sioux. The secretary
at length our general Indian pohcy,
| and concludes
Il am strengthened in the conviction expressed in my
last annual report that the only plan that holds out any
hope for the decayng aboriginal races TO conhne them
to sua tribal reservations having well defined exterior
boundaries that the intercourse laws be enforced
thereon and TO divide these reservations into farms oil
moderate dimensions be held in severay by the in-
dydua members of the tribe with all the rights incl
dent to an in fee simple except that of aiena-
ton. Annuties should be paid, not in money by in
goods provisions agricultural plements and seeds, aud
authority should be given the agents to discriminate
10 their distribution between the Industrious aud the idle
the orderly and the thrfess These ideas form the ba-
sis OF all the Indian treaties which have been negotiated
during your administration and will suggest that they
should be established by law the fixed policy OF the
government
The colonization system tried with the Indians in Tex
as and California failure, and modification Is sug-
gested Protection has been given the Cherokees from
unauthozd settlements upon portion OF their terrific
nv known as the Neutral Land. Various other Indian
tribes are referred to- and the rerauser Of the superyi
lion Of the Indian Bureau TO the War Department re-
commended.
The whole number Of pensioners of all classes now re-
manning on the rolls Of the Pension Office is ll2S4 and
the required pay their pensions ISL DOL OlS o.
During the past year the amount thus expended was
81, los. 562 OS.
Although there appears to have been buta slight dmi
mutton in the work of the Pension Office yet such is the
condition of the business that it will admit of eonsde
abe reduction ofhe clerical force during the next year.
and reduction Of S2S 200 in expenses.
The reorganization of the Patent Office Bureau is again
recommended the labor therein is The in
Of the office for the three quarters ending sep'em-
Der 3Oth Sl97 CAS- 40, and the expenditures $780,
672 %, showing a surplus Of 1876 IL. During this
period 80 63S applications for pateuts received and
81 caveats fled SOLE applications rejected; 500
patents issued including reissues additional improve
and designs. In addition there were ~ aPpca-
tons for extensions and ~ patents were extended Tor
period of years from the expiration of their first
term
An appropriate reference is made to the subject Of
agriculture as zone of the main pillars OF the prosperity
aud power Of any country" Satisfactory arrangements
have been made, under the appropriations Of Congress
az is last session. 10 procure the best varieties Of
Is and ohattings of every useful plant and vegetable
Il is manifest says the repOrt) that when We nave re-
ceiyed adequate supply OF the different plants and
seeds adapted TO our various soils aud climate and have
developed our agricultural resources ul
United must become the granary OF the T9gdg WITH all
practicable speed. The expense will exceed that of the
last census by S2i5 900, 1.-THE total cost now being ST.
OOO including 81 SO3OOO to be paid TO United States
marshas and deputies This increased cost Is owing to
the augmentation of population and the various branches
Of industry. The superintendent s Of opinion that be
will be enabled during the present session OF Congress
not only to report the apporonment IN the hiryeghth
Congress- but present 70 that body the population OF
I - - tft, Ntgka Of
agriculture manufactures and mn6-. The information
already obtained indicated that population has kept
pace with its ordinary natural progress and that the In
crease in the productions Of agriculture manufactures
and mines will show accelerated advance in material
/ prosperity.
The establishment of Bureau Of Statistics, and some
change in the Judiciary laws, suggested the latter
for the purpose Of surely prosecuting parties charg
ed with being engaged IN the African slave trade All
the facts relating the recapured slaves brought to Key
West and subsequently returned to Africa at the ex
pense Of our government concisey set forth, aud
many reforms suggested.
The affirs of the District of Columbia are commend.
ed 70 the attention OF Congress. all aud better
courtroom accommodations are required The govern
ment hospital for the insane is in a satisfactory cond-
ton Ga the LIST Of July last 1t contained lG7 inmates
The grounds around the buildings should be laid off aud
improved and the necessary appropriation recommend
Cd
The Columbian Institution for the instruction Of the
deaf and dumb and blind prosperous and for the year
ending June SOh taught "a mutes and blind persons
It's receipts were S6,5O926 and payments SC, sos CO.
The State Of Maryland has recently made provision for
placing pupils in this institution The buildings and
grounds are found net bs sufficiently c9pscious and
the aid Of Congress is invoked on behalf OF The institu
| ton.
The Penitentary of the District Is not, as It in
eaded be- seluppOrting, and it is therefore
| mended that law be passed allowing able-boded con-
vcs to 10 employed in grading and improving the public
grounds around the arsenal and that all oOnycts sorv
ng out their terms without characterization nfracon
OF the rules of the prison. be piii small per centnm
| upon the value of labor performed.
The successful completion OF the Fort kerney South
Pass and Honey Lake wagon road announced and the
SuoeI tegdsnt commended for his indomtable energy
The El Paso and Fort Yuma Rad is also anshed TIE
progress Of the several parties engaged in surveying
boundary lines is FORTH aud Mr.. Thompson closes bis
interesting report by speaking Of tn, ability and fidelity
Of the Bureau officers and the intelligence and general
good conduct Of ds SeFEa Of the Interior Department
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIE
! NAVY.
The annual 7epoT Of the Hon. Isaac Toucey Secretary
Of the Navy, discusses many subjects Of interest," aud
makes a number of important recommendation all OF
which will be at glance in the suboined abstract
The Secretary COMMENCES with the report of the board
Of officers appointed examine into the eKpedienpy Of
converting the sailing ships Of the navy into efficient
steamers The board considered ineIpeden to intro,
duce steam power into any except shps Of the line all Of
which (eght in number IL is proposed TO alter thus, ex-
cep the Delaware too defective to permit it. These
ships (which consist Of the Alabama Virginia. Vermont,
! Ohio, North Careiina, Eew York. Columbus aud Penn
syyania 70 be raced and converted into tstclass
steam igstes. Steamers like the Minnesota lforty in
number cost S25 600 eaOh yhsTeas the proposed alter
| ,Ia encfh hut. TO- tha