The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-17

auguratc general system Of uniform
international charges at uniform rate,
Of postage, cannot fail TO produce ben
eficial results.
l refer you to the report Of the Sec
retary ofthe Interior, which is here.
with laid before you, for the useful and
varied information in relation to pub =
lie lands, Indian affairs, patents. pen.
slons, and other matters Of public con.
Germ pertaining to his department.
The quantity OF lands disposed Of du.
ring the last and the first quarter Of
the present fiscal years, was three mill
ion, eight hundred and forty one thou
sand, five hundred and forty nine acres;
OF which one hundred and sixty one
thousand, nine hundred and eleven
acres were sold for cash; one million
four hundred and fifty six thousand,
five hundred and fourteen acres We're
taken up under the homestead law,
and the residue disposed Of under
laws granting lands for military boun-
ties, for railroads and other purposes.
1t also appears that the sale Of the pub
lie lands is largely on the increase. 1t
has long been a cherished opinion of
some Of our wiscst Statesmen that the
people ofthe United States had high
er and more enduring interest in the
early settlement and substantial cult
walton Of the public lands, than in the
amount OF direct revenue to be deriv-
ed from the sale of them. This opin-
ion has had controlling influence in
shaping legislation upon the subject of
our national domain. ] may cite. as
an instance Of this, the liberal meas
ures adopted in reference to active set
tiers and the grant to the States Of the
overfowcd lands within their limits. in
order to their being reclaimed and rem
dered fit for cultivation. The grant
to railroad companies Of alternate sec.
tons ofland upon the contemplated
lines OF toeir roads when completed
will largely multiply the facilities Of
reaching our distant possessions This
policy has received its IN, st signal and
beneticcnt illustration in recent enact
ments. granting homcsteads to act.
uaI settlers. Since the first day OF
January last, the before mentioned
quantity Of | ,45G,514 acres of land has
been take up under it's provisions
This fact, and the amount Of sales, fur.
nlsh gratifying evidence Of the increas.
ing settlement upon the public lands
Notwithstanding the great struggle in
which the energies OF the nation have
been engaged. and which has requir.
ed so large a Withdrawal of our citiz-
ems from their accustomed pursuits
| cordially concur in the recommend
alton of the Secretary of the interior
suggesting modification of the act
in favor Of those engaged in. the mill
tary and naval service of the United
States. doubt not that Congress vii
cheerfully adopt such measures as will
without essentially changing the gen.
eral features of the system. reserve. tC
the greatest practicable extent, its ben.
etits to those who have left their home,
in defense Of the country.in this ardu
GUS crisis.
| invite your attention to the view:
of the Secretary of War, as to the pro
priety ofraising, by appropriate legis
Iation, revenue from the minera
lands of the United States.
The measures provided at Your las
session for the removal Of certain Indial
tr bes, have been carried into effect
Sundry treaties have been negotiated
which will, in due time, be submittcC
for the constitutional action of the Sen
ate. They contain stipulations for eX
tinguishing the possessvc rights ofthO
Indians to large and valuable tracts 0
land. 1t is probable that the effects 0
these treaties will result in the estab
lishment of permanent friendly rela
tions with such of those tribes as havJ
been brought into frequent and bloody
collisions with our ut-laying settle
ments and emigrants. Sound policy
and our imperative duty these ward
Of Government, demand our anxiou
and constant attention to their mate
rial well being, to their progress in tn,
arts of civilization, and, above all, +,
that moral training which, under th
blessings of Divine Providence, vii
confer upon them the elevated and sane
tifying influence of the hopes and con
solations of the Christian faith.
/ suggested in my last annual mes
sage the propriety of remedying oul
Indian system. Subsequent event
have satisfied me of its necessity. TIL,
details set forth in the Report of tn,
Secretary will evince the urgent neeC
for immediate legislative action.
l commend the benevolent insttu
tions established or patronized by tn,
Government, in this District, to you
generous and fostering care.
The attention of Congress, during thu
last session, was engaged, to some ex
tent, with position for enlarging tn,
water communication between thcMis
sissippi River and the northeastern sea
board, which proposition, however
failed for the time. Since then, upon d
call of the greatest responsibility, @
Convention has been held at Chicago
upon the same subject, II summary Of
whose views is contained in memo.
rial addressed to the President andCon.
gress. and which now have the hon.
or to lay before you. That this inter.
est is one which, ere long, will force
its own way do not entertain doubt
wh;Ie II 10 suhmittnd entirely tn your