The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-12-18
Volume l0--No. SO.

o'oOD, iOo ~. Inc postal receipts vi
that year were 2,64j,I22 10 less than
those Of 1868. The decrease sine,
1860 in the annual amount of trans.
portation has been only about 25 PEI
cent. lt is manifest, therefore. tha
the Post office Department NAV be-
come self-sustainiug in n few years.
even with the restoration of the whole
service. The International Confer.
ence of postal delegates from the
principal countries of Europe and
America, which was called at the sug.
gcstion of the Postmaster. C. eneral
met at Paris on the 1lth Of Nav last.
and concluded itsdelibcrations on the
Sth of June. The principles cstab
lishedby the Conference as bestadapt
cd to facilitate postal intercourse bc
tween nations, and as the basis o
future conventions to inaugurate ,
general system Of uniform internn
tional charges at reduced rates o
postage, cannot fail to produce bene
llcial results.
THE DEPARTMENT or TuH INTERIOR.
I refer you to the report Of the See
retary of the Interior. which il here
with laid before you, for the uselu
and varied Information in relation t,
public lands. Indian affairs, patents
pensions, and other matters Of publ,
concern pertaining TO his department
The quantity of lands disposed OF du
ring the last and the first quarter oI
the present fiscal year, was 1851 81!
acres of which l6l,01l acres wer,
sold for cash, l,456,5ll acres were
taken up under the homestead law
and the residue disposed Of under
laws granting lands for military boun
ties, for railroads and other purposes
II also appears that the sale OF pnblic
lands is largely on the increase. n
has long been a cherished opinion OF
some OF ON Wiscst Statesmen that ti,,
people of the United States had 4
higher and more enduring interest III
the early settlement and substantial
cultivation Of the public lands than IN
the amount Of direct revenue To be
derived from the sale Of them. This
opinion has had controlling mhn
encc in shaping legislation upon the
subject of our national domain.
l may cite as an instance of this the
liberal measures adopted in reference
TO active settlers, the grant TO the
States Of the overilowed lands within
their limits, in order to their being
reclaimed and rendered tit for cult
walton. The grant to railroad com
panics of alternate sections Of lanC
upon the contemplated lines of thei
road when completed, will largely
mGiCipiy the i,lciiitins- of rcachina on
distant possessions. This policy hai
received its most signal and bcneiicen
illustration in the recent enactment.
granting homcsteads to actual settlers
Since the first day OF January last. tn,
aforementioned quantity Of one mill
ion four hundred and fifty six thou
sand five hundred and fourteen acres
OF land had been taken up under its
provisions.
This fact and the amount Of sales
furnish gratifying evidence of tho
Increasing settlement upon the public
lands, DC, Notwithstanding the great
struggle in which the energies of the
nation have been engaged, and which
has required so large Withdrawal o.
our citizens from their accustomed
pursuits. cordially concur in tn,
recommendation OF the Secretary o
the Interior, suggesting modillca
ton of the act in favor of thoce en-
gagged in the military and naval ser.
vice of the United States. | doubt
not that congress will checrfully ADOPT
such measures as will, with out essen
TALLY changing the general feature,
of the system direct to the grcates
practicable extent its benefits to thos,
who have left their homes in defens,
of the country in this arduous crisis
] invite your attention to the view,
OF the Secretary Of the Interior n,
to the propriety Of raising by appro
pirate legislation, n revenue from th,
mineral lands of the United States.
The measures provided at youl
last session for the removal of GER
tain Indian tribes have been carried
into effect. Sundrv treaties have
been negotiated, which will in due
time be submitted to the constitution.
al action Of the Senate. They con.
tain stipulations for distinguishing
the posscssors rights of the Intlianl
to largo and valuable tracts Of land
1t is probable that the effects Of these
treaties will result in the establish
ment Of permanent friendly relation,
with such OF those tribes AS have beer
brought into frequent and blood,
collisions with our outlying settle
ments and emigrants. The soumc
policy and our imperative duty to
these wards of Government demand
our anxious and constant attention
TO their material well being, TO thei
progress in the arts of civilization
and, above, all, to that moral trainin.
which under the blessings of divin,
Providence will confer npon them tn,
elevated and sanctiiying influence o
the hopes and consultations of tn,
Christian faith, | suggested in my
last annual message the propriety o
remedying our Indian sys6em. sub
sequent events have satisfied me o
its necessity. The details set fortl
in the report OF the Secretary vii
evince the urgent need for immediat,
Legislative action. commend TIN