Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-11

1 .. O7o - ~, lies tuau tnOot VI iOuo.
the decrease Ia 1860 10 the actual amount
transportation has been only abO1t 25 per cent
but this annual. tx ,endture ON account of ii
same has been reduced 35 per cent. 1t is m u
fest, Therefore, that the Post Office Departmer
may become self-sustaining in Few yesrs. eve
with the restoration of the whole service.
The International conference of Postal Dell
gates from the principal countries of Europe an
America, which was called at the suggestion
the Postmaster General, met at Paris on th
1lth OF May last, aud concluded its deliberi
tions on the 8th of June. The principles estal
lished by tho conference as best adapted
facilitate postal intercourse between nations
and as the basis Of future postal convention
inaugurate o general system of uniform intel
national charges at reduced rates of postage
and cannot fail TO produce beneficial results.
refer you to the report of the Secretary @
the Interior, which is herewith laid before you
for useful and varied information in relation t.
the public lands, Indian affairs, patents, pen
sions, and other matters of public concern per
taining to his department.
The quantity Of land disposed of during tn,
last and first quarter of the present fiscal yea
was 8 84l $40 acres, of which l6l, Oil acres wer,
sold for cash. One million four hundred ant
fifty six thousand FIVE hundred and fourteen
acres were taken up unde. the HOMESTEAD law
and the residue disposed Of under the laws grant
ing lands for military bounties, for rairo .d anG
other purposes 1t also appears that the sale
OF the public lands Ii largely on the increase.
1t has long bsen cherished opinion OF SOME
of our wise5t state;men that the people of ths
United States had higher AID more enduring
interest In the early settlement aud 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 q con
trolling influence in shaping legislation upon
the subject of our National domain
l may cite a. evidence of this the liberal
measures adopted in reference to actual se,tlers
the grant to the States of the oveidowed lands
within their limits In order to their being re.
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation. The
grants to railwayc mpanies of alternate sections
of land upon the contemplated lines of theil
roads, which. when completed, wiil 80 largely
multiply the facilities for reaching our distant
POSSESSIONS.
This policy has received is most sigI al and
beneficial illustration in the recent; enactment
granting hOmesteads to actual s-ttl-rs
Since the first day of January last, the before
quantity of ,456, Ola acres of land
have teen ken up under it's provisions. This
fact, and ths amount of sales, furnish gratif, ing
CNiotbSo VI AuSiC0eiu1 tCttiCbcut uiOu tuc
public lands, Notwithstanding the great strug-
gle in which the energies OF the nation have
been engaged, and which has REQ uired so large
. withdrawal Of our citizens from their accu;-
toned pursuits.
l cordially concur In the recommendation of
the Secretary of the Interior, suRg. sting modi-
fication Of the act In favor Of thUse engaged in
the military and naval service OF the United
statts. doubt not that Congress will cheer
fully adopt such measures a. will, without GO
sentislly changing the general features of the
tysten, secure. to the greatest practical ex-
tent, its ben fits to those who have left their
homes In the defence of the country in this
arduous isis.
invite your attention to the views of the
as to the propliey Of raising, by ap
prOpriate leg Station, . revenue from the min
erai lands Of the United States.
The measures provided at yOur last session
for the removal Of certain Indian tribes have
been carried into effect. Sundry treaties have
been negotiated, which will, in due time, be
submitted for the constitutional action of the
Senate.
They contain stipulations for extingushing
the possessOry rights OF the Indians to large
and valuable tracts Of land 1t is hoped that
the effect of these treaties will result in the es
tablishnent of permanent friendly relations
with such of these tribes as have been brought
into frequent and bloody collision with our
outlying settlements and emigrauts. Sound
policy and our imperative duty to these wards
Of the Government demand our anxious and
attention to their material we'll
being, to their progress in the arts of civilza.
tior, AMI above all Tor that moral training
which Uuder the blessing Of Divine Providence,
will confer upon them tie elevated and sancti
lying influences, the hopes and consultations of
the Christian faith.
suggested In nay last annual message the
propriety of remodelling our Indian system.
subsequent events have satisfied me of lis ne.
;sssity. Tho Ut tails set fsrth in the report of
The Secretary evince the urgent need for imme-
date legislative action.
commend the benevolent institutions, estab-
ished or patronized by the Government, In this
District, to your generous and fostering care.
The attention of Congress during the last
ession was engaged to eOme extent with pro-
position for enlarging the water Communication
,etween the Mississippi river aud the North
'astern saabOard, which propositi. n, however,
allied for the time.
Since then, upoa call Of the greatest re-
pectability, convention has been held ttI
;hicagO Upon the same subject, summary of |
whose views Is contained In q memorial ad- |
lressed to the President and Congress, and |
shich now have the honor to lay before you |
That this interest is one which, ere long, will
orce its own way, l do not entertain doubt. |
While IL Is submitted entirely to your wis |
om as to Nhat can bs d,ne now, augmented |
interest 10 given to this subject by the actuslI
of work upon the Pacific Rail- |
oad, under auspices 20 favorable to rapid
rogress and completion. The enlarged naviga- |
lon becomes palpable netd to the great road. |
I transmit the Second Annual Export of the |
Commissioner Of the Department of Agricul
ure, asking your attention to the developments|
q that vital interest Of the nation.
When Congress assembled q year ago, the |
'ar had already lasted nearly twenty months, |
nd there had been many Coli tlicis On both lano |
nd sea, with varying results. The rebellion
I'd been pressed back into reduced limits, ye,
10 tone Of public feeling and opinion at home
nd abroad was not satisfactory. With other
gns, the populCr elections, then Just passed,
adlcated uneasness among ourselves, Will.
mid much that WAS cold aud menating the
indess words coming foom Europe, were ut
ered in accents of pity that We were too blind
D surrender hopeless cause.
Our commerc, was suffering grsstly by oil
~ armed vessels built upon and furnished
rom foreign shores, and we were threatened
nth such additions from the same quarter q