The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-10

| not De deprived OF the proper quOla Oh euuSaleu
officers, for which legal provision has been made
at the Naval School, the vacancies caused 10y the
neglect or omission to maze nominations from the
| States in nsurectton have been filed 10y the Sec
rotary OF the Navy. The ,choo, is now more fall
and complete than at any former period, and IN
every respect entitled 70 the favorable coasldeFa-
ton OF Congress.
During The last hsca. year the financial condi-
ton of the Pos; thce Department has been one
OF increasing prosperity, aud | am gr4thed 10 Oe'
ing able TO state that the actual posta revenues
have nearly equailed The expenditure, the latter
amounting 10 SI1,3l4,20 "a, and the former tc
$l1 1903, 7S9, 80, leaving adefcenty Of but ! 800
ALPS.
In 1860, The year immediately preceding tHe
rebellion, the deficiency amounted 70 S5,056,tO5
40, the postal receipts of that year being S2,645
1872 10 less than those Of 1863 TIE cecreas-
since 1860 in the annual amount Of ran>portauon
mas been only about % per cent, bat The annual
expenditure on account o, The same, has been re-
duced IS per cent,
Ii is manifest, therefore that ,As Post One
Department m1y become selfsustlnng In lev
years. even with the restoration q. l0e whole ser
vice
The international Conference OF posta. delegates
from the principal coun rles Of Europe and Amer
lea, which was called al the suggestion OF the Post
master General me. at p~ii, on the clsyecth Of
May iast and concluded rs deliberations OIL the
eighth of June.
The principles established by the conference as
best adapted TO facilitate post intercourse between
nations and Is the oasis OF future postal conyen-
tons. inaugurate general system of uniform n
formations! charges 1T reduced rates Of postage
and cannot fail to produce beneficial results.
rste. you to The !eI ort Of the Secretary Of
the interior which is herewith laid before YOU,
Tor useful and yarieC Information in relation TO
the public ,nds. Indian affairs, Patents. Pensions,
and other matters Of public concern pertaining
to his Department.
Tennessee and Arkansas have been substan-
tIaiy cleared Of insurgents and influential citizens
in each. Owners OF slaves and advocate Of slay-
cry at the beginning of the rebellion, now d, clare
openly for emancipation in heir respective States.
OF those States .yt included in the emancipa-
ton proclamation, Maryland and Missouri, neither
Of which three years ago would oierate any re-
straint upon the extension Of slavery into new
territories only dispute row as to the best mods
OF removing il within their own limits.
The quantity of land disposed of during the
last and FIRST quar- er of the present fiscal year,
was 3, .S4l $40 acres of which l6, 81 acres were
sold for cash.
One million four hundred and ftty-sx thousand
five lndred and fourteen acres were taken up IN
der the homestead law and the residue disposed
ofunder laws granting lands for military bounteS,
for railroad and other purposes. 1t appears that
the sale OF public lands is largely on the increase.
1t has long been cherished opinion Of some of
our wisest statesmen that the people Of the Unit
ed States had higher and more endearing inter.
est il the early settlement and substantial oaltra-
ton of the puOlc lands, than 10 the amount Of d.
rect revenue to be derived from the sale of them.
This opinion has had q controlling influence 10
shaping legislation upon the subject Of our nation
al domain. | may cite as evidence OF this, the b
eral means adopted in reference to actual settles
the grant TO the States OF the overlooked lands
within their limits in order to their being reclaimed
and rendered fit for cultivation and the grants to
railway companies of alternate sections of land up
on the contemplated lines of their roads, which
when completed will go largely multiply the fac-
flies for reaching our distant possessions.
This policy has received its most signal and ben
ehcent illustration in the recent enactment grant
ing homestead to actual settlers since the LIST
Of January last.
The before mentioned quantity Of l,456,5l4
acres Of land have been taken up under its pro-
visions. This fact and the amount of sales iur-
nsh gratifying evidence Of increasing settlements
upon the public l,Dds Notwithstanding the great
struggle, in which the energies OF the nation have
been engaged and which has required SO large
withdrawal Of our citizens from their accustomed
pursuits
cordially concur in The recommendation of
the Secretary Of the Interior, suggesting modi-
fcaon of the act in favor of those engaged 10 the
military and naval service Of the United States. |
doubt not that Congress will cheerfuy adopt such
measures as WILL without essentially changing the
general features tbs stem, secure TO the great
est practicable extent It's benefits TO those who
have left their homes in the defense OF the coun-
Try il this crisis.
invite our attention to the views Of the Sec.
Rotary as to the propriety o! raising by appropri
ate legislation revenue from the mineral lands
of the United States.
The measures provided at your last session for
the removal of certain ludan tribes have been
carried into effect. Sundry treaties have been ne
gollated which will in due time be submitted for
the constitutional action Of the Senate.
They contain stipuatons tor exlnguishinI the
possessory rights of the Indians to large and val
liable tracts Of lands. 1t is hoped that The effect
of those treaties vii result in the establishment
of permanent and friendly relations with such of
these tribes as have been brought into frequent
and bloody collision with the outlyi settlements
and emgrants.
Sound policy and the imperative duty to these |
wards OF the Government, deman an snxi0us and
constant attention 10 their material we being to
their progress IN the arts OF civiz ion and above