The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-16
TY. HIo.WEpNEsDAY MoRNING, DEcEMBER Is 1868 !.

iCEMBER 16, 1868.
naval school the: vacancies caused by the neg
4 Iect or omission to make nominations from the
j Southern States have been filed by the Se-l
\ erefary Of the Navy. The school is now more
full and complete than at any previeas period, !
4 and is in every respect entitled to the favora-,
bic consideration of Congress- g zssss
y POST OFFICE DEPARTMENTsqasl -
i During the past fiscal year the fpapciai eon-
ditiop of the Postof6ce department.. has been
one of increasing prosperity; and am graft
fed in being able TO state that the receipts of
4 the postal neveniae has nearly eqaailed en-
i tire Expenditures, the latter amounting to
SI1 ,3I4 600 81 and the former to 81, I63s =
u 789 90, leaving deficiency of but $3.50 ,4f7-
/ 20. In 1860, the year Immediately prece-
ding the rebellion, the deficiency amounted to
S565, 670, $40, the postal receipts ofsthat
year being 50, ,645, 729, less than those of 1868.
4 The decrease since 1860 in the annual amount
of transportation has been only about 25 per
cert. but the annual expenditure of. the
same has been reduced 35, per cent It is
manifest, therefore, that the Postofhce Depart
ment may become seIf-snstaining in a few
4 years, even with the restoration of the whole
service. s ,s ka44sF s;ts =---s
The international con ference of postal dele
gates from the principal countries of Europe
and America, which was calle at the sugges-
| ion of the Postmaster General, met at Paris
on the 10Th of May last, and concluded its
deliberations the 9Th of June. The princi
Piles established by the conference as best
adapted to facilitate postal intercourse between
nations, and as the basis of future conventions
to inaugurate general System of uniform in
ternatioIal charges at reduced rates of postage,
Icannok fail f0 ,,roduce henefic ciols ree,,lfs
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
1 refer you to the report of tie Secretary
of the Interior which is herewith laid before
! you, for the useful and varied information in
relation to Public Lands, Indian Affairs, Pat
ents, Pensions, and other matters of public
concern pertaining to this department. The
quantity of lands disposed of during the last
quarter and the fiscal quarter of the present
fiscal year, was three millions eight hundred
and forty-one thousand FIVE hundred and forty
nine acres; of which one hundred and sixty
ono thousand nine hundred and eleven acres
were sold for cash, one million four hundred
and ffty-six thousand five hundred and four
teen acres were. taken up under the homestead
law, and The residue was disposed Of under
i law granting lands for military bopnties, for
Railroads, ind other purposes It also op-
pears that the sale of public lands is largely
on the increase. 5asa 6ie 8asztf Tz2 -
1t has long been cherished opinion of some
] of our Risest statesmen, that tho people of
4 the United States hud higher and moro en-
during interest in tn, early settlements and
substantial cultivation of the public lands than
in the amount of direct revenue to be derived
from tie sale of them. This opinion has had
a controlling influence in shaping Legislation
upon the subject of our national domain.
may cite, as Qpe instance of this, the liberal
measures adopted in reference to actual get
tiers, the grant to the States of the overfowed
lands within their limits, in order to their be-
ing reclaimed and rendered fit for cultivation
The grant to railroad companies of alternate
sections of land upon the contemplated lines
of the road when completed, will largely null
tiply the facilities of reaching our distant pos
sessions This policy has received its most
signal and bonefcent illustration in the recent
enactment granting lands to actual settlers J;
for, since the first of January last, the before
mentioned quantity of one million four hun
dred and 6ftv-six thousand five hundred and
fourteen acres of land have been taken up un-
| der its provisions. Ia
This fact, and the amount of sales furnish
gratifying evidence of increasing settlements
| upon the public lands. Notwithstanding the
great struggle in which the energies of the
nalon have been engaged and which has re-
/ =quireJ so large with lrawal of our citizens
tiom their accustomed pursuits. I cordially
concur in the recommendation of the Secre-
tary of the Interior, suggesting Modification
Of the Act in regard to those engaged in the
military and naval service OF the United
States = i doubt not that Congress will cheer
fully adopt such means as will, without essen
TALLY changing the general features of the
system secure to the greatest practicable ex-
tent its benefits to those who have left their
homes in defense of the country in this ar
duous crisis @f<as2
Invite your attention to the views of the
Secretary of War as to the propriety Of rais-
ing by appropriation or Legislation a revenue
from the mineral lands of the United States.
The measures provided at your last session
for the removal of certain Indians have been
carried into effect. Sundry tribes have been
negotiated with. which. will in due time be
submitted for the constitutional action of the
Senate. They contain stipulations for extin-
gushing the possessing rights of the Indians
to large and valuable tracts'of land e
1t is probable that the effect Of these meas
ures will result in the establishment of per-
mapent friendly relations with such of these
tribes as have been brought into frequent and
bloody collision with our outlying settlements
and emigrants. The sound policy and our i'm
pera!ive duty to these words or the Govern
ment demand our anxious and constant atten-
tion to their material well-being, to their prog
ress in the art of civilization, and, above all,
| to that moral training which, under the -bles-
sings of Divine Providence, will confer upon
them the elevation and sanctiiying influence
of the hopes and consultations of the Christian
faith.
! suggested, in my last annual message, the
propriety of remodelling our Indian system
Subsequent events have satisfied me Of its ne
nessity. The details set forth in the rcpor:
of the Secretary will evince the urgent need
of Immediate Legislative action. -
I commend tho benevolence of the institu-
tions established Or patronis:d by the Govern
men: in this District to your generous and fos-
tering card.