The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-12-18

| ~ iisio U1I louiiu, uoWcfcr, tudb the operauOn
Of the daft, with the high bolnties paid for
army recruits, is beginning to effect injuriously
the naval service, and will, if not corrected, be
likely tcfimpair its efficiency by detaching sea.
saaon fro!h their proper calling and inducing them
n enter the army. l therefore respectfully
4 gest that Congress might aid both the army
abanasil service by definite provision on this
| subject, which would at the same time be euui-
table the communities more especially inter-
ested.
corgiend to your consideration the su gges-
tions ofihe Secretary of the Navy in regard to
the policy of fostering and training seamen, and
also the Educating officers and engineers for the
naval service The Naval academy is rem
dcring signal service in preparing midshipmen
for the highly responsible duties which in after
life they will be required to perform.
| Ia ordr that the country should not be de-
prived Of the proper quota of educated officers,
| for which legal provision has been made at the
naval sclpol, the vacancies caused by the neg
| lect Or OMISSION TO make nominations from the
| States ininsurrection have been filled by the
Secretary of the Navy. The school is now
more tulland complete than at any former Pc
atoa, SNSi Shtiiird ~ tiic
| bic consideration of Congress.
During the past fiscal year the financial con-
dition the Postolfice Department has been
one of i,ereasing prosperity, and am gratiiied
in being hbe to state that the actual postal rev.
enue hasnsarly equalled the entire expenditures,
the latte, amounting to Sll,314, zoo 81, and
the former to Sll. .I63,709 so, leaving deli
cheney o but $l50,4l7 25.
In 1880, the year immediately preceding the
rebellion, the deficiency amounted to 30, SOC,
100 40, the postal receipts of that year being
$2,645 722 l9 less than those Of 1868.
The decrease since l860in the annual amount
of TRANSPORTATION has been only about 20 per-
cent, but the annual expenditure on account
of the same has been reduced 35 percent. 1t
is manifest, therefore, that the Postotice Depar-
ment may become self-sustaining in a few years
even with the restoration Of the whole service
The International conference of postal dele
gates from the principal countries of Europe and
America, which was called al the suggestion
Of the Postmaster General, met at Paris on the
l lth of May last, and concluded Its deliberations
on the 8th of June. gl' i0 lF sAi
The principles established by the conferences
between nations, and as the basis of future pcs
tai convenience, inaugurate general system sc
unifortse International charaes at reduced rates
of postage and cannot fail to produce beaefi-
cial results. sf
L refer you to the report of the Secretary of
the INTERIOR which is herewith laid before you
for useful and varied information in relation to
the public lands, Indian affairs, patents, pen
sions and other matters of public concern per-
tanning 10 his department. = aslss w.
The quantity of land disposed of during the
last and the first quarter of the present fiscal
year was 3,84l $40 acres, Of which l61, ,9l1
acres were sold for cash, one million four hun
dred and fifty-six thousand five hundred and
fourteen acres were taken up under the homes
stead law, and the residue disposed of under
the laws granting lands for military bounties,
for railroad and other purposes. 1t also ap-
pears that the sale of the public lands is large
" OH the increase
II has long been a cherished opinien of some
Of our wiscst statesmen that the people of the
United States had higher and more enduring
interest in the early settlement and substantial
cultivation Of the public lands than in the a.
mount Of direct revenue TO be derived from the
sale of them. This opinion has had controll-
ing influence in shaping legislation upon the
subject Of our national domain.
may cite as evidence of this the liberal
measures adopted in reference to actual settlers;
the grant to the States of overfowcd lands
within their limits, in order to their being re-
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation; the
urnp IN lwo ,,f al 70
tons Of land upon the contemplated lines of
their roads, which, when completed will SO
largely multiply the facilities for reaching our
distant possessions This policy has received
its most signal and beneficial illustration in the
recent enactment granting homesteads to actual
settlers.
Since the first day of January last the before
mentioned quantity of 1,456,5l4 acres of land
have been taken mp under its provisions. This
fact and the amount Of sales furnish gratifying
evidence of increasing settlement upon the pub
lie lards, Notwithstanding the great struggle in
which the energies of the nation have been en-
gagged, and which has required so largo with
drawal of our citizens from their accustomed
pursuit.
Icordially concur in the recommendation of
the Secretary Of the Interior suggesting a mod
ification of the acts in favor Of those engaged
in the military and naval service of the u States
doubt not that Congress will cheerfully a
dopt such measures as will, without essentially
changing tho general features of the system, Sc
cure, to the greatest practicable extent, its ben
elits to thoss who have left their homes in the
defense of the country in this arduous crisis.
invite your attention to tho Views Of the
Secretary as to the propriety Of raising by ap-
propriate legislation, a revenue from the miner
al lands OF the United States.
The measures provided at your last session
for The removal of certain Indian tribes have
been carried into effect SuAdry treaties have
been negotiated, which will in due time be SUBJ
mirted for the constitutional action of the Sen
ate
They contain stipulations for eXtinguishing
the possession and right of tho Indians to large
= l. r T.