Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-09


fctency OF but $50 aiya5 la 1864 the yesr
Immediately preceding this reb.iiion, tho de.
hcaency amounted 70. ei,65s, 'U5i9, the postM
than those OF 1853. The decrease since 1850 IN
the annual c:cou at OK :ransportau IN hn, beea
only about IS per cert, but the annual exp -.
duced IS per cent. L is manifest, therofore,
that the Post Once Department may become
se}f-snstaning In few years, even with the
restoration of the whole rvice.
The International conference OF postal della.
gates from the principal countries Of Europe
and America, which was called at the eugges
ton OF the Postunas ter General, met at Paris On
the 1ith Of May last, and concluded its deiibe.
rationt on the 9Th OF June. The principles es.
tablished by the conference rs best adapted to
facilitate postal intercourse bet ween nations,
and as the basis OF future postal conventions,
inau znrate general system OF Uniform inter-
national charges, at reduced rates of postare.
and cannot fail to produce beneficial results
refer you to the report OF the Secretary OF III =
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 to his department..
The quantity Of land disposed of during the
last and the first quarter OF the present fiscal
year was three million eight hundred aud for
ty-one thousand five hundred and forty nine
acres, Of which one hundred an SIXTY one
sold for cash, one million four hundred and
fifty six thousand five hundred aud fourteen
acres were taken up under the homestead Ia "
and the residue disposed Of under laws grant
ing lands for military bounties, for railroa d
and other purposes. 1t also appears that the
sale OF the public lands is largely on the in
crease =
1t has long been cherished opiuion OF som a
OF onr Wisast 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
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. may cite,
rs evidence of this, the liberal measures iopt-
ed In reference to actual settlers the grant to
the States Of the overfiowed lands within the r
limits in order to their being reclaimed and
rendered fit for cultivation; the grants to rail-
way companies OF alternate sections OF land
upon the contem plated lines Of tn air roads
which, when completed, will 90 largely m ulli L.
ply The facilities tor rea hing our distant pos
sessions. This policy has received its 10 oas
zig nj and beneficent illustration in the recent
enactment granting homcsteads 10 actual SET
tiers.
Since the first day of January last the before.
men!IoHei quantity OF one million four hun.
dred and iifty-six Thousand tive hundred and
fourteen scree of land have been taken IN
under its provisions. This fact and the am cunt
OF sales furnish gratifying evidence of increas.
ing settlement upon the public iands, NOT with.
standing the great Struggle il which the ener-
gies of the nation hav. been engaged, and
which las required SO large a withdrawal of
cordially concur i'll The Recommendation Of the
Secretary OF the Interior, suggesting moiit-
cation Of the act III favor OF those engaged in
the military and naval service OF The United
States. / doubt not that Congress will cheer
fully adopt such measures as will without es-
sentially changing the e nera! features of the
system, secure. 80 the greatest practibe extent.
it, benefits TO those who have left their homes
in tEe defence Q! the country liz this arFuous
crisis
j invite your attention 10 the views OF tho
Secretary as to the proprety OF raising, by
appropriate legislation, revenue from tn.
mineral land of the United States.
The measures provided at your last session
fer the removal of certain Indian tribes have
been carried int effect. Sundry treaties have
been negotiated which will, in due time be
submitted for the constitutional action of the
- nate. They contain stipulations for -xtin.
gushing the poesessory rights OF the Indians
TO large add valuable tracts Of land. It's hoped
that the effect of these treaties will result in the
Of permanent: friendly relations
with such OF these tribes as have been brought
into frequent and bloody collision with our
outlying settlements and emigrants. Sound
policy and our mper ativs duty to these wards
Of the Government demand our anxious aud
attention to their material well being,
TO their progress in the arts OF iviliz&ton, and
above all, 10 that moral training which, under
the blessing Of Divine Providence, will confer
upon them the elevated aud sanctifying infu-
cer, the hopes and consultations Of The
Christian faith.
suggested in my last annual message the
OF renodelling our Indian system.
SubseQ uent events have satisfied me of It's ne
costly. The details set forth in the report Of
the Secretary evince the urgentneed for lmme.
diate legislative action.
commend the benevolent institutions, e..
tablis he'd or patronized by tho government In
this District to your generous and fostering
care.
The attention OF Congress, during the last
for enIarging ths water commu.
nlcation between the Mississippi river and the
seaboard, which proposition,
however, failed for the time. Since then,
{. convention has BET N held at Chicago upon
tue same subject summary Of whose views
IL contained In a memorial addressed to tie
President and Congress, and which now
have the no. or 70 lay before you
That this interest Is one which, ere long, Will
force its own way, I do not entertain doubt,
while it Is submitted entirely to your wisdom
as to what can be done now. Augmented in
commencement OF work upon the Pacific rail.
road, under auspices 80 favorable to rapid pro-
gress and completion. The enlarged naviga-
ton becomes palpable need to the great road
transmit the second annual report Of the
of the Department OF Agricul-
ture, asking your attention to the devslope-
ments in that vital interest of the nation.
When Congress assembled year ago the
war had already lasted nearly twenty months,
and there had been many conflicts on both
land and sea, with varying results. The re-
bellion had been pressed back into reduced
limits; yet the tone Of public feeling and opn.
ion, at home aud abroad, was not satisfactory.
With other signs, the popular Elections, then
just past, indicated uneasiness among our
selves, while amid much that was cold and
menacIng Tie kinaest words coming from
Europe We're uttered I'm accents eff pity, that
we were too blind to surrender hopeless
canse.l Our commerce was suffering greatly
by few armed vessels built upon and fur
nished from foreign shores, aud we were threat
eped with such additions from the same quar-
ter as would sweep our trade from the sea
and raise our blockade We had failed to
elicit from European governments anything
hopeful upon this subject.
The preliminary emancipation proclama.
ton, issued il September, was running its as.
signed period to the beginning OF the new year
A month later the final proclamation came, in.
GLIDING the announcement that colored n1en OF
suitable condition would be received into the
war service. The policy OF emancipation, and
Of employing black soldiers, gave TO ths IA.
ture new aspect, about which hope and fear,
and doubt cOntended in uncertain conflict,
According 10 our political system, as :: matter
Of civil administrations the general government
had no lawful power to effect emancipation In
any State, ard for s long time 1t had been hoped
that the rebellion could he suppressed without
resorting " IL as military measure.