American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-16


, year Immediately preceding the rebellion
the deficiency amounted to s565, ,670, $40
the postal receipts Of that year beings264,
572 ,219 less than those of1s63. The de
! crease since 1850 in the annual amount
/ of transportation has been only abou
twenty-five per cent, but the annual ex
penditures, on account of the same has
been reduced thirty-fve per cent. 1t is
manifest, therefore, that the Postoffice
Department may become self-sustaining in
| a few years, even with the restoration oi
the whole service
The international conference of postal
delegates from the principal countries ol
Europe and America, which was called al
the suggestion of the Postmaster General
met at Paris on the 11th of May last, and
concluded its deliberations on the sth ol
June. The principles established by the
conference, as best adapted to facilitate
postal intercourse between nations, and as
the basis of future conventions to inaugu
rate general system of uniform interna.
ltional charges at reduced rates of postage
cannot fail to produce beneficial results.
| refer you to the report of the Secreta-
ry of the interior, which is herewith laid
before you, for the useful and varied in
formation in relation to public lands, In.
dian affairs, patents, pensions, and other
matters ofpublic concern pertaining to this
Department. The quantity of lands dis
posed of during the last and first quarter
of the present and fiscal years, was three
million eight hundred and forty thou
sand and five hundred and forty-nine
acres, of which one hundred and sixty-ene
thousand nine hundred and eleven acres
were sold for cash one million four hun
dred and ffty-six thousand five hundred
and fourteen acres were taken up under
the homestead law, and the residue dispo-
sed of under laws granting lands for mill
tary bounties, for railroads, and other pur-
poses. Italso appears that the sale of the
public lands is largely on the increase. 1t
has long been cherished opinion ofsome
Of our wisest 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 reve-
nue. to be derived from the sale of them.
This opinion has had controlling influ-
enee, shaping legislation upon the subject
ofour national domain. | may cite as an
instance Of this the liberal measures adop-
ted in reference to actual settlers the grant
to the States of the ovefHowed lands with
in their limits, in order to their being re-
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation /;
the grant to railroad companies of alter
nate sections Of land upon the contempla-
ted lines of their road, when completed,
win largely multiply the facilities of freach-
ing our distant possessions. This policy
has received its most signal and benfcient
illustration in recent enactments, granting
homesteads to actual settlers since the first
day of January last, the before mentioned
quantity over one million four hundred
and fifty-six thousand, FIVE hundred and
| fourteen acres of land, has been taken ND
under its provisions. This fact and the
amount Of sales, furnish gratifying evi-
dence Of the increasing settlement upon
the public lands. 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. I
cordially concur in the recommendation
of the Secretary Of the Interior suggesting
a modification of the act in favor of those
engaged in the military and naval service
of the United States I doubt not that
Congress will cheerfully adopt such meas
ures as will without essentially changing
the general features Of the system to Sc
cure to the greatest practicable extent its
benefits to those who have left their homes
| in defense of the country in this arduous
crisis. rs
invite your attention to the views Of
the Secretary of War as to the propriety Of
raising, by appropriation of legislation, q
revenue from the mineral lands ofthe Uni
ted States. Themeasure provided at your
last session for the removal of certain In
dian tribes have been carried into effect
Sundrya treaties have been negotiated,
which will, in due time, be submitted for
the constitutional action Of the Senate. -
They contain stipulations for extinguish-
ing the possessors' rights of the Indians to
large and valuable tracts of land. 1t i
probable that the effects Of these treaties
will result in the establishment of perma-
i uenf friaudlu raHafioffs with s1rch of fhose