The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-12-17

lea, which was called at the suggestion
Of the Postmaster General, met at Paris
on the l1th Of May last aud concluded
its deliberations on the Sth Of June
The principles established by the con-
ference as best adapted to facilitate pos
tai Intercourse between nations and as
the basis of future conventions inaugu-
rate general system Of uniform inter.
national charges at reduced rates of post
age and cannot fail to produce beneficial
resuls.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
refer you to the report Of the Secre-
tary Of the Interior which is herewith
laid before you for useful and varied in.
formation in relation to public lands,
Indian affairs, patents, pensions, and
other matters Of public concern pertain.
ing to his Department. The quantity
of land disposed of during the last and
the first quarter of the present fiscal year
was 1851 $40 acres, Of which 1901
acres were sold for cash; 81, ,456,5l4
acres were taken up under the homestead
law, and the residue disposed of under
the law granting lands for military boun-
ties, for railroad and other purposes 1t
also appears that the sale of public lands
is largely on the increase. 1t has long
been a cherished opinion of some of our
wisest statesmen that the people of the
United States had higher and more en-
dcaring interest in the early settlement
and substantial cultivation of tho public
lands, than in the amount of direct rev.
enue to be derived from the sale of them.
This opinion has had a controlling in
fluence in shaping legislation on the
subject of our national domain. may
cite as evidence of this, the liberal
measures adopted in reference to actual
settlers, in the grant to the States of the
overflowed lands within their limits IN
order to their being reclaimed and rem
dered fit for cultivation. The grants to
railroad companies Of alternate sections Of
land upon the contemplated lines of their
road, when completed, will, too, largely
multiply the facilities for renewing our
distant possessions. This policy has
received its most signal and beneficial
illustration In the recent enactment
granting homcsteads to actual settlers
Since the first of January last, the before
mentioned quantity of one million four
hundred and ffty-six thousand five hun
dred and fourteen acres Of land has been
taken up under its provision. This fact,
and the amount Of sales, furnish crafty
ing evidence of increasing settlement
upon public lands, Notwithstanding the
great struggle in which the energies Of
the nation have engaged and has requir-
ed SO large withdrawal of our citizens
from their accustomed pursuits. l &C.
cordingly concur in the recommen dation
of the Secretary of the Interior, suggest
ing 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 measures as will, without essentially
changing the general features of the
system, secure the greatest practicable
extent of its benefits to those who have
left their homes in defense of the country
in this arduous crisis.
invite your attention to the views of
the Secretary of War as to the propriety
of raising, by appropriation or legislation,
a revenue from the mineral lands of the
United States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The measures provided at your last
session for the removal of certain Indian
tribes have been carried into effect Sun
dry treaties have been negotiated, which
will, in due time, be submitted for the
constitutional action of the Senate.
They contain stipuIations for extinguish.
ing the possessor's rights of the Indians
to large and valuable tracts of land. 1t
is hoped that the effecting of these trea-
ties will result in the establishment of a
permanent friendly relation with such of
these tribes as have been brought into
frequent and bloody collisions with our
outlying settlements and emigrants.-
Sound policy, and our imperative duty to
these wards of the Government, demand
our anxious and constant attention to
their material we'll being-to their pro-
gress in the arts of civilization, aud above
all to that moral training, which, under
the blessing of Divine Providence, will
confer upon them the elevating and sane
tifying influences of the Christian faith.
| suggested, in my last annual mes
sage, the propriety of remodeling our In.
dian system. Subsequent events have
satisfied NE of its necessity The de.
tails set forth in the report of the Secre-
tary will evince the urgent need for i'm
mediate legislative action.
commend the benevolent institutions
established or patronized by the govern
ment in this District, to your serious and
fostering care.
| NATIONAL SHIP CANAL.
The attention of Congress during the
last session was engaged to some extent
with proposition for the enlargement
of the water communications between the
Mississippi river and the Northeastern
seaboard, which proposition, however,
r ~