Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-11

I
70 promote that increNse.
Ithss been found however ,ha, ae operation Of the
draft with the high bounres paid ~ army recruits is be-
ginning Ia affect injuro1sY the naval service, aud will
not corrected, be likely 10 impair its efficiency BY de-
aching seanep rom their proper vocation and Inducing
them TO enter he army therefore respectfully sug-
gest that Congress might aid both the Army ard Naval
services by definite provision on This subject, which
woud, At the same time, be equitable TO the commun
ties more especially interested
commend 70 your CONFEDERATION the suggestions Of
the SECRETARY Of the Navy in regard to the policy Of
fostering and training and also the education Of
officers ard engineers Of the naval service.
The Naval Academy is rendering signal service in
preparing midshipmen for the highly responsible
dates which in after life they will be required to per-
form. In order that the country should not be
deprived Of the proper quota VI educated officers, for
which legal provision has been made At the Naval
School the vacancies caused BY the neglect or omission
to make nominations from the States in instruction
have been filled BY the Secretary Of the Navy, The
School now more full and complete than atsny former
period and in every respect entitled the favorable
sidefation OF Congress
Post orc, Department
During the last fiscal year the fnsucial condition Of
the Post Office Department has been one " increasing
prosperity and am sratided in being able state that
Tue actual postal revenues have nearly cqualed the er
pendiure, the latter amounting to Sll3li EOS 49, and
the Imer TO 81 l637s9 3d. leaving deficiency Of but
Sl50,4l7 %. In 1860 the year Immediately preceding
the rebellion, the deficiency amounted to 1886 40
the postal receips OF that being 81 6f572l 10 less
than those Of 1868 The decrease since 1860 in the an.
nual amount OF transportation has been only about rs
per cent but the annual expenditure account Of the
same has been reduced IS per ismanest there
fore that the Post Office Department may become self
sustaining in few years, with the restoration Of
the whole service The international Conference Of pos
tal delegates from the principal countries Of Europe and
America, which called at the suggestion OF the Post
master General met at Paris on the eleventh Of May
ast anu concluded its deliberations tho eighth u
June The principles established by the conference
best adapted 10 faoiate post ntereosrse between
tons, andias tho basis u future postal conventions,
Augufste general system u uniform International
charges az reduced rates Of postau and cannot fail
produce beneficial results.
Interior Dsrp tmenL
refer you to the report n the Secretary Of the Ine
ror, which ia herewith laid before you for useful and
varied information m relation the pubic lands Indian
affairs Patents Pensions and other matters OF public
concern pertaining to his Department
The quantity ofland disposed Of during the last and
hrst quarter Of ne present fiscal year, was 3S4l $40
million Fout hundred aud Gftysix thousand i've hundred
andfoHtecn acres were taken up under the homestead
law aud the residue disposed Of under laws granting
tuts Tor military bounteo, for railroad and other pur.
poses II appears that the sale Of the public lands Is
largely on the increase,
1t has long been cherished opinion Of some Of our
wisest statesmen that the people Of the United States
had higher and more endearng interest in the eary
settlement aud substantial cultivation Of the public
lands than IN the amount Of direct derived
from the sale Of them. This opinion has had a control
nag influence in shaping legislation upon the subject Of
onI national domain may cite as evidence OF this the
liberal means adopted in reference to actual settlers tue
grant 10 the states Of the overlooked lands within their
niis III order 10 their being reclaimed and rendered ht
io CULTIVATION and the grants TO railway companies Of
alternate sections Of land upon the contemplated lines
OF their roads, which, when completed, viii so largely
multiply the facilities for reaching distant possess
ions This policy has received It's signal and beneficial
illustration 10 the recent enactment granting homt-
The before mentioned quantity OF 45j54 Of land
have been taken under its provisions his fact aud
the amount Of sales furnish gratifying evidence Of in
efeasng settlements upon the public lands, notwiih-
staudns the great struggle, IN which the energies Of the
nation have been engaged, aud which has required
large whdawalof our citizens fom their accustomed
pursuits.
! cordially concur with the recommendation Of the
Secretary OF the Interior, suggesting modification Of
the act in favor of those engaged in the military and
naval VI the United States. doubt not tina.
Congross will oheeriuy adopt such measures will,
without essentially changing the general features Of The
system, 20 the greatest practicable extent, s
benefits who have LETT their homes IN the defense
u he country in this crisis
invite your attention 10 the views of the Secretary
to the moptey Of raising by appropriate legislation
from the mineral lands II the United States
The measures provided at your last session for the
removal Of certain Indian tribes have been carried into
effect Sundry treaties have been negotacd which will
in due time be submitted for the constitutional action Of
the Senate. They contain stipuati0ns for eXngui hing
the rights of the Indians large aud valuable
tracts II and 1t is hoped that the effect these treA
ties will result IN the establishment Of permanent and
friendly relations with such Of those tribes have
brought into frequent and bloody collision with the
laying settlements and emigrants. Sound policy and
the imperative duty Of these wards Of the Government
demand anxious a. grateful attention to their
RAJ well beng 70 the progress IN the sr's Of oyii.a'
the blessing Of divine Providence will confer upon them
the elevated and sancifying Influences the hopes aud
cancellations, Of the Christian faith.
suggested In my last annual message the propriety
Of remodelhng our Indian system. Subsequent eyens
have satisfied me Of its necessity The details forth
in the Of the Secretary the urgent need for
immediate Legislative action. 1 commend The beneyol-
ent institutions established patronsed by the govern
his District to your generous and fostering care
The attention OF Congress duuug the last session was
engaged to some extent with proposition for eharging
the water communication between the Mississippi
aud the northeastern seaboaTd which proposition, how
ever, failed for the time since then, upon a cal OF the
gteAtet Tespeetability, convention has been held at
Chicago upon the same subject, a airy Of whose
views contained in memorial addr ssed TO the Pres
ident and Congress and which long will force
way, do not entertain doubt, while It is submitted
eutrell To your wisdom as 10 what be dore
Augmented interest is given TO this subject by the actual
commencement OF work upon tho Pachc rhlroad under
auspices favorable to rapid progress and completion
that the enlarged navigation becomes palpabe need
the great road.
! transmit he second annual report of the Commits.
soner NJ the Department Of Agriculture, asking your
sttenon to the developments In that vital interest OF
the nation.
Prospects
When Congress assembled year ago the war had al
ready lasted nearly iw ny months, aud there had been
many couhicts both on land and with varying results
The rebellion had been pushed back into reduced limits
yet the tone Of public opinion at home and abrosd
not satisfactory With signs, the popular ectons
then just past indicated uneasiness among ourselves
while, aud much that cold and menaong, the kind
est words coming from Europe uttered in
81 pity that We were too blind to surrender hopeless
cause.
Our commerce was suffering greatly by a few armed
vessels. built upon and furnished from reign Shores
quarters as would sweep trade from the and
raise our blockade We had failed to elicit from Euro.
p.an Governments anything hopeful this subject
The preliminary emancipation proclamation issued in
September was running its assigned period the begin
ming of the new year month later the final procla
nation came, including the announcement that colored
men of suitable condition would be received the war
service The policy Of emancipation and Of employing
black soldiers, gave TO the future aspect about
which hope aud fear and doubt commended in uncertain
conflict. According political system as a matter
Of civil administration, the general government had no
lawful power 70 effect emancipation in any State and
for long time Il had been hoped that the rebellion could
be suppressed without Tesorting to II military
ure. IL all the while deemed possible the nee
essty for It might and that II it should the crisis
OF the contest would then be presented IL came and
as was anticipated IL followed by dark and doubtful
days Eleven months having now passed we are per
mtted 90 take another review. The rebel borders are
pressed still further back and by the complete opening
on the Mississippi the country dominated by the reNe.
lion is divided into distinct parts with practical com
nunicaton between them
Tennessee and Arkansas have been snhstantially
cleared Of insurgents and influential citizens in each,
owners Of slaves and advocates Of slavery the begin
ming Of the rebellion declare openly for emanoipa-
Ton In their respective States. OF those States
eluded IN the emancipation proclamation, Maryland and
missouri neither of "hich three years ago would tolerate
any restraint upon the extension Of slavery new ter
rtoties only dispute 10 the best mode Of remov-
ing u within their own limits.
or those who slaves a. the beginning Of the re-
helon fun one hundred thousand in the United
States military Service about onehAf Of which number
aesua bear arms in the ranks thus giving the double