Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-12-16

lfCODlchl AltG l iiltftt s1tdiN- iltAh go I
and more enduring interest in the early |
settlement and substantial cultivation Of |
the public lauds than IN the amount Of
direct revenue to be derived from the sale |
of them This OF iuion has heen controll- |
nginfiuence, shaping legislation upon the
subject of our national domain may !
cite ss evidence Of this the liberal
measures adopted III reference 70 actual
settlers-the grant 10 the State ot the
oyerhowed lands maturing these largely
in order to their being reclaimed and
rendered fit for cultivation-the grant
to railroad com MES Of alternative sec
tions of land upon the contemplated
lines of their road when completed, will
so largely multiply the facilities for
reaching our distant possessions. This
policy has received its most signal and
benefcent illustration in the recent en-
ectment granting homesteads to actual
settlers. Since. the first of January last
the before mentioned quality of one mil
lion four hundred and fifty-six thousand
FIVE hundred and fourteen acres of land
has been taken up under its provisions.-
This fact. and the amount OF sales, FUR
nish gratifying evidence Of the increasing
settlement upon public lands, notwith-
standing the great struggle in which the
energy of the nation has been engaged,
and which has required so large with
drawal of our citizens from their accus-
.fbned pursuits cordially concur in the
recommendation Of The Secretary of the
interior. suggesting a modification OF the
act in favor Of those engaged in the mill
tAry and naval service of the United States.
doubt not that Congress will cheerfully
adopt such measures as will, without es-
|sentially changing the general features of
the system, secure to the greatest practic-
al extent its benefits 10 those who have
left their homes in defense of the cOun-
try in this arduous crisis. invite your
attention to the views of the Secretary
of War u 10 the propriety Of raising by
appropriaI of the Legislature, reve-
nue. from the mineral lands of the United
States.
The measures provided at yorr last ser
sion for the removal of certain Indian
tribes have been carried into effect. Sun
dry treaties have been negotiated, which
will i'm due time be submitted for the con-
stitutionsl action of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for extinguishing the
possessors' rights OF the Indians to large
and valuable tracts of land. 1t Is proba bic
that the effect of these treaties viii re-
suit in the establishment of permanent
friendly relations with such of those tribes
as have been brought into frequent and
BLOODY collisions with our outlying set
Element and emigrants. Should policy
and our imperative duty to these wards
lof Government demand our anxious and
constant attention to their material well
being, to their progress in the arts OF civ
ilization, and above all to that moral train
ing which under the blessing of Divine
Providence will confer upon them eleva-
ting and sanctifying influences, and hopes
and consultations of the christian faith
/ suggested in my last annual message,
the propriety Of Temodeling our Indian
system. Subsequent events have satisfied
me of It's necessity. The details set forth
in the report of the Secretary will evince
the urgent need for immediate Legisls-
tive action. | commend the Benevolent
| Institutions established or patronized by
the Government in this District to your
generous and fostering care.
The atten ton Of Congress during TIA
last session was engaged To some extent
with proposition for enlarging the water
communications between the Mississippi
1 river ana Tie Ecd DOuI0s
which proposition, however, failed for the
time. Since then. upon call of the
greatest respectability, Convention has
been held at Chicago upon the same
subject: summary OF whose views, IN a
memorial addressed to the President
and Congress, which now have the hon
or to lay before you. That this interest
is one which, ere long, will force its own
way, do not entertain doubt, while it
is submitted entirely to your wisdom as to
what can be done now. Augmented in
terest is given TO this subject by the actu-
al commencement of work upon the Pa
cific Railroad under auspices 30 favorable
to its rapid progress and completion that
enlarged navigation becomes a palpsble
need to the great road.
transmit the second annual report OF
the Commissioner of the Department OF
Agriculture, asking your attention 10 the
deyelopementsi in that vital interest ofthe
nation.
When Congress assembled year ago,
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months, and there had been many con-
,hicts on both sea and land. with varying
results. The rebellion had been pressed
back into reduced limits, yet the tone OF
public feeling and opinion at home end
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 lnenacing, the kindest words coming
from Europe were uttered in accents oi
pity that we were too blind to surrender
Our commerce was suffering greatly by q
few armed vessels built upon and furnish
ed from foreign shores, and we were
threatened with such additions from the
same quarter as would sweep our trade
from the sea and raise the blockade. We
had failed to elicit from European Gov,
ernment anything hopeful upon this sub
liect. The Emancipation Proclamation
which was issued in September, was run
ming its assigned period 10 the beginning
of the New Year. A month later the ii
! nal proclamation came, including the an
nouncement that colored men of suitable
condition would be received into the wal
service. The policy of emancipation ano
of employing black soldiers. gave TO the
future new aspect, about which, hope
and fear and doubt contended in uncer
tain conflict. According 10 our politlca
system, as matter of civil administra
tlOn, the government Hdu NO inNiul pOn
er to affect emancipation in any State
and for long time it had been hoped
that rebellion could be suppressed with
out resorting to it as military measure
I 1t was all the while deemed possible tina
necessity for it might come, and that If i
should, the crisis of the contest would b
then presented. 1t came and was inten
ded. 1t was followed by dark and doubt
full days. Eleven months having beer
passed, we are permitted TO take anothe
review. The Rebel borders are pressed
still further back, and by the complet'
opening of the Mississippi river, thu
country dominated over by the rebellion
is divided into distinct parts withou
practical communication between them
Tennessee and Arkansas have been sub
statially cleared of the insurgents controo
, and influence, and the citizens of eacl
) and owners of slaves and advocates o
: slavery at the beginning of tue rebellion
f now openly declare for emancipation II