The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-12-10

however, that the operation of the draft, with
the high bounties paid for army recruits, is
beginning to affect injuriously, the naval ser
vice, and will, if not corrected, be likely to
impair its efficiency by detatching seamen
from their proper vocation and inducing them
to enter the army. | therefore respectfully
suggest that Congress might aid both the ar
my and naval service by adequate provision
on this subject, which would at the same time
be equitable to the communities more espec-
tally interested.
| commend to Jour consideration the sug-
gestions of the Secretary of the Navy in re-
gard to the policy of fostering and training
seamen for the naval service. The Naval Ac-
ademy is rendering signal service in prepar-
ing Midshipmen for highly responsible duties,
which in after life they will be required to
perform, in order that the country should not
be deprived of a proper quota of educated Of
fcers, for which legal provision has been made
at the Naval School. The vacancies caused
by the neglect or omission to make nomina-
tons from the States in instruction, &C., has
been filled by the Secretary of the Navy. The
any previous period, and in every respect en-
titled to the favorable consideration of Con
gress.
During the past fiscal year the financial
condition of the Post Office Department has
been one of increasing prosperity, and l am
g~ratified in being able to state the receipts of
the postal revenue have nearly equalled the
entire expenditures, the latter amounting to
81, 314,000.8 "a and the former to 81, $780,
169.08, leaving a deficiency of $3.50, AIT %,
In the year Immediately preceding the rebel
lion the deficiency amounted to S., 656, 705,
SO, the postal receipts of that year being 3d.
645, 722. 10 less than those of 1868. The de-
| crease since 1860 in the annual amount Of
: transportation has been only about 25 per
cent but the annual expenditure on account
of the same has been reduced 80 per cent. II
is manifest, therefore, that the Post Office De.
partment may become self-sustaining in q few
r years, even with the restoration of the whole
service.
l The international conference of postal dele
= gates from the principal countries of Europt
and America which was called at the sugges
ton of the Post Master General, met at Pari
on the LIST of May last and concluded its de
: alterations on the 9th of June. The principle
t established by the conference is best adapted
t to facilitate postal intercourse between ma
I tons, and as a basis of future conventions in
augurate a general system of uniform inter
national charges at reduced rates of postage
e and cannot fail to produce beneficial results
r | refer you to the report OF the Secretary 0
the Interior, which is herewith laid befor
you. Useful and varied information in regar(
@ to the public lands, Indian affairs, patents
: pensions, and other matters of public concerl
pertaining to his department will be found il
e it. The quantity OF land disposed of during
the last and the first quarters Of the presen
fiscal year was 3 ,841, $40 acres, of which
III, Oil acres were sold for cash, !, 456, 81
: acres were taken up under the HomesteaC
Law, and the residue disposed of under law
n granting lands for military b~ounties, for rail
roads and other purposes. 1t also states tina
the sale of public lands is largely on the in
crease. 1t has long been a cherished opinion
of some of our wisest statesmen that the PEG
e pie of the United States had a higher ant
more enduring interest in the early settlement
and substantial cultivation of the public land
; than i'll the amount of direct revenue to be de
If rived from the sale of them. This opinion
has had a controlling influence in shaping leg
~islation upon the subject of our national do
main. l may cite as evidence of this the lib
eral measures adopted in reference to actua
settlers, the grant to the States of the over
flowed ends within their limits in order t.
their being reclaimed ard rendered fit for cul
~tivation, the grant to Railroad Companies o
II alternate sections Of land upon the contempla
g ted lines, of their road which, when completed
will, too, largely multiply the facilities 70
reaching our distant possessions. This poll
cy has received its most signal and beneficen
T illustration in the recent enactment granting
s homesteads to actual settlers.
Since the 1st day of January last the be
fore mentioned quantity of l, 426, 513 acres
a n Land hos haon 4oJ-ap 50 11n1ar &c r,o,r,1
e ions. This fact and the amount of sales fur
nish gratifying evidence of increasing settle
ment upon the public lands, notwithstanding
a the great struggle in which the energies o
the nation have been engaged and which hal
required so large a withdrawal of our citizent
from their accustomed pursuits. | cordially
concur in the recommendation of the Secreta
n ry Of the Interior, suggesting a modification
Of the act in favor Of those engaged i'll the
a military and naval service of the United States
l doubt not that Congress will cheerfully
adopt such measures as will, without essen
= TALLY changing the general features of thC
system, secure to the greatest practicable ex.
tent its benefits to those who have left their
homes in defense of the country in this ardu.
Gus crisis.
L invite your attention to the views of the
Secretary of War as to the propriety Of rails
ing by appropriate legislation a revenue from
the mineral lands of the United States.
The measures provided at your last ses
sion for the removal of certain Indian tribe
have been carried into effect. Sundry treat
: les nave been negotiated, which will in dut
Y time be submitted for the constitutional &C
ton of the Senate. They contain stipulation
for extinguishing the possessory rights of the
Indians to large and valuable tracts of land
1t is probable that the effect of these ~treatie,
h will result in the establishment of a perma-
nent friendly relation with such of these tribes
II as have been brought into frequent and bloody
collision with our outlying settlements anC
y emigrants. Sound policy and the imperative
duty to these tribes of the Governmet, de
mand our anxious and constant attention t.
their material well being, to their progress il
the arts Of civilization, and above all, to thai
moral training which, under the blessing of
Divine Providence, will confer upon them the
elevated and sanctifying influences, and tn,
IS hopes and consolation of the Christion faith
l suggested in my last annual message
the propriety of remedying our Indian sys
d tenn. Subsequent events nave satisfied m,
e of it's necessity. The details set forth in the
g report of the Secretary will evince the urgent
need of immediote Legislative action. | com
mend the benefits of the institutions estab
lished or patronized by the Government in
+ this district to your generous and fostering
q care.
The attention of Congress during the last
e session was engaged to some extent with 8
a proposition for charging the water commu
nications between the Mississippi river ant
: the Northwestern seaboard, which PROPOSE
ton, however, failed for tho time. Since ther
. upon a call Of the greatest responsibility, con
g %vention has been called at Chicago upon the
r same subject, a summary of whose views ii
: contained ina memorial addressed to the Pres
g ident and Congress, and which l now have
: the honor TO Law before Won. That this inter.