Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-12-17

I long Deen u CHcrISIeu OPitllOlI VI soHio VA
/ our wisest statesmen that the people OF the
| United States had higher and more en-
/ during interest in the early settlement and
! substantial cultivation of the public lands
than in the amount of direct revenue to be
derived from the sale of them. This opinion
has had controlling influence in shaping
! legislation upon the subject OF our national
domain. may cite as evidence OF this,
| the liberal measures adopted IN reference 10
actual settlers ; the grant to States OF over
flowed lands within their Limits, IN order
to their being reclaimed and rendered ns
for cultivation the grant to railroad CON-
panies of alternate sections ofland upon the
contemplated lines of their roads that, when
completed, win largely multiply the facils.
| ties for reaching our distant possessions.
This policy has received its most signal
and benehcent illustration Of the recent en-.
actment giving homesscadsto to actual settlers,
Since the first day Of January last, the be-
aforementioned quantity of ], 1862 514acresd
! land has been taken up under its provisions.
This fact and the amount of sales furnish
gratifying evidence of the increasing settle
ments upon public lands, notwithstanding
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 services
of the United States | doubt not that Con-
gress will cheerfully adopt such measures
as viii, without essentially changing the
features of the system, secure to the great
est practicable extent it's benefits to those
who haye left their homes in defence OF their
country in this arduous crisis,
{. af. TIE INDIANS. af
The measures provided at your last ses-
sion for the removal Of certain Indian tribes,
have been carried into effect. Sundry tribes
have been negotiated with and the treatles
made will in due time, be submitted Tor
the constitutional action Of the Senate
They contain q stipulation for extlngnlsn-
ing the possessive rights of the Indians 20
large and valuable tracts of land. IL is
probable that the effects Of these treaties
will result in the establishment OF per-
manent friendly relation with such OF these
| tribes as have been brought into frequent
and bloody collisions with our outlying
/ settlements and emlgrants. Sound poncy
and our imperative duty to these tribes oe,
mand of the Government an ANXIOUS anu
constant attention to their wcll-belng 10
| their progress in the arts of civilization ana,
above all, 10 that moral training which, un:
der the blessing Of Divine Providence, WIZ
| confer upon them the elevated and sanctlfy.
| ing influence, the hopes and consolatlons o!
the Christian faith.
I suggested in my last annual message.
| the propriety of remodeling our Indian
| system. Subsequent events have satisfied
| me of it's necessity The details set forth ia
the report of the Secretary, will evince tho
urgent need for. immediate legislative &C.
| ton. - mt- s..
/ THE WAR FOR THE UNION. 1
| When Congress assembled year ago tho
war had already lasted nearly twenty months
and there had been many conflicts ON both
land and sea, with varying results Inc
rebellion had been pressed back into re-
duced limits vet the tone of public feeling
and opinion, at home and abroad, was not
satisfactory, and with other signs, the pop
/ ular elections, then just post, Indicated nn,
casiness, while, amid much that was colo
and menacing, the kindest words coming
from Europe were uttered in accents OF pity
that we were too blind to surrender Our
commerce was suffering greatly by le"
armed vessels built upon and armed lrom
| foreign shores, and we were threatened with
such attacks from the same quarter as wooio
sweep our trade from the sea and raise our
blockade. We had failed to elicit from Eu-
ropean governments anything hopeful upon
this subject. u u@s
/ - THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
The Emancipation Proclamation which
was issued in September, was running lts
assigned period to the beginning OF the ne"
year. A month later the final proclamation
came, including the announcement that col
1 ored men of suitable condition would be re-
ceiyed into the war service. The policy OF
| emancipation and of employing black SOL
diers, gave to the futures new aspect, about
which hope and fear and doubt continued In
uncertain conflict.
| According to our political system, as
matter Of civil administration, the General
Government had no lawful power to effect
emancipation in any State, and for long
| time it had been hoped that the rebellion
could be suppressed without resortng to it
as military measure 1t was all the whlc
deemed possible that the necessity for it
might come and if it should, the crisis Of
/ the contest ould then be presented. 1t
came, aud as was intimated, it was followed
by dark and doubtful days.
PROGRESS.
| Eleven months having been passed We
are permitted TO take another review. Tho
rebel borders are pressed still further back,
and by the complete opening Of the Missis-
sppi river, the country dominated over by
the rebellion is divided into distinct parts,
with no practicable communication between
them. Tennessee and Arkansas have been
substantially cleared Of insurgents control
and influence, and the citizens in each and
even owners Of slaves, and advocates of
slavery at the beginning Of the rebellion,
now declare openly for emancipation in their
respective States OF those States not in,
cluded in the emancipation proclapation,
| Maryland, and Missouri, neither of which
a year ago would tolerate any restraint upon
/ the extension Of slavery into the territories,
only dispusc now as 10 the best mode M re-
moving il. vithin their oTn limits.