Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-16

oeeh made at the naval schools, the vacancies
caused by the neglect or ommission to make
nominations from the States in insurection
| have been filed by the Secretary ofthe Navy.
5 The school is now more full and complete
, than at any former period, and in every
respect entitled to the favorable consideration
of Congress-
During the past fiscal year the financial
condition OF the Post Office Department has
been one of increasing prosperity, and am
grained IN being able to state that the actual
postal revenue has nearly equaled the entire
expenditures, the latter amounting TO Sl1 ,3l4,
2Oo,o4, and the former TO S11 ,163, ,7S9 SO,
leaving deficiency of but Sl50,417 ,25.
In 1860, the year Immediately preceding
the rebellion, the deficiency amounted to S5,-
656, ,7O5 40, the postal receipts Of that year be-
ing S2,645, ,722 ,l9, less than those Of 1853
| The decrease in 1860 in the actual amount
of transportation has been only about 25 per
cent, but the annual expenditure on account
of the same has been reduced 35 per cent
| 1t is manifest, therefore, that the Post Office
Department may become self sustaining in a
few years, even with the restoration of the
| whole service.
! The international conference of Postal Del
| egates from the principal countries OF Europe
and America, which was called at the sugges-
tion of the Postmaster General, met at P aris on
| the llth of May last, and concluded its delib-
erations on the Sth of June. The principle
! established by the conference as best adapted
to facilitate postal intercourse between ma
tions, land as the basis of future postal conven-
| tions, inaugnratea a general system uf un form
International charges at reduced rates of
| postage, and cannot fail to produce beneficial
| results.
i refer you to the report of the Secretary of
the Interior, which herewith laid before
you, for useful and varied information in re-
lation to the public lands, Indian affairs, pat
| ents, pensions, and other matters of public
concern pertaining TO his department
The quantity of land disposed of during the
last and the first quarter of the present fiscal
years was three millions eight hundred and
forty-one thousand, five hundred and forty
nine acres, of which l6l ,9I1 acres were sold
for cash, !, ,456 ,5l4 acres were taken up under
the homestead law land the residue disposed of
under laws granting lands for military boun-
ties, for railroad and other purposes. 1t also
appears that the sale of the public lands Is
largely the increase. 1t has long been a
cherished opinion of some of our wisest states
men that the people of the United States had
higher and more enduring interest in the
early sediment 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. l may cite evidence OF
this the liberal measures adopted in reference !
to actual settlers, the grant to the States OF |
the overlooked lands within their limits, +. |
order to their being reclaimed and rendered |
fit for cultivation. the grant to Railroad Com
panies Of alternate sections OF land upon the |
completed, will largely multiply the facilities
for reaching our distant possessions. This
policy has received its most signal and benef-
cent illustration in the recent enactme mt grant
ing homesteads TO actual settlers. Since the |
first of January last the before mentioned
quantity of one million four hundred and fifty
six thousand five hundred and fourteen acres
of land have been taken up under its provis-
ions. This fact and the amount of sales furn-
ish gratifying evidence of increasing settle
meDt upon the public lands Notwithstanding
the great struggle in which the energies of the
Nation have been engaged and which has re-
quired so large withdrawal of our citizens
from their accustomed pursuits l ordially
concur in the recommendation of the Secreta-
ry of the Interior, suggesting a modification
of the act in favor of those engaged in the
military and naval service of the United States.
doubt not that Congress will cheerfully a.
dopt such measures as will, without essential
ly changing the general features of the system, |
secure TO the greatest practicable extent the
benefits to those who have left their homes in
the defence of the country in his arduous
crisis.
l invite your attention to the views of the
Secretary as to the propriety of raising by ap
propriate legislation a revenue from the
mineral lands of 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 negotiated which WILL in due time,
be submitted for the constitution action of
the Senate. They contain stipu lations for
extiDguishing the possessory rights of the In
dians, to large and valuable tracts of land. 1t
is hoped that the effects of these treaties
" i'll result in the establishment of permanent
friendly relations with such of these tribes as
have been brought into frequent and bloody
with our outlying settlements and
emigrants. Sound policy and our imperative
duty to these wards of the Government, de-
mand our anxious and constant attention, to
their material well being, to their progress in
the arts OF civilization, and, above all, 70 that
moral training, which, under the blessing of
divine Providence, will confer upon them the
elevated and sanctifying influence, the hope
and consolation of the Christian faith. sug-
gested, in my last annual message, the pro-
priety of remodeling our Indian system.
But subsequent. events have satisfied me of its I
The details set forth in the report 9
of the Secretary will evince the urgent need {
for immediate legislative action.
/ commend the benevolent institutions es-
tablished or patronized by the Government IN '
this District TO your generous and fostering ]
care.
The attention Of Congress during the last Q
session was engaged to some extent with t
for enlarging the water communi- Q
cations between the Mississippi river and the q
Northeastern seaboard, which proposition, S
however, failed for the time. Since then up
on q call of the greatest responsibility Con- q
Tention has been held at Chicago upon the | 2
same subject summary of those views is con.
tanned in q memorial addressed to the Presi. q
lent and Congress, aLd which now have the v
honor TO lay before you. That this interest
is one which ere long will force its own way f
10 not entertain doubt, while 1t is submit o
Ted entirely to your wisdom as to what can be g