The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18

subject, which would at the same time be
acquitable to the communities more especially
interested.
l comment to your consideration the sug-
gestions of the Secretary of the Navy in re-
card to the policy of fostering and training
seamen, and also the education of officers and
engineers for the naval service. The Naval
Academy is rendering signal service in pre-
pairing midshipmen for the highly responsible
duties which in sitter life they will be required
to perform. In order that the country should
not be deprived Of the proper quota OF edu-
Gated officers, for which legal provisions have
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 is now more full and complete
than at any former period, and in every re-
spect 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
gratified in being able to state that the actual
postal revenue has nearly equsled the entire
expenditures, the latter amounting to 81 ,3l4-
2O6 "a, and the former to Sll, 1853, 7S9 SO,
leaving a deficiency Of but $3.50, All 20. In
1860, the year Immediately preceding the re-
bellon, the deficiency amounted to 80, $685.
705 40, the postal receipts OF that year being
50. Gas, 722 10 lesss than those of 1868. The
decrease since 1860, in the annual amount of
TRANSPORTATION has been only about twenty
five per cent, but the annual expenditure on
account of the same has been reduced thirty
five per cent 1t is manifest, therefore, that
the Post Office Department may become self
sustaining in q few years, even with the res
toration Of the whole service.
The International Conference of postal
delegates, from the principal countries of
Europe and America, which was called at the
suggestion of the Post master General, met
at Paris on the 18th of May last, and conclu-
ded it's deliberations on the 9Th OF June. The
principles established by the Conference as
best adapted to facilitate postal intercourse
between nations, and as the basis of future
conventions, inaugurate general sytem of
uniform international charges, at reduced
rates of postage, and cannot fail to produce
beneficial results.
| refer YOU to the report of the Secretary OF
the Interior. which is herewith laid before
YOU, for useful and varied information in re-
lation to the public lands, Indian affairs, pa
tents pensions, and other matters of public
concern pertaining to his department..
The quantity of land Opposed Of during the
last and the first quarter of the present fiscal
years was three million eight hundred and
| forty-one thousand five hundred and torty-nlne
acres, of which oil acres were sold for
cash; i, 1865 acres were taken up under
the homestead law, and the residue disposed
of under laws granting lands for military
bounties for railroad and other purposes. 1t
also appears that the sale of the public lands
is largely on the increase. 1t has long been
O cherished opinion of some of our wisest
statesmen that the people of the United States
had higher and more enduring interest in
the early settlement and substantial cultiva-
ton 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 sub
iect of our national domain / may cite, as
evidence of this, the liberal measures adopted
in reference to actual settlers The grant to
the States of the overfowed land within their
limits, in order to their being reclaimed and
rendered fit for cultivation, and the grant to
railroad companies of alternate sections OF
land upon tn. contemplated lines of thciI
roads, when completed, will largely multiply
the facilities for reaching our distant posses
sions.
This policy has received its most signal and
beneGcent illustration in the recent enact
mont granting homesteads to actual settlers
Since the first day of January last, the before
! mentioned quantity Of one million four hun
: dred and ffty-six thousand five hundred anc
fourteen acres of land has been taken up un
: der its provisions. This fact, and the amount
of sales, furnish gratifying evidence Of in
, creasing settlement upon the public land
, Notwithstanding the great struggle in which
, the energies of the nation have been engaged
, and which as required so large q Withdrawal
of our citizens from their accustomed pursuits
| cordially concur in the recommendation o
/ the Secretary of the Interior, suggesting
a modification of the act in favor of those en-
. gagged in the military and naval service of tn
+ United States. doubt not that congress will
: cheerfully adopt such measures as will, with
: out essentially changing the general fea ture
n of the system, secure to the greatest practi
!. cable extent its benefits to those who have lef
i their homes in the defence Of the country il
I this arduous crisis.
: | invite your attention to the views of thu
r Secretary as to the. propriety of raising, b.
= appropriate legislation, a revenue from tn
: mineral lands of the United States. Th
I measures provided at your last session TO
i the removal of certain Indian tribes hav
been carried into effect. Sundry treaties hav
r been negotiated, which will in due time b
!; submitted for the constitutional action OF tn
Y Senate. They contain stipulations Tor ex
;, tinguishing the possessory rights OF the In
/ dams to large and valuable tracts of land
IL 10 uODeu lifuI VIC ChCSlo VI thSSS NASe'S-N
# will result in the establishment of permanen
friendly relations with such of these tribes
: have been brought into frequent and blood.
+ collisions with our outlying settlements AM
!. emigrants. Sound policy and our imperatiy
" duty to these wards of the Government dc
4 mand our anxious and constant attention t
! their material well-being, to their progress Il
v the arts of civilization and above all to tina
IS moral training which, under the blessing Q
d Divine Providence, will confer upon them tn
/. elevated and sanctifying influence, the hope
l. and consultations, of the Christian faith.
v l suggested in my last annual message thu
o propriety of remodelling our Indian system
ii Subsequent events have satisfied me of it
If necessity The details set forth in the repor
V of the Secretary will evince the urgent nee
IS for immediate legislative action.
+ commend the benevolence of the institr
Il lions established or patronized by the GOV
is eminent in this District to your generous an
70 fostering care.
The attention of Congress during the las
" session was engaged, to some extent, with
l. proposition for charging the water commun
IN cations between the Mississippi river and tn
l. northeastern seaboard, which proposition