Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-10

ed fit for cultivation; the grant to railroad
comprHies Of alternate sections Of land
upon the contemplated lines Of their road,
when completed, will too, largely, multiply
the facilities for reaching our distant pos-
sessions. This policy has received its most
signal and benefoent illustration in the
recent enactment granting homestesds to
actual settlers. Since the first day Of Jsnu.
AIRY last the aforementioned quantity Of
onemillion four hundred and fifty y-sixthous-
and FIVE hundred and fourteen acres land
has been taken up under its provisions.
This fact, and the amount Of rates, fur
nish gratifying evidence of Ofinoreasicg g set
Element upon the public lands, no.with-
standing the great struggle in which the
energy Of the nation has been engaged,
and which has required 80 large with
drawsl Of our citizens fr I'M their aceus-
toned pursuits.
cordially concur in the recommenda-
tion Of the Secretary of the Interior sug
gesting s 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 adopt suoh
measures as will, without essential y
changing the general features OF the sys-
TEN, reserve, to the greatest practical ex-
tent, its benefits to those who have left
their homes, in defence Of The country, in
this arduous crisis
Invite your attention to the views OF
the Secretary Of War as to the proprie
ty Of raising by appropriation Of Degro'
lstion, revenue from the mineral lands
of the United States.
The measures provided at your last ses-
sion for the removal Of certain Indi
an triSes, have been carried into effect
/ Sundry treaties have been negotiated,
which will in due time be submitted for
the constitutional action of the Senate
They contain stipulations for extinguish
ing the possessivs rights of the Indians tC
large and valuable tracts of lands. Il il
probable that the effects Of these trestie,
will result In the establishment Of permsn
ent and friendly relations with such o
those tribes as have been brought into fre
quent and bloody collisions with our out
| lying settlements and cmigrsnts sounC
policy and our imperative dury TO thes'
Wards of the Government demand out
anxious and constant attention to thei
material well-being, to their progress il
the arts of civilization, and above all 4
their moral training, which under tn
blessings Of Divine Providence will oon
fer upon them the elevating and ssnctify
ing Influences Of the hopes and consola
tions Of the christian faith.
Isuggested in my last annual message
the propriety Of remedying our indian
system. Subsequent events have satisfied
me Of its necessity. The details set fortl
in the report of the Secretary will eVinNt
the urgent need for immediate Legislative
action. l commend the benevolent of tn
institutions established or pstroniEsd b.
the Government in this Department I
to your generous and fostering care.
The attention Of Congress, during thI
last session, was engaged to some eIten
with proposition for enlsrging the waite
communication between the Mississippi
river and the north eastern sea board
which proposition however failed for tn
time. Since then, upon q call Of the great
est respectability a convention has beel
called &C Chicago upon the same subject, {
summary Of whose vies is before Congress
in memorial addressed to the presen
Congress and which now have the homo
to lay before you.
That the interest Is oDe which ere lon
will force its own way, do not entertain
doubt while it is submitted entirely L
your wisdom as to what can be done now
Augmented interest is given to this sub
ject by the actual commencement of worl
upon the Pacific Railroad, under auspice
so favorable TO its rapid progress and com
pletion. Enlarged navigation becomes a
| hla naad tn rho Uraat road
Itransmit the second annual report 0
the Commissioner of the Department O
Agriculture, asking your attention to tn
developments in that vital interest Of n
nation
Wnen Congress assembled year age
the war had already lasted nearly twent
months, and there had been many con
fliols on both land and sea, with Vsryin
results. The rebellion had been presse
back into reduced limits, yet the tone Q
public feeling and opinion at home an
abroad was not satisfactory. With othe
signs, the popular elections then just pas
indicated Uneasiness among ourselves
while amid much that was cold and men
acing, the kindest words coming from Eu
rope were uttered in accents of pit
that we Eere too blind to surrender.
Our commerce was suffering greatly b,
few armed vessels built upon and fur
nished from foreign shores, and we wer
threatened With such additions from tn
same quarter as would sweep our trad
from the sea and raise our blockade. W
had failed to elicit from European Govern
ments any thing hopeful upon this subject
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
The Emancipation Proclamation whic
was issued in September, was running it
sssignei perie to the beginning " the he'
Year. A month later the final proclams
ton came, including the snnouncemen
that colored men Of suitable condition
would be reeeiEed into the war service.
The policy of emancipation and Of EN-
ploying black soldiers, gave to the futur
new aspect, about which hope aud fea
and doubt contended in uncertain conflict
According to our political system, as
matter Of civil administration, the Genera
Government had no lawful power to effec
emancipation in any State, and for Lon
time it had been hoped that the rebellion
could be suppressed without resorting t
it as a military measure. Il was sll tn
while deemed possible that necessity for
might come and that if it should the orisi
of the contest would then be presented
csne, aEd as intended it was followed b.
dark and doubtful days Eleven month
having been passed, we are permitted t.
take another review.
The rebel borders are pressed still fur
ther back, and by the complete opening o
the Mississippi river the country DONNA
ted over by the rebellion is divided int
distant paris, with 70 VrsOtiaal eomnunIei
tiOn between them. Tennessee and Ar
kansas has been so substantially CLEARED
of the insurgents control and influence il
escE tLst oVneFs ef slsYss and adVocste
OF slavery at the beginning Of the rebel
lion now declare openly for emancipation
in their respective States. OF those State