East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-12-16

their limits, in order to their being re-
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation
The grant to railroad companies OF
alternate sections of land upon the
contemplated lines of their road when
completed will largely multiply the
facilities for reaching very distant pos
sessions. This policy has received its
most signal and benifcent illustration
in recent enactments granting home
steads to actual settlers. Since the
first day of January last, the before
mentioned quantity of ], ,456,5l4 acres
of land has been taken up under its
provisions. This fact and the
amount Of sales, furnish crafty
ing evidence of increasing settle
ment upon public lands, notwithstand
ing the great struggle in which the
energies Of the nation have been en-.
gagged and which has required SO large
a withdrawal of our citizens from then
accustomed pursuits. i cordially con-
cur in the recommendation Of the Sec.
retary Of the Interior suggesting q
modification of the act in favor OF
those engaged in the military and
naval services of the United Safes. j
doubt not that Congress will cheer
fully adopt such measures as will,
without essentially changing the gen
eral features of tho system, secure to
the greatest practice extent lis bene-
fits to those who have loft their homes
in defense of the country, in this az
duous crisis.
INDIAN AFFAIRS,
/ invite your attention to the views
OF the Secretary as to the pIopriety oi
raisingby appropriate legislation, q
revenue from the mineral lands OF
the United States. The laws provid
ing at your last session for the reno-
val of certain Indian tribes have been
carried INTO ehect. Cunury uvawve
have been negotiated, which will in
due time be submitted for the constitu-
tional action of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for cxtinguishing
the possessoly rights of the indians TO
large and valuable tracts Of land. 1t
is probable that the effects of these
treaties will result in the establish
ment of a permanent friendly relation
with such of those tribes as have been
brought into frequent and bloody col
ision with our outlying settlements
and emigrants. Sound policy and our
imperative duty to these wards OF
the government demand our active and
constant attention to their material
well-being, to their progress in the
arts Of civilization, and above all TO
that moral training, which under Di-
vine Providence will confer upon them
the elevated and sanctilying influences,
hopes and consultations of the Chris
ttan faith. i suggested in my last
annual message the propriety of re-
modelling our Indian system. Subse-
quent events have satisfied me Of its
necessity. The details set forth i'll
the report of the Secretary will evinee
the urgent need for immediate legisla-
tive action. l commend the benevo-
lcnce of the institutions established
or patronized in the Government in
this district to your generous and fos-
tering care.
THE CHICAGO SHIP CANAL.
The attention of Congress during
the last session was engaged TO some
extent with proposition for enlargina
the water communication between the
Mississippi River ond the north east
ern seaboard, which proposition failed
at the time. Since then upon call
of the greatest respectability, a con,
vention has been called at Chicago,
upon. the same subject, summary
of whose views is eontainedin a mem
orial addressed to the President and
Congress, which i have nowthe honor
to lay before you. That the Interest
is one that will ere long enforce its
own way, i do not entertain doubt
1t is submitted entirolyto your wisdom
as to what can bedone now. Aug,
mented interest is given 10 this sub,
ject by the actual commencement q
work upon the Pacific railroad, under
auspices so favorable TO its rapid ~.
gress and completion. The leuargtd
navigation becomes a alpablc neeo
to the great road.
AGRICuLTURAL.-
/ transmit the second annual report
of the Commissioner of tie Del art
ment of Agriculture, asking your at
tontion TO the development i'll that vi
tai interest of the nation.
THE REBELLION.
When Congress assembled n yea
ago the war had already lasted nearl,
twenty months, and there had beei
Ng agYn conflicts I'll a,s by land and sea will
been pressed back into reduced limits
yet theltone of public feeling was no
satisfactory. With their signs, the
popular elections then just passed i'll
dicated uneasiuess among themselves
while, amid much that was cold ant
menacing, the kindest words comini
Europe, were uttered in accents 0
pity That we were too blind to surren
I
der q hopeless cause. Our commerc
while suffering mortally by fey
armed vessels built upon and fur
nished from foreign shores, and W
were threatened with such addition
from tho same quarters as woul
sweep our blockade. We had faile'
to elicit from European government
anything hopeful upon this subject.
The emancipation proclamatio
which was issued in September wa
running its assigned period to the be
ginning of q new year. A month Ia
ter tho final proclamation came, inclu
ding the announcement that colore
men Of suitable condition would b
received into war service. The pol
icy of emancipation and of employin
black soldiers gave to the future a ne'
aspect about which hopes and fear
and doubt contcnded in uncertain COZ
flict. According TO our political syster
! oa n ,,atta,. of civil administration &