The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-01-13

Luillton iOur nunuEeQ ana uIty-SlX LHOuS-
aud five hundred and fourteen acres Of
land have been taken up under its pro-
visions. This fact and the amount Of
sales furnish gratifying evidence of in-
creasing settlement upon the public lands,
Notwithstanding the great struggle in
which the energies of the Nation have
been engaged and which has required SO
large a withdrawal of our citizens from
their accustomed pursuits.
| cordially concur in the recommends.
tion of the Secretary of the Interior, sug-
gesting 8 modification of the act in favor
of those engaged in the military and naval
service of the United States | doubt
not that Congress will checrfully adopt
such measures as will, without essentially
changing the general features of the sys.
TEN, secure to the greatest practicable
extent the benefits to those who have left
their homes in the defeuce of the country
in this arduous crisis.
invite your attention to the views of
tho Secretary as to tho propriety of raising
by appropriate 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 iuto elect
Suudry treaties have been negotiated
which will, in due time, be submitted fee
the constitutional action of the Senate,
They contain stipulations for eXtiuguish-
ing the possessory rights of the Indians,
to large and valuable tracts Of land.
1t is probable that the effects Of these
treaties will result 10 the establishment
of permanent friendly relation with such
tribes as have been brought into frequent
and bloody collisions with our outlying
settlements and emigrants. Sound policy
and our imperative duty to these wards
of the Government, demand our anxious
and constant attention, to their material
r well being, to their progress in the arts
of civilization, and, above all, to that
moral training, which, under the blessing
Of Divine Providence, will confer upon
them the elevated and ssnctifgipg intiu-
2 ence, the hope and consolation Of tLs
2 Christian faith
] When Congress assembled yesr ago
q the war had already lasted nearly twenty
5 months and there had been many con.
4 flicts on both sea and land with varying
results. The rebellion had been pressed
i back into reduced limits, yet the tone Of
q public feeling and opinion at heme aud
t abroad, was not satisfactory.
! With other signs, the popular elections
: then jus. passed, indicated unessiness
among ourselves; while, amid much that
was cold and menacing, the kindest words
coming from Europe were uttered tn ss-
cents of pity-that We were too blind to
} surrender. Our commerce was suffering
greatly by few armed vessels built upon
and furnished from foreign shores, aud
we were threatened with such additions
from the same quarter as would sweep our
trade from the sea and raise our blockade
We had failed to elicit from the European
government anything hopeful upon this
snbiect.
The emancipation proclamation, which
vas issued in September, was running its
assigned period to the beginning of tfs
new year. 4 month later the fnal ptsc-
, lamation came. including the annouace.
ment that coiored men Of suitable oopdi,
ton would be received into the war service,
j The policy of emancipation and Of en-,
ploying black soldiers gave to the future
a new aspect, about which hope and fear
and doub: contendcd 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 States, and for
long time it had been hoped that the
rebellion could be suppressed without
resorting to it as military measure.
1t was all the while deemed possible
that the necessity for it might come, and
that ii it should, the crisis of the contest
: would then be presented. 1t came, and
as was intended, it was followed by dark
and doubtful days.
! Eleven months having now passed, VIC
are permitted to take another review.
! The rebel borders are pressed still further
back, and by the complete opening of the
Mississippi river, the country dominated
over by the rebellion is divided into dis
tant parts, with no practical communica,
tion between them. Tennessee and
Arkansas have been substantially cleared
Of iusurgant control and influence and
the citizens in each, owners of slaves and
advocates of slavery at the beginning If
the rebellion, now declare openly for
emancipation in their respective States.
! Of those States not inclu9edin the ETnan-
cipation Proclamation, Maryland aud
Missouri, neither Of which three years
sgo, would tolerate any restraint upon
the extension of slavery, into the new
territories, only dispute now as to the bess