The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-11-07

three hundred ana Twelve acres OF
public land were disposed Of, one mil
lion eight hundred and ninety-two thou
sand five hundred. and sixteen acres Of
which were entered under the home
stead act. Tile policy originally adop-
ted relative to the public lands has
undergone essential notifications. I'm
mediate revenue and not their rapid
settlement, was the cardinal feature Of
our land system. Long experience
and earnestsdiscussion have resulted i1r
the conviction that the early Develop
ment of our agricultural resource, and:
the diffusion of an energetic popula-.
ton over vast territory, are objects of
far greater importance to the national
growth and prosperity than proceeds
Of the sale of the land to the highest
bidder in open market. The pre-emp-,
ton laws confer upon the pioneer who
complies with the terms they impose"
the privilege of purchasing a limited; =
portion of 'tunofcrcd lauds'' at the:
minimum prices. The homestead enact
ments relieve the settler from the pay
ment of purchase money, and secure
him permanent home upon the con-
dition of residence for a term of years.
This liberal policy invites emigration
from the old, and from the more crowd
ed portions Of the new world. Its pro-
pitious results are undoubted, and VII
be more signally manifested when time
shall have given to it wider develop
mont.
Congress has made liberal grants of
public land to corporations, in aid Of
the construction Of railroads and other
internal inn lrjvements. Should It's
policy hereafter prevail: more stringent.
provisions will b. required to secure a
faithful application Of the fund. The
title to the lands should no. pass, by
patent or otherwise, but remain in the
Government and subject to its control
until some portion of the road has been
actually built. Portions ofthem might
then, from time to time, be conveyed
to the corporation, but never in great
er ratio to the whole quantity embraced
in the grant than the completed parts
bear to the entire length Of The Projec-
ted improvement. This restriction would
not operae to the prejudice of"any un-
dertaking conceived in good faith and
executed with reacoDa5le energy, as it,
is the settled practice to W ;thdraw from
market tile lands falling Within the op.;:
Grafton of such grants, and thus 10 ex-
clude the inception of q subsequent ad-
verse ,ieht. A branch of the conditions
which Congress may deem proper, to
impocs should work a forfeiture Of claim
10 tue lands so Withdrawn but, phcon-
veyed, and Of lille to the lands con? {
veyed which remain unsold. Tsti ~ :
Operations on the sevc::l Encs Of the Pallf
cifo Railroad have been prosecuted with un,l
cxampled yigor and success. Should no un7,
foresccn cause or delay occur, il is cOl6I'cHt-
" anticipated tha. this great ,horous siifares );
will be completed before tl:c expiration of the
period designated. by Congress. :; l..".
During he ll.t fiscal year The amonnt paid
to pensioners, including the expenses of dis
bursemcni, was thirteen million ::orrhunGnd
and 6f;y-uinc thousand l:ne hundred and,
nincty-si dollars; and fifty Thousand. one
hundred and scveaty seven names were add
| ed to the pension rolls. The. cntire number
of pensioners June 80: 1866. was one hun.
drcd and iweniy-six thousand seven hundred
anil twenty-five. This fact furnishes mclan- J.
choy and striking proof of the sacrifices
made 10 vindicu:e the constitutional au.Iori-.
~ of The Federal Government. and 10 luain-
Tain inviola;c the integrity of the Union
They Impose rpon us corresponding 'obGga-
lions. it is estimated that thir,y-,hrce mil
lion dollars will be required 10 meet the esi-
ecncics of tlI;s branch Of The service during
The next fiscal year. -,as
Treaties have been concluded with the In
dians who, ca,iccd into AIMED opposition to
our Government at the outbreak Of The rebel
lion, have unconli. ;onaly submitted 10 our
authority, and manifested IN catIest desire
70" Il renewal Of friendly relations.
During the year ending September 30. 1865,
cirht thousand seven hundred and >iSreen
Da,cn:s for useful inventions and designs
were issued, anil at that date .he. i'alance in
the treasury to .Ile credit Of the Patent Fund
WAS .ro hundred and twcnty-eight iholsand
two hu,l,lred and nnetr tr-scvcn dollars.
As subject up0a wh:ci! depends an imss>
mcusc amount of the production and COM
mcrcc of the couury, I recommend 10 Con-
grcss. such legislation as may be necessary
for The preservation of tho lcvees of the Mis-
! sissippi River. 1t Is a matter of national im-
por;ancc lat carly steps should be taken NOT
only to sdd to the efficiency Of these harIfets
against destructive iuunla,ions bat fof tho
removal of all ohstruc,ions 10 ,.l.e flee and
safe navigation Of Lat great cianuel Of trade
and commerce. ~
The District Of Columbia under existing
!A'~s '- not cntitled to. that representation in
the Na,oral Councils which, from our earliest
history, has been uniformly accorded to each
Territory established fiom time 10 time with
| in our limits. Itmain:a;ns peculiar relations
to Congress, to whom the Constitution has
granted The power Of exercising exclusive
| legislation over the scat Of government. Ou1.
fclow-ciIizcns residing in ,he Distric., whose
Interests ore thus cohided TO the special
guardianship Of Congress, exceed il humber
, lie population Of several CT our Territories,
nud no irsi rcas snn is perceived wl,y .dolc