Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-12-05

and the annual transportation thirty million
six hundred and nine thousand four hun
dred and slxty-seven miles. The length oi
steamboat routes is fourteen thousand three
hundred and forty-six miles, and the
annual transportation three million four
hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred
and sixty-two miles. The mail service ia
rapidly increasing throughout the whole
country, and its steady extension in the
Southern States indicates their constantly
improving condition.
FOREIGN POSTAL SERVICE.
The growing Importance of the foreign
service also merits attention. The Post
Office Department of Great Britain and
our own have agreed upon a preliminary
basis for new Postal Convention, which
it is believed will prove eminently bene-
fetal to the commercial interests Of the
United States, inasmuch as it contemplates
a reduction of the international letter pos
tage to one-half the existing rates; are
duction of postage with all other countries
to and from which correspondence Is
transmitted to the British mail, or in
closed mails through the United Kingdom;
the establishment of uniform and reasona-
bic charges for the sea and territorial
| transit OF correspondence in closed mails
and an allowance to each Post Office De-
partment OF the right to use all mail CON-
munications established under the authority
of the other for the dispatch of correspon-
dence, either in open or closed mails, on
the same terms as those applicable to the
inhabitants of the country providing the
means of transmits ion.
| PUBLIC LANDS, ETC.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior exhibits the condition of those branches
| of the public service which are committed
| to his supervision. During the last fiscal
year 4,629,3l2 acres of public land were
disposed OF, 1885,, SIG acres of which were
| entered under the homestead act. The pol
Icy originally adopted relative to the pub
lie lands has undergone essential modifica-
| tons. Immediate revenue, and not their
| rapid settlement, was the cardinal feature
| OF our land system. Long experience and
| earnest discussion have resulted in the con-
viction that the early development of our
agricultural resources, and the diffusion of
an energetic population over our vast ter
ritOry, are objects of far greater importance
to the national growth and prosperity than
| the proceeds of the sale of the land to the
highest bidder in open market
The pre-emption laws confer upon the
poineer who complies with the terms they
impose the privilege of purchasing limit
ed portion of unoffered lands" at the
minimum prices. The homestead enact
ments relieve the settler from the payment
Of purchase money, and secure him per-
manent home, upon the condition of resi-
dence for a term of years. This liberal
policy invites emigration from the old, and
from the more crowded portions of the new
world. Its propitious results are undoubt-
ed, and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to it wider
development.
LAND GRANTS.
Congress has made liberal grants of pub
lie land to corporations, in aid of the con-
struction of railroads and other internal
Improvements. Should this policy here
after prevail, more stringent provisions will
be required to secure faithful application N
of the fund The title to the lands should
not pass, by patent or otherwise, but re-
main in the Government and subject to its
control until some portion of the road has
been actually built. Portions of them
might then, from time to time, be conveyed
q
ratio to the whole quantity embraced by
| the giant than the completed parts bear to
the entire length of the projected improve
ment. This restriction would not operate
to the prejudice of any undertaking con-
ceived in good faith and executed with
reasonable dnergy, as it is the settled prac-
tice to withdraw from market the lands fall
ing within the operation of such grants,
fhno fn nd ino nto
sequent adverse right. A breach of the
conditions which Congress may deem
proper to impose should work forfeit of
claim to the land 80 Withdrawn but uncon-
veyed, and of title to the lands convened
which remain unsold.
Operations on the several lines of the
Pacific Railroad have been prosecuted
with unexsmpled vigor and success.
Should no unforeseen causes Of delay oc-
cur, il is confidently anticipated that this
great thoroughfare will be completed be-
fore the expiration Of the period desig-
mated by Congress.
PENSIONS.
During the last fiscal year the amount
paid to pensioners, including the expenses
| OF disbursement was thirteen million four
| hundred and fifty nine thousand nine hun
dred and ninety six dollars; and fifty thou
sand one hundred and seventy seven
names were added to the pension rolls
The entire number of pensioners, June 80,
| 1866, was one hundred and twenty six
| thousand seven hundred and twenty-five.
| This fact furnishes melancholy and strik-
| ing proof of the sacrifices made to vindi-
| cate the constitutional authority of the
Federal Governments; and to maintai in
violate the integrity of the Union. They
| impose on us corresponding obligations
1t is estimated that thirty-three million
dollars will be required to meet the ext
gencies of this branch Of the service du-
ring the next fiscal year.
INDIAN APFAIRs
Treaties have been concluded with the
Indians, who, enticed into armed opposi-
ton to our Government at the outbreak of
the rebellion, have unconstitutionally sub
mitted to our authority, and manifested an
earnest desire for a renewal Of friendly re-
lations
| PATENTS.
Ruring the year ending September 80,
1866, eight thousand seven hundred and
sixteen patents for useful inventions and
designs were issued, and at that date the
balance in the Treasury TO the credit of the
Patent fund was two hundred and twenty
eight thousand two hundred and ninety
seven dollars.
THE MISSISSIPPI LEyREs.
As subject upon which depends an i'm
mense amount of the production and COM
merce of the country, | recommend to
Congress such legislation as may be neces-
sary for the preservation of the levees Of
the Mississippi river. 1t is matter of ma
tional importance that early steps should
be taken not only to add to the efficiency
of these barriers against destructive inunda-
tons, but for the removal of all obstruc-
tons to the free and safe navigation of the
great channel of trade and commence.
TnB DISTRICT OF oJLUMBIA ENTITLED TO
| REPRESENTATION.
The District of Columbia, under existing
laws is not entitled TO that representation
in the National Councils which, from our
earliest history, has been uniformly &C
corded to each Territory established from
time to time within our limits. 1t main
tains peculiar relations to Congress, to
whom the Constitution has granted the
power of exercising exclusive legislation
over the seat Of government. Our fellow
citizens residing in the District, whose in
terest are thus confided to the special
guardianship of Congress, exceed in number
the population of several of our Terrific
ries, and no just reason is perceived why
delegate of their choice should not be
admitted TO seat in the House of Repre-
| oarto%ives No mode saerns sO sDDr0Driate q