The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-12-11

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dred and .Linety two Thousand FIVE hun
dred and sixteen acres of which were en-
tered under the homestead act. The pol
icy originally adopted relative to the pub
lie lands has undergone essential modif-.
cations. Immediate revenue, and not
their rapid settlement, was the cardinal
feature of our land system. Long expe-
J rience and earnest discussion have re-
suited in the conviction that the early de-
yelopment of our agricultural resources
aud the diffusion of an energetic popula-
tion over our vast territory, 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-emp-
ltion laws confer upon the pioneer who
complies with the terms they impose the
privilege of purchasing limited portion
Of ''unoffered lands at the minimum price.
The homestead enactments relieve the
settler from the payment of purchase
money, and secure him permanent home,
upon the condition of residence for a
term of years. This liberal policy invites
emigration from the old, and from the
! more crowded portions of the new world.
It's propitious results are undoubted, aud
| will be more signally manifested when
J time shall have given to it wider devel-
opment.. II, so 10 5ssqs sfs -sr. ..et
Congress has made liberal grants of
| mn lio 10 fo of ho
construction of railroads and other in
: ternal improvements. Should this@spol-
icy hereafter prevail, more stringent
!, provisions will be required to secure a
faithful application of the fund. The
. title to the lands should not pass, by pat
:. ent or otherwise, but remain in the Gov
lernment, and subject to its control until
: some portion of road has been actually
: built. Portions of them might, then,
from time to time, be conveyed to the
! corporation, but never in a greater ra-
ito to the whole quantity embraced by
the grant than the completed parts bear
!. to.the entire length of the projected i'm
D provement This restriction would not
r operate to othe prejudice of any undertak-
: ing conceived 10 good faith and executed
S with reasonable energy, as it is the set
/: tied practice to withdraw from market
r the lands falling within the operation OF
-1sueh grants and thus to exclude the in
q ception of a subsequent adverse right
: A breach of the conditions which Con-
t gress may deem proper to impose should
o-f rrnst &c ol l,,, Il,
= drawn but unconveyed, and of title to
: the lands conveyed which remain unsold
S Operations on the several lines of the Pa
S ciic Railroad have been prosecuted with
: -Funexampled vigor and success Should
r no unforeseen causes Of delay occur, it j:
It confidently anticipated that this grea
n thoroughfare willoibe completed before
e the expiration of the period designated
II by Congress.
e During the last fiscal year the amour
}, paid to pensioners, including the expen
= ses of disbursement. was thirteen million
/ four hundred and ffty-nine Thousand
J. nine hundred and ninety Six dollars; ant
"a fifty thousand one hundred and seventy
n seven names were added to the pension
n rolls. The entire number of pensioners
n June 80, 1866, was one hundred ant
: twenty-six thousand seven hundred ant
IT twenty two. This fact furnishes melan
e choly and striking proof of the sacrifice
le made to vihdicate the constitutional au
: thority of the Federal Government, an,
u to maintain inviolate the integrity Of tn
s. Union. They impose upon US CORES
l. ponding- obligations. 1t is estimates
II that thifty-three million dollars will b.
/ required to meet the exigencies of thi
le branch of the service during the next fs
/; cal year. 60 'isl isiii aazt ii5 Ell q
a Treaties have been concluded with th
u Indians who, enticed into armed 4opposi
4 ton to. our Government at the outbrea
= of the rebellion, have. ,unconditionall
le submitted to our authority, and manifest
y, ed an earnest desire for a renewal o
l. friendly relations ~ z5sa M
Of During the year ending September 2e
nl 1866, eight thousand seven hundred an
D sixteen patents for useful inventions an
le designs were issued, and at that dat
g the balance in the treasury to..the credit 0
~ the Patent fund was two hundred an
f ninety seven dollars. s'
a. As a subject upon which depends a
le immense amount of the production an
IN commerce of the country recommen'
le to Congress such legislation as may b
OF necessary for the preservation of the lev
ar ees of the Mississippi river. 1t is
q matter of national Importance that earl
y steps should be taken not only to add t
IN the efficiency of these barriers agains
le destructive inundations, but for the re
N moval of all distractions to the free an
te safe navigation of that great channel q
a. trade and commerees f4.s "a
., The District of Columbia, under exist
y ing laws, is not entitled to that represen
&c tation in the National Councils which
=, from our earliest history, has been uni
;. formly accorded to each Territory estab
- Flished from time to time within our lin
- !, its. 1t maintains peculiar relations t
60 Congress-, to whom the Constitution ha
&c &c granted the power of exercising exclusiy
~ Legislation over the seat of government
~ Our fellow citizens residing in the Dis
ie trict, whose interests are thus cenfded
7 the special guardianship of Congress
:, exceed in number the population Of sey
- eral of our Territories, and no just rea
z son is perceived why a delegate of thei
"a choice should not be- admitted to sea
:. = in the House of Representatives. N
le mode seems so apprapriate and efectus