The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-12-13
WHOLE NO. 1921.

resulted 10 the conviction that the early
deVeloPement Of our agricultural re,
sources, aud the diffusion Of On euer>
gstic population over our vast territory,
are objects of far greater Importance
to the national growth aud prosperity
than the proceeds of the sale of the land
to tue highest bidder in the open mar.
ket. The pre-emption lava confer UP.
on the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege of pur-
chasing limited portion Of ' unofsred
lands at the minimum price. The
homestead enactnents relieve the settlsP'
from the payment Of purchase money,
and secures him permanent home ,tip-
on the condition Of residence for q 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 undoubted,
and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to ita wider
development. .t ... ...l...e m.
Congress has made liberal grants Of
public land to corporations, 10 aid ofthe
construction Of railroads and other In.
ternal improvements Should thispol-
icy hereafter prevail, more stringent bro,
visions will be required to secure faith.
full application Of the fund. The title
to the lands should not pass, by patent
or otherwise, but remain in the Govern.
ment and subject to its control, until
some POI ltion, Of the road has been, ac.
tually built. Portions of them might
then, from time to time, be conveyed to
the corporation, but never in greater
ratio to the whole quantity embraced BY
the grant than the completed parts bear
to the entire length Of the projected i'm.
provement This restriction would not
operate to the prejudice of any iunder>b
taking conceived in good faith and exc.
cuted with reasonable energy, as it is the
settled practice to withdraw from market
the lands falling within the operation of
such grants, and thus to exclude tho
inception Of a subsequent adverse right.
A breach Of the conditions which Con.
gress may deem proper to impose should
work forfeiture of claim to the lands
so Withdrawn but unconveyed, aud OF.
title to the lands conveyed which remain
unsold.
Operations on the several lines Of the
Pacific Railroad have been prosecuted
with unexampled vigor and success
Should no unseen causes Of delay occur,
it is confidently anticipated, that this
great thoroughfare will be completed be.
fore the expiration Of the period desig.
mated by Congress. '.l-1
During the last fiscal year the amount
paid to pensioners, including the ex,
penses Of disbursement, was thirteen
million four hundred and fifty nine thou,
sand nine hundred and ninety six del.
lars and fifty thousand one hundred
and seventy-seven names were added to
the pension rolls. The entire number
of pensioners June 80, 1865, was one
hundred and twenty-six thousand seven .
hundred and twenty-five. This fact
furnishes melancholy and striking proof
Of the sacrifices made to vindicate the
constitutional authority Of the Federal
Government, and to maintsiR inViolats
the integrity Of the Union. They i'm,
pose upon US corresponding obligations.
tits estimated that thirty-three million
dollars will be required to meet the exi.
geneies of this branch of the service
during the next fiscal year. r-to,-.,
Treaties have been concluded with the
Indians who, enticed into armed oppQ.
sition to our Government at the cute
break of the rebellion, have uncondition-
ally submitted to our authority, and
manifested an earnest desire fora re-,
newal Of friendly relations. r
During the year ending September 80,
1866, eight thousand seven hundred and
sixteen patents for useful inventions
and designs were issued 9 aHdF at that
date the balance in the Treasury to the
credit of the Patent fund was two
hundred aud twenty eight thousand two
hundred and ninety-seven dollars. ..r
AS subject upon which depends an
immense amount of the production and
commerce of the country, recommend
to Congress such legislation as may be
necessary for the preservation of the
levees of the Mississippi river. 1t iss
matter of national importance that early
steps should be taken not only to add to
the efficiency of these barriers, against
destructive inundations, but for the 70.
moval of all distractions to the free and
safe navigation Of that great channel Of
trade and commerce.
The District of Columbia, under ex.
isting laws, is not entitled to the repre-
seutatior in the national councils which,
from our earliest history, has been uni.
formly accorded to each Territory es.
tablished from time to time within our
limits. 1t maintains peculiar relations
to Congress, to whom the Constitution
has granted the power OF exercising ex,
elusive legislation over the seat Of gov.
ernment. Our fellow citizens residing
in the District, whose interests are thus
confded to the special guardianship Of
Congress, exceed in number the popu-
ation of several of our territories, and
no just reason is perceived why 0 del
egate Of their choice should not be ad>
mitted to a seat in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives. Ne mode seems so appro-