Maryland free press., 1866-12-06


whole .eehntrt, andt rs STEADY sxtenI en in ii
FSoutnrn Sises- inlicatssAahsik n constantly iu3z
proving condition.
The growing Importance ofthe foreign service
| also merits attention. The Post Office Depart
ment OF Great Britain and our own have agreed
upon prsli ninary basis for new Postal Con-
yentiou.s which it is believed will pEoxs eminent-
ly beneficial to the commercial interests of the
United States, inasmuch as it contemplates re-
duction of the international letter postage 10 one
half the existing rates a reduction OF fpostaga
with all other countries to and from which cor
respondence is transmitted in the British mail,
or in clos d mails I, through the United
Kingdom; the establishment Of uniform, and
| reasonable charges for the sea aHd territorial
transit of correspondence iai closed naiis and
AN allowance to each Post Office Department Of
the right to use. all mail CONGRATULATIONS estab-
lished under the authority of the other for the
dispatch Of correspondence, either in open OIL
| closed mails, on the Same terms as those applf-
cable to the inhabitants ofthe country pro viding
the means of transmission. Z .H7nida1 "'f5
INTERIOR DEPARTMzYr3r-.s bib
The report of the Secretary of the Interior ex-
hibits the condition of those branches of the pub
lie service which are committed to his superyi.
sion. During the last fiscal year four million
six hundred and twenty-aHe thousand three
hundred twelve acres of public land were dispos
ed of one million eight hundred and ninety-twc
thousand five hundred aud sixteen acres of which
were entered under ths homestead act. The
policy originally adopted relative to the public
lands has undergone essential notifications. I'm.
mediate revenue, and not their rapid settlement
was the cardinal feature of eur land system.-
Long experience and earnest discussion have re-
suited in the conviction that the ;early develop
ment of our agricultural resources, sud the DIFF
fusion of,an energetic population over! eur vast
territory, are objects of far greater Importance t,
the national growth and prosperity than the pro-
cecds Of the sale of the land 10 the highest bid.
der in open market FL. '1 .1R ."' .'."
The preemption laws confer upon tho pioneer
who complies with Tho terms they impose the
privilege of purchasing limited portion Of: un.
| offered lands at the minimum price. ,Th home
stead enaetments relieve the settler from the pay
ment OF the purchase money, and secure him I
permanent home, upon th condition of resi-.
dence fer term Of years. THIS liberal policy
invites emigration from The old, and from tht
more crowded portious oe the new world. 1T
propi,ious results are undodbtcd, and viii b
more siynslly unaffected when lime shall hav,
given't wider development. .sG.'' ! g,
| :! Congress h,se mala liberal grants of public
lani to corporations, in all Of, the c,nstru tior
of railroads and other internal improvements
| 4. q. p
Should this policy hereafter prevail, more srih.
gent provisions will bercquired to sccure faith
ful application of the fund 10 The ttle To- III,
lands should net pass, by patent or otherwise
but remain in ,the, Goyernment and subject to il
control until SONS, portion Of the road has been
actttdll, built. Portions Of them might then
from tifna to ,iine he conveyed 10 poratior
but never il greater ratio tothe whole quarti
ty embraced BY the grant than. the completed
parts bear to the entire length of tho iproioctetl
Improvement. This restriction would not opsrat,
to Tho prejndice ofiany undertaking coaceis "a in
good faith and exeoTteti With Reasonable energy
as it is the settled practice TO withdraw from
market the land, falling within the, operation of
such grants, and thus to exclude the inception Of
subsequet adverse light. A breach OF ths
conditions which Consrcs may deem proper t,
imross should work forfeiture OF claim to the
lands so..witndrswn, hut unconveyea, ani OF tile
to theilands convsycdewhich remain unsold. p ;
| rgsa' ed' PACE &c 4 AILaoap.E ID hlut':,il
| Operations on ths ssvsFil facs Or ahes Pacifc
Railroad have been presecat ted with sndzampied
vigor and success,' Should no unforeseen canses
of delay occur, it is confidently anticipstcd thai
this great ttoroughhrs will be completed before
the expiration OF the period designated by Con!
grcSs. n Sfi, Fc au'io'Tl si'iE 81 Mn
| aI.' Ga45. PENSIONS tlogs lrh>iIog I'd
| Daring the last fiscal, year, the amount paidfto
pensioners, inciuding the expenses, of disbprse-
mcnt, was, thirteen million four hundred and
fty-nine-ttousand nine hundred and ninety
six dollars ;and fifty tkeustnd one iuhli'ed and
sercnty-scven names were added to tho pension
rolls. The .entire npmberEpf pensiuncrs Jmc
30, lcGG, was one hundred and tweuty six sthous-
sand seven hundred and twcaty-two.. This fact
furnishes melancholy and striking proof Of the
sacrifices made TO vihdicatc the constitutional
authority of the Federal Government, and to
maintain inTiolate the integrity of the Unicn.
They impose upon us corresponding obligations,
1t is estimated that thrty-tlreo million dollar.
will be required to NEE: the cxigencies Of. this
branch Of the service during the next fiscal year
''>' ISprsN' TREATIES? '-
Treaties have been concluded With the Indians
. who, entced into armed opposition TO our Gov :
crnment at the outbreak of the rebellion have
Internationally submitted 10 our authority, and
manifested an earnest desire. for a renewal OF
friendly relations.
PATENTS.
During the year ending September 80, 1856,
eight rhotsand seven hundred and sixteen pat
onts for useful Inventions and desig ms we re ssaet
and at that date the balance ip the Treasury 70
the credit Of the Patent fund was two hundred
and twenty eight thousand two hundred aad
ninety-seven dollars. ..''-. - 81 7'iA"
. '7 a MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 'i.g ',1''
AS a subject upon which depends an immense
amount of the production and commerce Of ths
| country, l recommended To Congress such ,legs-
lot'on as may he nercsunry, for tho pro.ar,a, ,;a