Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-04

nine hundred and siXty-two miles :
The mail service Is rapidly iDcrcas-
inn through the whole country, and its
steady extension in the Southern States ln-
dicates their constantly improving CON
dition The growing Importance OF the ior-
ei6n service also merits attention. The
PostofIice Department of Great Britain
and our own have agreed upon o
basis for u new Postal Con-
vention, which it is believed will prove
eninently beneficial to the CONNER
OF the United States, inasmuch
as it contemplates n reduction or the M
ternathhal letter pos tage to 0peS palI
the existing RATES; reduction OF postage
with all OTHER countries to and from WIlich
correspondence is transmitted IN the brit-
ish mail, or, in CLOSED mails through the
United. Kingdom; the establlshtnent Vot
uniform and reasonable charges for the sea
and territorial transit of correspondence IN
closed mails and an allowance to each Post-
office Department OF the right to use at
mail communications established under
the authority ofthe other for the dlspatch
of col olrespOndence, either In open or clOseu
malls on the same terms as those appllca-
Bile to the ilbaeitants OF the country pro-
viding theineans of transmission, % ~ AZ
lllG ItDOIb vi blC vi WV
Tor exhibits the condition of those branches
of the public service which are committed
to his supervision.-Dur e the last fiscal
wear, four million six hundred and twenty
nine thousand three hundred and twelve
acres of -public'land were disposed of,-one
million eight hundred and .hinety-two'
thousand five hundred and sixteen acres OF
which were entered under the homestead
act. The policy originally adopted rela-
tive to the public lands has un-
dergone essential notifications. lmme-
diate revenue, and not their rapid settler
ment was the cardinal feature Of our land
system. Long experience aud earnest dist
eussion have resulted i'm the conviction that
the early development of our agricultural
resources, and the diffusion Of an energetic
population over our vastterrltory, are OBJ
iects of far greater Importance to the ma
tional growth and prosperity than the pro-
ceeds of the sale Of the land to the highest
bidder in open market. The, pre-emp'
tion laws confer upon the pioneer Wlol
complies with the terms they impose
the privilege of purchasing 9 HWjted ,,por~-.
tion of "unoffered lands" aBthe'lnlniInnm
price. The homestead enactments relieve
the settler from the payment OF purchase
money, and secure him permanent home,
of years. This. liberal. policy invites emf
grafton from the old, and from the more
Icrowded portions of the new world. Its
lpropiti0us results are undoubteILland will
be more signaly manifested when hme
ishall have given to it a wider development.
Congress has made lib5ftl grants oflppblic
land to corporations, in aid of the construc-
tion of railroads aud other internal improve
ments. Should this policy hereafter prevail,
more stringent provisions will be required
to secnre a faithful application of the fund.
The title to the lands should not pass, by
patent or otherwise, but remain in the Gov
ernment, Aand subject its control until
some portion of the road has been actually
built Portions of them might, then, from
time to time, be conveyed to the cor
poration, bnt never in a greater gTa-
tic 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 undertake
ing CONCEIVED in good faith and executed
with reasonable energy, as It rs the settleu
practice to Withdraw from market the LANDS
falling within the operation OF such grants.
and thus to exclude the inception OF suB-
seuuent adverse right A breach OF the
COnQlIlOnS WHICH NOuSItSSIiIdy uVC.i piOP
er to impose should work y forfeiture Of
claim to the lands so withdrawn but un-
conveyed, and OF title to the lands convey
ed which remain unsold. faL.-.
Operations on the several lines of The
Pacific Railroad have been prosecuted with
unexalnpled vigOr and success. Should no
unforeseen causes of delay occur, it Is con-
fidently anticipated that this great thor
ouohfire viii be completed before the PX-
piratiohof the period designated by Con-
gress. --"-'
During the last fiscal year the amount
paid to pensioners, including the expenses of
disbursement, was thirteen million four hum
dred and fifty-nine thousand niue hundred
and ninety-siX dollars and fifty Thousand
one hundred and seveDty-seven names We're
added to the pension rolls The entire tIim-
Der of pensioners, June 30, 1866, was one
hundred and ndtwenty-siX thousandIsBven hnn-
dred and twenty=tWo. This fact fur
nishes melancholy and striking proof
of the sacrifices made to vindicate the
constitutional authority of the Fed
eral Government and to maintain inviolate
the integrity of the Union They. impose
upon us corresponding obligations. 1t is es
timated that thirty three million dollars viii
be required to meet the exigencies of this
JLo bOINlOO Oho iOAO hoOoA
year. -, ".n,t.,2o
Treaties have been concluded with the In
dians who, enticed into armed opposition to
our Government at the outbreak of the re-
bellion, have unconditioHallys submitted to
our authority, and manifested an earnest de.
sire for a renewal OF friendly relations.
During the year ending September 30,
1866, eight thousand seven hundred and six
teen patents for useful inventions. and, de-
| Hgns were issued, and at that date the bal
ance in the Treasury to the credit of the
Patent fund was two ,hnhdrotl and tweh-
ty-eight Thousand two hundred and ninety
seven dollars. Lg az Tn L s9r
As subject upon which depends an i'm
mense amount of the production, and COM
merce of the country, / recommend to Con-
gress such legislation rs may be necessary
| for the preservation of the leyees of the Mis-
sissippi river 1t is matter Of national I'M
portance4 that 0early steps should be taken
not only to add to the efficiency rofHthese
barriers against destructive inundations,
but for the removal of al distractions to the
| free and safe navigation of that great chan
mel of trade and commerce. YFar n -
The District of Colulnbia, Under existing
laws. is not entitled to that representation
in the National Councils which, from our
earliest history, has beenS uniformly ac-
| corded to each Territory established from
time to time within our limits Itmain-
tains peculiar relations TO congress, to
whom the Constitution has granted the
power of exercising exclusive legislation
over the seat of government Oar Fellow
citizens residing in the District, whose in
terests are thus coniided. to the sspe-
cial guardianship of Congress-, exceed
| III humber the population of several of ouI
Territories, and no just reason is perceived
! WliyaIdelegate Of thsiE eohoies should, not