Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-12-11
DAY DECEMBER il, 1866.

:
| ty than the. proceeds of the sale of the land
| toithe highest bidder in open market The
| PEeemption laws confer upon the pioneer who
| complies With the terms they impose the
| privilege of Purchasing limited portion of
| ''undfered lands" at the minimum price. -
| The homestead enactments relieve the settler
from the payment of purchase money, and;
secure 'himIa permanent home, upon the, con-
! dition of residence for 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 un-
| doubted, and will be more signally manifest-
ed when time shall have given to it a wider
! developments. alag.7.1 ja ia ss grr 5.i-...f
So ieijtiHa The Public Lands. af.H
Congress has made liberal grants of public
land 70 c6rporationsss in aid of the construction
/ ofrailroads and other internal improvements
! Should this policy hereafter prevail. more
stringent provisions will be required to secure
asfaithful application of the.fund. The title
| to the lands should not spass, by patent or
| otherwise, but remainiin the Government and 4
| subject to its control until some pSFtion of
| the road has been actually built PoftioRs
of them might then, from time to time be
| conveyed tOsthe corporation. but never In n
| greater ratio to the whole iquantity embraced
/ by the grants than the completed parts bear
to the entire length of the Projected improve
ment. The restrictionow ow6ald not operate to
7 the prejudice of any undertaking conceived
in good faith, and executed with reasonable
| energy, as it is the settled practice to with
draw from. market the lands falling with
in the operation of such grants, and thus cx-
clqde the inception; Of a subsequent adverse
right. a breach of the conditions which
Congress may deem proper to impose should
| work forfeiture of claim to the lands SO
Withdrawn butnnconveyed, and of title to the
lands conveyed which remain unsold ''lsin
Pacific Railroad. f9sEt
Operations on the several lines of the Pa
ciiic railroad have been prosecuted with TN
exampled vigor and success Should no un-
forescen causes of delay occur, it is confident.
y anticipated that this great athoroughfare
will be completed before the expiration of the
period designated by Congress. scr. fulG,r
Ds.; 's.t Pensioners. 81 fs
During the last fiscal year the amount paid
to pensioners, including the expenses of dis
bursement, was thirteen million four hundred
and fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and
ninety-six dollars; and fifty thousand one
hundred and seventy-seven names were add
ed to the pension rolls. The entire number
of pensioners June 80, 1866, was one huns
drcd and twenty>six thousand seven hundred
and twenty-five. This fact furnishes melan-
SAS'C StAAh4uS plOOl Vi G4Io SuCTluC0S maze
to yindlcate the constitutional authority of
the Federal Governments, and to maintain in
violate the integrity of the Union They
impose upon US corresponding obligations.
1t is estimated that thirty-three million doll
lars will be required to meet the exiyencies
of this branch of the service during the next
fiscal year. 81. a'l- -'n. - 10
81. 81. .@..' s. Indians. ..r
Treaties have been concluded With the In
dians, who, enticed into armed opposition to
our Government at the outbreak Of the re-
bcllion, have Internationally submitted to our
authority, and manifested an earnest desire
for renewal of friendly relations. --li's'@
son atats -, :, Patents. ~.
During the year ending September 80.
1866, eight thousands seven hundred and six,
teen patents for useful invention aud design
were issued, aud at that date the balance in
the Treasury to the credit of the patent fund
was two hundred and twenty-eight thousand
two hundIed and ninety-seven dollars. l...r.
81 80 57o-E,a ia Lerees. 70 -g l.s-.a-
AS a subject upon which depends an Inn
rnense amount of the production and COM
merce OF the country, l recommend to Cons
! gross such legislation as may be necessary for
the preservation of levees of the Mississippi
river. 1t is 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 removal
of all Instructions to the free and safe navi-
| CATION of that great channel of trade and COM
merce. 5iI
2' - g. District of Columbia. hi 81
The District of Columbia. under existing
laws, is not entitled to that Representation in
! the national councils which, from our earliest
HI history has been uniformly accorded to each
Territory established from time to time with
! in our limits. Itmaintains peculiar relations
to Congress, to whom the Constitution has
| granted the power of exercising exclusive
legislation over the seat of Gogernment.-
Our fellow citizens residing IL, the District.
| whose interests are thus confded to the spe
cial guardianship of Congress, exceed in nun
| Der the population of several of our Territo>
riess and no just reason is perceived, why a
delegate of their choice should not be admit
ted to seat in the House of Representatives.
No mode seems SO appropriate and effectual
OF enabling them to make known their pe>
culiar condition and wants, and of securing
4 the. local Legislation adapted to them. i
therefore recom1hend the passage of law
authorizing the electors of the District of
| Columbia to choose n delegate to be allowed
the same rights and privileges as a delegate
representing Territory The increasing
enterprise and rapid progress of improvement
in the District are highly gratifying, and I
trust that the efforts of the municipal .ld-
thorities- to promote the prosperity of the ma
tional metropolis Will receive the efficient and
generous cooperation of Congress.
/ 49,. ,.A9rieulture.
The report of the Commissioner of Aori-
culture reviews the operations of his Depart
ment during the past year, and asks the aid
of CODpreSS IN ifs efforts IN aS,or,,,.a,,,S ~.