The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-04

the means OF tfAnsmission. {
~ The report Of the Secretary of the Interior
exhihitS the condition of thUse branches Of
the public service which are committed 70
his supervision. During the last fiscal year,
4,629. q acres of public land were disposed
ot. I. 89t, 5l6 acres Of which we're ente1sd un-
der the homestead act. The policy originally
adopted relative to the public lands has un-
dergond sssentsl modifcsaions. Immediate
Ieyenael end ~. the EsRld sst.legspt, vss
Long experience and earnest discuss
s.se haze resulted y the, conT
yietion that the !. early Development
Of eur Agricultural resources, and the diffn.
sion Of an energetic population over our vast
territory, are objects of far greater Importance
TO the National Governmen. and its prosper.
ity than the psocee6ss&f ths salsa of the land
70 the hishsst. bidder in ,opea. maxkst.- The
pkeemption Mvs sceofw epAa the pipueer
who complies with the terms they impose, the
privilege Of purchasing . limited portion Of
unohered lsnds At the minimum price. The
homestead enactments relieve the settlers
from The payment Of the purchase money and
secSre diam . permanent home, upon the con
ditiop Of fssidepce for the term of year.
This kbsral Policy istsrssts enigrstion from
the old, and th9 moro crowded portions OF
the usv, world. lts propitious results are I'M
doubted, and wilLbc more ngnaily manifest
ed when time shall have given to it wider
Development. Congress has mada liberal
grants of land TO corporations, in aid of the
construction OF Railroads and other internal
improvements. Should this policy hereafter
prevail, mors stringent provisions will be re-
quired to secure faithful application Of the
fund. The title 0fths lsndsshoald not pass,
by patent or otherwise, bnt re-
main in the possession Of its
Government, or subject 10 its control, until
soms portions Of the road have been actually
built. Portions OF them might then, from
time 10 time, be conveyed to the corporation,
bat never p greater ratio to the whole guam
tily rmsraesd By the grant than the compile
ted parts lave been TO the entire length Of the
psolected improvement Ihis restriction
would not operate to the prejadice Of any
undertaking concerned, in good faith and exc.
cated with reasonable energy, a. il is
q settled practice TO withdraw from
market lands falhrg within
the operations Of such grants, and thus TO
exclude the reception Of subsequent ad
verse right. A breach of the conditions
which Congress may deem proper to impose,
should work forfeiture 0. claims TO the
laads 70 withdrawn, but unconveyed, and Of
title to the lands conveyed which remain
unsold.
Operations on the several lines Of the
Pacific RaHroa have been prosecuted with
unexampieH yigor and snccess. Should no
unforeseen dauses OF delay occur, it is con-
hdently anticipated that this great thorough>
fare will be completed before the expiration
OF the period designated by Congress
During the last fiscal year the amount
paid to enEioners, including the expenses Of
disbursmenk was Sl3.45a 1896 and 5o,l77
names werd added to the pension rolls The
entire number Of pensioners June Goth 1866,
was 1e5. 724 This fac. furnishes melan>
choly and striking proof OF the sacrifices made
10 vindiea,e the constitutional authority of
the Federal Government, and 10 maintain
inviolate the integrity Of the Union, they
impose upoh us corresponding obligations.
1t is estimated that $s3, ,o00, 900 will be re-
qaired to inject the exigencies OF tbs branch
OF service during the next hscal year.
Treaties Nave been concluded with the In
dians who, knticed in armed opposition TO
our Government ., the outbreak OF the rebel
lion, have dnconditionally Submitted TO our
authority, r manifested an earnest desire
for the reneHal of friendly rela.ioas
During the year ending September 30,
1866, ELS pateuis for useful iagen.ions AID
designs we're issued and at that date the
balance in the Treasury. to the credit Of the
patent fund, was S228, 29,.
As n subject upon which depends an i'm
rnense amount OF the production and com>
merce ofthd country, | recommend 10 Con
gress ssch legislation as may he secessary
for the preservation of tn erees Of the Mis-
sissippi river. II is matter Of National i'm
portanee that early steps should be taken,
not only 10 add to the efficiency Of these bar
rers against destructive inundations, but for
the removal OF all distractions to the free and
safe navigation OF that great channel OF trade
and commefce.
The District of Columbia, under existing
laws, is not entitled to that representation in
our National Council which, from our earliest
history, has been uniformly accorded to each
territory established from time TO time within
our limits. Il maintains peculiar relations to
Congress, TO whom the Constitution has
granted the power Of exercising exclusive
legislation oyer its seal Of Government Oar
fellow citizens residing IN the District, whose
iDteresta are thus cou6ded to the special
guardianship Of Congress, exceed in number
the population of several OF our territories,
and no just reason is perceived why delegate
of their choice should not be admitted to
seat in the House OF Representatives. No
mode seems as appropriate and efectual OF
enabling them to make known their peculiar
cosuaition and wants, and of securing
the local Legislation adapted TO them.
| therefore recommend the passage Of . Law
authorizing the electors of the District OF
Columbia TO choose delegate, to be allowed
The same rights and privileges as delegate
Territery.
The increasing enterprise snd rapid prog
ress Of improvement in The District are high
ly gfaiifYing, and | trust that the efforts Of
the municipal authorities TO promote the
of the National Metropolis will
receive the efficient and generous co-opera.
tion Of Congress.
The Report of the Commissioner OF Agri-
culture reviewsthe operations of his Depart
ment during the past year, and asks the aid
of Congress i'll its efforts 10 encourage those
States which, scourged by war, are now ear,
nestiy engaged in the reorganization Of do
nestle industry.
1t is subject Of congratuiation that for
eign combination against our peace and safety
or our legitimate inhnence among the nations
have been forned or attempted, while senti-
ments of reconciliation, loyalty, and patriot
ism have increased at home, a more just con
sideration .'of our National character and
rights has been manifested by foreign ma
irons.
!. The entire success of the Atlantic sTsle-
graph between the coast Of Ireland and the
Prssinee nf Newfoundland, is an achieve
ment which has been justly celebrated in both
as the opening Of an era in the
progress of civilization. There is reason to
expect thai equal success will attend, and
even greater results follow, the enterprise for
connecting the continents through the Pacific
Ocean, b the projected line Of telegsph
between KamschaskA ssAd Russian Posse
sions in A merica. The resolution Of Con-
gress protecting against pardons by Foreign
Governments of persons convicted of infa-
moas offences On condition of emigration 10
our country, has been communicated to the
States with which we maintain intercourse,
aud the practice sojustly the subject Of com>
plant on our part has not been renewed
The congratulations of Congress to the EN-.
peror Of Kussia, upon his escape from at
tempted assassination, have been presea,ed
0 that humane and enlightened ruler, and
seeeived by him with axprsssions Of gratsldl
appreciation.
The Executive, warned of On attempt BY
Spapish "A MEXICAN adyentarers, toitdsce the
emigration offreedmen OF the United Statea
to Foreign country, protested against the
pQGeet - one ysdch, ifNens1metsl, wogid
reduce them TO bondage even more oppses-
sive than that from which they have ipst been
rel2rad. AssafsnCb bs1s sta6n keu5VeS &om