New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-06

any such araluOus and thankloes labor I'M
posed on Senators and Representatives
az that of finding places for consti-
tuents. The present system does not secure
the best men and often not even fit
men for public place. The elevation and
publication Of the civil service of the
government will be hailed with approval by
the whole people Of the United States. Re-
form in the management of Indian affairs
has received the special attention Of the adj
ministratiOn, from its Inauguration to the
present day. The experiment of making it
missionary work was tried, with a few
agencies given to the denomination OF
Friends, and has beee found to work most
advantageously. All. agencies ard superin-
tendencies not SO disposed of were given to
officers Of the army.
The act OF Congress reducing the army
renders army officers iseligible for civil pO-
sitiOns. Indian agenoies being civil offices,
determined to give all the agencies to
such religious denominations as had hereto
fore established missionaries among the
Indians and, perhaps, to some other denOm-
nations who would undertake the work ON
the same terms, that lis, rs missionary
work. The societies selected arc allowed
to name their own agents, subject TO the
apDrOyaI of the Executive, and are eX-
pected to watch over thcm,and aid them as
missionaries; to Christiani-e and civilize
the Indian, and to train. him in the arts OF
peace.
, T'he government watches over the actions
of these agents and requires OF them as
strict an accountability as it they were ap-
pointed in any other manner. l entertain
the confident hope that the p0isey now pur-
sued will, il few years, bring All the Indians
upon reservations, where they swlll 1--we In
houses, have schOOlhOuses aud churches ana
will be pursuing peaceful and selteslstainnhg
i <1,ovy 1>n Wis
by the law-abiding white man with the
same impunity that he now visits the civil,
lied white settlements. call your special
attention to the report of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs for full information ON this
subject.
During the last fiscal year, $685., Alb acres
of public land were disposed of: OF this
quantity, 3.69S,9l0 acres were taken .,sader
the homestead law, and ?, l59, SIS acres cold
for cash, The remainder was located with
military warrants, college or Indian scrap,
or applied in satisfaction of grants to rail
roads or for other public uses. The entMes
under the homestead law during the last
year covered 96l ,545 acres more than those
during the preceding year: Surveys have
'beeIpvigOrOusly prosecuted to the full ex-
tent of the means applicable to the purpose.
The quantity Of land III market will amply
supply the present demand. The claim OF
the settler under the homestead or the pre-
emption laws is not, however, limited to
lands subject to sale at private entry.
ANY unappropriated surveyed public
lands NAV, to a limited amount, be acquired
under the former laws. If the party en-
titled to enter under them will comply with
the requirements they prescribe in regard
to the residence and cultivation, the actual
settlers right of purchase is even
broader. and extends to lands which were
unsurveyed 1T the time of his supplement.
His right was formerly confined within
much narrower limits, and at one period OF
our history was conferred only by special
statutes. They were enacted from time to
time II legalize what was then regarded as
an unauthorized intrusion upon the ma
tional domain. The opinion that the pub
lie lands should be regarded chiefly as a
source of revenue is no longer maintained.
The rapid settlement and successful cul-
tivation of them is justly considered OF
more importance to our well-being than Is
the funds which the sale Of them would pro-
duce With the remarkable growth and
prosperity Of our new States and Territories
attest the wisdom Of the legislation which
invites the tiller of the soil to secure per-
manent home on terms within the reach OF
ALL The pioneer who ineurs the dangers
and deprivations of a frontier life and thus
aids in laying the foundation of new COM
monwealths, renders signal service<tO his
country, and is entitled to its special favor
and protection.
These laws secure that object and largely
promote the general welfare. They should,
therefore, be cherished as a paramount tea
ture of our land system. Good faith re-
Guire lis to give full effect to existing grants
tle time honored and benifcent policy of
setting apart certain sections of public land
for educational purposes in new States should
be continued, when ample provision shall be
made for these objects. l submit the ques-
ton worthy of serious consideration, whether
the residue of our national domain should
not be wholly disposed of under the prOvls
ions of the homestead and presumption laws.
In addition to swamp and overlooked lands
granted to the States in which they are sit
uated the lands taken under the agricultural
acts and for internal improvement purposes
under the act of September, lS4l, and the
acst supplemental thereto.
There had been conveyed up to the close
of the last fiscal year, by patent or other
equivalent evidence of title TO States and
corporations q 1896, 257 63-l00 acres for rail
ways, canals and wagon-rOads. 1t is esti-
mated that an additional quantity of IA
1883 acres is still due under grants for
like use. The policy Of thus aiding. the
States in building works OF internal I'M
| provement was inaugurated more than four
years ago, in grants to Indiana ana
| Illinois, to aid those States in opening ca
| nails to connect the waters Of the Wabash
with Lake Erie and the waters OF the ILL
nois with those of Lake Michigan. 1t was
followed with some notifications in the
grant to Illinois Of alternate sections OF
public land within certain limits OF the Hi
nOis Central Railroad.
Fourteen States and sundry corporations
have received similar subsidies in connec-
.le lota
of construction: as the reserved sections are
rated at tile double minimum, the sale OF
them at the enhanced price has thus, In
MANY instances, Unidentified the treasury
for the granted lands.
The construction of some of these
thoroughfares has, undoubtedly, given a
vigorous impetus to the development OF our
resources, and the settlement OF the more
distant portions Of the country. 1t may,
however, be well insisted that much OF our
legislation in this regard has been character
lied by indiscriminate and prOfuse lib
| erality.
The United States should not loan their
| credit in aid Of any enterprise undertaken
| by States or corporations nor grant lands IN
| any instance unless the projected work IS OF
! acknowledged national importance. an
| strongly inclined to the opinion That II i
inexpedient and unnecessary to bestOw SUB
sides of either description, but should
Congress determine otherwise l earnestly
recommend that the rights of applicants
and of the public be more effectually. Sc
cured and protected by appropriate leglsla
| ton. m
During the year ending September 80
1870, there were filed in the Patent Once
1914 applications for patents, 1874 caveats
and 100 applications for the exclusion o.
and designs were issued; 40 extended, ant
1889 allowed but not issued by reason OF thu
non-payment OF the final fees The receipts