Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-06

i SIiutcuueuClos NOT 10 Ql5pOSeQ OF were CIV
en- to officers of the army. The act O
Congress reducing the army renders army
officers Ineligible for civil positions, anC
Indian agencies being civil offices, I de
terminsd to give all the agencies to sucf
religious denominations as had heretofop
established missionaries among the In
diaps, and perhaps to some other denomi
nations who would undertake the work OF
the same terms az missionary work
The societies selected are allowed tC
name their own agents, subject to the
approval of the Executive, and are ex-
peeted to watch over them ard aid them
as missionaries and CHRISTIANS, and civilize
the Indian and train him in the arts OF
peace. The government watches oVer
the official acts of these agents, and re-
| quires of them as strict an accountability
as if they were appointed in any other
manner. 1Tetain the confident hope that
the policy now pursued viii in few
years bring all the Indians upon the re-
servations, where they will live in houses,
have school houses and churches, will be
pursuing peaceful and sustaining
svccations, and where they may be visit
ed by the law-abidiDg white man with the
same impunity that he now visits the
civilized white settlements. / call your
special attention to tbereport of the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs for full in
formation on the subject.
The Public Domains.
During the last fiscal year s,O95, All, :
500 acres of public land were disposed of.
Of this 369, S91, 900 acres were taken I'M
der the homestead law and 215, 951, 581
sold for cash. The remainder was To-
Gated on military, warrant, college or In
dian scrip or applied in satisfaction of
grants to railroads or for other public
uses. The entries under these homestead
laws during the past year covered 961, 545
acres more than those during the proceed
ing year. Surveys have been Wig
orously prosecuted to the full ex-
tent of the means applicable to
the purpose, The quantity of land in
the market will supply the present de-
mand. The claim of the settler under
the Homestead or Presumption laws is
not, however, limited to lands subject to
sale at private entry. Any unappropriated,
surveyed public land may, to limited
amount, acquire under the former law, if
the party entitled to enter under them
will comply with the requirements they
prescribe in regard to the residence and
cultivation. The actual settlers prefer
ence right Of purchase is even broader
and extends to q lands which
were unsurveyed at the time
of his settlement. This right was FORM
erly conferred within much narrower
limits, and at one period of our history
was conferred only by special statutes
that were enacted from time to time to
legalize what was then regarded as an
unauthorized intrusion upon the national
domain. The opinion that the public
lands should be regarded chiefly as a
source of revenue is no longer maintained.
The rapid settlement and successful cult
walton of them is now justly considered
of more importance to our well be-
ing than IS the fund which the sale
Of them would produce. The remarks-
bic growth and prosperity of our new
States and territories attest the wisdom of
the legislation which invites the tiller of
the soil TO secure permanent home on
terms within the reach of all. The
pioneer who endures the dangers and pri-
vations of frontier life and thus aids in
laying the foundation of a new common
wealth renders a signal service to his
country, and is entitled to,its special favor
and protection. The lst1s secure that
object and largely promote the
general welfare. They should, Therefore,
be cherished as permanent feature of
our land system. sGOOd faith requires US
to give full effect b. the existing grants
and the titles conferred. The benefcent
policy of setting apart certain sections of
public lands for educational purposes in
the new States, should be continued
When ample provisions shall have been
made for these objects, submit as
question worthy of serious considers-
tiOp, whether the residue of further ma
tional domain should not be wholly dis
posed of under the provisions of the
homestead and pre-emptios laws.
In addition TO the swamp and over
flowed laQds granted to the states in which
they are situated, their lands taken under
the Agricultural College acts, and for in
ternsl improvements or improvement pur-
poses under the act of September, 1864,
and the acts supplemental thereto, there
had been conveyed, up to the last fiscal
year, by patent OF other equivalent evil |
dence of title to States and corporations, |
2, 783, 257. Is acres for railways, canal and !
and wagon reads. 1t is estimated that an |
additional quantity of ia, 735, 523 |
acres are still due under grants |
for like uses. The policy of thus aiding /
the States in building works of internal
was inaugurated more than
forty years since on the grants to Indiana
and Illinois to aid the States in opening |
canals to connect the waters of the Wa
bash with those of Lake Erie, and the
waters of Illinois with those of Lake
Michigan. 1t was followed, with
some notifications, in the grant of
illinois of alternate sections of
public land within certain limits of
he Illinois Central Railroad. Fourteen
States and sundry corporations have re-
,eived similar subsidies in connection
With railroads completed or in process of
construction. As the reserved sections
ire rated at the double minimum, the
ale of them at the enhanced price has in
many instances Unidentified the Treasury
or the granted lands. The construction
# some of these thoroughfares
las undoubtedly given vigorous
Impetus to the development of our re-
ources and the settlement of the more
Instant portions of the country. 1t may
however be insisted that much of our
egislation in this regard has been chsrsc-
erized by indiscriminate and profuse
iberality. The United States should not
can their credit in aid of any enterprise
by States or corporations,
Inless the projected works are of an &C
material importance. l am
trougly inclined to the opinion that it is
nexpedient and unnecessary to bestow
ubsidies of either description; but should
congress determine otherwise, earnestly
that the rights of settlers and
f the public be more effectually secured
y appropriate legislation.
The Patent Office
During the year ending Sept 90, 1870,
here were filed in the Patent Office 10, All
ppliCdIiOuS IoA poeCueo, Ojo0f CdfCdts l
nd 100 applications for the extension of
atents; 13, 622 patents, including the re-
ssues and designs, were issued; 101 ex-
ended, $50 allowed, but hOt issued by
eason of the non-payment of the final
ees. The receipts of the Office during
be fiscal year were $13, $50, 429 in excess
f its expenditures.
The Census.
The work of the Census Bureau has
zen energetically prosecuted. The pre-
minary report, containing much infor-
nation of special value and interest, will
'e ready for delivery during the present
ession. The remaining volumes will be
ompleted wHh all the dispatch consistent
With perfect accuracy ia arranging and
classifying tie returns. We shall thus, at
10 distant day, bs furnished with an
n I