Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-12-08

Government will be hailed with approval by the
whole people of the United States.
RGDIAN AFFAIRS.
Reform in the management OF Indian affairs has
received the special attention of the
from its Inauguration to the present day. The ex-
pertinent of making It missionary work was tried
Friends and has besn found to o work most sdvan
tageously- All agencies and superfntendencies not
Tbe OF % gwen 10 & Sr IHe
army officers ineligible to civil positions. Indian
agencies being civil Offices determined to give all
the agencies to such reli gious denominations as
had heretofore established missionaries among the
who would undertake the work on the same terms
4. G., as missionary work .-.s.-
The societies selected allowed to their
own agents. subject to the approval of the Execu-
tive, and are expected to watch over them and aid
them as missionaries to Christianze and civilize
the Indian and to train him In the arts Of peace
The Government watches over the official acts Of
these agents. and requires of thema strict an ac-
countabfity as If they appointed in any other
manner. I entertain the confident hope that the
policy now pursued VIII, IN q few years, bring all
the Indians upon reservations, where they will live
in houses, have schoOlhOusee and churches viii be
and where they may be visited by the law-abiding
white man with the same fmpunity that he now
visits the civilized white settlements. call your
special attention to the report of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs for full information this sub
ject.
During the last fiscal year S095, ,413 acres of pub
acres taken under the homestead law and 159
515 acres sold for cash The remainder located
applied in satisfaction of grants railroads.
other public uses. The entries under the home
stead law during the last year covered 961545
| more than those during the preceding year. Sur
veys have been vigorously prosecuted to the full
extent of the means applicable to the purpose. The
quantity of land in market will amply supply the
present demand. The claim of the settlers under
ever limited to lands subject to sale at TIP private
| entry. Any unappropriated surveyed public land
mer laws If the party entitled to enter under them
will comply with the requirements they prescribe
The actual settlers preference to right purchase
is even broader, and extends to lands which were
unsurveyed at the time of his settlement. His
| right was formerly confined within much narrower
limits; and, at one period of our history was con-
ferred only by special statutes. They were
enacted from time to time to legalize what was
then regarded as an unauthorized intrusion upon
the national domain. The opinion that the pub
lie lands should be regarded chiefly source Of
rsvenne is no longer mSintsi1ed The e, rapid set
now Justly considered of more importance
to, our well being than is the fund which the
sale Of them would produce. The remarkable
Territories attest the wisdom of the legislation
maneSt home on terms within the reach of all The
pioneer who incurs the dangers and privadons Of
of the new commonwealth renders a signal serv
ice to this country and is entitled to its special IA
should, therefore, be cherished permanent fea-
give full effect to existing grants.
| The time -honored and benehcient policy Of set
ting apart certain sections OF public land tor edu-
cational purposes in the new States should be con-
| tinued. -.L ~ -
When ample provision shall have been made for
these objects I submit, as question worthy Of
serious Consideration, whether the residue Of our
| national domain should not be wholly disposed
of under the provisions of the homestead and pre-
I.emption laws.
I INTERNAL. IMPROVEMENTS.
In addition to the swamp and .overnowed lands
granted to the States in which they are situated,
the lands taken under the Agricultural College
acts and for internal improvement purposes, under
the act OF September, 1s41, and the acts supple e.
| mental thereto, there had been conveyed, up TO
clOae of the last fiscal by patent OIner
equivalent evidence of title, to States and corpora
@ 01s s9SU aSd smated sGr that an ad
ditonaI quantity of 174, 523 acres is still due
The policy Of thus aiding the States in building
werks Of INTERNAL Improvement was tnaugurated
and nnos % to aid those States in opening canals to
Il connect the waters of the wabash with those OF
Lake Erie and the waters of Illinois with those OF
Lake Michigan. 1t was followed, with some modih-
cations. IN the grant to Illinois Of alternate sec
the construction of the Illinois Central Railway.
| Fourteen States and sundry corporations have
received similar subsidies in connection with rail-
the reserved sections are rated at donble the mini
thus in many instances indemnifed the Treasury
for the granted lands. The construction OF some OF
orous Impetus to the development ofourresources
and the settlement of the more distant portions OF
/ that much Of our legislation in this regard has
been characterized BY tndiscnminate and pro
fuse liberalty. The United States should not loan
their credit In aid OF any enterprise undertaken by
States or corporations nor grant lands in any in
1Iless tnS PseSee wHfa am sroney 1r in
clined to the opinion that it is inexpedent and un-
necessary to bestow subsidies OF ettneI aesc1iP
earnestly recommend that the rights Of settlers
and Of the public be secured ana
1 THE PATENT OFFICE. s f
During the year ending September 30, 1870,
tons for patents, asT4 caveats and 100 appllca-
tions for the extension Of patents; 1892 patSns'
tended and 1.osS allowed but not issued, by rea-
son of the non-paynent Of the final fees. The re-
cepts of the office during the fiscal year were $685.
3O4.29 nexcess Of its expenditures l.
ically prosecuted. The preliminary report con,
tanning much Information of special value and
present session. The remaining volumes will be
Completed with all the dispatch consistent with
PFetuTSs We shall thus at no distant day be
furnished with authentic record OF our eondi-
sst the 1a growing prosperity Of the Country; al
though during the decade which has just closed It
| was SO severely tried by the great war waged to
maintain its integrity and to secure and perpetuate
| our free institutions.
| During the last fiscal year the sum paid to PEN
sioners, including the cost of disbursements was
issued. At its close, 1856 names were on the
The Iabors of the Pension Office have been di-
rected to the severe scrutiny Of the evidence sub
mitted in favor of new claims, and to the discov-
cry of fictitious claims which nave Deen heretofore
| allowed The appropriation for the employment
OF special agents for the investigation Of frauds
| has been judiciously used, and the results of it
have been OF unquesionable benefit to the service.
| EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE.
The subjects of education and agriculture are OF
great interest to the success of republican in
| stitutions, and our happiness and grandeur as a
nation. In the interests of one bureau has been
established in the Interior Department-the Bureau
of Education; and in the interests of the other a
separate department-that of Agriculture. be-
lieve great general good is to flow from the opera
tions of both these bureaus, If properly fostered.
cannot commend to your careful consideration
too highly the reports of the Commissioners OF
Education and agriculture, urge too strongly
snch liberal legislation as to secure their efh-
cheney.
| ..,-- SUMMING UP.
In conclusion, would sum up the policy Of the
Administration to be thorough enforcement OF
every law; faithful collection of every tax pro-
yided for, and economy in the disbursement of the
same; a prompt payment Of the debt the nation
q reduction of taxes rapidly as the requirements
of the country will admit, reduction Of taxation
and tariff to be arranged as to afford
the greatest relief to the greatest number; honest
and fair dealing with all other people, to the END
that war with all fits bIghting consequences may
be avoided, but without surrendering any right OF
obligation due to us; a reform in the treatment OF
the Indians, and in the whole civil gserYice of the
country; and finally in securing pure, untram
meled ballot, where every man entitled 70 cast
-Na NI