Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-12-14

blessing to the whole people than it is now.
The suggestions of the Postmaster General
for improvements III the department presided
over by HIM are earnestly recommended 10
your especial attention, especially the docu-
ments favorable TO the consideration of plan
for uniting the telegraph system of the United
States with the postal system.
1t is believed that by such a course the cost
of telegraphing could be much reduced, and
the service as well, if not better, rendered
! 1t would secure the further advantage by ex-
tending the telegraph through portions Of the
country where private enterprise VIII not con-
struct it.
Commerce, trade and above all the efforts to
bring a people, widely separated, into com
| munity of interests, are always benefited Nv
a rapid communication; and education, the
grand groundwork Of Republican institutions,
liz encouraged by increasing these facilities, to-
gether with speedy news from all parts of the
country.
| The desire TO reap the benefit of such i'm
provcments will stimulate education. | refer
| you to the report of the Postmaster General
| for full details of the operations of last wear.
and for comparative statements of results with
| former years. .-..........
'The Public Lands.
/ | renew my recommendations that tho pub
lie lands be regarded as a heritage to our
children to be disposed of only as required
for occupation and to actual settlers Those
already granted have been. in great part tiIs-
posed of III such way as TO secure access to
! the balance 10y the hardy settler who may
/ wish to avail himself of them; but caution
should be exercised even in attaining so de-
sirable an object. Educational interests may
well be served by the grant of the proceeds of
! the sale of public lands to settlers
Educationul.
| do not wish to DO understood as recon-
mending IN the least degree a curtailmeut of
what is being done by the general government
for the encouragement OF education. The re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior. submit
! ted with this, will give YOU information, COLI
lected and prepared for publication, in regard
to the census taken during the year 1870, the
operations of the Bureau Of Education for the
year, the Patent Office, the Pension Office, til
Land Office and Indian Bureau.
Agriculture.
The report of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture gives the op atoms of his department
for the year. As agriculture is the ground
work Of our prosperity, too much Importance
cannot be attached towards labor and his de-
partment IL in the hands of an able head, with
able assistants. all jealously devoted to
introducing into the agricultural productions
Of the nation all the useful products, adapted
to the various climates and soils of our vast
territory, and to the giving of all useful infor
nation as to the best method for the cultiva-
ton of plants .......
Quietly but surely the agricultural /
bureau IL working a great Nation /
al good, and If literally supported the more /
widely its influence will be extended, and the /
less dependant we shall be upon the products /
of foreign countries,
Salaries
The subject of compensation to the heads /
of bureaus and officials. holding positions of 1
responsibility and requiring ability and char
acter to fill properly, and one to which your
attention is invited. But few of the officials /
receive a compensation equal to the respecta-
bic support of family, while their duties are /
such as to involve millions of interest. In |
private life their services demand eompensa-
ton equal to services rendered A wise 1
economy would dictate the same rule in the |
government service.
Government Expenses.
| have not given the estimates for tho sup
port of the government for the ensuing year |
nor the comparative statement between the |
expenditures for the year just passed aud the
year just preceding, because all these figures
are contained in the accompanying reports or
In those presented directly to Congress. Those
estimates have my approval.
Political Disabilities.
More than six years having elapsed since
the last hostile gun was fired between the en- /
Tor the perpetuatioA, the other for the demol
ltlon of the Union, it may well be considered /
whether 1t III not now time that the disabilities I
imposed by the l4th amendment, should .
be removed. 1t does not exclude the
ballot, but only requires the disability to hold
Office of certain classes. When the purity of
the ballot is secure, majorities are sure to
elect officers rejecting tho views of the ma
jority. | do not see the advantage or pro-
prety of excluding men from office merely.
They were before the rebellion of standing
and character sufficient to be elected TO posi-
tlons requiring them to take an oath to sup
port tho constitution, and admitting to eligi-
blity those entertaining precisely the same
views but of less standing in their communities
III may be said that the former violated an
oath while tho latter did not The latter did
not have it IN their power to do 80. If they had
taken this oath II cannot be doubted they
would have broken it, as did the former class
IT there are any great criminals distinguished
above all others for the part they took in oppo-
sition to the government they might, III the
judgment OF conquerOra be excluded from
such an amnesty. This subject is submitted
for your careful consideration. The condition
of the southern states IL unhappy, not such az
all true patriotic citizens would like to see;
social ostracism for opinions sake, personal
violence and threats towards persons en-
tertaning political views opposed to those on
tertalned by the majority of the citizens, pre-
vents immigration, and the flow of much need
ed capital into the states lately in rebellion.
II will he happy condition of country
when the old citizens OF these States shall
take an interest in public affairs, promulgate
the idea honestly entertained, to vote for men
representing their views, permit the freedom
of the press and ballot TO those entertaining
different political convictions.
The District or Columbia.
Under the provisions Of the act of Congress I
approved February 2lst, 1871, territorial
government was organized in the District Of
Columbia. It's results have thus far
fully realized the expectations Of lis adyo-
Gates Under the direction of the territorial {