Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-12-12
LANCASTER, WISCONSIN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER p, 1871.

| territory like ours, much of il sparsely pUpu-
lated, but all requiring the services Of the
| mail II is not at present to be expected that
this department can be made self sustaining,
but a gradual approach to this end from year
to year is confidently relied on, and the day
is not far distant when the Post Office De
| partment of the government will prove a
much greater blessing to the whole people
| than il is now
The suggestions of the Postmaster General
for improvements in the department presided
over by him are earnestly recommended TO
| your especial atten ton, 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 course the cost
OF telegraphing could be much reduced, and
| the service as wen, il not better rendered
1t would secure the further advantage by ex-
tending the telegraph through portions of the
country where private enterprise win not con-
! struct it.
Commerce, trade, and above all the efforts
to bring people, widely separated, into
| community of interests, are always benefited
| by arapid communication; and education, the
| grand groundwork of the Republican insttu.
tions, is encouraged by increasing these facil.
tiles, together with speedy news from all
| parts of the country
The desire to reap the benefit of sucl'im-
| provements will stimulate education. re-
fer you to the report Of the Postmaster Gen
| era for full details of the operations of last
| year, and for comparative statements of re-
suits with former years.
THE PUBLIC LANDS
l renew my recommendations that the pub
lie lands be regarded a heritage to
children, to be disposed of only as required
for occupation and to actual settlers. Those
already granted have been, in great part dis
posed of in such way as TO secure access TO
the balance by 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 pro-
ceeds OF the sale of public lands to settlers
EDUCATIONAL
do not wish to be understood as recon-
mending in the least degree a curtailment 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, col
iected and prepared for publication, in re-
gard to the census taken during the year 1870,
the operations of the Bureau of Education for
the year, the Patent Office, the Pension Office,
the Land Office and Indian Bureau
AGRICULTURE
The report of the Commissioner of Agri- |
culture gives the operations of his department. |
for the year. As agriculture is the ground |
work of our prosperity, too much Importance |
cannot be attached towards labor aud his |
department is in the hands of an able head, |
with able assistants. all jealousy 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 |
is working great National good, and il liber.
ally supported the more widely its influence
will be extended, and the less dependant we
shall be upon the products of foreign coun-
tries.
SALARIES
The subject Of compensation to the heads i
of bureaus and officials, holding positions of |
responsibility and requiring ability and char
acter to fill properly and one to which your
attention is invited But few of the officials
receive compensation equal to the respecta-
BILE support of family while their duties are
such as to involve millions of interest. In
private life their services demand compensa-
ton equal to services rendered. wise
economy would dictate the same rule in the
government service.
GOVERNMENT EXPENSES.
have not given the estimates for the sup
port of the government for the ensuing year.
nor the comparative statement between the
expenditures for the year just passed and 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
hon 4l,or
for the perpetuation, the other for the demol-
itiOn of the Union it may well be considered
whether it is not now time that the disabili-
ties 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, majorites are sure to elect
officers rejecting the views of the majority.
/ do not see the advantage or proSriety of
excluding men from Office merely. They
we're before the rebellion of standing and
character sufficient to be elected to positions
requiring them to take an oath to support the
constitution, and admitting TO eligibility those
entertaining precisely the same views but of
less standing in their communities, II may
be said that the former violated an oath while
the latter did not The latter did not have
it in their power to do so. If they had taken
this oath it cannot be doubted they would
have broken it, as did the former class. If
there are any great criminals, distinguished
above all Others for the part they took in OPP
position to the government they might in
the Judgement of conquerors, be excluded
from such an amnesty. This subject is sub
mitted for your careful consideration. The
condition of the southern states is unhappy
not such as all trne patriotic citizens would
like to see; social ostracism Cor opinions sake
personal violence and threats towards per-
sons entertaining political views opposed to
those entertained by the majority of the cit-
zens, prevents immigration, and the flow of
much needed capital into the states lately in
rebellion
IL will be a 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
approved February 2lst, 1871, a territorial |
government was organized in the District of |
| Columbia. Its results have TINS far fully re- |
allied the expectations of its advocates IN |
der the direction of the territorial officers q |
system of improvements has been inaugurat- |
ed, by means of which, Washington is rapid |
| Is becoming city worthy of the Nations |
| Capitol, the citizens of the District having |
voluntarily taxed themselves to alarge amount
for the purpose OF contributing to the advance
ment of the seat of government
| recommend liberal appropriations on the
| part of Congress in order that the government
may bear its just share Of the expense Of car
| rying out the various system ofimprovements.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS IL CHICAGO.
By the great fire in Chicago the most i'm
| portant of the government buildings in that
city we're consumed. Those burned had al
ready become inadequate TO the wants OF the
government in that growing city, and looking
to the near future were totally inadequate.
recommend, therefore, that an appropriation
be made Immediately to purchase the re-
mainder of the entire square on which the
burned building stood, provided the legisla-
ture of Illinois viii pass law authorizing its
occupation for government purposes, and also
make an appropriation of as much money as
can be properly expended towards the cree
| tim Of new huidirrya dftriny the fsaal