The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-04

i, productive of more evil than e. a
this time many considerations mig he
urged for its total repeal but if this i -,
considered advisable, l think il will not &
I seriously questioned that hose portions Of
4 said acts providing for what l. called in
volun AIRY bankruptcy, operate to increase
the financial EN- barra>smen of the couu-
Try. Careful and prudent men very often
become involved in debt in the transaction.
of their business, and though they may
ossess ample property If IT could be made
available for that purpose u meet AL
their liabilities, vet. on account OF
the extraordinary scarcity of money
they may be unable Ia meet all their prcunit-
~ obligations a. they become due in couse-
quence of which. they are liable h be pros.
trated IN their business by proceedings in
/ bankruptcy, at the instance OF unreliable
creditors; people are now easily alarmed
as to monetary matters, that the mere Hing
OF petition in bankruptcy, by an uniriendly
creditor, will necessarily embarrass and
often times accomplish the financial ruin Of a
responsible business man. Those who other
wise might make lawful and just arrange
mentltO relieve themselves from difficulties
produced by the present stringeucy in money,
are prevented by their constant exposure TO
attack and disappointment by proceedings
against them in bankruptcy, and besides, the
| law is made use of in many cases by Oh iu-
rate creditors to frlghten or force debtors into
| a compliance with their wishes, and into
acts of injustice TO other creditors and
| TO themselves. l recommend that 80 muCn
| of said act, as provided for involuntary
| bankruptcy, on account Of the suspension of
| payment, be repealed Your careful atten-
ton is invited to the subj ect Of claims against
the Government, and the facility afforded by
| existing laws, for their presentation. Each
of the departments Of the State Treasury and
| War, have demands for many millions Of
| dollars upon their files, and they are rapidly
accumulating; to these may he added those
now pending before Congress, the court Of
| claims, and the Southern claims commission,
| making in the aggregate, an immense sum;
1 al these TphpllInn
are intended to indemnify persons, on both
! sides, for their losses, during the war; and
| not few OF them are fabricated, and sup
| ported by false testimony. Prospects are on
foot, il is believed, to induce Congress TO
provide Tor new classes of claims
and to revise old ones through repeal or mod
| ifcation of the statue Of limitation, by which
| they are now PARED. l presume these
schemes, If proposed, will be received with
| limited favor by Congress, and | recommend
| that persons having claims against the Uni
| ted States, cogniZable by any tribunal or de-
partment thereof, be required to present them
| at an early day, and that legislation be di-
| rected, as far rs practicable, TO the defeat of
untOunded and unjust demands upon the
government, and l would suggest as means
| of preventing fraud. that witnesses be called
upon to appear in person to testify before
those tribunals, having said claims before
them for adjudication. Probably the largest
saving to the national treasury can be secured
| by time and legislation on thee subjects; Of
! any of the economical measures that will
be proposed, you VIII be advised
! of the operations of the department Of
| justice by the attorney general, and ! invite
your attention to the amendments Of existing
| laws, suggested by him, with view reduc-
| ing the expenses of the departm mt.
| Department of Iinterior.-The policy inau-
| gurated towardst the Indians at the beginning
| of the IastIadministration, has been steadily
| pursued, and | believe with beneficial re-
| suits. 1t will be continued with only such
notifications as time and eXpediency may
| demonstrate as necessary with the encroach-
ment of civilization upon the indian reserya-
| ton and hunting grounds. Disturbances have
| taken place between the Indians and whites
| du ring she past year, and will probably con-
| tinue to do until each race appreciates
that the other has rights which must
| be respected. The policy has been
to collect Indians, as far As possible
| on reservation, and as far practical
| into what is known as the Indian territory
and to teach them the arts OF civilization
| and self-support. Where found of their
reservations and endangering the peace
| and safety of the whites, they have been
| punished and will continue to be for like
| offences. The Indian territory south of
| Kansas and west of Arkansas, il sufficient in
| area and agricultural resources to support
| all the Indians east of the Rocky Noun
tains. In time, no doubt, all of them, ex-
| cept who may select to make their homes
| am. ng the white people, Will be collected
! there as preparatory step for the con
| summation. 1 am now satisfied that terri
| torial form Of government should De gwen
them, which Will eccure the treaty Of the
original settlers and protect their home
steads from alteration for period of twenty
years
Operations of the patent office are growing
to such magnitude, and the accumulation h
| becoming SO great that necessity Tor more
room is becoming more obvious, day by day.
| respectfully invite your attention TO the
reports of the Secretary of Interior, and Com
missioner of Patents, on this subject. The
business of the General Land Office exhibits
a material increase, in all its branches, dur
ing the last fiscal year. During that time,
there were disposed Of, out OF puDlc lands,
l3,03O,600 acres, being an amount greater by
l,l65,63l acres than was disposed OF during
the preceding year. OF the amount disposed
Of, l,626, 266 acres were sold for cash; il4,940
acres were located with military land war
rants; 3,193,6I2 acres were taken for
homesteads; G53,4iG acres were loca-
ted wi With lso agricultural college
railroads; 1856 acres were granted TO wa
gon roads; 23S, 54S acres approved TO States |
swamp lands; 1851 acres were certified |
for agricultural colleges, common schools UNI |
iversaries and seminaTies; 100, 40 acres were |
approved and l4O,222 acres were located with /
Indian chiefs. The cash receipts during the /
same period were 50, 40s, j1j 30, being $780, |
1880 in excess of the receipts Of the previous |
year. During the year 80, 44s,l32 acres Of
public land were surveyed, an increase over
the amount surveyed the previous year OF J.
051 1913 acres, and added to the area previous
ly surveyed aggregates 6l6,354, so acres
which have been surveyed, leaving l,2lS, 443,-
j05 acres OF public lind still unserveyed.
The increased and steadily increasing facili-
ties for reaching our unoccupied public do
main, and for the transportation Of the
surplus products enlarges all the available
field for desirable hOmesteads, thus stmulat-
ing settlement, and extending year by year
in a gradual and increasing ratio, the area of
occupation and cultivation. The expressed
desire of the representative Of a large olony
of citizens Of Russia, to emigrate 70 this
country, as is understood, with the consent Of
their government, il certain concessions can
be made to enable them TO settle In compact,
is great interest, as showing the light In
which our institutions are regarded by an IN
dustrious, intelligent and wealthy people,
DESTROYS of enjoying civilized and religious
liberty, and the acquaintance Of so large an
immigration of citizens Of a superior class,
would, without doubt, be Of substantial BEN
eft to the country. l invite attention TO
the suggestion Of the secretary
Of the interior, on this behalf. | Z
There was paid, during the last fiscal year,
for pensions including the expense OF dis
bursting. S29, l75, 2S9 62, being an amount less |
by 1854 $50 81, than was expended for the i
same purpose, the preceding year, although /
this statement of expenditures would indi- [
cate Rmaterial reduction in the amount COM [
pared with proceeding year. 1t Is believed the :
changes in pension laws, at the last session Of a
Congress, will absorb that amount for the Il
. L. 81