Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-16
2SDAY. DECEMBER 16, 1875.


were widows. It estimated that $29, ,535, ,OOt
will be required for the payment of pensions
for the next fiscal year 1866, 900 less than th'
estimate for the present year.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The board heretofore appointed to take
charge of articles and materials pertaining te
the War, the Navy, the Treasury, the interior
and the Post Office Departments, and the De
partment of Agriculture, the Smithsonian In
stitution, and the commission of food and fishes
to be contributed under the legislation of las
session, to the International Exhibition to be
held at Philadelphia during the Centennial
year, 1876, has been diligent in the discharge
of the duties which have devolved upon it
and the preparations so far made with the
means at command, give assurance that the
Government contribution will be made one Of
the marked characteristics of the exhibition
The board has observed commendable econo
my in the matter Of the erection of a building
for the Government to exhibit in, the expense
of which, it is estimated, will not exceed $780,,
900. This samount has been withdrawn, under
the law, from the appropriations of FIVE of the
principal departments, which leaves some o1
these departments without sufficient means to
render their respective practicable exhibits
complete and satisfactory.
The exhibition being an international one,
and the Government being voluntary contri.
butor, it is my opinion that its contributions
should be ofa character in quality and extent
to sustain the dignity and credit of 80 distin.
guished contributor. The advantages to the
country of creditable display are, in an in.
ternational point of view, of the first impor.
tance; while an Indifferent or discreditable par
ticipation by the Government would be hu-
initiating to the patriotic feelings of our peo-
pie themselves. I commend the estimates of
the board for the necessary additional appro.
priations to the favorable consideration of
Congress. The powers of Europe, almost
without exception, many of the South Amer
lean States, and even the more distant Eastern
powers, have manifested friendly sentiments
toward the United States and the interest of
the world in our progress by taking steps to
join with US in celebrating the Centennial of
the nation, and I strong ly recommend that q
more national Importance be given to this ex-
hibition by such legislation, and by such ap-
preparations, as will insure its success. Its
value in bringing to our shores innumerable
useful works of art and skill, the comming-
ling of the citizens of foreign countries and
our own, and the interchange Of ideas and
manufactures, will far exceed any outlay we
may make.
THE MoRMoNs.
In nearly every annual message that | have
had the honor Of transmitting to Congress, l
have called attention to the anomalous, not to
say scandalous, condition of affairs existing in
the Territory of Utah, and have asked for de-
finite legislation to correct it. That polyga.
my should exist in free, enlightened and
Christian country, without the power topunish
80 fragrant crime against decency and mo-
rality, seems preposterous. True, there is no
law to sustain this unnatural vice but what
is needed is law to punish it as crime, and
at the same time to fix the status Of the inno-
cent children, the offspring of this system, and
of the possibly innocent plural wives; but, as
an institution, polygamy should be banished
from the land.
THE CHINESE WOMEN.
While this is being done, I invite the atten-
ton of Congress to another, though perhaps
no less an evil-the importation of Chinese
women, but few of whom are brought to our
shores to pursue honorable or useful occupa-
tions.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Observations while visiting the Territories
of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, during the
past autumn convinced ME that existing laws
regulating the disposition of public lands, tim.
ber, &c., and probably the mining laws them
selves, are very defective and should be cure
fully amended and at an early day. A terri
tority where cultivation of the soil can only
be followed by irrigation, and where irriga.
ton is not practicable, the lands can only be
used ascpasturage, and this only where stock
can reach water to quench its thirst, cannot
be governed by the same laws as to entries as
lands every acre of which is an independent
estate by itself. Land must be held in large
numbers and quantities to justify the expense
of ofconducting water upon it to make it fruit.
full, or to justify utilizing it as pasturage.
The timber in most of the territories is princ-
pally confined to the mountain regions, which
are held for entry in small quantities only as
mineral lands. The timber is the property of
the United States, for the disposal of which
there is now no adequate law. The settler must
become consumer Of this timber, whether he
lives upon the plain or engages in working
mines hence every man becomes either tres
passer himself or knowingly patron of tres.
passers. My opportunities for observation
were not sufficient to justify me in recommen-
ding specific legislation on these subjects, but
l do recommend that joint committee of the
two houses of Congress, sufficiently large to be
divided into subcommittee, be organized to
visit all the mining States and Territories
during the coming summer, and that the
committee shall report to Congress at the next
session, such laws or amendments to laws, as
it may deem necessary to secure the best In
terests of the Government and the people of
these Territories, who are doing so much for
their development. | am sure the citizens
occupying the Territories described, do not
wish to be trespassers, nor will they be, if le-
gal ways are provided for them to become
owners of these actual necessities of their posi-
tion.
REHABILITATION.
As this will be the last annual message
which 1 shall have the honor of transmitting
to Congress before my successor is chosen, |
will repeat or recapitulate the questions which
1 deem of vital Importance, which may be
legislated upon and settled at this session:
First, That the States shall be required to
afford the opportunity of a good common
school education for every child within their
limits.
Second, No sectarian tenets shall ever be
taught in any school supported in whole or in
part by the State or National Government, or
by the proceeds of any tax levied upon any