New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-08

CommissionsF of Asricultars, tusthsr
] with the reports of the commissioners, the
board of audit and the board OF health Of
/ the Ut.
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
to all of which invite your attention.
The Bureau of Agriculture has accom-
| plished much in disseminating useful
knowledge to the agriculturist, and also in
introducing new and useful productions
adapted to our soil aud climate, and is
worthy of the continued encouragement of
the government.
! The report of the Commissioner of
Education, which accompanies the report
of the Secretary of the Interior, shows q
gratifying progress in educational matters.
PoLYGAMY.
In nearly every annual message that
have had the honor of transmitting to
Congress. l have called attention to the
an malous not to say scandalOus condition
of affairs existing in the Territory of Utah,
and have asked for definite legislation to
correct it. That olygamy should exist in
free, enlightened and Christian country,
without the power to punish go hagrant q
crime against decency and morality, seems
prpeosterous. True, there is no law to sus-
tain this unnatural vice, but what is needed
is law &c punish it as a crime, and at the
same time to tx the status of the innocent
children, the offspring of this system, and of
the possibly Innocent plural wives. But
as an institution pOlygamy should be
banished IRON the land.
While this is being done, invite the at
tenti0n OF Congress to another, though per-
haps no less an evil, tae importation of
Chinese women, but lew of whom are
brought to our shores to pursue honorable
or useful occupations.
Observations while visiting the Territories
of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado during the
past autumn convinced me that existing reg
nlatons regarding the disposition of public
lands. timber, and probably the
MINING LAWS
Themselves, are very defective, and should
be carefully amended and at an early day.
In territory where cultivation of the soil
can only be followed by irrigation, and
where irrigation is not practicable, tine
lands can only be used as pasturage aud
this only where stock can reach water TO
quench it's thirst, can net 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 larger quantities to
justify the expense of conducting water
upon it to make it fruitful or to justify
utilizing it as pasturage. The timber in
most of the Territories is principally con-
tiued to the mountain regions, which are
held for entry in small quantities only, and
az mineral lands. The TIMBER is the prop
erty of the United States for the disposal
of which there is now no adequate law. The
settler must become a consumer of this tim
Der, whether he lives upon the plain OF ell
cages in working the mines. Hence every
man becomes either trespasser himself, or
kno wipgly patron of trespassers.
My opportunities for observation were
not sufficient to Justify me in recommending
specific legislation on these utjects, but
do recommend that a joint committee OF
the two houses of Congress sufficiently
large to be divided into sub committees, be
organized to visit all the mining States aud
Territories during the coming summer, and
the committee shall report to Congress at
the next session such laws and amend
ments to laws as it may deem necessary to
secure the best interests of the government
and the people of these Territories who are
doing so much for their development.
am sure the citizens occupying the territory
described do not wish to be trespassers, nor
will they be if legal ways are provided for
them to become owners of these actual nc
cessities Of their position.
As this will be the last annual message |
which l shall have the honor of transmit.
ting to Congress before my successor is |
chosen. will repeat or recapi.ulate the |
questions which deem of vital import ince |
which may be legislated upon AID settled |
at this session:
First-That the States shall be required |
to afford the opportunity of a good common |
school education to every child within their
limits,
Second-No sect ,rian ten It's shall ever be |
taught in any school supported in whole or
in part by the State or nation, or by the |
of any tax levied upon any com.
nunity. Make education compulsory, so
far as to deprive all persons who can not
read and write from becoming voters after |
the year 1890, disfranchising none, however,
IN grounds of illiteracy who may be voters
1T the time this amendment takes effect.
Third-Dt clare Church and State power
separate and distinct, but each free within
their proper spheres, and that all Church |
property shall bear its own proportion OF |
taxation.
Fourth-Drive ont licensed immortality,
such as polygamy and the importation Of |
women for illegitimate purposes.
To recur again to the centennial year it /
would seem as though now, as we are about |
to begin the second century of our national |
existence, would be q most fitting time for |
these reforms.
Fifth-EGsct such laws as will insure
speedy return to q sOnnd currency, such rs |
will command the respect of the world.
Believing that these views will commend |
themselves to the great majority of the right |
thinking end patriotic citizens Of the United |
States, submit the rest to Congress.
U. 8. GRANT.