Richmond weekly palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1875-1905, 1875-12-09

cency and morality, saegns Ireposterous- True
there is no law to sustain this unnatural vice
but what is needed is a law To punish it as a
az i innossnt s6ddrsn DE oflsprins Of this sys
tenn. and q TN gosslbls inpoeans plural wives
banished from the land. While this is being
done invite the attention of Congress to an
other. though perhaps no less an evil, the i'm.
pOrtation of Chinese women, but few of whom
are brought to our shores to pursue honorable
or useful occupations.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Observations while visiting the Territories OF
wyoming Utah and Colorado. during the past
autumn, convinced me that the existing laws
regulating the disposition of public lands tim
she and shSaa &
tory where the erl6 rtion Of the soil can only
g as ee o he used as and
thix only where stock reach water to
queneh its thirst. These lands cannot be gov
every acre of which is an independent estate
of itself. The lands must be held in larger
quantities to Justify the expense of conducting
water upon il to make it fruitful, or to justify
utilizing it as pasture. The timber in most OF
the Territories is prlnelpaliy conn me to the
small quantities only, and as mineral lands
The timber is the property of the United States.
for the diposal of which there is now no ade-
quate law. The settler must become a con-
sumner of this timber, whether he lives upon
the plains or engages in working the mines !;
hence every man becomes either trespasser
himself or knowingly az patron OF nespassers.
nv oppnr tunitiessof observation We're not suf-
ficient to justify me in recommending specific
legislation on these subjects, but do recon-
mend that joint committee Of the two houses
OF Congress, sufficiently large to be divided
the mining States and Territories, during tine
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 best secure the interests of the
government and the people of these territories
who are doing so much for their development.
/ am sure the citizens occupying the Terrific
ries described do not wish to be trespassers,
nor will they be if legal ways are provided for
them to become overs OF these actual neces-
sites of their position @4t
REcAPITULATIoN.
As this will be the last annual message
which shall have the honor of transmitting to
Congress- before nv successor is chosen, I will
repeat or recapitulate the questions which L
deem of vital Importance, that should be legis-
lated upon and settled 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. That no sectarian tenets shall ever
be taught in any school supported in whole or
in part by the State or Nation, or by the pro-
ceeds of any tax levied upon any community !;
making education compulsory, SO far as to de-
prive all persons who cannot read and write
from becoming voters after the year 1892 dis
franchising none, however, on grounds of Hit
eracy who may be voters at the time this
amendment takes effect.
Third Declare the church and state forever
separate and distinct but each free within its
proper sphere, and that all church property
shall bear its own proportion of taxes,
Fourth Drive out licensed immortality, such
polygafny and the importation of women
for illegitiInate purposes. To recur again to
the Centennial year: 1t would seem that now,
when we are about to begin the second century
of our national existence, would be the most
fitting time for these reforms.
Fifth Enact such laws as viii secure a
speedy return to sound currency, such as viii
command the respect of the world.
Believing that these views will commend
themselves to the great majority of the right
thinking patriotic citizens of the United States
] submit them respectfully to Congress.
u. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Des. T. 1875.