The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-09

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Christian country, without the power TO
punish so flagrant crime against decency
and morality, seems preposterous. True,
there Is no law TO suppress this unnatu.
raj vice, but what is needed is a law TO
punish il as d crime, and at the same
time to fix the status OF the innocent
children, the offspring Of this system,
and of the possible innocent plural wives
but, as an institution, polygamy should
be banished from the land. While this
is being done invite the attention OF
Congress to another, though perhaps no
less evil-the importation OF Chinese
women, but few of whom are brought to
our shores to pursue honorable or useful
occupations. rtr.. r
CHI lNGEs IN TERRITORIAL LAWS RECON-
MENDED
Observations, while visiting the Terri
tories of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado
during the past autumn, convinced me
that existing laws, regulating the dispo-
sition of public lands, timber, etc, and
probably the mining laws themselves,
are very defective, and should be care
fully amended, and at an early day. In
Territory where the cultivation of the
soil can only be followed by irrigation,
and where irrigation cannot be made
practicable, the lands can only be used
as pasturage, and this only where stock
can reach water to quench its thirst, car
not be governed by the same laws as to
entries Of lands, every acre Of which Is
an independent estate by itself. Lands
must be held in larger quantities to JUS
tify the expense of conducting water
upon il to make it fruitful, or to justify
utilizing it as pasturage
The timber in most of the Territories
is principally confined to the mountain
regions, which are held for entry in
small quantities only, and as mineral
lands. The timber upon it is the prop
erty of the United States, for the dis
posal of which there is now no adequate
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
a patron of trespassers. My opportuni-
ties for observation were not sufficient to
Justify me in recommending specific leg
islation on these subjects, but do recon-
mend that joint committee of the two
houses of Congress, sufficiently large to
be divided into sub. committees, be or
ganized to visit all the mining States and
Territories during the coming summer,
and that the committee shall report to
Congress atthe next session such laws or
amendments to laws as it may deem nee
essary to secure the best interests of the
Government and the people of those
Territories, who are doing 80 muCh for
their development. / am sure the citi-
zens 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 neces-
sites of their position. ....
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS,
As this will be the last annual mes
sage which l shall have the honor Of
transmitting to Congress before my sue
cessor is chosen, l will repeat or reca.
pitulate the questions which l deem OF
| vital importance which should be legis-
lated upon and settled at this session;
First-That the States shall be re-
quired to afford the opportunity of a
GOOD common school education to 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, nation, or
by the proceeds of any tax levied upon
any community. Make education COM
pulsory so far as to deprive all persons
who cannot road and write from becom-
ing voters after the year 1890, distran-
Chising none, however, on grounds of IL
literacy who may be voters at the time
this amendment takes effect ..
Third-Declarce Church and State for
ever separate and distinct but each to be
free within their proper spheres, and
that all church property shall bear its
own proportion of taxation. ....
Fourth7-Drive out 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, 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 will insure
speedy return to sound currency,
such as will command tae respect of the
world. ...g'
Believing that these views will com.
mend themselves to the great majority
of the right thinking and patriotic citi-
zens of the United States, | submit them
to Congress. .a. U. 5. GRANT'
Executive Mansion, Dec. 7, 1875. b 5H