Year: 1863

tivotop, the grants to railway companies
of alternate sections Of land upon the
contemplated lines of their roads, which
when completed, will so largely multiply
the facilities for reaching our distant pos.
sessions.


This policy has received its most sig
nal and beneficent Illustration in the re-
cent enactment granting a homestead to
actual settlers, Since the lst day Of
January last, the before mentioned guam
tity of 1,456,514. acres of land have
been taken up under its provisions. This
fact and the amount Of sales furnished
gratifying evidence Of increasing settle
ments upon the public lands, notwith-
standing the great struggle, to which the
energies of the nation have been engaged
and which has required so large
withdrawal of our citizens from their
accustomed pursuits. l cordially concur
in the recommendation of the Secretary
of the Interior, suggesting modification
of the act in favor of those engaged in
the military and naval service Of the
United States. 1 doubt not that Con-
gress will cheerfuly adopt such measures
as will, without essentially changing the
general features of the system; secure to
the greatest practicable extent its benefits
to those, who have left their homes in the
defence of the country in this crisis.


[ invite your attention to the views of
the Secretary as to the propriety Of rails
ing by appropriate legislation a revenue
from the mineral lands Of the United
States.


The measures provided at your last ses-
sion for the removal Of certain Indian
tribes have been carried into effect. Sum
dry treaties have been negotiated which
will in due time be submitted for the con-
stitutional action of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for extinguishing the
posscssory rights of the Indians to large
and valuable tracts of anda. 1t is hop
ed that the effect Of those treaties will re-
suit in the establishment of permanent
and friendly relations with such of these
tribes as have been brought into frequent
and bloody collision with our outlying set
Elements and emisrants. Sound policy
and an imperative duty to these wards OF
the Government demand an anxious and
constant attention to their material we'll
being, to their progress in the arts of civ
ilizaton, and, above all, to their moral
training, which, under the blessing OF a
Divine Providence, will confer upon them
tho elevated aud sanctifying influences the
hopes and consultations Of the Christian
ia tn. suggested in my last annual
message the Tropricty of remodelliny our
Indian system. Subsequent events have
satisfied me of its necessity. The details
set forth in the Report Of the Secretary
evince the urgent need for immediate leg
islatlye action.


commend the benevolent institutions
established or patronizcd by the govern
mcnt in this District to your generous and
fostering care.


The attention of Congress during the
last session was engaged to some extent
with a proposition for charging the water
communication between the Mississippi
liver and the northeastern seaboard, which
proposition however, failed for the time ;
since then, upon call Of the greatest re-
spcctability, convention has been held at
Chicago upon the same subject, summa-
rv of whose views is contained in me-
mortal addressed to the President AMI
Congress, and which ere long will force It's
own way, | do not entertain dou5t,whlle
it is submitted entirely to your wisdom as
to what can be done now. Augmented
interest is given to this subject by the ac'
tua commencement of work on the Pa
ciic railroad, under auspices so favorable
to rapid progress and completion that the
enlarged navigation becomes a palpable
need to the great road.


| transmit the second annual report Of
the Commissioner of the Department Of
Agriculture, asking your attention to the
developments in that vital interest Of the
nation.


When Congress assembled year age
the war had already lasted twenty month:
and there had been many conflicts on botl
land and sea. with varying results. The
rebellion had been pressed back into re-
duced limits yet the tone OF public feel
ing at home and abroad was not satistac
tory. With other signs, the popular cleo
tions then Just past. indicated uneasiaess
among ourselves, while amid much that
was cold and menacing, the kindest words
coming from Europe were uttered III ac
cents Of pity that we were too blind to
surrender hopeless cause. Our com
merce was suffering greatly by few arm
ed vessels built upon and furnished iron
foreign shores, and We were threatened
with such additions from the same quar-
ters as would sweep on trader from the
sea and raise our blockade. We had fail
ell to elicit from European governments
anything hopeful on this subject.


The Preliminary emancipation procla
nation issued in September, was running
its assigned period to the beginning OF th'
New Year. A month later the lina
proclamation came, including the announce
ment that colored men Of suitable coadi
ton woalI be received in the war service
The policy OF emancipation and of EN-
ploying black soldiers gave to the future
a new aspect, about which hope and iea'
and doubt contcnded in uncertain conflict
According to our political systems as t
matter of civil administration, the gener
al government had no lawful power to Ell
feet emancipation to any State; and Tor
long time it had been hoped that the re-
bellion could be suppressed without re