Year: 1863

provisions. This fact and the amount of sales
furnish gratifying evidence Of the increasing set
tIement upon the public lands notwithstanding
the great struggle in which the energies of the
nation have been engaged, and wAich has re-
qsired so large withdrawal Of our citizens from
their accustomed pursuits. -
4 / cordially concur In the Recommendation of
the Secretary Of the Interior suggesting modifi-
cation Of the act in favor of those engaged IN the
q military and naval service OF the United States
doubt not that surveyors win eheerfully adopt
/ suoh measures as will, without essentially chang
ing the general features or the system, secure TO
the greatest possible extent It's benefits to those
who have left their homes in defenss of the coun-
try IN this arduous crisis ' -.
Il THE MINERAL LANDS. 49,


invite your attention to the views of the Sec
retary of War as to the propriefy Of raising, by.
appropriation Of legislation, a reyenue from the
mineral lands OF the United States. ~


THE INDIAN TRIBES. 4
The measures provided at your last session for
the removal of certain Indian tribes have been
carried into effect Sundry treaties have been
negotiated which will in dIe time be submitted
sor the constitutional action of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for extinguistng the posses
sor's rights of the Indians to large and valuable
tracts of land. 1t is probable that the effects of
these treaties will result in the establishment Of
permanent friendly relations with such of those
tribes as have been brought into frequent and
bloody collision with our outlying settlements
and emigrants. The sound policy of eur imper-
alive dsty to these wards of the Government de-
mand our aaxisus and constant attention to their
material well being to their progress in the of
civilization. ana above all, to that moral trsinng
which under the blessings of divine Providence
4 will confer upon them the elevated and sanctify-
ing influence Of the hopes and consolation of the
Christian faith l suggested in my last annual
message the proprety of remedyiug our Indian
system Subsequent events have satisfied mesof
its necessity The details set forth in the report
of the Secretary will evince the urgent need for
immediate legislative action


BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF


COLUMBIA.


commend the benevolent institutions
established or patronized by the Government in
this District to your generous and fostering care
ENLARGED NAVIGATION BETWEEN THE WATERS OF


THE MISSISSIPPI AND TIE NORTHEASTERN SEA-


BOARD. -4i'


The attention of Congress during the last ses-
sion was engaged to some extent with PROPOSE
ton for enlarging the water communication be-
tween the Mississssippi river and the Northeast
ern seaboard, which proposition however.
I failed for the time Since then. upon call
of the greatest responsibility, conven-





same subject, n summary of whose views is
contained memorial addressed to the President
and Congress, and which now have the honor TO
lay before you. That this interest is one which
ere long will force its own wav, do not enter
tain doubt; while it is submitted entirely to
your wisdom as TO what can be done now Aug
mented interest is given TO this subject by the
actual commencement of work upon the Pacific
railroad under auspices favorable to its rapid pro-
.1oft1 Hpla al
comes palpable need TO this great road. ,r


AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.


l transmit the second annual report of the
Commissioners of the Agricultural Department
asking your attention to the developments in that
vital interest of the nation.


THE wAR-coSDIrIos OF THE REBELLION. -Hs5
l When Congress assembled year ago the war
bad already lasted nearly twenty months, and
there had been many conflicts on both land and
sea with varying results. The rebellion had been
pressed back into reduced limits; vet the tone of
public feeling and opinion at home and abroad
was not satisfactory With other signs, the pop
ular elections, then just past. Indicated uness-
ness among ourselves, while amid much that was
cold and menacing, the kindest words coming
from England were uttered in accents OF pity,
but we were TOO blind to surrender. Ourrcom-
merce was suffering greatly by n few armed yes
sells built upon and furnished from foreign shores,
ard we were threatened with such additions from
the same quarter as would sweep our trade from
the seas and raise our blockade. We had fail ed
to elicit from European Governments anything
hopeful upon this subject The emancipation
proclamation which was issued in September.
was running its assigned period to the beginning
of the new year A month later the final proc
lamation came, including the announcement that
colored men OF suitable condition would be
received into the war service.


POLICY or EMANCIPATION AND EMPLoYxEsr OF


NEGRO SOLDIERS.


The policy of emancipation and of
employment of black soldiers. gave to
the future new aspect, about which
hopes, fears and doubts contended in un-
certain conflict according to our political system,
as q matter of civil administration. The General
Government has no lawful power to effect eman
cipatiou in any State, and for long time it had
been hoped that the rebellion could be suppressed
without resorting to it as a military measure. 1t
was all the while deemed possible that sIiecessity
for it might come. and that, If it should, the crisis
Of the contest would then be presented. Itcame,
and, as foreseen, it WIS followed by dark and
doubtful days. Eleven months having been
passed we are permitted TO take another review
The rebel bonsers are pressed still farther back.
and, by the complete opening of the Mississippi
River, the country dominated ever by the rebel.



munication between them and Tennessee and
Arkansas has been substantially cleared Of in
surgent control and influence; aud the citizens in
each aud swners of slaves and advocates of slave
~ at the beginning Of the rebellion, now declare
openly foe emancipation in their respective
States OF those States not included in the
emancpation, MARYLAND and Missouri (neither of
which. years ago. would tolerate any restraints
upon the extension of slavery into the Territor-
ies) only dispute now is as to the best mode
of driving it from their own limits. OF those
who were slaves mt the beginning OF the rebellion
fully one tandred Thousand are now in the United
States military service, about one-half of which
number actually bear arms in the ranks, thus giv
ing the double advantage of taking so mnch labor
from the insurgent cause and supplying the places
which otherwise must be filled with so
many white men, So far as tested. il is difficult
to say they are not good soldiers any No
servile insurecton tendency to violence or
cruelty has marked the measure OF emancipation
and arming the blacks. These measures have
been much discussed in foreign countries, and
contemporary with such discussions the tone of
! the public sentiment there is much improved.
Where the same measures have been fully dis
cussed, supported, criticised and denounced. the
annual elections are highly encouraging TO those
whose special duty IL Is to bear the country
through this great trial. Thus we have the
reckoning the crisis which threatened to divide
the friends of the country is past. isr $50.
PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION.


III Looking now to the present and future
and With refere1ce. to resumption of
: the national authority within the States
! wherein that authority has been suspended,
/ | i have thought fit to issue a proclamation. a
, | copy Of which is herewith transmitted. On ex
animation Of this proclamation il viii appear. as
oi he fuffo inn,