Year: 1872

| Affairs in the Territories are generally
satisfactory. The energy and business ca
pacity of the pioneers who are settling ur
the vast domain not yet incorporated into
States, are keeping pace in internal improve
| ments and civil government with the Older
communities. In but one of them, Utah, is
| the condition of affairs unsatisfactory, eX-
| cept so far as the quiet of the citizens may
of Indian hostilities. It has seemed to be
| the policy of the Legislature of Utah to
evade all responsibility to the Government
of the United States, and even to hold a
position in hostility to it. recommend a
careful revision of the laws of the Territory
by Congress and the enactment of such a
law as the one proposed in Congress at its
last session, for instance, or something SINH
lar to it, as will secure peace, the equality of
all citizens before the law and the ultimate
relinquishment of polygamy. States and
Territories where mining is the principal
bisiness, agricultural products have exceeded
the local demand and liberal shipments have
been made to distant points.


The ninth census is about completed. Its
completion is a subject of congratulation,
inasmuch as the use to be made of the sta
tistics therein contained depends very greatly
on the promptitude of publication. The
Secretary of the Interior recommends that a
census be taken it. 1857, which recommends
ton should receive the ready attention of
Conrress. The interval at present e5tab-
lished between the Federal census is 80 long





periods to the material condition, wants and
resources of the nation is of little practical
value. After the expiration of the first half
eff that period, it would prob ably obviate the
constitutional provision regarding the
decimal census, if census taken in 1875
should be Invested of all political character,
and apportionment of Congressional rep
resentation be made under it. Such cen
sus, coming as it. would in the last year of
the first century of our national existence,
WOnl0 a nf "a
progress of the United States during that
century.


The rapidly increasing interest in educa-
ZION is most encouraging feature in the cur
rent history of the country, and it is no
doubt true that this is due in great measure
to the efforts of the Bureau of Education.
That office is continually rec Swing evidences
which abundantly proves its efficiency, from
the various institutions of learning and edu-
Gators of all kinds throughout the country.
Tho report of the Commissioner contains a
vast amount of educational details of great
interest. The bill now pending before Con-
gress, providing for the appropriation of the
proceeds of the sales of public lands for edu-
cation of their rising generation, is a meas
ure of such great impol tance to our real pro-
gress, and is SO unanimously approved by
the leading friends of education, that com l.
mend it to the favorable attention of Con-
gress.


The report of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture gives very full and interesting &C
count of the several divisions of that depart
ment. The horticultural, agricultural,
statistical, chronological and chemical, and
the benefits conferred by each upon the agri-
cultural interests of the country. The whole
reports complete history in total of the
workings of that department in all its
branches, showing the manner in which the
farmer, merchant and miner is informed and
the extent to which he is aided in his pur-
. su is. The Commissioner makes one recon-
mendation that measures be taken by Con-
gress to protect and reduce the planting OF
forests, and suggests that no part of the pub
lie lands should be disposed without the con-
dition that one-tenth of it be reserved in
timber where 1t exists, and where it does
not exist inducements should be offered by
planting it.


In accordance with the terms of the act of
Congress approved March 8, 1871, providing
for the celebration of the one hundredth an
niversary of American independence, Com
mission has been organized, consisting of
the two members from each of the States and
Territories. The Commission has held two
sessions, and as made satisfactory progress
in the organization and in the initiatory steps
necessaryfor the carrying out of the provisions
of the act, and for exceeding the provisions
also of the act of June 1, 1871, creating
continual Board of Finance. Apreliminary
report of progress has been received from
the President of the Commission, and is
herewith transmitted.


It will be the duty of the Commission at
your coming session to transmit report of
the progress made, and to lay before you the
details relating to the exhibition of American
and foreign arts, products and manufacturers
which, by the term of the act, is to be held
under the auspices of the Government of the
United States in the city of Philadelphia in
the year 1876. This celebration will be
looked forward to by American citizens with
great interest, as making century of greater
progress and prosperity than is recorded in
the history of any other nation, and proving
a further good purpose in bringing together
on our soil the people of all the CONNER cial
nations of the earth, in manner calculated
to secure international good feeling.


An earnest desire has been felt to correct
abuses which have grown up in the civil
service Of the country, through the defective
method of making appointments to office,
which have been regarded too much as the
reward of political services. Under the au-
thority of Congress rules have been estab-
lished to regulate the terms of office and no
mode of appointment. 1t cannot be expect
ed that any system of rule can be entirely
effective and prove perfect remedy for the
existing evils till they have been thoroughly
tested by actual practice and amended ac-
cording to the requirements of the service.
During my term cf Office it shall be my best
erdeavor to SO apply the rules as to secure
the greatest possible reform in the civil SER
vice of the Government But it will require
! the direct action of Congress to render the
enforcement OF the system binding upon my
| successors, and 1 hope that the experience
of the past year, together with appropriate
| legislation by Congress, may re ach a satisfac
| the public service for all time practica
method of obtaining faithful ssnd efficien
| officers and employees. u s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 2, 1872.