- 1idCofthe no lac of ill
yw? thiD ^^^i ouUUndiflH. The <
impropriety of thts procedure k^brious:
( a ad |f( to pot forth Uia noSS of an
iMtttmiob, Whose eonMrni li HI under*
taken to wind op. If ihtakuOjpJto
[vttfKl ia liAlaano lliAMi nnlaa MAIL mT Mill
?& >> w tvavvwv ?MVW MVWP ?ywv
see no reaaon why it may 10* conjjnje
to do ao after the eipi?t^| of
years. At no one cooM MNp wwP'
lled a course so extradfdtntitfihjftthe prohibitory
cleanse of the cbeHifir abnee q\ih"ted
was not iceoolpintot^f alky ffenalty
"or other epeelal prorlskwi fot etaforchia
if, nor hare we any general law for the
prereiision of similfcrects in futilre.
But it is not in this trlehr of the subject
alone that your interposition ts required.
The United Stales:4s settling with the
trustee for their stock, hare withdrawn
I tU-J- f.. 1 _ A- _ 4.. -L n. ? "
Mi??r junus irora weir iormer~uireci naoility
to the creditors of the old Barik,
yet notes of the institution continue to be
sent forth in Its name, end apparently
upon the authority of the United States.
The transactions connected with the employment
of the bills of the old bank are
of vast extent; and should they result
Unfortunately, the interests of individuals
may be deeply compromised. With
out undertaking to decide how far, or in
what form. If any, the trustee could he
made liable for notes which contain no
nbligatio on its psrt; or the old bank,
for sueh ae are put in circulation after
the expiration of its charter, and without
its authority; or the Government for indemnity,
in case of loss, the question
"Still pressess itself Upon your consideration,
Whether it la consistent with duty
and good faith on the part of the Jrovernment,
to witness this proceeding with-; 1
out a tingle effort to arrest it.
The report of the Commissioner of the
Ueneral JLand Office, which will be laid
before yon by the Secretary of the Treasury,
will ehow how the affairs of that
office have been conducted for the past
year. The disposition of the publio lands
is one of the most important trusts confided
to Congress. The practicability of
retaining the title and control of such
dxtenaive domains in the General Government,
and at the same time admitting
the Territories embracing them into the
Federal Union as co-eqnals with the
original States, was seriously doubted by
many of our wisest statesmen. All feared
thatrthey would become a source of c
discord, and many earied their apprc- 1:
hensions so far as to see in them the 1
1 _ _ f _ f..i Ji 1 ..1 1 ?t.. P/vn J )
B*eU8 Ot B llliurc QIIBUIUUUU ?>l Dili VVIII- <
federaoy. But happily our experience lias *
already been sufficient, to quiet in a great <
degree, all such apprehensions. The po
sition at one time assumed, that the admission
of new Suites into the Union ?n
the same footing with the original Slates,
Was incompatible with a right of soil in
the United States, and operated as a sur- <
render thereof, notwithstanding the terms <
of the compacts by which their admis- /1
sion was designed to be regulated?has ' i
been wisely abandoned. Whether in the t
new or the old States, all now agree that |
the right of soil to the public lands re- 1
mnin in ih?* Fedprnl Government, and <
that these lands constitute a common
property, to be disposed of for the common
benefit of all the States, old and
new. Acquiescence in this just principle
by ths people of the new States has naturally
promoted a disposition to adopt the
most liberal policy in the sale of public
lands. A policy which should be limited
to the mere object of selling the lands
for the greatest possible sum of money,
Without regard to higher considerations,
finds but few advocates. On the contrary,
it is generally conceded, that whilst
the mode of disposition adopted by the ,
Government, should always be a prudent'
one, yet its leading object ought to be the
early settlement and cultivation of the
land a sold; and that it should discountenance,
if it cannot prevent, the accs mutation
of large tracts in the same hands,
which must necessarily retard the growth
of the new States, or entail upon them
& dependent tenantry, and its attendant
evil*.
A question embeacing such important
interest*, and so well calculated to enlist
the feelings of the people in every quarter
of the Union, has very naturMIy
given rise to numerous plans for the improvement
of the existing system. The
distinctive features of the policy that has
hiithertp prevailed, are, to dispose of the
public lands at moderate prices, thus enabling
a greater number to. enter into competition
for their purchase, and accomplishing
a double object of promoting their
rapid settlement by the purchaseis, and
at the same time increasing the receipts
of*the Treasury; to sefl IbV cash, thereby
preventing the disturbing influence of
a large mass of private citizens indebted
to the Government, which they have a
voice in controlling; to bring theni into
market no faster than good lands are supposed
to be wanted for improvements,
thereby preventing the accumulation of
large tracts in few hands; and to apply the
proceeds of 1be sales lo the general purposes
of tbe Government; tlius diminishin
the amount to be raised from the pen- i
pie of the Stales fry taxation, and giving i
each State its portion of the benefits to <
be derived from this common fund in a I
manner the most quiet, and at the same ?
time, perhaps, the most equitable, that (
can be dnviaed. These provisions, with i
occasional enactments in behalf of special 1
'Jatereats deemed entitled to tbe favor of j
<* h
ier?i?ave beta sold. the greater" part of]
which is believed to iiive been purchased
(nr ntwd tuMMmK. jit: population of
Ihe new Btttes mud Territories creeled
out of the pfibtic domain, ihcrerfsed between
1800 end 1830, less.than sixty
thousand to dpwara^of two intiliorijwi
three -tiandfod thousand souls* constitu-]
ling ^t the InlWr period, ebont one-fifth of
itia Mlknla "Kaanlk ?af ?ka'IlMil*il HmIm
VTiivav V| ?? %>
Tlit^nerei* ifttee cfinnot bo actually
luiovi, but the whale may tooVr be safely
Htimaifd at over-three ami a half millions
of tools,-composing nine States, the rep*
resentatives of which constitute abuse
one-third of the Senate, and Over one-sixth
of the House of Representatives of the
United States.
Thus hss been formed a body of free
atid independent landholders, with a rapidity
unequalled in the history of mankind;
and this great result has been pro
-dueed without leaving any thing for future
adjustment betwden the Government
and its citizens. The system under which
so much has been accomplished cannot
be intrinsically bad, and <with occasional
modifications, to correct abuses and adopt
it to chaoges of circumstances, may, I
think, be safely trusted -for the ftftnre.~
Thcre is, in the management of such extensive
interests, much virtue in stability,
and Although great and obvious improve,
ments should not be declined, changes
should never be made without the fullest
examination, and the clearest deihonstrnImn
a f fltAiw tkt*aoliAul I n iko liia.
ivii vi iiioii |iiav?ivni uviiitj ass nit inn"
tory of the past, we have an assurance
that this safe rule of action will not be
departed from in relation to tho public
lands; nor is it believed that any necessity
exists for interfering with the fundamental
principles of the system, 01 that the
public mind, even in the new States, is
desirous Of any radical alterations. On
the contrary, the general disposition appears
to be, to make such modifications
md additions only as will the more effectually
carry out the original policy of
filling our new Stutes and Territories with
in industrious und independent population.
The modification most perseveriugly
pressed upon Congress, which has occupied
so much of its time for years past,
tnd will probably do so for a long time to
some, if not sooner satisfactorily adjusted,
s a reduction in the cost of such portions 1
>f the public lands as are ascertained to <
>e unsaleable at the rate now established | <
>y law, and a graduation, according to 1
iheir relative value, ol the prices at which
they may hereafter be sold. It is worthy
of consideration whether justice may not
be done to every interest in this matter,
and a vexed question set at rest, perhaps
forevnr, by a reasonable compromise ?>f
conflicting opinions. Hitherto, after being
offered at public sale, lands have been
disposed of at one uniform price, whatever
difference there might be in their intrinsic,
value. The leading considerations urged
ti favor of the measures referred to, are,
.hat in almost all the land districts, and
[)articlarly in those in which the lands
have been long surveyed and exposed to
sale, there are still remaining numerous I
and large tracts of every graduation of
value, from tne Government price downward;
that these lands will not be purchared
at the Government price, so long
as better can be conventently^wbiaiued for
the same amount; that there are large
tracts which even the improvements of
the adja ent lands will never raise to that
price; and that the present uniform price, |
combined with their irregular value, operates
to prevent a desirable compactness
of settlement in the new States, and to
retard the full development of that wise
policy on which our land system is founded,
to the injury not only of the several
States where the lands lie, but of the
United States as a whole.
The remedy proposed has been a reduction
of prices according to the length o.~ lime
the lands has been in market, without
reference to any other circumstances.?
The certainty that the efflux of time would
not always in sucii cases, ana pernaps not
cren generally, furnish a true criterion
of value; and the probability that persons
residing in the vicinity, as the period for
the redaction of prices approached, would
postpone purchases they would otherwise
make, for the purpose of availing themselves
of the low price, with other con
siderations of a similar character, have
hitherto been successfully urged to defeat
the graduation upon time.
May not all reasonable desires upon this
subject be satisfied without encountering
any of these objections? All will concede
the abstrac't principle, that the price
of the public lands should be proportioned
to their relative value, so far as that can
he accomplished uithoiit departing from
i- - ?i i .. f _ i j _
in ruie iiereioiurc ou?vrvcu, rnjuiriug
fixer] pricen in eases of private entries.?
The difficulty of the subject seems to lie
in the mode of ascertaining what that
value is. N\ ould not the safest plan be
that which has been adopted by many of
the States as the boa s of taxation?an
actual valuation of land , and classification
of thfern ihto difFeren rotes? Would it
not be practicable and ^expedient to cau->>
relative value > f the public lands in the
:>ld districts, which have been for a certain
length of time in market, to be appraised,
ird classed into two or more rates below
he present minium price, by the officers
v w employed in this branch of the pubic
service, or in any other mode dermeed
practicable and to jpake these prices per
' *
*
r >
-v> V *
I^^ds which b?v? hiihWu>^MU urged
hgJBUt it avoided! It would seem to the
tlitliicfa I itop, withV reiuiciidn of the
ealea to limited qualities, and for actual
improvement, would be free from tU
jtflt fffp^OQr * * :
. By the foil expoaitiofc of tb* value of the
fond a thus furnished end extensively pro*
inulgsted, persons living et s distance
won Id brteforrad ot their'true condition
end eoatylpd if eniewiiito compelition with
those residing in tnft vicinity; the means
of acquiri^an independent home would
be brought within the reach of many who
are UMable to purchase at present pi-ices,
the .popma i n of the new States would
be wore compact, and urge tracts would
be sold which would otherwise remaib on
hand; 'not only would- the land be brought
within the means of a larger nurobbr of
purchasers but many persons possessed
of greater means would be oontenl to'settle
on a larger quantity of the pobrer
lands, rather than emigrate further West
tu fc pursuit of a smaller quantity of better
ianils. Such a measure would also
seem to be more consistent with the policy
of theexisting laws?that of converting
the public domain into cultivated
arms owned by their occupants. That
policy is nut best promoted by sending
inij?i?n??ti uj' mo uimosi interminable
streams of the West, to occupy in groups
the best spots of land, leaving immense
wastes behind them, and enlarging the
frontier beyond the means of the Government
to afford it adequate protection:
but in encouraging it to occupy, with reasonable
denseness, the territory over
which it advances, and-find its best defence
in the compact front which it-present*
to the Indian tribes. Many of ) ou
will bring to the consideration of the subject
the advantage* of local knowledge
and greater experience, and all will be
desirous of making an early and final disposition
of every disturbing question in
rega d to this important interest. If these
suggestions shall in any degree contribute
to >he accomplishment of so important
a result, it will afford me sincere satisfaction.
In some sections of the country, most
of the public lands have been sold, and
the registers and receivers have very little
to do. It is a subject worthy of inquiry
whether, in many cases, two or
more districts may not be consolidated,
and the number of persons employed in
this business considerably reduced. Indeed,
the time will come when it will be
the true policy of the Gt ncral Government,
as to some of the Slates, to transfer
to them, for a reasonable equivalent, all I
the refuse and unsold lands, and to wilh-l
draw the machinery of the federal land
offices altogether. AH who take a com-1
preheusive view of our federal system,
and believe that one of its greatest excel-1
leucies consists in interfering as little as
poHsible with the internal concerns of the
Stales,-look forward with great interest to
this result.
A modification of the existing intvs in
# ?
respect t" the prices of the public lands,
might also have a favorite influence on
the legislation of Congress, in relation
to another branch of the subject. Many
vho have not the ability to buy at-present
prices, settle on those lands, with the
hope of acquiring from their cultivation
the means of purchasing under pre-emption
laws; from time to time passed by
Congtcs. For this encroachment on the
rights of the United States, they excuse
| themselves under the plea of their own
necessities; the lact that rh'e'y dispossess
no body, and only enter upon the waste
domain; that they give additional value
to lll*? r. 11 h I! !.?/(? !. .1 ? * - * * *
r..w>?v iiiiius in meir vicinity, ana
their intention ultimately to pay the Government
price. 80 much weight has from
' time to time been attached to therfc considerations,
that Congress have passed
laws giving actual settlers on the public
lands a right of pre-emption to the tracts
occupied by thetn at tl.e minimum price.
These laws have in all instance* been retrospective
in their operation; but in a few
years after their passage, crowds of new
settlers have been found on the public
lauds, for similar reasons, and under like
expectations, who have been indulged
with the same privileges This coufrse of
legislation tends to impair public respect
for the laws of the country. Either the
laws to prevent intrusion upon the public
lands should he executed, or, ifthatshoud
be impracticable or inexpedient* they
should be modified or repealed. If the
public lands are to be considered as open,
to he occupied by any, they should, bj
law, be thrown open to all. That which
is intended in all instances, to be legalized
should at oirce be ipade le^al, that those
who are disposed to conform to the laws
may enjn} at least equal privileges with
those wh.> are not. But it is not believed
to be the disposition of Congress to open
me puonc tanas to occupuncy. without re*
golar entries and payment of the Govern*
inent price, as such a course must tend lo
worse evils than the ciedit system, which
it was found necessary to abolish. It
would seem, therefore, to be the part of
wisdom and aound policy to remove, as
far as practicable, the cutises which pro*
duce intrusions uprtn the public lands,
and then take efficient steps to prevent
them in future. VVduld any single measure
be so ellective in removing all plausible
grounds for those intrusions as the
graduation of price already suggested??
A short perio J of industry and economy
in -any part of the country would enable
the poorest ..citizen to accumulato the
doing violence to public o pin Win.
A large portion o( o?r eitfeena btv?
aeetpd tberoselve* pn the public lapdt.,
-without authority, since -the passage of
the leal pre-emption leer, and aovjek
the enactment of another to enable them
to retain the lande occupied, ask. that'
which baa been repeatedly granted before,
| If the future ropy be iuogad oi by the
past, little harm ean be done to the inter*
cats or the Treasury- by yielding 16 their
request. Upon critical examination, -it is
fqund that the lands sold at the public
silos since the introduction -of cash payments
in 1880, have produced on an av*>
rage, the net! revenue of only sis cents
an aCre more than the minimum Govern*
ment price. There is no reason to suppose
that , future sales will be more productive.
The Government, therefore,
has no adequate pecuniary interest to
induce it to drive these people from the
lands they occupy, for the purpose of
sealing them to others.
Entertaining these views, I recorrtmehd
the-passage of,a pre-emption law for their
benefit, in connexion with the preparatory
steps toward the graduation of the
price of the public lands, and further and
more effectual provisions to prevent intrusions
hereafter. 'Indulgence to those
who have settled on these lands with expectations
that past legislation would be
made a rule for the future, anil nt the
same lime removing the most plausible
ground on which intrusions are jxcused,
and adopting more efficient means to prcvent
them hereafter, appear to mc the
most judicious disposition which can be
made of this difficult subject. The limitations
and restrictions to guard against
abuses in the execution of a pre-emption
law, will necessarily attract tho careful attention
of Congress; but under no circumstahces
is it considered expedient to authorize
floating claims in any shape. ? <
They have been heretofore, and doubtless
would be hereafter, most prolific sources
of fraud and oppression, and instead of
operating to confer the lavor of the Government
on industrious settlers, are often
used only to minister to a spirit of cupidity
at the expense of tho most meritorious
of that class* i
The accompanying report of the 8e- 1
crelary of War will bring tp your views i
the state of the Army, ant! all the various I
subjects confided to the superintendence i
of that officer. I
The principal part of the Army lute <
been concentrated in Florida, with a view, i
and in the expectation. of bringing the '
war in that Territory to a speedy close.?
The necessity of stripping the posts on <
the maratime and inland frontiers of their
entire garrisons, for the purpose of assembling
in the field an army of less than
(four thousand men, would seem to indicate
the necessity of increasing our regular
forces: and the superior efficacy; as
urn 11 a a #?! />?. 11 *1? -"-l- * ? " *
cio jjiion; viiiiiiiiisiii'u expense 01 mat 1
description of troops, recommend this
measure as one of economy as well as of
expediency. I refer to the report for reasons
which have induced the Secretary of
War to urge the reorganization and enlargement
of the staff of the Army, and
I of the ordnance corps, in which I fully
cancur.
It is not, however, compatible with the
interest of the people to maintain, in time
of peace, a regular force adequate to the 1
defence of our extensive frontiers. In 1
f>eriods of danger and alarm, we must rey
principally upon a well organized mili* j
tin, and some general arrangement that
will render this description of force more
efficient, has long been a subject of anx
lous solicitude. It was reoonnmended to
the first Congress by Gen. Washington,
and has "been since frequently brought to
your notice, and recently its importance
strongly urged by my immediate predecessor.
The provision in the Constitution
that renders it necessary to adopt an uniform
system cf organization for the militia
throughout the United Slates, presents
an insurmountable obstacle to an efficient!
arrangement by the classification hereto- j
fore proposed, and I invite your attention
to the plan which will be submitted by'
the Secretory of War, for the organization
of volunteer corps, and the instruction
of militia officers, us more simple
and practicable, if not equally advantageous,
as n general arrangement of the j
whole militia of the United States.
A moderate increase of the corps, bV)th i
of military and topographical engineers, I
has been more than once recommended |
by my predecessor; and my conviction of i
the propriety, not.to say necessity, of the
j measure, in order to enable them to perform
the various and important duties im1
posed upon them, induces mo to repeat
the recommendation.
The Military Acadbmy cbntindes to,
answer all the purposes of its establish-!
mem* hiiu noi only lurnishes well-cduca-1
' led officers to the army, but serves to
.diffuse throughout the mass of our citi'zens-,
individuals possessed of military
' knowledge, and the scientific attainments;
of civil and military engineering. At'
I present, the cadet is bound, with tfonsentl
| of his parents or guardians, to remain in |
i service five years from the period of his ,
enlistment, unless sooner discharged; thus*
exacting only one year's service in the!
army after his education is completed*?
This does not appear to me sufficient*?Government
ought to command for a
longer period the services of those who
'arc educated at the public expense; and 1
' t
lecoiumfwd thtl thetfcue of enlistment be
ejfWMMki to so*m jruat the terms of
^^I|0> creation of a national founds ry for
can*#; to k eommoir t? tbo^ierTiM ?jf
the Amy and Nary of the United States,
has been heretofore recommended, end
appear* 4o be required in order to place
pur ordnance,eqaul footing with
that cf other cfijBftiiiga, and to enable that
branch of ^ MijiitlB to control the prices
of thott WkIhL ,and Ofadu&te the
supplies t<$he Wlfell of thClfovern merit,
aa well as trm&lte tlieir ^aivlity and
enaure their unnortnity. The same reason's
induce me to recommend the ereptidn
of a manufactory of gunpowder, to
bo under iNe direction of the Ordnance
office. The establiitftoiant of a manufactory
of small arms west of the Alleghany
mountains, upon the plan proposed by the
Secretary of War, will contribute to extend
throughout that country the improvements
Which exist in establishments of a
similar description in the Atlantic States,
and tend to a much more economical distribution
of the armament required in tho
Western portion of our Union.
? m
The report of the Postmaster General
exhibits the progress and condition of the
mail service. The operations of the Post
Office Department constitute one of the
most active elements of our national prosperity,
and it is gratifying to observe with
what vigor they are conducted. The?
mail routes of the United Stales cover an
extent of about one hundred and fortytwo
thousand eight hundred and seventyseven
miles, having been increased about
thirty-seven thousand one hundred and
three miles within the last two years.
The annual mail transportation on these
routes is about thirty-six millions two
hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine
hundred and sixty-two miles, having been
increased about ten million three hundred
and fifty-nifte thousand four hundred and
seventy-six miles within the. samo period.
The number of post offices has also been
increased from ten thousand seven hundred
and seventy to twelve thousand and
ninety-nine, very few of which receive
the mails less than once a week, and a
large portion of them daily. Contractors
and Post Masters in general arc rcnroconipil
nc nll<>iirlin<r tnllirir (liltinn with
most commendable zoa) and fidelity.
The revenue of the Department, with*
in the year ending on the 13lh June last,
was four millions one hundred and thirtyseven
thousand and lifty-six dollars and
rifty-ninc cents; and its liabilities accruing
within the same time were three millions
three hundred ami eighty thousand
eight hundred and forty-seven dollars and
seventy-live cents. The increase of revenue
over -that of the preceding year
was seven, hundred and eight thousand
one hundred and sixty-six dollars and forty-one
cents. .
For many interesting details, I refer
you to the report of the Post Master General,
with the accompanying paper.?
Your particular attention is invited to the
necessity of providing a more safe and
convenient bjiiiding for the accommodation
of that Department.
I lay before Congress copies of reports
submitted ip pursuance of a call made bv
.i.. V i f v> . . '
me upon mc ncaus 01 ucpariments, lor
such suggestions as their experience might
enable them to make as to what further
legislative provisions may be advantage*
oualy adobted to secure the faithful application
of moneys to the objscts for which
they are appropriated; to prevent their
misapplication or embezzlement by thoso
entrusted with the expenditure of them;
and generally to increase the security of
the Government against losses in their
disbursement. It is needless to dilate on
the importance of providing such new
safeguards as are within the power of legislation
to promote those ends; and I
nuti- iiiiu; m u 1111 iu inu recommendations
submitted in the accompanying papers.
By law, terms of service of our most
important collecting and disbursing officers
in the civil departments are limited
to four years, and when re-appointed,
their bonds are required to be renewed.
The safety of the public is much increased
by this feature of the law, and
there can be no doubt that its application
to all officers entrusted with the collection
or disbursement of the public money,
whatever may be the tenure of their offices,
would be equally beneficial. I
therefore recommend, in addition to such
of the suggestions presented by the heads
of Departments, ag you think useful, a
general provision, that all officers of the
Army or Navy, or in the Civil Department,
entrusted with the receipt or payment
ol nublic monev. and whose term
I y ' " . mmm
of service is either unlimited or for a
longer time thnn four years, be required
to give bonds, with good and sufficient
securities, at the expiration of avery such
period.
A change in the period of terminating
the fiscal year, from the first of October
to the first of April, has been frequently
_ 1. i _ _ i ! ? ?
it-ruiiidieiiucu, anu appears iu ue ui?uu?
blc.
The distressing casnltics in steam boats,
which have so frequently happened during
the year, seem to evince the neccssily
of attempting to prevent them, by
means of severe provisions connected
with their custom house papers. The subject
was submitted to the attention of
Congress.by the Secretary of the Treasury
in his last annual report, and will be
again at the present session, with additional
details. It will doubtless rcrcivo
that early and careful consideration which
its pressing importance appears to ro
quire*
? - if- ? . ;!