The Greenville enterprise. (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, December 14, 1870, Image 1
THE GREENVILLE ENTERPRISE.
Dnwrtcfc to Hews, politics, ^nlelligerae, imto Ifye ^mprauemettl 0f l!)e Slat eatt& Counlnj.
lOflN C. fc EDWARD BAILEY, PRO'RS. - GREENVILLE. SODTH CAROLINA, bECEMBER 14, 1870. TPLUME XVII~N0. 30.
Ii v ikvinrvoo ntifTnn Li ? - '*-- " ''? * * * '
v? ?.' M. ?/ WW 11 ElOf ? v
J. C. BAILEY, ASSOCIATE
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Unless ordered otherwise, Advertisements
Will invariably bo " displayed."
Obituary notices, and all matters inuring to
the benefit of any ono, are regarded as
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$ftt!ttii ^oetrtj.
Be of Good Cheer, Pilgrim !
Pilgrim, is thy Journey drear T
Are its llghta extinct forever ?
dtill aappresa that rising tear ;
Hod forsake! the rlghteou!, never.
Storms may gather e'er thy path,
All tile ties of life may sever ;
Still, am 14 the fearful soath,
Ood forsakes the righteous, never.
t>ain may rack thy wasting form,
tr<.*t?h ?v r
With allll burns In deathluaa flame,
Qod forsakes the righteous, never.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEWashington,
D. C.. )
Dec. 5th, 1870. j
To the Senate and House of
Representatives?A ^ycnr of peace
una general prosperity to this na
Hon has passed since the last asnembling
of Congress. Wc have,
through a kind Providence, been
blessed with abundant crops, and
haVo been spared From complications
and war with Foreign nations.
In our midst, comparative harmohy
has been restored. It is to be
regretted, however, that a freo exercise
of the elective franchise has,
by violence and intimidation, been
denied to citizens, in exceptional
cases, in several of the States late
ly in rebellion, and the verdict of
the people has thereby been reversed.
The States of Virginia, Missis
sippi and Texas have been restored
to representation in our national
councils. Qoorgia, the only State
now without representation, may
confidently be expected to take
her place there also, at the beginning
of the now year; and then,
let us hope, will be completed the
work of reconstruction. With an
acquiescence on the part of the
whole people in the national obligation
to pay the public debt,
created as the price of our union.
the pension* *? our disabled soldiers
and sailors, and their widows
and orphans, and in the changes
to the constitution, which have
been made necessary by a great
rebellion, there is no reason why
we should not advance in material
happiness as no other nation ever
did after so protracted and devastating
a war.
[Ilere follows a discussion of
foreign matters, which gives no
new inlorm&tion, but is a statement
of facts already familiar to the
country. The President notices
the fact, that our Government was
applied to by the French authori
ties to unite with the European
powers in the interest of )>e&ce,
and says this was declined, but onr
Government is ready at any time
to -interpose, separately, friendly
offices to effect it; tliat European
alliances have always been avoided
in the United States.]
During the last session of Congress,
a treaty for the annexation
of the Republic ot San Domingo
to the United States, failed to rc- i
ceive the requisite two-thirds vote
of the Senate. I was thoroughly
convinced then, that tho best interest
of this country commercially
and materially demanded its
ratification. Timo has only con* i
firmed ino in tlii6 view. I now
firmly believe that the moment it
is known, that the United States <
-have entirely abandoned the project
of occcpting, as a part of its
territory, the Island of San Domingo,
a free port will be negotiated
for by European nations in
the bav of Samand. A large
commercial city will spring up, to
-which we will be tributary without
receiving corresponding l>enosta
an/4 11, an _:it .1- f II
iiiO| miM i insn 'Y^lll WO BW1I VII15 IOIIJT
of oar rejecting no great a prize.
The government of San Domingo
lies voluntarily sought this annex
ation. It is a weak powor, numbering
probably lees than one hundred
and twenty thousand souls,
and yet possessing one of the
richest territories under the suncapable
of supporting a population
of ten millions of people in
luxury. Tho people of San Do
mingo are not capable of maintaining
themselves in their present j
condition, and ronst look tor ont* <
.side support. They yesrn for the
protection of onr free institutions
and laws, onr progress and civili- j
ration. Shall we refuse theinf? i
The acquisition of San Domingo ]
is desirable, because of its goo
graphical portion. It commands J]
-tuu rriurt&vice lo Hie \jariUD Bll 0 ft, 1
and Isthmus transit of commerce. 1
(It possesses tlio richest soil, best I
ana most capacious h&rbors, most 1
isahibrioiis climate, and valuable '
products of the forest, mine and ?
eoil ol any of the West India Is- I
llands. Its possession by us will, f
tin a few years, build up a coast- 1
wise commerce of immense mag- 1
nitude, which will go far towards '
roatorincr tn no nnr tr^of '
...Q ?w MV v??? v/uv iiivi V/iiaiib
marine. It will give to us those *
articles which we consume so largely,
and do not produce; thus 1
equalizing our exports And imports. 1
In case of a foreign War, it wili
give us command of (ill the islands 1
referred to, and thus prdvont an (
enemy from ever again poesessihg 1
himself of a rendezvous upon our
very coast. 1
At present, onr coast trade between
the States bordering on the 1
Atlantic, and those bordering on .
the Gulf of Moxico, is cut in two 1
by the Bahama nnd the Antilles. '
Twice we must, as it were, pnss ]
thrnllirll fowl"" '
- --p-- vvmiiii i co iu
by eea from Georgia to the west
coast of Florida. San Domingo, '
with a stable government, under '
which her immenso resources can
bo developed, will give remunerative
wages to tens of thousands of 1
laborers not now upon the island.
This labor will take ad v ant ago of
every available means of transportation
to abandon the adjacent islands
and seek the blessings of
freedom and its &cqncnce, eacli inhabitant
receiving the reward of
his own labor. Porto Rico and
n..i.. :it i
v/uim win nave 10 aoonsn sia\cry
as a measure of self-preservation 1
to retain tlieir laborers. San DoMingy
will become a large con '
sutner of tbe products ot north'
ern farmers and manufacturers.?
The cheap rate at which lior citizens
can bo furnished with food,
tools and machinery, will make it
necessary that contiguous islands
should have the 6ame advantages,
in order to compete in the production
of sugar, coffee, tobacco, trop
icnl fruits, &c. This will open to
us a still wider market for our
products. Tbe production of our 1
own supply of these articles will 1
cut oft* tnorft tlinn nno lmn/1^
millions of our annual imports, 1
besides largely increasing our ex '
ports. With such a picture it is
easy to 6co how our large debt
abroad is ultimately to bo extinguished,
With a balance of trade
against us, including interest on
bonds held by foreigners, and
money spent br our citizens travel
ing in foreign lauds, equal to the
entire yield of the precious metals
in this country, it is not easy to
see how this result is to be otherwise
accomplished.
The acquisition of San Domingo
is an adherence to the Monroe
doctrine. It is a measuro of national
protection. It is asserting
our just cluim to a controlling in
fluence over the great commercial
traffic soon ty flow from West to
East by way of the Isthmus of
Darien ; it is to build up our merchant
marine; it is to furnish new
markets for the products of our
farms, shops, and manufactories;
it is to make slavery insnpixutuble
in Ouba and Porto Pico, at once,
and ultimately so in Brazil; it is
to settle the unhappy condition of
CubA, and end exterminating con- t
fl Ct; it is to provide honest means ,
of paying our honest debts, with- <
out overtaxing the |>eople; it is to (
furnish our citizens with the neccs t
saries of every day lite, At cheap- f
er rates than ever before; and it j
is, in fine, a rapid stride towards ?.
that greatness which the in tell i~ ,
gence, industry and enterprise of t
the citizens of the Unitca States e
entitles this country to assumo |
among nations. In view of the (
imnortanco of this question, I earn- c
estly urge ti|K>n Congress early ac- f
tion, expressive of its views as to c
the best means of acquiring San ,
Domingo. My suggestion is, that by ^
joint resolution of the two Houses j
of Congress, the Executive bo au (
thorized to appoint a coin ission
to negotiate a treaty with the au- t
thoritios of San Doiningo for the t
acquisition of that Island, and that j
an appropriation be made to de- .
1 ??- I
I nj iiiu VApVIIOVII Ul HIICII (".(>111- j
mission. Tho question may then (
be determined, either by the nc- (
tion of the Senate upon the treaty, c
or tho joint action of the two x
Houses of Congress u|?on a reio- (
lution of annexation, ae in tho case j
of the acquisition of Texas. So 8
convinced am I of tho advantages g
to flow from the acquisition of San r
Domingo, and of the great diaad |
vantages?I might almost say ca j
lainities?to follow from non-ac f
(position, that I believe the sub- x
t'oet has only to be investigated to c
>e approved of. It is to be re- j
gretted that our representations in }
regard, to the injurious effects, es- a
pocially upon the revenue of the f
United States, of tho policy of the s
Mexican Qovornmont in exempt- o
\
mg iruin unposi untie* A large
tract of its territory on onr boilers,
liavo not only been fruitless, but
that it is eveu proposed in that
country to oxtenu the limits within
which (ho privilege averted to <
lias been enjoyed. The expediency |
jf taking into your serious consiajration
proper measures ior countervailing
the policy referred to
will, it is presumed, engage yonr
earnest attention. It is tho obvious
interest, especially of the neighboring
nations, to provide against
impunity 10 mose who may bavo
committed high crimes within their
horded ahd wlio thay have sought
refuge abroad. For this purpose
extradition treaties have been concluded
with several of the Central
Amorican Republics, and others
are in progress.
I regret to say that no conclusion
has been reached for the adjustment
of the claims against
Great Britain, growing out of tho
course adopted by that Government
during the rebellion.?
The Cabinet of London, so far as
its views have been expressed,
Hoc* not appear to be willing to
concodo that IIor Majesty\? Gov
crnment was guilty of any negligence,
or did, or jnjrmittod any
net during the war by which the
United btaU# jiMjjpst cause of
complaint, tfSHir firlin #nd nnaltcr
able cqpvictitMte .are doeidedJy the
reverse. I, therefore, recowm\*nd
Guogress to authorize the appointmentOf
proof
oi amounts and (ho -ownership of
these several claims, on notice to
the representative of Iler Majesty
at .Washington, and that authority
be given for the settlement of these
claims, by the United States, so
that the Government shall have
the ownership of the private claims,
as well as the responsible control
of all the demands against Groat
Britain. It cannot ho necessary
to add that Her Ilajesty's Government
shall entertain a desire for a
full and friendly adjustment of
these claims, the United States
will enter upon their considcralion
with an earnest desire for a conclusion
consistent with the honor
J J ?-. i* * -
in in mgnii)' 01 ootu nations.
[Mie President discusses the entanglement
growing out of the Fishing
Treaties with England. lie
dwells unon the importance of securing
tlie free navigation to the
United States of the St. Laurence
River, and thinks Great Britain
may be induced to abandon her
exclusive claim to the navigation
>f that river.]
Our dopressed commerce is a
uibject to which I called your spe
;ial attention at the last session,
ind suggested that wo will in the
future have to look more to the
countries South of us, and to China
ind Japan for its revival. Our
eprcscntatives to all theso Governments
have exerted their in
luence to encourage trade between
he United States and the countries
o which they arc acceded ; but the
'act is that the carrying is done alnost
entirely in foreign bottoms,
ind while this state of affairs exsts,
we cannot control our due
diare of the commerce of the world.
Flint between the Pacific States
uid China and Japan is about all
?he carrying trade now conducted
n American vessels. 1 would re
:ommcnd a liberal policy* toward
hat lino of American steamers?
>ne that will insure its success, and
jven increased usefulness. The
;ost of building iron vessels, the
mly ones that can compote with
urcign ships in the carrying trade,
s 6o much greater in the United
states than in foreign countries
hat, without some assistance from
ho Government, they cannot bo
incccssfnlly built here. There will
>e several pro|K>sitiou8 laid before
Jongressjin the course ot tlie pres>nt
session, looking to a remedy
or this evil. Even if it should be
tt some cost to the national treas
irj-, I hope such encouragement
vill be given as will secure Aniercan
shipping on the high sous, and
>hip building at home.
The condition of the archives at
ho Department of State, calls tor
lift ?nrlv notion nt" TI.a
pudding now runted by that Department
is a frail structure at an
nconvenient distance from the Executive
Mansion, and from the
>ther Departments; it is ill adapted
to the purpose tor which it is
ised ; has not the capacity to ac
commodate the archives, and is not
ire proof. Its remote situation, its
lender construction, and the ab
ence of a supply of water in the
neighborhood, leaves hut little
?opo of safety, tor either the buildng
or its eontents, in case ot the
iccident ot a fire. Its destruction
>vou!d involve the loss oftho rolls
containing tho original Acts and
.vesoiuuons ot uongress; ot tho
ilat'vric records of the IteyoM'ion,
ind of the Confederation ; of tho
rhole series of diplomatic-ana connlar
archives sines tho adoption
f the Constitution, and of the
many other valuable records and
papers left with that Department
when it was the principal depoeitory
of tho governmental archives
I recommend an appropriation for
the construction of* a building for
tho Department of State. I recommend
to your consideration tho
propriety ot transferring to the 1
Department of the Interior, to
which they seein more appropi iatc- <
I ly to belong, all powers and duties
I ill relation to the Territories, with
which the Department ot State is
now charged by law or usage; and 1
from the Interior Department, to 1
the War Department of the Pen- <
sion Bureau, so far as it regulates
tho payment of soldiers' pensions. <
I WOlllll rortninmotid
_ - ? . w.?wi vv^'iiiiii?iim m?v
the payment of naval pensions be i
transferred to one of the Bureaus
of the NftVv Department. i
The estimates for the expenses 1
ot tho Government for the next
fiscal year are $18,244,340.01 less
than for the current one, but exceed
the appropriations for the
prsscnt year for tho same items
$8,972,127.56. In this estimate,
however, is included $22,838,278.37
for public works heretofore begun
under Congressional provision,
and of which only so much is askI
nrl oo * ~ ?"
VV. ? vAyn^itoo lllrt) UllUUbU m give.
The appropriation for tho same
works tor tlie present fiscal year
was $11,984,518.08. The average
value of gold as compared with
national curroncy tor the whole
year of 1869 was about 134, and
for eleven months of 1870 the same
relative value has been about 115.
The approach to a specie basis
is very gratifying, but the tact cannot
l>e denied that the instability
of the value of our currency is prejudicial
to our prosperity, and tends
to keep tin prices, to the detriment
of trade. The evils of a depreciated
and fluctuating currency are
so great that now, when tho premium
on gold has fallen so mnc'i,
it would seem that the time has arrived
when, by wise and prudent
legis'ution, Congress should look
to a policy wliicli would place our
currency at )>ar with gold, at no
distant day.
The tax collected from the people
has been reduced more than
$80,000,000 per annum. Bv stead
I incss in our present course, tliero
is no reason why, in a few short
years, the national tax gathorcrs
may not disappear from the door
of the citizen almost entirely. With
the revenue stamps dispensed by
]x>6tmusters in every community^
a tax upon liquors of all sorts, and
tobacco in all its forms, and by a
wise adjustment of the tariff, which i
will put a duty only upon those articles
which we cannot dispense
with, known ns luxuries, and on
those which we use more of than <
we produce, revenue enough may
be raised, after a few years of peaee, <
and a consequent reduction of our i
indebtedness, to fulfill all our ob i
ligations. A further reduction of ex- i
penses in addition to a reduction of i
the interest account majr be relied <
on to inake this a practicable rev- i
cnue reform. If it means this, it i
has my hearty support. If it iin- <
plies a collection of all the revenue i
for the support of government, for I
the payment of principal and in- i
tcrost of the public debt, pensions, i
&c., by directly taxing the people,
then I min apttinat revenue reform,
and confidently believe the people
are with me. If it means a failure i
to provide the necessary means to
defray all the expenses of the gov- <
ernmout, and thereby repudiation I
of the public debt and pensions, 1
then I um still more opposed to <
aiirli Irliwl />! i-owonun
M.MV VI Vf VIIIIV > V1VI 111 iVC** I
en uo reform lias not l>eon defined
by any of its advocates, to my
knowledge, but scerris to bo accepted
as something which is to supply
every man's wants, without any
cost or eilort on his part. A true
revenue reform cannot bo made in
a day, but must bo the work of national
legislation and of time. As
soon as the revenno can be dispensed
with, all duty should be romoved
from cofieo, lea, and other
articles of uuivorsal use not produced
by ourselves. The necessities
of the country compel us to collect
revemio from our nnpoits. An
army of assessors and collectors is
not a pleasant siulit to the citizen,
but that or a tariff tor revenue is
necessary. Such a tariff, so far as
it acts as an encouragement to
home production, affords employment
to labor at living wairos. in '
contrast-to tlio pauper labor of the I
old world, and also in the development
of home resources.
Under the Act of Congress, of
15th day of July, 1870, the army
has gradually boon reduced, so
that* on the 1st day of January,
1871, the number of commissioned
officers and men will not exceed
the number contemplated by that
law.
The War Department building
is an old structure, not fire proof, 1
and entirely inadequate in dnnen- <
s ons to present wants. Many i
thousands of dollars are now paid
annually for rent of private buildings
to accommodate the various
Bureaus of the Department. I
recommend an appropriation for
another War Department building,
suited to the present and growing
wants of the nation. Tl?c report
of the Secretary of War shows a
very satisfactory reduction in the
expenses of the army for the last
fiscal year ; for details yon are rofnrrort
tr? l?5o o nunm ?-? ???* ? >
w ?v m ?u> HVV.VIII | ran J ! >? I U* |
port. Expenses of the navy for
the whole of the last year, that is,
from December 1st, 18G9, the date
lit the last report, are less than
19,000,000 dollars, or about 1,000,000
dollars lees than they wore the
previous year. The expenses since
tho commencement of this fiscal
year, that is, since January 1st,
bIiow for the five months a decrease
of over 2,400,T)00 dollars
fiorn thoso ot tho corresponding
months of last year. The estimates
for tho current year were 23,205,071.37
dollars, those for next year
are 20,033,317.00 dollars, with
955,100.00 dollars additional tor
necessary permanent improve
ments. Theie estimates nre made
closely, for the' inCro maintenance
of the naval establishment, as it
now is, without much in the nature
of permanent improvement. Tho
appropriations mauc lor the last
aiiaffcorrent years were evidently
intended by Congress sufficient only
to keep the navy on its present
footing. I3y the repairing and re
fitting of our old ships, this footing
inu?t, ot course, gradually but
surely dostroy the navy, and it is
in itself tar from economical, as
each year that it is pursued, the
uocessity for repairs in ships and
navy yards becomes more imperative
and more costly, and our current
expenses are annually increased
for the more repair of ships,
many ot which must soon be como
unsafe and useless. 1 hope during
the present session of Congress to
l>e able to submit a plan by which
naval vessels can bo built and repairs
made with great saving upon
the present cost. It can hardly
be wise statesmanship in a government
wliieli ronrosnnto a fnnn.
- -; j l ? w"""
try with over 5,000 miles of coast
line on both oceans, exclusive of
Alaska, and containing 40,000,000
of progressive people, with relations
of every nature with almost
every foreign country, to rest with
such inadequate means ol enforcing
any foreign policy, either of
protection or redress. Separated
by the ocean from tho nations of
the Eastern Continent, our navies
arc our only means of direct protection
to our citizens abroad, and
tor the enforcement of any foreign
policy. The accompanying report
of tho Postmaster General shows a
most satisfactory working of that
department, with the adoption of
recommendations contained there
in, particulajly those relating to a
reform in the franking privilege,
i a j ? a ? - /*i - ?
tiuu mo auopuonoi die correspond21
ice cards, a self sustaining postal
jystem may sneedily be looked for
no distant day, and a further refaction
of the rate of postago be
attained. I recommend authoriza
tion by Congress to the Postmaster
General and Attorney General
to issue all commissions to otlicials,
appointed through their respective
departments. At present these
oouiiursions, whose appointments
are presidential,arc issued by State
Deportment. The law in all the
departments of governtfient, except
those f- the post office and of justice,
authorizes each to issue its
own commissions, always favoring
practical reforms. I respectfully
call your attention to one abuse of
long standing which I would like
[(i Knn t*<>nto.di(>d hv tliin flinnrAca
[t is a reform in the civil service of
the country. I would have it go
beyond the mere fixing of the tenure
of ofticeof clerks and employees
who do not require the advice and
consent of the Senate to make their
Appointments complete. I would
have it govern not the tenure, hut
the manner of making all appointments.
There is no duty, which so
much embarrasses the Executive
and heads of departments, as that
of appointments, nor is there any
such arduous, and thankless lal?or
imtiosed on Senators and Kepresen
ta'ivos, as that of finding places for
constituents. The present system
does not secure the be6t men, and
often not fit men for public places.
The elevation and purification of
the civil service of the Government,
will tie hailed with approval by tlie
whole poople of the United Statos.
Reform in the management of Indian
affairs has"Vecaived the espc
r*lal attention ot the administration,
from its inauguration to the present
riay. The experiment of making
it a missionary work was tried with
a tew agencies, given to the denomination
ot Frieiuk, and has been
found to work most advantageousLAR
agencies and anperintencies
not so disposed of wero given
to officers of th? army. 'lite act
of Congress reducing the army,
renders army ifficcrs ineligible for
civil positions. Indian agencies,
being civil offices, I determined to
give (ill tbe agencies to sncb roli,gi'?us
denominations as had estab'
? - * 1
lont.u unnoiuinvi ics among ciio Indians,
and perhaps, to some other
denominations, who wonl.1 under
take the work on the same terms ;
that is as il missionary work. The
society selected are allowed to
namo their own agents, subject
to the approval of the oxocutive,
and are expected to watch over
them, and aid them as missionaries,
to christianize, and civilize the In
dian, and to train him in arts of
j>eace. The Government watches
over the official acts of these agents,
and requires of them as strict an
accountability as if they were ap
pointed in any other manner. I
entertain the confident hope, that
the policy now pursued will, in a
few years, bring all the Indiaus
upon reservations, whore they will
live in houses, and have school
houses, and churches, and will be
pursuing peaceful and 6clf sustaining
avocations, and where they
may be visited by the law-abiding
wiitfrs tnon u'Jfli fI?? *
......v mm uiu eaiiiu impunity
that he now visits the civilized
white settlements. 1 call your ape
cial attention to the rejnirt of the
Commissioner of Indian Ati'airs,
for full information on this subject.
During the last fiscal year, 8,095,413
acres of public lands wcro
disposed of. Of lbi6 quantity, 8,698,915
acres were taken under
the homestead law, and 2,159,515
acres sold for cash. The remainder
was located with military warrants,
college, or Indian ecrip, or
applied in satisfaction of grant6 of
railroads, or for other public uses.
The entries under the homestead
law during the last year, covered
961,545 acres more than during
the preceding year. Surveys have
been vigorously prosecuted to the
full extent of the means applicable
to the purpose. The quantity
) of land in market will amply sup
ply the present demand. The
claim of the settler under the homestead,
or tho pre-emption laws,
is not, however, limited to land
subject to sale at privato cntrv;
any appropriated surveyed public
land may, to a limited amount, be
acquired under the former laws if
the party entitled to enter under
them will comply with the requirements
they prescribe in regard to
the residence and cultivation.?
The actual settler's preference, in
the right of purchase, is even
broader, and extends to lands
which wcra unsurreyed at the
time of hie sCtllmcnt; his rights
were formerly Confined within
much narrow limits, and at ono
period of our history, were confirmed
only by special statutes.?
They were enacted from timo to
time to legalize what was then regarded
as an unauthorized intrusion
u|x>n the national domain.?
The opinion, that the public lands
shoula be regarded chiefly as a
6ourco of revenue, is no longer
maintained. The rapid settlement,
and the successful cultivation of
them, is now justly considered of
more importance to our well being,
than i? ;!*e fund which the sale of
them would produce. The remarkable
growth and prosperity of our
new States and Territories attest
the wisdom of the legislation which
invites the tiller of the soil to secure
a permanent home, on terms
within tko reach of all. The pioneer
who incurs the dungers and
privations of a frontier life, and
thus aids in laying the foundation
of a new commonwealth.
renders a signal service to bis
country, and is entitled to its
special favor and protection.?
These laws secure that object, and
largely promote the general welfare
They should, there fore, l>e
cherised as a permanent future of
our land system. Good faith requires
us to give full effect to existing
grants. The time honored
and beneficent jntlicy, of setting
apart curtain portions of public
lands for educational purposes, in
the new States, should be continued.
When ample provision shall
have been made for these objects,
I submit, as a question worthy of
serious consideration, whether the
residue of our national domuin
should not l>e wholly disposed of
under the provisions of the homestead
and preemption laws.
In addition to the swainp and
overflowed lands granted to the
States in which they are situated,
the lands taken under the Agricultural
College Acts, and for internal
improvement purposes, tinder
the Act of September, 1?41, and
the Acts supplemental thereto,
there bad been conveyed up to the
oliiau >>4' tin. fispnl rna> Ku tin. t'.ot
ont or other equivalent evidence
of title, to Stated, and corpora
lions, 27,836,257,03 100 acres for
railways, canals, and wagon road*.
It is estimated that an additonal
quantity of 174,735.523 acres is
still duo, under grants for liko
uses. The policy of thus aiding
the States in building works of intemal
improvement was inaugurated
more than forty yoars since,
in the grants to Indiana and Illi-?
nois, to aid those States in oponing
canals to connect the waters of
the Wabash, with those of Lake
i\.no, ana me waters ot the Illinois,
with those of Lake Michigan.
It was followod with some modifications
in the grant to Illinois, of
alternate sections of public land
within certain limits 01 the Illinois
Central Railway.
Fourteen States and snndry corporations
have received similar
subsidies in connection with railways
completed, or in process of
construction. As the reserved sections
are rated at the double minimum,
the sale of them at the enhance
1 price has thus, in many
instances, indemnified the treasury
for granted lands. Tho construction
of some of these thor.
ouglifarej has undoubtedly given a
vigorous impulse to tho development
of our resources, and tho settlement
ui tho moro distant portions
of the country. It may,
however, be well insisted that
much of our legislation in
this regard has been characterized
by indiscriminate and profuse liberality.
The United States should
not loan their credit in aid of any
enterprise undertaken by States
or corporations, nor grant lands
l?i inctdnmi nnlnac flm
... M.* ? MlUlUUVVf UM1VOO %IIO ptVJOWVcd
work is of acknowledged national
enterprise.
I am strongly inclined to the
opinion that it is inexpedient and
unnecessary to bctow subsidies of
either description, but should Congress
determine otborwise, I earnestly
recommend that tho rights
of settlers and of the public bo
more effectually secured and protected
by appropriate legislation.
During the year ending September
30, 1870, thero were filed
in the Patent Office 10,411 applications
for patents ; 3,374 caveats.
of Agriculture, nor urge too strongly such
liberal Legislation, ae to secure their eflleiency.
In conclusion, 1 would turn up tha
poliey of (he administration to he a thorough
enforcement of every law, a faithful collection
of every Ux provided for, economy in
the disbursement of the saino, a prompt pay.
ment of every debt of tb? nation, a reduction
of taxes aa rapidly as the requirement#
of the oountry will admit. The reductions
of tstat ion and tariff, to be so arranged, as
to afford the greatest relief, fo the greatest
number; boneet and fair dealing, with all
other people# to the end, that with all ita
blighting eon-'-quance# tnay he avoided, but
without surrendering any right, or obligation
due to n*. A reform in the treatment
of Indians, and in the whole civil tervioe of
the country, and finally,in securing a pure,
untrsmmellci hal'o?, where every msn entitled
to ca t a vote, n?^y do ?o juat once at
raeh election, without fear of molestation,
or proscription on acoount of hta politics!
faith, maluiliy, or color.
(Signed) !J. 8. GRANT.
F.Kirrt Tiv* MaxM< w, Peeemher 8, 1870.
and 100 applications for tho extension
of patents. 13,022 patents,
including reissues and designs,
were issued ; 110 oxtended,
and 1,089 allowed but uot issued,
by reason of the non-payment of
tho final foes. The receipts of the
ofiiee during tho liscal year were
$136,304.29 iu excess of it* expenditures.
Tho work of the Census Bureau
has been energetically prosecuted.
The preliminary report,
containing much information of
special value and interest, will be
ready for delivery during tho
present session. The remaining
volumes will be completed witli
all the dispatch consistent with
perfect accuracy in arranging, and
classifying tho returns. \Vo 6hall
thus, at no distant day, be furnished
with an authentic record of our
condition and resources. It will,
11 doubt not, attest \ the growing
' prosperity of the country, althoub,
during the decade which has [just
oloaed, It was so severely tried by the great
war, waged to maintain its Integrity and to
aecure, end perpetuate our free its iluilone.
During the la?l fiscal year, the turn paid to
pensioners, including the eoat of disbursem?nt,
war f 27,780.811 11, and 1,768 bounty
land wnrranta, were isau id. At ita close,
It8,rt86 names were on the pension rolls.
The labors of the pension oflfioe, have been
directed, to the sevcro ecrutlny of the evidence
submitted in favor of new claims. and
to the discovery of fictitious claims, which
have he< n heretofore allowed. The approI
priation for the employment of apeeial agent,
for the Investigation of franda, fiaa been judiciously
uaal, and the results obtained,
have been of unquestionable benefit to the
aerviee. The eubjveta of eduoation and agriculture,
are of great interest to the succese
of our Republican institutions, happio
iiwi and grandeur, as a nation. In the interest
of one. a Bureau haa been established
in the Interior Department : the Bureau of
Eduoation ; and in the interest of the other,
a separate department, that of agriculture.
I believe great g-ncral good is to follow
from the operations of both these Bureaus,
if properly fostered. J cannot oommend to
j oar careful consideration loo highly the raports
of the Oommisitlonera tif