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yield five hundred and twenty millions of dollars to the Treasury! Add New Mexico, say 500 miles in length and 200 in width, the area will be 100,000 square miles, or 64,000,000 acres; and California, 600 miles long and 300 wide, will amount to 180,000 square miles, or 115,000,000 acres ;-both together about 180,000,000. Suppose the whole population of the United States, 20,000,000, were destitute of land, the government could supply each man, woman and child, white and black, with sixty acres of the public domain. Reduced into families of five persons, the share would be 300 acres to each head of a family,-enough, with diligent cultivation, to produce ample support. This, however, is a mere speculative view, without any disposition to favor a grant on such a scale; yet we believe that the more liberally government acts in behalf of settlers, the happiness of the people and the prosperity of the Republic will be increased. It may be urged against too free a use of the public lands, that they should be retained for emergencies, so that the government may establish a sufficient credit on this security, should occasion require a loan, especially if revenue from imports be cut off by war with European powers. This necessity can never arise. In case of war the people will cheerfully submit to taxation in any form to sustain our flag; and such are the admitted resources of the country, and willingness to contribute, that government bonds will be at par value in all parts of the world.

Besides, the sooner government can dispose of its lands, the better for all parties. So long as they remain a subject of political discussion, the public mind will be influenced by appeals alike unworthy a high standard of statesmanship, or of an intelligent constituency. It is right that every man who desires, should have a domicil; --and we go farther in public policy,-that domicil, with acres enough for industry to live upon, should be inalienable. The best hold government can have upon the affections of the citizen, is reciprocity of interest; the one rewarding with kindness the sacrifices which the public service may at any time demand, and the other performing with alacrity, because, if disabled or slain, provision will be made for his relief, or those dear to him. In this spirit of mutual obligation, the Republic has its safest guaranty.

PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS.-The Commissioner advises a course toward actual settlers in which we fully concur,-the law to be so modified as to embrace every family who may in good faith seek a home on the public lands, whether surveyed or not, provided the Indian title has been extinguished. We cannot find better expression than the reasoning of the Report, p. 29: ·

A policy thus liberal towards a very large class of our fellow-citizens cannot fail to produce the most beneficial results. It will facilitate the settlement and improvement of the frontier portions of the country, raise up a hardy race of backwoodsmen for its protection against the encroachments of our Mexican and Indian neighbors, afford them the means of improving their condition in many respects, and, above all, to educate their children, and will impress those patriotic frontiersmen with deeper feelings of regard for their government, when they find that they are no longer in danger of losing their hard-earned improvements, by being brought into competition with a more wealthy class of citizens at the land sales."

GRADUATION OF PRICE.-The views of the Commissioner on this head are sound and expedient, viz: that the refuse lands, for many years culled over, should be reduced in price so as to find sale, thereby aiding the treasury, and relieving it proportionably from interest on loans; and also to enable the states within which the lands lie, to impose the necessary tax to which other lands are subject, after five years, from sale.

WAR BOUNTIES.-Any objection to grants of land to the soldiers who fought our battles, should rest for validity on some ground other than loss of revenue. With a national domain exceeding ten hundred millions of acres, the quantity, even a section to each man, would be a trifle. Say that 40,000 soldiers were in Mexico at different stages of the war, all entitled to 160 acres, the aggregate would be only 6,400,000 acres,-scarcely to be felt in the administration of this interest. If allowed half a section, (320 acres,) the result would be twice, and if a section, (640 acres,) four times the quantity,-total, 25,600,000 acres. This may appear extravagant, and, compared with former legislation, is somewhat startling. If soldiers would settle upon their bounty lands, and thereby reap the full benefit, we should defend the liberality we have suggested; but as nine-tenths barter off their scrip for a trifle, from 25 to 40 cents per acre, merely serving as prey to speculators without any solid advantage to themselves, we cannot justly advocate such an appropriation by Congress. A direct pecuniary grant, which shall produce to the holder par value in any market, is preferable, and government stock would be laudably issued for this object.

The bounty lands granted by Congress to soldiers of the Revolution, and the war of 1812, in lieu of money, amounted in the aggregate to 9,750,000 acres.

MINERAL LANDS.-The report includes much information from Lake Superior, and from Wisconsin and Iowa, respecting ores on the public lands. Dr. Jackson, a learned geologist, has explored the Lake region with a sufficient corps, and in summing up his discoveries, says:

"We certainly have the most wonderful veins of native metals there that have ever been seen in the world.

*

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"With regard to the government, it will certainly be considered a liberal and enlightened policy to explore each new region, and to lay before the public a true account of what may be expected in the rocks and soil. The settlement of the country by emigration from more populous districts, and from Europe, will be the necessary result, and an active business will be created along the line of our great lakes, communicating with our mineral lands. Mining will cause a settlement of that district by our active population of miners, mechanics and farmers, when, if only agricultural lands were sought for, no one would think of going to the shores of Lake Superior, while so many fertile lauds offer their attractions elsewhere."

Dr. Owen, U. S. Geologist for Wisconsin and Iowa, furnished an interesting narrative of his labors, from which we should be glad to extract passages, if the limits of this article were not already too ex-tended.

Art. III. THE AMERICAN INDIANS.*

THE government observes a policy which secures the highest good to the Indians, holding stocks, and applying the interest as stipulated by treaty. In many instances the purpose is declared, say for orphans, education, afflicted persons, &c. We have prepared a table, showing the amount of stocks and annual interest for the several tribes sustaining this relation.

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In addition, the government pays interest of five per cent. annually, on the following sums, in lieu of investing the same in stocks:

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We have seen no estimate of the number of each tribe in the ter

*Concluded from p. 274. Vol. V.

ritory west of the Mississippi, but the entire Indian population, east of the Rocky Mountains, is supposed to be about 300,000. As the census is never taken, conjecture is resorted to, aided by such verbal reports as can be drawn from the chiefs and head men.

The Commissioner has submitted the agency reports, from which In regard to the Indians in Michigan, the sub-agent at Sault St. Marie, says:

we extract.

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They have raised abundant crops of potatoes; it is said they will have a large quantity for sale. With their oxen, of which they (at the Ance Kewewena) have two yokes, they have done much towards clearing spots of gardens. Their stock of cows and hogs have increased considerably. The means of supply and comforts which these Indians possess, and are seeking to augment, have been promoted by the exertions of the missionaries and the government operatives who are with them, and who have been active in preventing the introduction of whiskey at the Ance."

Referring to another town, the report continues:

"They appear anxious to put up houses for themselves, and the logs and barks for several have been got out; they have been, however, unable to get plank and nails to complete them.

"This Sault band have sold not less than 400 barrels of fish: last spring they made about 8,000 pounds of maple sugar. The turnips, pump. kins, and corn gathered this fall, have been as abundant as at any pre. vious season."

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The Chippewas in Wisconsin are thus represented:

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They plant to thrice the extent, and are yearly increasing the amount; and men who, four years ago, would have considered it a lasting disgrace to perform any kind of agricultural labor, now lay hold manfully and consider it highly honorable. They are fast abandoning the principle of a community of property, and each man begins to feel that his business is to provide for his own family, and to make provision in time. They have abandoned, to a considerable extent, the ceremonies and practice of their heathen worship and heathen creed; and, although they may practice it, acknowledge the truth and superiority of the white man's religion. Many of them have adopted, in whole or in part, the dress of civilized men, and live, so far as their circumstances will admit, in a civilized manner."

The Agent at Fort Leavenworth reports:

"The Kansas, Shawnees, Delawares, Kickapoos, Stockbridge, Munsee and Christian Indians, are the tribes that are placed under my care, all of whom, except the Kansas, are doing well, and becoming more and more civilized, and better agriculturists every year. This year they have raised an abundance of corn to do them-many of them will have to spare; some have already sold considerable lots of corn; many of them raise oats and some wheat, and all raise vegetables of various kinds,— pumpkins, cabbages, potatoes, &c., &c.

"These tribes send many of their children to school. There are two manual labor and one common school among the Shawnees, one common school among the Delawares, and one among the Christian Indians, and, until lately, one among the Stockbridges. At the Methodist manual la

bor school among the Shawnees, this year there are 125 scholars: 78 males and 47 females; of this number, the Delawares furnish 19 males and 19 females; the Shawnees furnish 21 males and 9 females; the balance of the number is made up from various other tribes. At this institution they are endeavoring to give males and females, at least a common English education. The males are taught the various branches of agriculture; some of them are placed under mechanics, to learn trades, such as wagon-makers, blacksmiths, and shoemakers. The females are taught all the duties of housewifery, cooking and spinning, weaving, knitting, &e."

From the Upper Missouri Agency, we have the following:

"The Indians are in good health and doing unusually well. Their resources amounted to $300,000 for the last season, which may be estimated as follows:

75,000 buffalo robes, at $3,00 per robe,.

Furs, peltries, &c.....

Miscellaneous trade,..

The aggregate of which is as above stated..

$225,000

35.000

40,000

$300,000

And would be amply sufficient to supply all the wants of the Indians, but for the extravagant prices of goods, which are unreasonably high, and should be cur

tailed."

The report states

"There are nine tribes in the agency, and they may be estimated as follows:

The Sioux number 2,520 lodges, containing 19,660 souls

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Total number of lodges, 5,587, which would be a fraction of over eight souls to the lodge.

"The Sioux, Chayennes, Gros Ventres, Mandans, and Poncas are excellent Indians, devotedly attached to the white man, and live in peace and friendship with our government; and they are entitled to the special favor and good opinion of the Department for their uniform good conduct and pacific relations."

The officer in charge of the Wyandott Agency, remarks:

"Few, if any of the North American tribes have advanced as far towards the much desired goal than have the Wyandotts; they can boast many men of acquirements and letters. The arts and sciences find their votaries among this people. The spirit of improvement is abroad and amongst them. Many have, during the past season, erected comfortable houses, extended their fields, and purchased oxen and horses to carry on their farming operations. The fertility of the soil of the tract of country on which the Wyandotts are settled, and the skill with which many of them cultivate it, were referred to in my last annual report. The circumstan

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