The New York Herald Newspaper, December 6, 1854, Page 2

\ SS sc SS SSS a SS THE NATIONAL DOMAIN. Annual Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Ofiice. Grecmnat Lax Ornon, Nov. 20, 3854. Smm—I have the honor to submit pes seers of the operations of this office for the fiscal year ending | 30th June. 1854, and for the third quarter of the current calendar year. From tie JOth of September, 1853, to the,30th of Sep- tember, 1854, 9,334,464 acres were surveyed, chi in Wisconsin, ows, Minnesota and Florida, and 8,190,017 acres were brought into market. This is exclusive of the surveys in California, nm and Weshiagtoa, amounting to 1,686,471 acres, which have not yet been proclaimed for sale, for the freason that those’ in Cali- fornia could not be disposed of till the private claims and pre-emptions in that State had been adjusted; and no pcriaen was made by law for the ry sale of | lands in Oregon and bington, fill the last session of | Congress. As Soon as it can be done with a due regard to outstanding claims, these lands will be brought into | market in the same manner as those east of the Rocky | mountains. During the fiscal year ending the 30th June last, there were sold for cash. . Located with military warrants, Acres. 7,035,735 07 3)402,620 00 Located with other certificates.. 14,182 26 10,452,537 33 1,033,813 53 | + 1,751,962 19 | Making an aggregate o = 23,238,313 06 For the quarter ending the 30th Septem- ber, 1804, there were sold for cash, (es- timated). oe 2,894,306 00 Located wit 388,360 00 Making total of...c.02..c0<0 8,282,060 00 Reported under swamp land gran 1,496,962 57 | Maxing an aggregate of...........seeee04+ 4,779,628 57 ‘This shows an increase in sales for the last fiscal year over the preceding, of........ 5,968,239 86 And although the aggregate disposed of was less than | that of the preceding year by over 2,000,000 of acres, | the difference caused by the fuct that ‘the most of t grants for bounty lands, awamps, railroads, &e., had pevoualy been disposed of, the sales for the thin! quar- «of the current calendar year are more than twice as heavy as those for the corresponding quarter of the pre- Moun year, though the locations are less numerous, for pimilar reasons to those above given. During the vear ending 30th september last, 120,784 patents, under the various laws, were written, exclusive bt swamp land grants, and 111,158 were recorded, occu- pyinging 224 folio volumes; 429 manuscript patents were | nl-o wri'ten and recorded, covering 851 pages or nearly | 5 two folio volumes: — Of certificates of purchase there were | posted, Declaratory statement: 806, Land warrant locations. 50,324 | Selections for internal improvements 13,473 ] Swamp land selections....... aay, 30% | Equal to... .....++ sceverecseee 281,244 tracts ‘The following accounts were also adjusted, to wit:— Of receivers of public money a 486 Of disbursing agents... 402 Of refunding accounts 508 Of Surveyors General and Deputy Surveyors 333 Of publishers of newspapers...... 666-04 277 MARA 1. fie 2iose fa te Oe ae ae accounts, and occupying four iange’ folio volume of records. 125 lista of swamp land selections, covering 2,920 pages, and four lists railroad land selections, covering 348 pages, have been received and acted upon. 508 Virginia bounty land claims, filed for the issue of scrip under the act of August 31, 1852, have been ex- amined, of which 373 were allowed, 62 rejected, 73 sus- pended: 4,045 pieces of scrip were issued, amounting to 292,195 acres, and 190 claims were filed, calling for 90,342 acres. Two thousand eight hundred and six pre-emption claims, under the several laws, have been examined and settled, and the voluminous correspondeice connected therewith promptly attended to. nty-six thousand six hundred and seventeen let- ve been received and registered, the registry cov- 1g 3,659 pages, or seven volumes. of large folio record; and 24,279 letters were written, filling 1,473 pages, or thirty-one volumes of record. Six thousand six hundred and eighty-four packages, exclusive of letters, have been transmitted, and the seal ‘of the office attached to 51,000 patented copies, &. It will thus be perecived that, on an average, full one- third more business has been done in the office during the'past year than in the year preceding; and although more assistance has been furnixhed tor part of the cur- rent year than formerly, the gentlemen in the office, heads of divisions and others, who cordially co-operated in pressing on this labor, are entitled to high commenda- ion. The unusually large number of patents prepared, and the office Waninote connected Rherewith, Since the amount of labor performed in the Recorder’s divi- sion. ‘The onerous and responsible duties of the chief clerk have been faithfully and efficiently discharged, and the internal police of the office fully sustained. The principal elerk of private land claims has also been actively employed in the difficult and complicated | | division. | and it is highly important that measures should be | promptly adopted tor perfecting them, not, duty was devolved on the Registers and Receivers of the Land offices. =i that the selections should where the States were willing to accept that basis, bul where they were not, aud claimed other lands in addi- ‘tion to ‘hose shown by the field or descriptive notes to be embraced by the law, that the lands so claimed should also be certified to the States, on satisfactory evidence that they were of the character More than four years have ela} are not yet completed In the mea: tries and locatious were made of lands eo claimed by the States, and in many eases of this kind, where these claims have been contested, it been found that the lands were not embraced by the swamp w; and consequently the sales or locations were con- firmed, the claim on the part of the States having origi- nated in the ignorance or carelessmess of some of their agents. As the matter now stands, however, it is im- possible to issue patents for ‘and locations, with any safety, till the final return of the swamp selections have been made, returned, and posted. The parties who claim these patents complain, and with good reason, of this withholding of the evidences af their titles, and the extent of the evil may be judged of from the fact that, by careful estimates, it appears there are now in this office sbout one hundred and twenty-four thousand pa- tents written and not transmitted. To remedy this evil, 1 iespectiully recommend that | authority be given for the issue of these patents, and | that provision be made by law that the purchase money | for i$ such lands be paid over to the States, and that they be authorized to select others in lieu of these located with scrip, land warrants, &c.,on due roof by the authorized agents of the States, that such lands were of the character embraced by the swamp Jand act of 1850. Further experience in examining the Virginia revolu- tionary bounty land claims, filed tor scrip under the act of August, 1852, has fully evinced the difficulty in riving ata satisfactory conclusion in many of the: cases. In view, however, of the liberal construction given to the act of 3ist August, 1852, by your decision and the opinion of the Attorney General, rendered since the recommendation in my report of last year, I am clearly of opinion that every claim can be satisfied that should be allowed, and hence that further legislation on this subject is unnecesxary, if not inexpedient. None can entertain a higher estimate than is held by this of. i E ime, numerous en- tention of Congress is again respectfully called e imperfect condition of part of the records of this These records are the only evidence of title to numerous bodies of land in Ohio, patented prior to 1834, every year’ delay increases the difficulty in accomplishing that ob- ject. In connection with this subject, itis suggested that a | number of “entries,” as they are termed of Virginia revolutionary warrants, were made in the military dis- tricts in Ohio, for which no surveys have been executed or patents issued, owidg to the neglect of the owners, many of whom, or their letrs or assigns, now occupy | those lands. The act of 20th February, 1850, expired on the lat of January, 1852, and since that time no surveys could be executed ‘ofany of these “entries,” however meritorious. To close this whole matter, it is respect- | fully recommended that authority be given to consum- mate all cases of this character; and that the balance of the pubhc land, amounting, if is estimated, to about 60,000 acres, be donated to the State for school pur. poses. s This recommendation is made in view of the fact that the lands are mere interstitial slips, of irregular shapes, nerally excluded from the adjoining surveys, it in be lieved, because they were considered of little or no valu and further, that it would, in all probability, cost the ernment more to hunt up, survey, sell, and issue tents for them, than would be realized from the lands. it is important, however, in finally disposing of these tracts, either by the federal or State government, that provision be made giving a preference in the pure! of them to adjacent proprietors at a given price and fora fixed time. This suggestion is made to prevent conflict of boundaries and the litigation that will necessarily grow out of it in surveying these lands, as it will be necessary for this purpose to retrace old boundaries of irregular figures, the marks and monuments of many of which 1t is probable have been entirely effaced by time or acci- dent. In fact, it would seem to be necessary in this case to introduce something of the old Maryland system of surveys, to take up vacancies or re-surveys to include vacancies, In view of the increase of business consequent on the operations of the law graduating the price of the public lands, and the decrease in the compensation of the land offices, caused by that reduction, it would seem to be just that some provision be made to recompense them Yor their labor. The measure of compensation hereto- fore allowed should therefore be continued, that is, one per cent, where fees are allowed, estimating all the lands at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, with the re- striction that they should not exceed six hundred and twenty-five dollars for any one quarter, nor twenty-five title in each case. The wor! pensive, but little in comparison to the good that will flow from it hereafter, in rendering certain those old titles, and infinitely less when compared with the value office is recommended indispensably neces- SEsc pect ete ae ae ate, fat, imerciant. @ arising in The Surv General of Arkansas, it will be 7 ceived, is from the Dusiness of his district of fra surveying that was executed many years nire correction, or the resurvey of ‘of land. t The prevalence of in Louisiana during the season has mat interfered with field opera- tions in that State, which very satis- factory has been made im the dificult and com- plicated duties of the district, inel the adjustment of the swamp land grant, which has been nearly com: pleted. In Florida the surveys have been closed on the line between that State and Alabama, and are being made for extending the surveys over the neutral ground sur- rounding the reservation heretofore made for the Semi- noles, and also over part of that reserqation including the lands adjacent to the Kissimmee river and Lake Okeechobee, which are represented as among the finset in Florida. It will be remembered that the appropriations for sur- veying the keys on the coast of Florida and the islands off the coast of California, have been ced under the direction of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey. By this judicious arrangement, but little expense is incurred beyond that incurred for the coast survey purposes; | wiliereas, if these islands and keys were surveyed in the usual manner, in connection with the ordinary land sur- veys, the expense would be very heavy. Wherever prac- ticable the Coast Survey has surve necessary boundaries to divide these islands and keys into tracts of suitable size for sale, and where, from nature of the und, this could not be done, posts or corners have Keen established which cam easily be connected by produce this result. straight lines, so as to ry considerable por- Plats of this work, presage 8 tion of it, and of a character highly’ satisfactory, have already been placed at the Giapeeal: of this office, and others are expected at an early day. Advices have alyo been received, itt work vigioag coast of California is gressing as rapidly as possible. Pigpecial attention 18 requested to the report of the Sur- veyor General of California, and it is earnestly suggested that the most stringent measures be adopted to prevent the outrages mentioned by him. If the Surveyor Gene- ral cannot be sustained in the discharge of his duties, or the marks and monument of the UnitedStates surveys can be obliterated with impunity, the extension of system over the regions of country where auch offences aie committed, ia worse than useless. The report of the Surveyor General of Oregon has not yet been received, but is expected in time to be laid be- fore Congress early in the session. At the last session of Congress, action was had on sev- eral subjects that had been brought to the attention of that body, but there are others which require action, and which’l beg leave to present for consideration. ‘The necessity has heretofore been presented of author- izing the Department, under the direction of the Presi- dent, to restore to market lands which had been re- served, but which are no longer required for the pur- poses for which they were thus set apart, Numerous, and in xome instances large bodies of land are kept out of market for want of such authority—the settlement of their localities materially hindered special legislation frequently invoked on the subject. The authority now asked would enable the Department to dispose of the ‘unimproved lands in sueh reservations under the general laws, and where improvements had been made at the expense of the Government, so to arrange the sale as to reimburse such expense. ‘The law of 20th April, 1854, organizing the new land district of Cheboygan, in Michigan, having no date, took efiect from its passage, and as the land officers for the old districts, out of which it was formed, could not be im- mediately apprised of the change, a number of sales ‘were made in those districts of land which by the act had been transferred to the Cheboygan district. As these sales are illegal, under the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Matthews vs. Zane, the land officers | of the Cheboygan district have been instructed to re- serve the lands soentered till Congress sale spectfully reeomme assed to that effect, with a provi Rereatter. where laws of this cba: out date they shall take effect si proval. ‘This will give full time t tricts and prevent the confusion : quent on hasty action. Under misapprehension of the provisions of the re- lief laws passed for winding up the old credit system, sales were closed many years ago, which were not em: braced by those provisions, and patents were issued on them. In other cases, illegal subdivisions have been made by the land officers, and those subdivisions sold. To remedy these evils, I respectiully suggest that an act be passed making these patents and sales valid. The miniments of titles under the credit system, as heretofore reported, are subject to loss, and are rapidly going to decay. But few are now living who understand the operations of that system, and hence, in addition to the risk of the loss or destruction of those papers, the holders of titles of which they are the original evidence may be subject, hereafter, to inconvenience or actual loss, from information derived from those who are not familiar with the details of the system. To obviate all difficulties on the subject, J respectfully recommend that authority be given for recording all these documents with proper notes, showing the entire deraignment of would be laborious and ex- r the 5 nize the new dis- isk of error conse- hundred dollars for the wholo of an officiel year. where of the lands afiected by them. the sales exceed that amount, say, to an extent that would make the per centage equal to one hundred dol- Uniformity in the action of the several branches of the business of this office renders its duties more simple and Auties of his division, which are in a satisfactory state | lars, when a proportionate per centage should be allowed | the titles to landa more seeure. By the act of 22d of to compensate a clerk or clerks for the additional duty | March, 1862, this officer was authorized to* prescribe the of forwardness. ‘The principal clerk of surveys, though in ill-health, has been as assiduously engaged as his strength would admit, in organizing the surveying operations in the new Territories, and carrying them out in the Sti The clerk in charge of the pre-emption division has ‘deen also most indefatigably employed, and in view of the fact that many cases were complicated and difficult, has disposed of a very large amount of business. The clerk in charge of the Virginia revolutionary ¢liims and war of 1812 bounties has labored indefati- gably and ably on this mest difficult branch of duty. ‘The clerks in charge of the Mexican bounty land claims, and those under the acts of 185@ and 1852, have striven earnestly and suecessfully to keep up the duties of their respective ns, notwithstanding the great pressure of those duties. ‘The accountants have yad the posting of the sales and | Joca‘{ons, though unusually heavy, brought up as close as possible; ond the accounts of the receivers and as dis- bursing agents adjusted to the latest dates practicable; and notwithstanding the amount of money re- ceived for lands, it is confidently believed that every dol- Jar bas been or will be paid into the treasury. The du- ties of these divisions, though exceedingly arduous, have been zealously and faithfully performed, The clerk in charge of the swamp land division has also been diligently employed, and has ably pressed for- ward the duties of it towards completion. With very few exceptions, the assistants in these seve- rM divisions have ably and’ efficiently seconded the ef- forts of theis principals to consumumate speedily and sa- tistactorily the duties of their respective branchas. The acsounts of the Surveyors General, deputy survey- ors and publishers of newapapers have been adjusted and reported te the latest possible dates. ‘The tollowing table shows the present condition of the Dounty Iand warrants, under the acts of 1847, 1850 and 1862, to wit— acr ov 18 Grade No. Acres em: ‘Acresem No. Acres em- of ts braced No. braced out- braced twa'nt. sued. thereby. located. thereby. asta'g. thereby. 407 12,705,120 71,989 11,510,240 7,468. 1,194,880 BRR ES TR hats ete Total 96,679 12,005,580 77,585 11,794,090 9,141 act or 1850. 10." 99,908 4,250,280 23713 3634080 4,096 685, 3D... 56-20 4.529;000 43,454 3,474,720 12,780 1,064,880 40.6 "101%S67 oozle80 751084 3,001,360 26,683 1,001,320 Total 194,507 12,881,600 141,181 10,110,100 43414 2,774,400 A act or 1852. io. 1,157 185,10 70030 AS. BO... L089 131,920 959 76,720 690 se 79) 6,087 1480 3,605 Wotai. 11,33 600,520 6,705 01,0 4,883 sumwany. | jet i ecoasey M6705 | "091,640 “zoe | Grani—— — ——_ | Total 282,909 26,543,700 225,421 22,235,880 4,207,890 It wilt thus be perceived that of the 26,543,760 acres | mbraced by the warrants now issued. 335,880 acres — aave been located, leaving only 4,307,880 acres to be sashied. The following table exhibits the present condition of the grant of 500,000 acres made to each of theStates | internal improvements, by the act of 4th September, S41, to wit — antit! Quantity se- 3 which lected and — Quantity to entitled. q wed. be selected. 200,085.50 208,980.06 105. 500,000.00 500,000.00 ob 97,469.17 17 469.1 al 500,000.00 499,984.50 500,000.00 7,875.20 112,124.80 500,000.00 498,638.54 1,961.46 | 500,000.00 499,889.03 110.97 | 499, 990-00 368,290.10 131,699.99 500,000.00 00,000.00 ps ‘900,000.00 416,721.41 83,278.59 Totals... 4,906,544,76 3,977,848.09 358,606.67 1). Subject to re-adjustment, owing to imperfections ot plate on which nestions were made. | ‘oder decision of A ttorney General, July 24, 1852, t may be as closed in all the States and, and 7 reas it will now be Central Railroad from Chicago to Mo- ‘Dile, with a branch to Gale: has been jurted and finally closed; that in Missouri, from Hannibal to St. Jo- | neph’s, is also closed, except a.few tracts claimed by the | railroad, which have been selected by the agents of the State as awamp lands, under the act of 1850, and which are in process of adjustment. The grant for the South- western road, from St. Louis, Missouri, is in process of adjustment, and will be completed as soon as practica- ble. Nothing has yet been done with the grants for roads in Arkansas, for the reason that by the terms of the grant, the Legislature of the State was authorized to have the routes of the road established, and that bod; did not meet since the grant was made, till this fell. Itis org that the routes of these roads will be established, from surveys already made, and when es- tablished, the grant will be adjusted as speedily as prac- ble. ticable. grant for the Sault Ste Marie Canal, it is expected ean taniy eujested by the commencement of thé session of Congress. ‘At the instance of many mombers of Congress and irty-one millions of acres in several of Fegiedy eee had boon withdrawn from market, in ym ticipation of grants Re for railroad and other oo omg og im. | ts. As such grants were not made, it was SKemed expedient to ators these masses of lands to market, eapecially in view of the passage of the bill gra Auating the price of the public lands, and this has been | done, except where the reservation was fora fixed period, \ or bas already been made mn The adjustment of theve grants, and the prompt dis | valuable archives. | ance with the requirements of the act of Sth August | their duties and responsibilities. | tions therein contained. The | plan necessary to keep up the business, An allowance should alo be made those oficers for office rent, and they should | ranis. re build- } entries, eo far ir custody | office, would introduce uniformity into this branch, and be required to keep their oflices in safe and ings, so that the valuable documents in th would be preserved against every risk of loss or destruc- | ticn. As it is, these offices, containing the only reliable dence of the foundations of title to the numerous and | Juable farms all over the land States, are frequently | loca‘ed in frame buildings, so situated as to ensuretheir | destruction in case of fire in the visinity, and often wholly insecure against trespass by the mischievous, desiguing or dishonest. The cost is too slight, in com: parison with the risk, and ft is pr cases in the world where so little regard i As the matter now , every fort within the power of this office is made ‘to obtain suitable locations, by saggestion, but if the gov- ernment paid the rent it would have the power to re- quire that the offices should be kept in secure build'ngs. Yor donation cinims in Oregon, one hundred and forty- two certificates were tiansmitted to this office for pa- tenting, but on examination it was ascertained that most of them were bounded by lines differing from those of the public surveys, and that special plats of the loca- tions had not been transmitted with them as required by instructions. Without these plats sho: their lo- cations in connection with the lines of the public survey, there would have been no security that different patents when issued would not have iticluded the same land in whole or in part. The certificates for such donations were therefore returned, that the in- structions might be complied with. ‘The others were pla- ced in hands for patenting, and in view of the difficulty in preparing those patents, as special forms are requir- ed in different cases, I have devolved that duty on the principal clerk of the private land claims. The business of that division, which has been promptly and efficiently discharged, was already onerous, embracing the indian grants, as well as private claims, but as these donations | partook in some degree, of the nature of that business, this arrangement was deemed the most judicious. | The Surveyors General of Kansas and Nebraska, New | Mexico, and Washington Territories, have repaired to their respective posts, with full instruction for their uidance and government, under the legislation of the st session of Congress, but it is not expected that re- rts can be received from them in time to be laid be- fore Congress, in view of the recent appointment, and the remoteness of their fields of labor. ‘The instructions | to them, moreover. required much care and considera- | tion, and feng tee some time, that they might be fully advised of their duties, and that the intention of Congress should be carried out in their legislation on ‘subject. As these instructions are voluminous, and robaly be interesting to those of our citizens who to emigrate to either of these territories, es- ally those for the examination and adjudication of | private claims in New Mexico T have appended copies of | em. The land officers for Washington and Oregon Territo- | ries, authorised at the last session of Congress, having | been appointed, full instructions, with the necessary | tract books, blanks, &c., have been transmitted to their offices, that they be able at once to enter on duty. ‘Those for Kansas and Nebraska were not appointed, and As no surveys have yet been made in those Territories, they would have nothing to do, and their appointment would therefore have involved unnecessary expense. Arrangements have been made for organizing a new | land district in the southern part of Florida, in accord- last, which takes effect on the Sth February next. ‘This act, however, requires an amendment, giving authority to the President to appoint the officers, and defining All the other laws oi the last session which require the action of this office and they are nearly one-fifth of the whole number pa ssed, have been considered and disposed of, or are in | process of execution. ‘The able and lucid reports of the Surveyors’ Genera re herewith communicated, and special attention is re | ctfully requested to the suggestions and recommenda- great amount of surveys executed in their several districts, and the strenuous efforts to secure accuracy in that service evince the most unt ring en ‘on the part of those officers. | ‘The report of the Surveyor General of Michigan pre: | senta a most satisfactory statement of the operations of his district during the past year. He has successfully ‘overcome most of the difficulties incident to the traudu- | ‘eys heretofore made, and is pursuing the only by which the evils resulting therefrom can be re- piedied. In reference to the survey of the village lots at Soult Ste Marie, referred to by him, it is Proper to state | that in attempting to ract, ona large acale, the aur- veys formerly made of those lots, as requested by this oftice, the Surveyor General found that they would not close; and further, that the corners of the blocks and squares had not been Proper! marked, In view of the increased value of the lots in the village, it was deemed necessary to have them bap hb with | care, having reference to the decisions of the land offi- cers, under the law, and the corners permanently mark- ed and established. This has been done, and it is hoped that the whole business will be closed at an yt day. | It ia proper to state, however, tbat the long delay in dis- | posing of this matter is not attributable either to this office or the Surveyor General. From the report of the Surveyor General of Wisconsin | and Iowa, whose district includes also the Territory of Minnesota, it will be perceived that the immigration (o that jon is so great that it is impostible for the sa veys to pace with the settlements, notwithstand: the most judicious application of the means place his disposal, the unceasing efforts of his deputies, and a devotion to labor on the part of his clerks of about twelve hours each day. 4 ‘The Surveyor ‘General of Mlinois and Missourt is rapidly bringing the labors of his office to a close, and but tor the complicated duties connected with the loeation and survey of the private claims of his district, | ‘would soon have them completed. The song ad the request made by him for tie appropriation of # malt o for the parchase of law books for the use of hi, lent surv form and re cobably the only class of | ha jd to such | but difficulties arise in carrying out this doctrine, in re- lation to the notice of the survey, that should be given to the parties in interest, and ihe length of time that | of contracting. The | im this law. tions for the assignment of land war- thority in relation to all transfers o are regarded as assignable by this All put at rest the question of the validity of such assign: ments. It would, moreover, secure evidence at least of the identity of the vender with the purchaser, and thus prevent fraud in assign ; ‘The necessity for ai of limitation in relation to surveys and sales by the United States is every year be- coming more apparent, and the expediency of the mea- sure cannot Le doubted. 80 far as the survey of private claims in concerned, this office, with your approbation stablished the common law doctrine of estoppels should elapse after such survey, before that doc- trine should properly apply. To sales oF locations no such principle can be apy |, 8 they are regulated by law. Cases of great hardship may arise to subsequent urchasers, who, relying upon the evidence given by United States officers to the original parties, good faith, and improve the lands. If the title is finally found illegal or defective, it is vacated, the first pur- chaser may have left the country, and the innocent as- signee has no remedy. In cases of this character, some general principle established by law would afford relief to the parties, and obviate the necessity for much spe- cial legislation by Congress. 1 beg leave to renew the recommendations in my last annual report, not heretofore specially adverted to, and to request for them the consideration their importance juires, This city and district, severed by their politi- cal position from the fostering care of any one State, are deprived of the asmstance given to education by ali the States, unless Congress, as the special | tors, shall make the necessary provision for them. This may be done, as elsewhere, by donations of public lands, un- der judicious restrictions. A number of locations of warrants have been re- jected because the parties to whom thove warrants were granted had died before the issue of them, leaving neither widows nor minor children to receive the grants under the law. This, with the subject of further grants to the old soldiers, or their heirs, is respectfully submitted for consideration. The act of 4th August last, “To graduate and reduce the ¢ of the public lands, to actual settlers and cul- tivators,” judging from the reports received, has been productive of much fraud and perjury, and proved seri- ously injurious to the actual settlers on the public do- main. As far as practical these evils have been remedied by covstruction and instructions, but the law is in- herently defective. If it be designed to engraft this féature permanently on our land system, the privilege of urchasing at the graduated price should have been ited to pre-emptors, or made general to all. Now, it is that persons take the oath required by the law, with the mental qualification that the land will be required for actual settlement and cultiva- tion at some future time. Others, it is stated, have employed men to go torward and make the affida- vit, paying all their expenses, and also paying for the land—the employer agreeing to give his employes, in fee simple, a portion, say an eighth or a quarter of the land so entered, retaining the balance. The only corrective of this abuse in the power of the office, was to refuse to recognise assignments of entries of this character, and to issue the patents to the persons in whose names the entries were made, and this rule has been established, Efforts have been made to enter lands betray ami cultivated, but to which the settlers ‘mo pre- emption claim. This has been refused on icine oe thut the settler being in occupancy of the land could not and should not be ousted of his improvement by a party who wished to settle upon the same land to the prejudice of the scttler’s occupancy. Attempts have also been made to enter land in the names of femmes covert, minors, &e. hid, too, has been refused, for the reason that the obligation of settlement and cultiva- tion required to constitute the right to enter under the law contemplates’ ® contract, and hence those only can claim the benefit of the act who are capable proviso to the second section renders the execution of the law exceedingly in. tricate, and it is difficut to explain this feature in con- nection with the several pre-emption laws in such man- ner as to make it th ly understood. In fixing the periods for the several classes, fractions of re were disregarded from necessity, to prevent the dates becom- ing 80 numerous as to produce confusion. many cases, a8 are aware, the several parts of the same township, for various causes, were offered at different periods, frequen years apart, and hence these several parts are in rent classes. In such cases it would have been desirable to fix a mean date as the average period of offering, but the office had not the power todo so. The pre.em; clause is a peculiar feature Its effect is to give to pre-emptors, settled on offered land: al credit, subject only to the risk of entry by others at the end of each period of graduation; inother words, to donate the land, subject only to thi:'risk. The efieet, though os- tensibly Leneficial to tl would probably prove most disastrous to them in the im; Resting in fancied security, the time in whith they would be subject to this risk migiit be forgotten, and their land and tmprovements | be taken by speculators. Or death might interpoxe and Aiffienities arive in subsequent domestic arrangement as to whom the entries authorised by the law should be wade, ‘This would certainly lead to litigation and might have the still more disastrous and unhappy effect of pro- | aucing discord and contention in families. ‘Lhe basis of this law ia the time the lands have been in the market. It has been hereiofore fully shown that from eight to twelve millionsof acres have becn annually Urought into the market, while the demand bas only ranged from one to four millions. It would be absurd to suppose that all the best Laws were first purchased, or that all the lands first entered were of the best quality. Our peopic are eminently social in their ha: moreover, naturally congregate together for the advant. sees of churches, sehools, aad mutual assistance. The inference is fale, therefore, that exgept the most worth ' i 5 . = & i : i £ i HI ag pert | i public domain. 2 on the one hand, that by it injustice is done to the old States, while the t liberality is towards the new; while on the other, that in uence of the being the t landhol the new States, and its lands not subject to taxation, the pore settlements of those States are compelled to the expenses of State, county and municipal the means that should be derived from taxinj lands. These views on both sides of the que: are, phe paca or less extent, erroneous, as facts will show. The land system was originated by Jefferson, and fashioned into form wy that feat statesman, aided by erry, Howell, (Read, Williamson, Lang, Stewart, Gardner, Henry, Grayson, Ball, ionroe. In the enactment of the ordinance of 1785, and the acts of 1796, 1800 and 1805, the nation had the benefit of the wisdom and patriotism of the sages who, under Heaven, founded our free and happy government. The advancement of the public imterest then the only object sought. The heavy debt of the Revolution pressing on the young republic ired liqui- dation, every means at the disposal of the govern- ment was carefully and judicially applied to that ob- ject. Among these the public lands were considered a permanent and prominent item. With the utmost care, forecast and wisdom the land m was brought to peypetion, by Baa ed laws ory seer acto ae, le yy the passage of the act Ap he cash was substituted for the credit system. brief summary of the inception and progress tem, which has continued for over seven- ty years, unaffected by any radical change, until the (toner aagracye graduation act, and which, in its past istority, for simplicity, harmony, certainty, and uni formity, bas commanded universal admiration. Let us now see how this system has been administer- ed, with special reference to the benefits derived from the public lands by the old and new States respectively excluding, of course, the lands on the Pacific. ‘The bounty lands’ for services in the revolutionary war, and that of 1812, flowed mostly to the citizens of the old States, and say one half of those for services in the Mexican war. ‘The amount actually paid to the old States under the act of 4th of September, 1841, of the surplus revenue, is, of course, chargeable to those States, As the proceeds of the public lands went into the treasury, and were applied to aid in defraying the ex- penses of the government, the necessity was thus obvia- ted of increasing the tariff to that amount. The tariff, it is admitted, bears more equally on the entire Po ula | tion of a country than any other tax. The old States originally, and until within a few years, were vastty more populoustthan the new, and this re- lief, therefore, applied in the same proportion. Sup- pose, then, that for the entire poriod of the operation of the land system, the overage proportion of the popu- vernments, unaided by all the to one. On this basis the pevple of the old States would have n benefitted by three-fourths of the proceeds of the public lands, and those of the new States by one- fourth of those proceeds. To state the account, then, on the hypothesis, the old States are chargeable with the amount of lands given as bounties in the revolutionary war and that of 1812, in- cluding that under the acts of 1850-’52, say 19,200,207 acres, equal t0.........seeess008 $34,611,620 00 One half the act of 1847; 6,477,880, 8,097,850 00 Amount actually paid (the old’ States) un- der act Of 84)... .0ececeeees : 409,912 42 ‘Three-fourths of the proceeds of the pub- Vic land8......eseeeeseeeseeeeeeeese oe113,676,758 67 Making a total of.... «-. $146,195,641 09 ‘The benefit of which has flowed chieffy, if not entirely, to the people of the old States. This amount, it will be remembered, is exclusive of the sum of more than forty- eight and a quarter millions net receipts for im) the ports of Florida and Louisiana, which weat into the treasury, and by which the people of the old States were also proportiovally benefitted. One of the greatest benefits, however, to tho old States, and that which cannot be estinated by dollars ambitious and enterprising citizens of the former, and valuable farms at mere nominal prices., They, have also enjoyed immense benefits from the products of the West, the supply being vastly increased thereby, and the cost proportionately reduced. ‘On the other band, grants have been made to the new States and Territory ot Minnesota for schools, academies, universities, seats of government, public buildings and internal improvements; the swamp lands being left out of the account, beeause by the terms of that grant the were to be applied in draining thove lands. « 34,691,063 60acres, ‘equal to ..$43,619,820 50 One-half the Boun- ty Lands act of ‘1847 F wee. 6,477,880 00 —., 8,097,350 00 Amount actually paid under act of 1840.. 178,141 39 One-fourth the proceeds, 37,899,252 81 Two, three and five per cent fund, 4,562,813 34 Making a totalof............6 ooo $04,344,387 12 ae benefits of which have flowed to the new States on this basis. ‘Thus it will be perceived that mutual benefits to an immense extent, and in about equal proportion, have, flowed to both the old and new States under this judi- cious aystem, and if either has apparen ly the advan- tage, it is ali within the one great family, and not = sufficient ground of controversy between sires and sons. ‘The true policy of the land system ie, first, to en- courage the actual settlement and improvement of the public domain. This may be done by such amendments to the pre- emption Jaws as experience may prove necessary for the purpose, and by which he may secure his im- provements ina reasonable time, without risk of com- n. aed second, to aid in providing the necessary factli- ties for intercommunications and for the transporta- tion of the products of the lands to market. Although the railroad excitement in many cases has been carried to excess, experience has proved that grants for such urposes, when carried out in faith, are alike Beneficial to the people, the States, and the general government. To prevent more speculation, and to secure an equiva- lent to the government for the lands granted for these purposes, some modifications in the acts them seem propet, as, for instance, that no t should be made, except on the application of the Legislature of a Stute; that the lands should be taken in alternate sec- tions within a certain ‘distance on each side ot the im- provement, the minimum price of the remaining sec- tions to be doubled throughout the whole extent of the grant; and the lands to be certified to the States as the De progresses, with a provision of forfeiture in case of failure. It is impossible to portray the vast benefits already derived by the West from this system. Immense re- gions have been disposed of that. were thought to be wholly unsaleable because of the difficulty of access; and so numerous are the applications for these lands that in some ca: for want of time, sa, A be acted on for months after they are made, The gov- erpment has Fry haere ‘been benefited, as will be seen in part from the following tables:— Statement showing the quantity of Iavd sold, with amount of purchase m received for the same; also, the quantity located within the six and fifteen mile limit of the Illinois Central Railroad from the date of pans offered at public sale, commencing July 5, 1852, to 30 September, 1854, within the state of Iilinois, viz. :-— ‘Within slx miles, 494,47Sacres, yielding $1,019,478 72. Of this amount 341,216 acres were locat with war- In addition to these totals there was an excess 076 66 paid by parties who located with war- rants, for odd amounts of land which their warrants did not cover. Within the fifteen miles, $48,880 acres, yielding $458,317 51. Of this amount 1,263,424 acres were lo- cated with warrants, and on which an excess of $36,- 266 92 was paid in money by the parties, Acres sold within both limits.. 773,363 26 Acres located within both li- mits.. 1,604,641 11 Total sold and located with m. warrants $1,517,796 23 466,332 78 984,129 01 2,005,801 38 The for means of communications between the Paci the Mississippi, —— eaaere eat oor mne ie whi this aun.ke aeemmalahed to grant Sis ar te pe Specter sae he own limit. The work is too vast Fe vate en’ , and too import- ant for further delay, land. system be crip- Total cash received. . Cash value of warrant rid , there is but little doubt that ob- ject will be attained by it. If, on the contrary, the sup- ition was that the lanas would not sell for more, the foregoing, I think, will satisfactorily show that supposi- tion to be erroneous. ‘The sales have always been equal to the demand; the supply far, very far beyond it. The demand at the re- duced prices will be increased, but chiefly for of speculation, and the hardy acd enterprising settler, instead of dealing ind paternal government in the purchase of his lands, and securing a perfect title, will have to look to the wealth; Leg ery and trust tater enpen — 2 the risk thas title is encumbere prior liens and mortgages. With these pf oi the natural suggestion is, that the graduation law be radically a , if it be the plea: sure of Congress to engraft it permanently on the land system; and in that event, it in further # sted that the twelve and a half cent class be abolished, or rather donated (o the States respectively in which ‘ae: lie, as b roGt will scarcely detray the expense of disposing o m. ‘The materials to anawer the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 4th of August last, cannot be prepared in time to be inid before that ne the com mencemeat of the next session. hat resolu- tion requires “that the Secretary of the Interior cause to be prepared for the use of the Hoase of Representatives, during the pocess of Con and cents, was the opening given by the new to the | the facihties furnished them by government of obtaining | cannot | lation of the old States, to that of the new, was as three | | probably never again beable to entertain an appeal, so | been continually ex lands ‘Whe can Supply our Wants? say ba - 10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. ” | Firebricke are used in farnaces, stovesand’ S22 | They enter into the comfort of every man, sore as ra- | and child by whom coal is used as a2 article of og | pidly neces- | fort or nececsity. When these bricks have been us bos fy the | ® little while they become stuck up with what/ to | called “clinker,” or the metalic substance of ¢ &| tho | Coal In this state they do not allow of a sufficis 9 Ta neces- | Supply of cosl, nor even allow what they do <7 bebe to burn free enough to yield the amount of heat with a due regard to correctness will be made to prepare | quired. As they are generally hid from sight, cable. All of which, with the accompanyi most respectfully submitted. With obedient servant, JOHN WILSON, Com | for stoves, &c., which will have no affinity for © THE INVENTIONS OF THE NATION. | nouns cobsenee oOo cost ie 5, ame ~ our Annual Report of the Commissioner of , Sones We oe eeearen, 98. tl Patents. an Wi ashes ase removed, T Parext Ormics, Nov. Ei—I have the honor o report to you, hat ihe busi | Of SDe-mode would make s princely forsune, and oy ness of the Patent Office is now in s more satisfactory | WhO bend coal ie used. Let 1 evedition Shan at Say pevyleus Rene nee my connec: | Ti Tlie affinits ' an, ovecy weckeione ‘The number of cases undisposed of in the office on the | tale— think on the matter. Pechape some one prep Reng npr aig ele ES) hun- | — SE a ten set ones Sencar | mae number lla ancertuinnd to be eight hundred paged Naval Intelligence. f three, A correct mode of computation was then intro- Tax S.oop-or-Wak ALBaxy.—The anxiety of duced, so that the exact condition of the business of the [-war hereafter from the month- | #04 the gallant officers who served on hae of her, iy spor. ee ne ie creas, as each day adds to the time that has ‘This arrearage in the business of the office, though ince ve made her aj malt iir’thee it had been six months previous, was | Port of the United States, or should have been met such that several months always after the mak- | S¢8 or heard from at some one of the West India ing of am application before it could be dis | ae eet Ail Saiate, wt Uh, Mey Depereees / Which was a sourse fof great dissatisfaction to all applir | wiere she may be, if only wrecked or dismasted: During the three first months of the present year the | the Hon. Secretary of the Navy nerease in the business of the office was such that no sensible diminution in the arrearages was efiected. In order to accomplish so desirable an object, it was deemed ere were certain ‘The ad pac onsen have often excited disc: «xpedient to place several of the assistant examiners in 1 mong t the performance of the duties of principal examiners. | V4) gentlemen, and especially the differences between E n that manner the end sought is now almost and will model Lead page of more successful ats soon be entirely attained. Instead of six principal examiners, each with two as- sistant, we have since the first of April had practically eleven principal examiners, each with one assistant. Most of the rooms are now entirely filled up with their work, and all will probably be so by the first day of De- The Albany was built at the Brook]; yard, her model ean be seen at the rooms of the Ausricam F cember next. We have since the flest of Janu- | ary last, issued upward of sixteen hundred patents, and | Probably the finest corvette in the world, can also within the year the number will probabl by reach the RS ae Rented the Albany. nineteen hundred, which will be about double the num- Fined a leneth, 1687 feet incipal Hp oo tage ber patented last year. | Applications are generally act | feet; ballast, 10 tons; water, 21,000 gai ed upon within a few days after th have no doubt that the ment by which this re- sult has been produced was judicious, and has proved satisfactory to the parties interested. I think it should be continued as the only method of disposing of the in- creasing business of the office with the proper prompti- tude and despatch. 6 months; 6-8 inch. 16-32 pr. 210; tonnage, 1,064; launched 1646.° i The following account of the performances of ¢ brig, ae eee aay = and Chronological History of lished authority of the ‘Depachaen and ahown ihe offic ‘About one year since, I had the honor to invite your | character of the ship down to 1852:— wu attention to the importance af several proposed anicnd- | .-Sieets apd, works readily, rolls easy, and pitel ments to the patent laws. The reasons mn given for “Steers well, but sails and works and \ the alterations suggested remain in full force now, and the recommendations then made are now repeated. ‘The amendments of most immediate and pressing ne- cessity are those making provision for taking testimony —those in relation to appeals, and those prescribing & new rate of fees. Hea Se ara eka lany questions of great moment are freqnently pend- ing beror the Patent Office, depending for, a correct de- cision upon the testimony Of witnesses, and there is no wer provided to compel » witness to give testimony. Rothing is more common than for a witness to refuse to t deal of leeway on a wind. Under the most favor je circumstances, never makes more than eight kne mo eer eee and squats dreadfully, and requires le sail.’ —1849. “Lower masts were shortened several fect previo to 1849.” « ed to well; rolls deep.”’—1852. Captain Samuel L. Breese, in a letter addressed to ¥ Joseph Francis, on the lifeboats of the Albany,and pu Ished at page 64 of Mr. Francis’s testimonials, says | the Albany :— attend examination, or to refuse to give testimon: i} titres atanded tothe grat perveratn of the ends | 25 cmsryuanos ofthe leanneas of the Albany aft 0 bee He jetteelh un peal oats wsals from the | often di np ber Aisem Wonk full oi waten } decision ef the Commissioner to select which of the three | , Should it unfortunataly prove te be « fact that the 4 bany has been lost it not reasonable te su e that her extreme leanness, without a corres] joor, combined with her narrow beam, being fe less beam than the Portsmouth—t th bes ti same armament, has been the cause of her loss? T | fact that the Congress of the United States have tak away what little law the navy had for enforcing d judges of the Supreme Court he chooses before whom ta ring the appeal. The Chief Justice of that court will that bringing an appeal before him is tantamount to its postponement during the term of his natoral life, and even after his death there may be some question as to whether the delay will be at an end. By an abuse of ine, and have steadily refused to put any law in: this law ® case has been suspended in this manner for | Cipline, ly Pl { place, is another reason why we have near two years, and is threatened with indefinite post- | Tuch terrible shipwrecks and disasters at ven; tt —— ma} bests! pot — in the destru The rate of fees was fixed at a time when the real | tion of the Albany, because the more delicate the ship ¢ | value of money was much greater in proportion to its | better must be her discipline.—Commercial. nomipal value than at present, The pay of the clerks ERAS TCL gear oak i and laborers employed in the office has ‘The Affair of Honor in Philadelphia. | ponement, to the great detriment of the party who is probably entitled to the patent. yen very much tase ar eae’ Son iat racer emsiatet (aoe ee | wile the fees remain unchanged. faaddition to these | We nals sesetted fom the pusnlt tia Poliotiag ata: | gee daring = nt yar, in oar to dpe af ment been Sarg participation in the aflair mei The cousequence of all these causes has been, that | today's Ledger, among tie ccat Afletea? ots wart! during the current year the expenses of the office have | and erroneous statement of an altercation betwe ig the revenues, and such will continue to be the case until an augmentation of these revenues shall be provided for. ‘The permanent augmentation of the examining corps, or rather such a nization a¢ will place all its mem: bers on @ proper fe , 19 a subject worthy of conside- ‘Townsend Smith and Dr. Leonard Henley, in which » name was rly voluntarily, and for the your reporter with a copy of my ration. ‘The assistant examiners, who are performin tare} t the duties of principal examiners, may justly expect af purpose of ivi iu the pert and bearing of Aneta] pear jucorenina? the compensation attached to duties Anete of Honor, ‘When I handed him the note referr | and responsibilities. It would not only be highly grati | to, I told him my business with him was not of » fying to me, but would be nothing more than justice to | fessional character, nor did I wish it to be m,to have the means and the authority to make their | hostile, and added, that the sole motive which indue compenration commensurate with the grade and charac: | me to act as Dr. Henley’s friend, was the hope that! | er of their actual services. tifficult; 'h Dill wae framsed by the Benste committee at the last | Sat urcomtne te weenie ie ene oie seasion of Congress, providing for these and many other | aseurance of ‘personal respect towards me, but oa | semen ete ee see Yee HL general rvor- | ing that he ala not look upon the dificulty betwer | anization of the whol nt Office system, including | him: f sufficient fhe above named provisions as s portisn thereof, The | "prequire any further action on tote Ts | ° require any further action on his part. To lied in substance, that any difficulty, however triflin | was worthy of a proper and honorable adjustment b passage of that bill, or of some other which shall at least embrace the features above alluded to, seems to be an object of imy to the proper administration | tween gentlemen, and that serious consequences of the affairs of this office. only to'be apprehended when one or both of the parti I beg leave to commend these matters to your favor- | refused to submit to a fair and able consideration, in case you deem them of sufficient | He then to the causes of then uarrel, when consequence to merit a place in your annual report. tapers, told him 1 4id not wish to hear his versk ) I remain, sir, very respestfully, yours, &c. ‘epiae pa 2 give e him De. E Henley’ a account of | eve an ver! name friend | | Hon. Rosxrt MoCuELanp, Secretary of the Interior. hose ‘aistaesion ie could confide, 5 the ho; | RS pec that we could settle the matter ina sat i Instead of complying with my request, NATIONAL PENSIONERS, spoke of conscientious scruples fighting a dw EE NE et but said: “ I never Dr. He Annual of the Pension Office. loy,that I sball not be afraid to mect him e¢ any time ? | The annual report of the Commissioner of Pensions to | ma'y think proper to renew the fight.” I told Mer, Saait the Secretary of the Interior, gives the following interest | the I could mot carry such a'message; and, after T ing. Particulars, which furnish s view of its important | questing him to consider my note, and t9 send me = rep i ic faeces fr | el ae ua Gal ao ae the year ending June’ 0th, "1854," with the annual | Tepua ia = amount ms; also the amou! arrearages due | at the date of iauing the certificates: sikaoelf ta Weaning tk tase ed ‘e |i ihnualam’t. Am’tarrearg’s. | find a ‘and one sided statement of this 167 Revolutionary soldiers.$12,464 48 $95,584 56 taserted of the inlehbes offs sell 2,846 Widows of do. 216,774 80 482,711 OT | tleman who could not regard it us of sufielent | 1,603 Half pay widows. 104,284 00 157,462 08 | ance to take any further action on it. And I may ad __388 Invalid... 25,048 64 81,328 99 that 1 ought to be greatly obliged . Tows Zoo Total, {$056,061 62 $756,111 62 | my note print, after the edplacetioas Teste te ier, NAVY PENSIONS ADMITTED. its real import and object. There no language to e: R Annual amount. Am’t arrearages. | press my spprecaon of his sense of honor, and I shal 38 Invalid....... $2,034 50 $1,756 79 | therefore, decline the attempt, and leave his conduct | 43 Widows and orphans.. 6,594 00 27,341 90 | the commentaries of his ‘igo if he now has any. bee ——— | __ Your sympathy for him as a “sensible man” and 81 Total.........+++. + +-98,628 50 $20,008 60 | “law abiding civieen,” is, 1 think, em throw | ‘The amount actualy paid out by the United ‘States | away, as, aecording to your’ report, furnished, hin Pension agents for the year ending June 90, 1854, was | self, he first struck Dr. Henley, in his intervie ‘or Revolutionary services. .” $908,270 96 | witl me, he said he had no objection to renew the fig For half-pay to widows 196,992 00 | at any time. The truth is, Mr. Smith, although once For invalids. 444,694 27 | colonel, has constitutional’ objections ‘to being a gas man, but has none at all to playing the bully, ‘eet he + $1,548,957 23 haps, comathing worse. Very truly, wiry. ount of fun 01 . 4, 1854. WM. 'F. SMALL. Pension agents at the date of their last eee ver Pay at an returns tem! was. 46 Peeper ape ne rien alin pea party 61 | _ Mrsrsriove—The New Hampshire Patriot ‘The number of army pensioners on tne roll who have | * Wonderful excitement and consternation has p | been paid at the pension agencies in the several States | ¢d among the good citizens of the Seuarrery oe iat within the ‘fourteen months” preceding June 30, ak aah days past, caused by the of the fal | 1804, and the annual amount of pensions payable to ts pocnuette canes a encll Kisrogtypis hae em is : ae goed ge pic. These 1,069 Revolutionary soldiers. $74,151 51 Ce attrib i M8 to robbers, and 5,006 Invalid. ..sesvereeeees «454,778 87 Iso. "the Petre explain the mir ry & qui 14,063 Total oseceseeeseeeeeseee ses $1,172,661 63 | that akan ee ve pro} been made Same of the Navy, September i0ik, 1864. sam whe atept this of 301 lavalla “dco :. $23,186 35 | the poe ge visited. Nevert { __ #82 Widows and Orphians “= “pieos 62 | Fairies may be wrong, for, singularly enough 833 Total......ceseseesessereseecres, S117, 788 8 jscovered upon the houses or doors of the Whole number of pensioners June 30, 1853, was 11,86 N | Annual amount mele to them, $1,070,079 52. Same sae iniata ms } June Suh Last, 14,065, and annual ‘amount payable t Avoruge Szcret Socury—Wuar pega em, 5 Number of revolutionary soldierson the roll June Number of revolutionary soldiers on the rail Juae” There have Taken fens the solls.o6 S60 Gey Pee" sioners dui the year ending June 30, 1854—by death, 643; by fer to the it, as un- claimed 883—total the navy pen- and 38 as unclaimed sions. to the qreasery Department very few are again restored to ¢ roll. Bounty land isaued under acta 1811, '12 and Wisconsin Lecis. ators —The following isa tabl ’ the war of 1812 to Acres, | 88 nearly as it is possible to class the fe an Late rte eres, | the next Legislature of Wisconsia:— Acta Fel 1, 184 SENATE. ‘Acts Se; war Tas U: —~! NITED This bed: Srarss Surnume Covrr. oa” 28, 1 ite annual term at Washington on the 4¢! aoe inst., at noow. Every member of the Court was presen mitted and apparent gore health, viz: the Hon. Roger E Wayne fon. Jen icatron How Peter’. Davtel oe Sassuel Nelson, Hoa. Nobert C: Grien, How, beajecane ©. Grier, Hon, ‘and. Hou. Jen A. Campbell,’ Ansoclate Curtis, ‘The Ohiet Justice anounced that the Conet, Dre. 4.—Sentenced.—Joun Kelly * was with ence the call Court committing a rape, but found guilty of assault and bat: | sdiourned aud sepsined ‘erst yo ney fe ame tery only, and sentenced to itentiary for six | the executive mansion, to pay thet reapecta to the months. Charles Mathew, who pleaded guilty to man- | dent of the United States. tlaughter im the fourth wan sentenced to the Venitentiary for one year. Kelly, convicted of te riot, was éentto the City Prison for 15 days, and or- Ecnvyirricm m Micwauxen—The Daily dered to pay a fine of $25. ‘tonsin has the following ominous item:—There is an _ No cases being ready for trial, the Court thenad- | pleasant rumor afloat a distinguished Goancier journed. suddenly departed (or Europe with epout $100,699.