be of great value at all times, and of inestimable | cisco and Honolulu, (Hawaiian Islands,) making value in case of a foreign war. Nature has pro- the total amount of mail steamship subsidies at vided the greater part of this route, and the ob- present $725,000 per annum. stacles to overcome are easily within the skill of the engineer.

Congress to take this subject into serious consid- | Indian, and erecting therein a territorial form of

eration.

Detailed statements of the disbursements through the Department of Justice will be furnished by the report of the Attorney General, and though these have been somewhat increased by the recent acts of Congress "to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the several States of the Union," and "to enforce the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States," and the amendments thereto, I cannot question the necessity and salutary effect of those enactments. Reckless and lawless men, I regret to say, have associated themselves together, in some localities, to deprive other citizens of those rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the United States, and to that end have committed deeds of blood and violence; but the prosecution and punishment of many of these persons have tended greatly to the repression of such disorders. I do not doubt that a great majority of the people in all parts of the country favor the full enjoyment by all classes of persons of those rights to which they are entitled under the Constitution and laws; and I invoke the aid and influence of all good citizens to prevent organizations whose objects are by unlawful means to interfere with those rights. I look with confidence to the time, not far distant, when the obvious advantages of good order and peace will induce an abandonment of all combinations prohibited by the acts referred to, and when it will be unnecessary to carry on prosecutions or inflict punishment to protect citizens from the lawless doings of such combinations.

government, is one of great importance as a complement of the existing Indian policy. The question of removal to that territory has within the past year been presented to many of the tribes resident upon other and less desirable portions of the public domain, and has generally been received by them with favor. As a preliminary step to the organization of such a territory, it will be necessary to confine the Indians now resident therein to farms of proper size, which should be secured to them in fee; the residue to be used for the settlement of other friendly Indians. Efforts will be made in the immediate future to induce the removal of as many peaceably disposed Indians to the Indian Territory as can be settled properly, without disturbing the harmony of those already there. There is no other location now available, where a people who are endeavoring to acquire a knowledge of pastoral and agricultural pursuits can be as well accommodated as upon the unoccupied lands in the Indian Territory. A territorial government should, however, protect the Indians from the inroads of whites for a term of years, until they become sufficiently advanced in the arts and civilization to guard their own rights, and from the disposal of the lands held by them for the same period.

During the last fiscal year there were disposed of, out of the public lands 11,864,975 acres, a quantity greater by 1,099,270 acres than was disposed of the previous year. Of this amount 1,370,320 acres were sold for cash; 389,460 acres located with military warrants; 4,671,332 acres taken for homesteads; 693,613 acres located with Applications have been made to me to pardon college scrip; 3,554,887 acres granted to railpersons convicted of a violation of said acts, upon roads; 465,347 acres granted to wagon-roads; the ground that clemency in such cases would 714,255 acres given to States as swamp land; tend to tranquilize the public mind, and to test 5,760 acres located by Indian scrip. The cash the virtue of that policy I am disposed, as far as receipts from all sources in the Land Office my sense of justice will permit, to give to these amounted to $3,218,100. During the same peapplications a favorable consideration; but any riod 22,016,608 acres of the public lands were action thereon is not to be construed as indicat-surveyed, which, added to the quantity before ing any change in my determination to enforce surveyed, amounts to 583,364,780 acres, leaving with rigor such acts so long as the conspiracies 1,257,633,628 acres of the public lands still unand combinations therein named disturb the surveyed. peace of the country.

It is much to be regretted, and is regretted by no one more than myself, that a necessity has ever existed to execute the "enforcement act." No one can desire more than I that the necessity of applying it may never again be demanded.

The reports from the subordinates of the Land Office contain interesting information in regard to their respective districts. They uniformly mention the fruitfulness of the soil during the past season, and the increased yields of all kinds of produce. Even in those States and TerritoThe policy which was adopted at the beginning ries where mining is the principal business, agriof this administration with regard to the man-cultural products have exceeded the local demand, agement of the Indians has been as successful as and liberal shipments have been made to distant its most ardent friends anticipated within so short points. a time. It has reduced the expenses of their management; decreased their forays upon the white settlements; tended to give the largest opportunity for the extension of the great railways through the public domain, and the pushing of settlements into more remote districts of the country; and at the same time improved the condition of the Indians. The policy will be maintained without any change excepting such as further experience may show to be necessary to render it more efficient.

The subject of converting the so-called Indian Territory south of Kansas into a home for the

During the year ending September 30, 1872, there were issued from the Patent Office 13,626 patents; 233 extensions; and 556 certificates and registries of trade-marks. During the same time 19,587 applications for patents, including reissues and designs, have been received, and 3,100 caveats filed. The fees received during the same period amounted to $700,954 86, and the total expenditures to $623,553 90, making the net receipts over the expenditures $77,400 96.

Since 1836, 200,000 applications for patents have been filed, and about 133,000 patents issued.

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The amount paid for pensions in the last fiscal | imously approved by the leading friends of edyear was $30,169,340, an amount larger by $3,- ucation, that I commend it to the favorable 708,434 than was paid during the preceding year. attention of Congress. Of this amount $2,313,409 were paid under the act of Congress of February 17, 1871, to survivors of the war of 1812. The annual increase of pensions by the legislation of Congress has more than kept pace with the natural yearly losses from the rolls. The act of Congress of June 8, 1872, has added an estimated amount of $750,000 per annum to the rolls, without increasing the number of pensioners. We cannot, therefore, look for any substantial decrease in the expenditures of this department for some time to come, or so long as Congress continues to so change the rates of pension.

The whole number of soldiers enlisted in the war of the rebellion was 2,688,523. The total number of claims for invalid pensions is 176,000, being but six per cent. of the whole number of enlisted men. The total number of claims on hand at the beginning of the year was 91,689; the number received during the year was 26,574; the number disposed of was 39,178; making a net gain of 12,604. The number of claims now on file is 79,085.

It has seemed to be the policy of the Legislature of Utah to evade all responsibility to the Government of the United States, and even to hold a position in hostility to it. I recommend a careful revision of the present laws of the Territory by Congress, and the enactment of such a law (the one proposed in Congress at its last session, for instance, or something similar to it) as will secure peace, the equality of all citizens before the law, and the ultimate extinguishment of polygamy.

Since the establishment of a Territorial government for the District of Columbia, the improvement of the condition of the city of Washington and surroundings, and the increased prosperity of the citizens, is observable to the most casual visitor. The nation, being a large owner of property in the city, should bear, with the citizens of the District, its just share of the expense of these improvements.

I recommend, therefore, an appropriation to reimburse the citizens for the work done by them along and in front of public grounds during the past year; and liberal appropriations in order that the improvement and embellishment of the public buildings and grounds may keep pace with the improvements made by the Territorial authorities.

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On the 30th of June, 1872, there were on the rolls the names of 95,405 invalid military pensioners, 113,518 widows, orphans, and dependent relatives, making an aggregate of 298,923 army pensioners. At the same time there were on the rolls the names of 1,449 navy pensioners, and 1,730 widows, orphans, and dependent relatives, making the whole number of naval pensioners The Commissioner makes one recommendation 3,179. There have been received, since the pas--that measures be taken by Congress to protect sage of the act to provide pensions for the sur- and induce the planting of forests, and suggests vivors of the war of 1812, 36,551 applications, that no part of the public lands should be disprior to June 30, 1872. Of these there were al-posed of without the condition that one-tenth lowed, during the last fiscal year, 20,126 claims; of it should be reserved in timber where it exists, 4,845 were rejected during the year, leaving and, where it does not exist, inducements should 11,580 claims pending at that date. The num- be offered for planting it. ber of pensions of all classes granted during the last fiscal year was 33,838. During that period there were dropped from the rolls, for various causes, 9,104 names, leaving a grand total of 232,229 pensioners on the rolls on the 30th of June, 1872.

The rapidly increasing interest in education is a most encouraging feature in the current history of the country, and it is, no doubt, true that this is due in a great measure to the efforts of the Bureau of Education. That office is continually receiving evidences, which abundantly prove its efficiency, from the various institutions of learning, and educators of all kinds throughout the country.

The report of the Commissioner contains a vast amount of educational details of great interest. The bill now pending before Congress, providing for the appropriation of the net proceeds of the sales of public lands for educational purposes, to aid the States in the general education of their rising generation, is a measure of such great importance to our real progress, and is so unan

This

In accordance with the terms of the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1871, providing for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of American independence, a commission has been organized, consisting of two members from each of the States and Territories. commission has held two sessions, and has made satisfactory progress in the organization and in the initiatory steps necessary for carrying out the provisions of the act, and for executing also the provisions of the act of June 1, 1872, creating a centennial board of finance. A preliminary report of progress has been received from the president of the commission, and is herewith transmitted. It will be the duty of the commission at your coming session to transmit a full report of the progress made, and to lay before you the details relating to the exhibition of American and foreign arts, products, and manufactures, which, by the terms of the act, is to be held under the auspices of the Government of the United States, in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1876.

This celebration will be looked forward to by American citizens with great interest, as marking a century of greater progress and prosperity than is recorded in the history of any other nation, and as serving a further good purpose in bringing together, on our soil, peoples of all the

commercial nations of the earth, in a manner | the public debt of the United States; and the calculated to insure international good feeling.

amount so redeemed was invested in a five per cent. registered bond of the United States for fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars, which is now held by the Secretary of State, subject to the future disposition of Congress.

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An earnest desire has been felt to correct abuses which have grown up in the civil service of the country, through the defective method of making appointments to office. Heretofore Federal offices have been regarded too much as the reward of political services. Under authority By an act approved on the 14th day of Febof Congress, rules have been established to regu-ruary last, Congress made provision for comlate the tenure of office and the mode of appoint- pleting, jointly with an officer or commissioner ments. It cannot be expected that any system to be named by Her Britannic Majesty, the of rules can be entirely effective, and prove a determination of so much of the boundary-line perfect remedy for the existing evils, until they between the territory of the United States and have been thoroughly tested by actual practice, the possessions of Great Britain as was left unand amended according to the requirements of completed by the commissioners appointed under the service. During my term of office, it shall the act of Congress of August 11, 1856. Under be my earnest endeavor to so apply the rules as the provisions of this act the northwest waterto secure the greatest possible reform in the boundary of the United States has been detercivil service of the Government; but it will re- mined and marked in accordance with the award quire the direct action of Congress to render the of the Emperor of Germany. enforcement of the system binding upon my successors, and I hope that the experience of the past year, together with appropriate legislation by Congress, may reach a satisfactory solution of this question, and secure to the public service, for all time, a practical method of obtaining faithful and efficient officers and employees. U. S. GRANT. President Grant's Fifth Annual

sage, December 1, 1873.

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I transmit herewith for the consideration and determination of Congress an application of the republic of Santo Domingo to this Government to exercise a protectorate over that republic.

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I invite the earnest attention of Congress to the existing laws of the United States respecting expatriation and the election of nationality by Mes-individuals. Many citizens of the United States reside permanently abroad with their families. Under the provisions of the act approved February 10, 1855, the children of such persons are to be deemed and taken to be citizens of the United States, but the rights of citizenship are not to descend to persons whose fathers never resided in the United States.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The year that has passed since the submission
of my last message to Congress has-especially
during the latter part of it-been an event-
ful one to the country. In the midst of great
national prosperity a financial crisis has occurred
that has brought low fortunes of gigantic pro-
portions; political partisanship has almost ceased
to exist, especially in the agricultural regions;
and finally, the capture upon the high seas of a
vessel bearing our flag has for a time threatened
the most serious consequences, and has agitated
the public mind from one end of the country to
the other. But this, happily, now is in the
course of satisfactory adjustment, honorable to
both nations concerned.

The relations of the United States, however, with most of the other powers continue to be friendly and cordial. With France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and the minor European powers; with Brazil and most of the South American republics, and with Japan, nothing has occurred during the year to demand special notice.

The accompanying papers show that some advance, although slight, has been made during the past year toward the suppression of the infamous Chinese cooly-trade. I recommend Congress to inquire whether additional legislation be not needed on this subject.

The money awarded to the United States by the tribunal of arbitration at Geneva was paid by Her Majesty's government a few days in advance of the time when it would have become payable according to the terms of the treaty. In compliance with the provisions of the act of March 3, 1873, it was at once paid into the Treasury, and used to redeem, so far as it might,

It thus happens that persons who have never resided within the United States have been enabled to put forward a pretension to the protection of the United States against the claim to military service of the Government under whose protection they were born and have been reared. In some cases even naturalized citizens of the United States have returned to the land of their birth, with intent to remain there, and their children, the issue of a marriage contracted there after their return, and who have never been in the United States, have laid claim to our protection, when the lapse of many years had imposed upon them the duty of military service to the only government which had ever known them personally.

Until the year 1868 it was left embarrassed by conflicting opinions of courts and of jurists to determine how far the doctrine of perpetual allegiance derived from our former colonial relations with Great Britain was applicable to American citizens. Congress then wisely swept these doubts away by enacting that “ any declaration, instruction, opinion, order, or decision of any officer of this Government which denies, restricts, impairs, or questions the right of expatriation, is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of this Government." But Congress did not indicate in that statute, nor has it since done so, what acts are to be deemed to work expatriation. For my own guidance in determining such questions, I required (under the provisions of the Constitution) the opinion in writing

The existence of this new republic was inaugurated by striking the fetters from the slaves in Porto Rico. This beneficent measure was followed by the release of several thousand persons illegally held as slaves in Cuba. Next the captain-general of that colony was deprived of the power to set aside the orders of his superiors at Madrid, which had pertained to the office since 1825. The sequestered estates of American citizens, which had been the cause of long and fruitless correspondence, were ordered to be restored to their owners. All these liberal steps In accordance with this principle, the restowere taken in the face of a violent opposition ration of the Virginius, and the surrender of the directed by the reactionary slaveholders of Ha-survivors of her passengers and crew, and a due vana, who are vainly striving to stay the march of ideas which has terminated slavery in Christendom, Cuba only accepted. Unhappily, however, this baneful influence has thus far succeeded in defeating the efforts of all liberalminded men in Spain to abolish slavery in Cuba, and in preventing the promised reform in that island. The struggle for political supremacy continues there.