The cost of coining 100 pieces at the New Orleans branch mint was, for 1838, 15 dollars 40 cents; for 1839, 2 dollars 99 cents; for 1840, 1 dollar 50 cents; and for 1841, 1 dollar 41 cents.

The cost of coining 100 pieces at the Charlotte branch mint was, for 1838, 72 dollars 18 cents; for 1839, 35 dollars 30 cents; for 1840, 37 dollars 70 cents; and for 1841, 37 dollars 79 cents.

The cost of coining 100 pieces at the Dahlonega branch mint was, for 1838, 67 dollars 4 cents; for 1839, 42 dollars 62 cents; for 1840, 42 dollars 51 cents; and for 1841, 28 dollars 50 cents.

VALUE of Specie and Bullion, Imported and Exported Annually, from 1821 to 1845.

PUBLIC LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE public lands, or lands not belonging to individuals or to corporate bodies, were, and continue to be, held, at least administratively, and for sale, as the property of the federal government; but under certain stipulations as bearing on the rights of the respective states, or territories, within which these lands are situated.

The lands lying east of the Mississippi, were, at the close of the revolution, claimed by the several states on the tenure of original colonial charters, which, although general in their terms, extended from sea to sea. At that period, the war had impoverished the coffers, increased the liabilities, and diminished the resources of the United States treasury, and recommendations were accordingly made to the several states, to cede their titles to the western lands in order to aid in the payment of the national debt. In accordance with this recommendation, several of the states ceded their titles to the lands claimed under their original patents.

"The tracts, thus ceded, embrace three separate territories. One of those territories, comprising Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa, a tract extending north of the river Ohio and west of Pennsylvania and Virginia, reaching northward to the northern boundary of the United States, and westward to the Mississippi, was originally claimed by Virginia; a state that was in the possession of Vincennes and Kaskaskias, having defended those places during the war of the revolution. Claims to the same territory, were urged by Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, which, together with Virginia, ceded to the union their rights to this tract. Georgia ceded to the union its claims to lands lying within the boundaries of the states of Alabama and Mississippi.* North Carolina and South Carolina ceded their claims to land lying within the state of Tennessee."+

The first tract was denominated the north-western territory. For the government of this territory, an ordinance was framed in 1787. The boundaries of the states within the limits of the territory, were fixed by the fifth article of the ordinance: that instrument providing, at the same time," that there should be formed therein not less than three, nor more than five states." The ordinance declares that "the legislatures of those districts, or new states, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress * Report of the Hon. William Cost Johnson, of Maryland, on the public lands, made in the House of Representatives, March 2, 1843.

The tract in the state of Ohio, known under the name of the Connecticut reserve, was excepted from the cession by Connecticut. This is now the basis of the Connecticut school fund.

assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bonâ fide purchasers ;"* and, also, that "no tax shall be imposed on lands, the property of the United States, and that, in no case, non-residents should be taxed higher than residents." Upon the same subject, the constitution of the United States expressly provides, that Congress shall have power to dispose of, and to make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other public property of the United States. The ordinance also prescribes, "that, when the several territories shall have attained a certain amount of population, they shall be admitted into the union upon an equal footing with the original states."

Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803. From the valuable object to be attained by the possession of the control of the entire navigation of the Mississippi, although without any clear constitutional authority, the sum of 15,000,000 dollars was paid.

The territory of Florida was purchased the 22nd day of February, 1819, by treaty concluded between Spain and the United States.

STATEMENT respecting the Lands acquired by the United States of North America, under Deeds of Cession, from the States, and from Foreign Nations.

Territory Northwest of the river Ohio, and East of the Mississippi river, ceded by the

States.

Unsold.

Indian Title.
Extinguished.

*These quantities in Ohio and Indiana are exclusive of the Virginia military district, containing 3,709,484 acres; and the Connecticut Western Reserve, containing 3,366,921 acres in the former state, and the reservation of 150,000 acres in the latter, to Clarke and his associates, which were reserved by the deeds of cession.

Territory North of Thirty-one Degrees North Latitude, and East of the Mississippi river, ceded by the States.

*The quantities put down as sold in the states of Alabama and Mississippi (north of the 31st degree of latitude), are exclusive of the lands ceded by the Chickasaw Indians, to be sold for their benefit. The area of this cession is

as follows:

* Ordinance of 1787, of the government of the territory north-west of the river Ohio.

* South of 31st degree of latitude.

+ South of 31st degree of latitude. Including the whole north-western territory to the Pacific ocean, and the lands west of the states of Missouri and

Arkansas.

This quantity of 846,295,680 acres includes the quantity of 132,295,680 acres, south of the La Platte river set apart by government for the emigrant Indians. Also, the 7,082,831 acres, in the territory of lowa proper, ceded to the United States.

NOTE. In the foregoing tables, the first column contains the quantity of land embraced in the cession; the second the quantity of land sold to September 30, 1841; the third, the quantity of land remaining unsold; the fourth the quantity of land to which the Indian title is extinguished; the fifth, the quantity of land to which the Indian title is unextinguished. The quantities of land put down in the several states and territories, except Ohio and Indiana, as remaining unsold, were necessarily made up, in a great measure, by estimates, as follows:-From the estimated area of the state, the quantity sold, and otherwise disposed of, was deducted, and the remainder treated as land remaining to be sold.

By treaties with the Indian tribes, large tracts of their territories have been ceded to the United States. In respect to the Aborigines on their lands, a writer in the Mechanics' Magazine remarks—

"Upon their own soil and among themselves, so far as their rights of person are concerned, the governments of those tribes are considered independent governments. It is true, that the government of the United States has assumed the right of purchasing their land to the exclusion of every other purchaser; but the territory of the Indians has never been offered for sale, by this country, without a fair and full purchase of their title. The first treaty made with them by us, was that of Greenville, in 1795; and as it may be considered a model of subsequent treaties, and may exhibit the tone of our policy regarding them, we would designate its general terms. By this treaty, perpetual peace is established; the Indians acknowledge themselves under the protection of the union, and engage to sell their lands to them only. Certain regulations, to be preserved between the two parties to the treaty, are embodied; and, in return, the United States engage to protect the Indians, to pay them in goods to a certain amount, and to make them certain annual stipulated payments. The relation of the government to the Indian tribes within our borders, is analogous to that of a guardian to a ward, and we trust that our intercourse with them will ever be charged with such responsibilities and duties.”

Upon the public domains which formerly belonged to England, France, and Spain, various claims have been made by individuals to tracts, either by virtue of occupancy, or under the title of grants, made by those governments, before the lands were ceded to the United States. In order to adjust those claims, or rights, commissioners have been appointed by several acts of Congress to examine the validity of those titles or claims, to decide upon them, or to report the facts upon which they are founded, to Congress. Titles derived from legitimate authority, have been confirmed; and claims have also been confirmed upon grounds of equity, although the legal titles had not been perfect.* In 1787, one

* Reports of these Land Boards are included in the American State Papers.

million and a half of acres was sold to the Ohio company, by which the state of Ohio was first colonised: Two years afterward, a contract was made with Mr. John Cleves Symmes, for the purchase of a million and a half of acres between the Great and Little Miami; but in consequence of the failure of the payment of the purchase money, the patent conveyed a much smaller tract.

The first act of Congress for the sale of public lands limited the sale to tracts of not less than four thousand acres each. This plan might have been convenient, but it was eminently favourable to land jobbing, by confining the purchase to a few rich persons, while those with small means were excluded from making such purchases from the government, and consequently obliged to pay high prices to the jobbers. In July, 1790, Alexander Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury, brought forward a scheme for the sale of the public lands, which provided

"That the tracts set apart to each settler, should not exceed 100 acres ; that the prices of the land sold under special contract, should be thirty cents per acre, payable in gold or silver, or in public securities, computing those bearing an interest of six per cent per annum, the same as gold and silver, and those bearing a future or less interest at a proportionate value. In every instance of credit it was required, that one quarter should be paid down, and independent security be given for the residue, and that all surveys of the land should be made at the expense of the purchaser."

Another law was passed by Congress in 1800, which facilitated the sale of the public lands, and a report was made in the House of Representatives, on the 23rd of January, 1804, recommending "a reduction of the size of the tracts offered for sale.

The minimum price for the public land, previous to the year 1800, was two dollars per acre, one-fourth of which was required to be made at the time of the purchase, and the remainder in three annual instalments, a discount of eight per cent being allowed if the purchaser paid in advance. Jobbers continued to purchase land extensively. Many of those jobbers, speculating on credit, were ruined. They were aided by the banks to an extent that was, among other causes, fatal both to the jobbers and to the banks.

The system now adopted for the survey, sale, and distribution of the public land appears, from the report of the commission of the general land office, to combine many facilities to purchasers and settlers. The tracts ordered to be brought into market are first surveyed and divided into townships of six miles square, and subdivided into sections of one square mile, each containing six hundred and forty acres. The lines are run parallel to the cardinal points, and cross each other at right angles, excepting where they are formed by an Indian boundary line, or the course of a stream. The sections are subdivided into quarter, half-quarter, and quarter-quarter sections, the first containing one hundred and sixty acres, the second eighty, and the third forty; their dimensions