I would recommend for your favorable consideration the passage of an enabling act for the admission of Colorado as a State in the Union.  It possesses all the elements of a prosperous State, agricultural and mineral, and, I believe, has a population now to justify such admission.  In connection with this I would also recommend the encouragement of a canal for purposes of irrigation from the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Missouri River.  As a rule I am opposed to further donations of public lands for internal improvements owned and controlled by private corporations, but in this instance I would make an exception.  Between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains there is an arid belt of public land from 300 to 500 miles in width, perfectly valueless for the occupation of man, for the want of sufficient rain to secure the growth of any product.  An irrigating canal would make productive a belt as wide as the supply of water could be made to spread over across this entire country, and would secure a cordon of settlements connecting the present population of the mountain and mining regions with that of the older States.  All the land reclaimed would be clear gain.  If alternate sections are retained by the Government, I would suggest that the retained sections be thrown open to entry under the homestead laws, or sold to actual settlers for a very low price.

I renew my previous recommendation to Congress for general amnesty.  The number engaged in the late rebellion yet laboring under disabilities is very small, but enough to keep up a constant irritation.  No possible danger can accrue to the Government by restoring them to eligibility to hold office.

I suggest for your consideration the enactment of a law to better secure the civil rights which freedom should secure, but has not effectually secured, to the enfranchised slave.

U.S.  GRANT.

SPECIAL MESSAGES.

WASHINGTON, December 2, 1873.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I herewith transmit to Congress a report, dated the 2d instant, with accompanying papers,[76] received from the Secretary of State, in compliance with the requirements of the sixteenth and eighteenth sections of the act entitled “An act to regulate the diplomatic and consular systems of the United States,” approved August 18, 1856.

U.S.  GRANT.

[Footnote 76:  Report of fees collected, etc., by consular officers of the United States for 1872, list of consular officers and their official residences, and tariff of consular fees.]

WASHINGTON, January 5, 1874.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit, for the consideration of the Senate with a view to ratification, a convention for the surrender of criminals between the United States of America and the Republic of Honduras, which was signed at Comayagua on the 4th day of June, 1873.