The public domain had its origin in cessions of land by the States to the General Government.  The first cession was made by the State of New York, and the largest, which in area exceeded all the others, by the State of Virginia.  The territory the proprietorship of which became thus vested in the General Government extended from the western line of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River.  These patriotic donations of the States were encumbered with no condition except that they should be held and used “for the common benefit of the United States.”  By purchase with the common fund of all the people additions were made to this domain until it extended to the northern line of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and the Polar Sea.  The original trust, “for the common benefit of the United States,” attached to all.  In the execution of that trust the policy of many homes, rather than large estates, was adopted by the Government.  That these might be easily obtained, and be the abode of security and contentment, the laws for their acquisition were few, easily understood, and general in their character.  But the pressure of local interests, combined with a speculative spirit, have in many instances procured the passage of laws which marred the harmony of the general plan and encumbered the system with a multitude of general and special enactments which render the land laws complicated, subject the titles to uncertainty, and the purchasers often to oppression and wrong.  Laws which were intended for the “common benefit” have been perverted so that large quantities of land are vesting in single ownerships.  From the multitude and character of the laws, this consequence seems incapable of correction by mere administration.

It is not for the “common benefit of the United States” that a large area of the public lands should be acquired, directly or through fraud, in the hands of a single individual.  The nation’s strength is in the people.  The nation’s prosperity is in their prosperity.  The nation’s glory is in the equality of her justice.  The nation’s perpetuity is in the patriotism of all her people.  Hence, as far as practicable, the plan adopted in the disposal of the public lands should have in view the original policy, which encouraged many purchasers of these lands for homes and discouraged the massing of large areas.  Exclusive of Alaska, about three-fifths of the national domain has been sold or subjected to contract or grant.  Of the remaining two-fifths a considerable portion is either mountain or desert.  A rapidly increasing population creates a growing demand for homes, and the accumulation of wealth inspires an eager competition to obtain the public land for speculative purposes.  In the future this collision of interests will be more marked than in the past, and the execution of the nation’s trust in behalf of our settlers will be more difficult.  I therefore commend to your attention the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary of the Interior with reference to the repeal and modification of certain of our land laws.