THE NAVAL OFFICER.

12. The Naval Officer is another of the principal Custom House officers employed in the collection of the revenue. He is appointed in the same way as is the Collector and the Surveyor, and is removable in the same manner. His compensation, also, is dependent on the same circumstances. His duties, to some extent, are the same as the Collector's, and serve as a check, or a sort of re-examination of his work for the sake of accuracy and correctness. Hence it is his duty to receive copies of all manifests and entries, and to compute the duties on all goods subject to pay duties. He must keep a separate record thereof. He must countersign all permits, clearances, certificates, debentures, and other documents to be granted by the Collector. He must also examine the Collector's computation of duties, and his receipts, bonds, and expenditures, and certify their correctness, if found right.

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS.

13. In the year 1849 a new bureau was created by act of Congress in the Treasury Department, the head of which is styled "the Commissioner of Customs." This was done to increase the operative power of the department, and to relieve the First Comptroller of the Treasury, whose duties had become too onerous to be efficiently performed by one man. By the act in question, all the duties and powers of the First Comptroller of the Treasury, so far as they related to receipts from customs, and to the accounts of collectors and other officers of customs, were transferred to the new Commissioner and bureau under

the

his supervision. Hence it became his duty to examine and adjust all accounts with Custom House officers, to prepare forms of all papers to be used in the collection of the revenue from customs, and to direct the form and manner of keeping accounts of the same; to bring suits for of all debts due from revenue officers, and to recovery report to Congress any default or neglect of duty on their part. This affords another example of the manner in which Congress is made acquainted with the conduct of Govern ment officials, and the state of things in every department and bureau. The Commissioner of Customs is appointed by the President and Senate, holds his office for the same time, and receives the same compensation as the First Comptroller of the Treasury.

CHAPTER XLIX.

The Public Lands.

1. THE whole area of land lying within the boundaries of the United States, is, according to published official statements 3,002,013 square miles, or 1,921,288,320 acres. Before the establishment of the present Government, and during our colonial condition, much of this land had been sold and otherwise disposed of by the English Govern. ment, and had become the property of individuals. Their possessions were not disturbed by the United States, or by any of the State Governments after the Revolution, which changed the whole country from the possession of the English, to that of the American Government; with the exception of that which belonged to those who were enemies to the United States, during the Revolution. This was confiscated and fell back into the possession of the United States, or of the States in which it laid.

2. But all which had not been disposed of became the property of the Government, excepting such portions as belonged to the Indians, the original owners of the whole of America. Thus the Government became a great land-holder from its very outset. From this, and from what follows, it will be seen that it has been one of the greatest land dealers in the world; for in addition to that

here spoken of it has purchased immense tracts from which many of the present States and Territories were formed.

The Louisiana purchase, as it has always been termed, was made of France in 1803. Out of it the States of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri were formed. The sum of $15,000,000 was paid for it. Then in the year 1819, the United States by treaty purchased Florida of Spain. In 1836, Texas seceded from Mexico, and after a war with her gained her independence, and in 1845 asked to be admitted as one of the United States. This propo sition was accepted, and she was admitted accordingly. All her public lands came into the possession of our Gov

ernment.

3. Subsequently to this, and after the late war with Mexico, we purchased of her all the northern part of that country, embracing California, New Mexico and other extensive regions. This again added several hundred thousand square miles to our public domain.

To all these must be added the immense tracts bought of the Indians. And to all of which must be added the great purchase made early in the year 1867, from Russia, of all her possessions in North America, for $7,000,000 in gold. This increases our public domain, by between three and four hundred thousand square miles.

4. But the Government does not want all this land. It has no use for more than a few acres in certain locations for the sites of public buildings, and of military works.

The object therefore is to sell it to those who want it for farms and other purposes, that it may furnish homes for the people, be made productive, and thus added to the wealth of the nation. To accomplish this a General Land

Office was established by act of Congress, in 1812, at Washington. This office was at first attached to, or was a Bureau of the Treasury department, but in 1849 it was attached to the department of the Interior. The head of this office is called

COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

5. He is appointed by the President and Senate, must take the usual official oath, before entering on his duties, and must give the usual official bond. He keeps the seal of his office, and fixes an impression of it upon all papers emanating from the land office. He, with his clerks and assistants from the Bureau, keep all the records and papers pertaining to the public lands, and perform all duties. relating thereto. He receives reports from surveyors, and from the district land officers, gives them their instructions, and reports to the President, and to Congress when required to do so.

He issues all patents for lands granted by the United States, and sends and receives by mail all papers and documents relating to his official business under the franking privilege. Every patent for land is issued in the name of the United States, is signed by the President and by the Commissioner of the Land Office, and is then recorded. in books kept for that purpose.

SURVEYORS GENERAL AND DEPUTY SURVEYORS.

6. When it is deemed necessary and expedient to bring the lands in any particular State or section of the country into market, a surveyor general is appointed for that