Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-11-02

the Peace, Iwoald recommend the early ae- ic
on of the Legislative Assembly in defining the 10
irisdics;on and powers of the several Courts OF
nj. territory. dividing the territory into Judicial u
;s,ricts. and psescribing the times and places Of
oiiiog the proper courts. There is now in con- p
ement in several counties in this territory, ci-
mails chafeed with capital offences; and the due q
administration Of justice requires they should be g
RED az early as competent courts can be organized
The iudiciary is Of the most important branch-
e. Of our territorsl gorernmeni; the lives, hberty
and property of al classes of the community de-
ponds on the due and impartial administration OF
the laws.
would reeon1re nd 70 the Legislative Assembly, Il
~ e.. earl; aT q their sion. thai memorial De
rded To ire Congress of the United STATES, ON
the subject OF e1l.nding the right Of prescription.
10 numerous an respectable portion OF the IN /
habi.ants Of Ibis rrisory, who are now settled on /
the public IandA The policy heretofore pursued /
By the goyernmen, in grating the right of pre-
eIopf; On u actual settlers, has induced many s,:-
lies 9. szra.s territory believing the same
indulgence would be extended 10 them that had |
bees grained 10 Others. Relying on the justice OF
the nj, they have invested all their means
in he iInpros emeat Of this country; and 70 be
placed ia eosape.iioa with spectators i'll the pur-
ehasa 81 their fosEes would bring ruin and disfe s.
On ma ny families 1he actual settlers the pub
lie lands have bosgt tins territory into notice and
have Deea the means of producing large amount
in he Jsess..= =! ne pup
lie lands were intended for the benefit Of the actual
settler who depends alone Oh me soil for support.
They are ready a; all times To defend their homes
a; the risk Of every thing dear to frsemen. BY
IRA a;ng them the night Of pre-empion they viii be
enabled 10 purchase their homes at goyernment
nrires which 10 small boon extended TO this mere
torious class of the community, for all the priya
tons incident TO the settlement sf new country.
The policy OF the government in grating pfs-eInp-
ton rights to actual settlers, has groyrn 18th the
growth AMI strengthened with the strength Of the
western country. Its a policy, wise and just
The relation Of landlord and tenant, should never
exis. in this country, it is contrary TO the spirit of
orr free Institutions; and surely the representatives
Of great and enlightened people will shield the
actual settler and his family from the ayaricious
grasp Of the speculator. Congress having passed
law at their last session, granting 70 the actual
occupants Of town lots on the land n the United
States the privilege Of purchasing their lots at
fixed price, hes established precedent that gives
the actual settlers strong claims the justice Of
the government. From the present state Of the
United States Treasury, would seem there could
be no necessity tor selling the public lands to tn
actual settler at the high price of one dollar and a
quarter acre. in justice, the price of tho public
| lands should he reduced and graduated according
to the value Of the land. From the great extent Of
the public domain of tho territory, yet TO be sur
4
greatly promoted by the establishment of Sur
lyeyor Generals Office within their territory, and
the location Of two Land Offices west of the Mis-
sissippi.
Iwould suggest the propriety Of memorializing
Congress TO the justice of granting all the mi
ners who have obtained the owne rsbp of mine raj
grounds, under the regulations Of The superinten-
dent of the United States Lead Mines, either by
idiscoyery purchase, the right Of presumption in
the purchase Of their mineral lots at tho minimum
price of the public lands. by tho pcrseyering in
dustry CT tho miners, the lead mines have greatly
increased in value; they have been in war, many
Of them, the brave defenders Of the mining region
of country; they were invited by the government,
through thei agents, 10 explore and work the Unit
ed States mines. This meit0rious class Of the
community have strong claims ON the iuslice and
liberty of .io gUyuinnrHr, uiat trust viii not be
withheld from them. by selling tho United States
! lead mines, without reservation securing the
rights Of the mincrs, they would be deprived OF
valuable mineral gfounds tlat they have exercised
ownership over for years; they would not be able
to compete with spectators, whose object will be
to make monopoly Of all the mineral grounds in
this extensive lead region of country.
I j would recommend q memorial to Congress
should be prepared, al an early day Of tho Lcgis-
latye Assembly, oDhc subject Of the necessary In
ternal Improvements in this territory. Forty thou
sand dollars was appropriated the last session of
Congress, for the removal Of the distractions in the
rapids, Of the Mississippi. would suggest the
propriety Of asking Of Congress an appropriation
OF two hundred anh fifty thousand dollars for the
conclusion Of ti,isimportan, public measure. The
annual transportation over these Rapids. amount
to several millions Of dollars Tho great increase
in tho commerce Of the Upper Mississippi within
the last two years, the large amount of lead annti-
ally shipped from tho Lead Mines, now suficien,
for the consumption of the United States, and the
nj the nhf 1o,xd oh.
of the Upper Mississippi, where towns arc build
ing an the most eligible situations, gives tho citi-
zens OF this ieritery strong claims OH the patron-
age Of their government.
The shipping interest o., Lake Michigan for the
last two years has increased 10 q vast extent, and
little has been done by the Government TO protect
H. appropriations for the construction Of harbors
and lighthouses asc Of the first importance to pro-
tect our commerce, as we'll the lives Of enterpriz-
ing citizens on Lake Michigan. Many lives, and
property 10 a large amount, has been lost for the
want Of tho necessary harbors on this Lake.
would suggest the pfoprieiy of asking of Congress
az appropriation sufficient to cover the expenses Of
surveying all the necessary harbors ON Lake Michi-
gnn, and me construction Of such hnrbors and light
houses, AZ the most eligible sitsations for the se-
curity and protection of our lake trade.
Inc improvement OF the navigation of Fox riv.
or, consider subject Of great Importance to tho
citizens of this territory, and recommend that an
appropriation be asked Of Congress for survey Of
tho Fox river from Green Bay TO Fort Winncbago.
mall appropriation would remove the ebs,rIc-
tons AT the Grand and Little Kakan, and by cut
ting canal short distance, ono third Of the dis
TANGO Hould be shortened between Lake Winneba-
go and the portage Of tho Wisconsin, aud Fox aiv-
ss. A Canal, already commenced, Of one mile
and quarter, will connect the waters Of Wiscon-
sin and Fox rivers. This important public work
mas Desn commenced by an entsrprisng company,
under charter from the territory of Michigan. and
nm NM expected, will be completed tho next season.
Wlsh tho improvement Of the navigation of the
Io1 river, and connecting the waters of tho Wis
cousin with that river, we would have an internal
sSo.mmunication between Lake Michigan and the
mississippi river, which would greatly facilitate our
SuNMIoIelR OnorafiONa OH tho Lakca m we'll M ahn