Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-10-07
GRANT co. HERALD.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. T. 1919
CAyI. FOR A PUBLIC MEETING.

eissippi Mines, at Belmont on 'ne |o'" i"'
s,an,. The object Of the Meeting is to Tx the
attention of the next Congress upon The real
.ond,,;on and e1igency Of said District, by
reoresep,ing clearly the evils arising from The
presen. disposition of The reserved lands and
recommending their sale, as the only policy
caIcualed TO remedy those evils.
The necessity for this Meeting. and Tor en-
ergelic and determined action upon this sub
iect is written in the alarming fact that lead
ing objects Of the country are distracted by
conflicting interests AID con'endlng parties.
The one party cling 10 the reserves as ihelf
protection against monopoly and extortion.--
One of this class believes that sale OF the
.a;d Iaods must necessarily he fraudulent; a.
mother that the miner will loose share Of bis
present independence, upon becoming lessee
of The resident or occupant owner instead OF
being the tenant at will OF the Government
and all appear beyond every thing else' 10
d,ead he concentration Of the mineral lands
into a monopoly to be controlled by few IN
dividuals. The first of these objections sup
poses difficulties and danger upon road mark
ed out by the wisdom OF experience, and
which the successful preceden!s and exam
ples OF every day has proven to be both expe'
dient and safe. That men cannot be found
who are superior TO bribery and corruption IS
, view 40 limited and illiberal, that to attempt
TO correc, it is very much like an effort prove
tina, The right hand is not the left. The sec
ond OF these objections rests upon the ground
tina, independence is something deriving Its
sxis,ence from name, or that independence
is better preserved by leasing Of one miner
than another; for the present system OF mana
cling the reserves is subleasiDg one, and
such il must ever be, without the establish
ment OF an Agency involved in such heavy ex-
pense as TO cause its immediate and hnal abo-
lilion. This point admitted and another fol-
lows with equal or greater certainiy-ihat the
grea, majority Of the poorer miners will be-
come sub.lessecs, or tenants at the caprice and
mercy of those whose interest 10 the country
10 limited to lease, aud whose object is the
single and reckless one OF accumulation and
gain. But how is the sale Of the reserves 10
create monopoly Of rents Is 1t ascerainod
that men are iniuilively inciued TO exioriion
in mineral rents Do. suppostion without
reason or precedent in its favor must be ground
less, and neither certainly can be adduced.-
Even corporations swayinga capital OF mill
ions, in o shape the most easily controlled
have found themselves not only unable to sup
press, but tina, they were the marked objects
of competition. The extent, character and
price of our soil alone is safeguard against
monopoly that carries ils protection to The lar
,hesl time, TO every pursuit and every hearth
The miner does not belong 10 an exclusive
class, nor is he confined 10 an exclusive cali
ING. The miner to-day, he is the farmer, the
merchant, and i, may be member Of one OF
our learned professions tomorrow, and there
fore does no, need arbitrary protection or ex'
elusive rights.
The mineral reserves, under the wisest reg
ula.ons ha, can be adopted, are positive IN
Jury TO the country in which they exist. Even
when lefl omen 10 the free use OF tho miner,
and subiec, only to such occupancy as the
customs Of the country have established, the
reserves are so much land within the heart OF
community, not only exempt from taxation,
but which are actually impoverished to feed a
clsss Of men who are refused permanent res
idence by being denied title in Zee. and who
consequently. contribute little or nothing to-
wards the support Of society of the improve
ment Of the country. Again, the mineral and
agricultural products are thus separated Ia res
nee, TO identity Of interest, aud made, tot
great extent, TO draw in opposition TO each 9th
or. While the farmer hOds the market OPEN
ed hy the proseu, settlement Of the reserves, OF
very trifiinr extent and value, the miner upon
ihese lands is directly and deeply interested
10 the low price Of provisions, and consequent
" canno, be expected 10 supper, any policy
which is designed TO result adSanssgeousIy to
our agricultural market.
The frauds heretofore pefpetraied 10 The en-
try Of mineral lands is aaosher subject which
we are anxious TO see equi,ably adjusted
Every year ,ha, this matter lies in its present
si,raton places i, farther and farther beyond
the reach Of correction, aud il the past is 4
rule for the future. 1t will never be brought tr
n scrutiny until the sale Of the reserves 10 coup
led with il.
With regard 10 the best manner Of laying