The Arkansas banner., 1845-12-24

and reduced ill price for limited term to ssl per acre, and after the expiration oi mat nerlod. for a second and third term lower rates. large portion ol these lands would he purchased, and many worthy citizens, who are unable to pay higher rates, could nurchase homes for themselves and theIf
 families. By adopting the policy oi gradua- tiorh ssnd reduction of price, these inferior
 lands will be sold for their real value, while the States in which they lie, will be freed from the inconvenience of the U. S conlin- ing to own large quantities ot pubic lands within their borders, not liable to taxation for the support oi' theirlocal governments
 recommend the continuance of the poll- cy of granting pre-empHohs, III Us most iiD- era extent, to all those who have settled or may hereafter settle on the public lahdss whether surveyed ot unsurveyed to which the Indian title may have been eXtinguished, at the time of settlement It has been found by experience, that in consequence ot com bnations of purchasers and other causes, very small quantity of the pubic lands when sold at public auction, commands highef price than the minimum rate established by law. The settlers on the public lands are however, but rarely able to secure thef homes and Improvements at the pubic saieS at that rate; because these combinations. nA means of the capital they commauti, and theif superior ability to purchase, render Il iihPos- sble for the settler to compete with them Ill the market By putting down all comPelt- ton. these combinations of capitalists and speculators are usually enabled to purchase l d., n settlers, at the minimum price ol the goverh- ment. and either turm them out ol their homes or exlorl from them, according to thelf abli- itv to pav, double or qnadmple the amount paid for them to the government 1t IS to
 the enterprise and perseverance oi the
 hardy pioneers of the West, who penetrate
 the wilderness with their families, suffer the
 dangers, the privations, the hafdshps atlend-
 ing the settlement of a new country, and pre- pare the way for the body ol the emigranls
 who. in the course of few years, usually
 follow them, that we afe, in d great Gegfee, indebted for the rapid extension and aggran- dizement of our cod ltfv.
 Experience has proved that no portion ot our population are more patriotic than the hardy and brave men of the frontier. or more ready to obey the call of their country, and
 to defend her rigl.ts and honor, whenever and ] by whatever enemy assaled, They should be protected from the gfasPlng speculation and secured, at the minimum Pfice oi the public lands. ill the humble homes which they have improved by their labor. With i this end in view. all vexatIouS or unBeceS- sary restrictions imposed upon them by the i ia,VS no Il. ] ed or modified It is the true policy of the government to afford facilities to its citizens lo become the owners of small portiol ol our vast public domain at low and moderate ~"tes
 Fine present system ofmanaging the min erai ands of the United States Is believed te be radically defective. More than d million ol acres ol pubic lands, supposed to contain l lead and other minerals, have been reserved
 from sale, aad numerous losses upon them
 have been granted To individuals upon stip-
 ulated rent. 'Fhe system of graalIlig lease:
 has proved to be not only unpfoitabIe to tht
 government, but unsatisfactory 10 the citizens
 who have gone upon the lands, and must,
 continued, lay the foundation oI much lutur
 difficulty between the governmennt and th,
 lessees. According to the official records
 the amount of rents received by the govern
 ment for the years 1S4l, 1872, 1913 an,
 lSl4, was S6, 6,35I 74, while the expenses c
 the system during the same period, ineIudln: salaries of uperntendentS, agents, clerks, an' !. incidental expenses, were 92j, III ll-tf
 income being less than one fourth oi the eX
 penses. To this perunlary loss may be add
 ed the injury sustained ny the pubIic ln con sequence ofth dest.uctlon or timber, and th
 careless all Wastelul manner of working th , mines The system has given rIse to muc
 Litigation betHeen the UniteG 5 ates and lndl , Vldual citizens, producing irritation and eX f cltemeHt Ill the mineral region, and lnyolyf1 the government in heavy additional expenses } It Is believed that similar losses and enbaf rassmenls will continue to occur, whlle tn present system of leasing these lands renal
 unchanged. These lands ate noW under Ill , superIHtendeHce of the War Department, wit : the ordinary duties ol Nhlch they have n proper or natural couneXion. recommen tHe repeal ol the present system. aud lha
 these lands be placed under the supnrInteno 9 ehce and management 0i the General Land oi flee. as other public lands, and be broug .nto market and sold upon such terms d , Congress in their wisdom may prescribe. re se.vlngto the government an equitable pr cenI , age of the gross amount of mineral pfodac l and that the pre-emptlon principle be extend ed 10 resident miners and settlers upon lhel al the minimum plce winch may be estab llshcd by Congress.
 refer yoa to the accompanying report c | the Secretary ot War, To. nlofmatIol re P specung the present situation oi the army l and It's operations during the past year; ln | slate o our delences; the c0util,IuH oi til = publlc works, and our relatIous With the ya rlous Indian tubes within our lnnIt, or upu | oar borders. nvue your attention to th r suggestions conlalneu III that report, ln rcli
 ton 10 these ptominenI objects oi natloua ] interest.
 When orders were given the past summe Tor concentrating a inll,ary force on the es l tern frontier of Texas, our troops were wldel dispersed and in small deiachuaenls, OCCUPY Ing posts remote from each other. I'm prompt and eXPediious manner Ill which al
 army, embracing more than halt our peac establishment, was drawn together on al emergency so sudden, reAects great credit ol
 the officers who were entrusted wIlh the exc
 cution of these orders, as well as upon th