Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-11

ney, in their own treasury, provided by themselye, but
must rely on the presidents, cashiers, and stockholders
of banking corporations, not appointed by them, nor
responsible to them, would be conceded that they are
incompetent of ell -govenment.
In recommending the establishment of a c%onstitu-
tional treasury, in which the public money shall be kept,
| desire that adequate provision be made by law for its
safety, and that all executive discretion or control over
it shall be removed, except such as may be necessary
in directing its disbursement in pursuance OF approprl-
ations made by law.
Under our present land system, limiting the minim-
um price at which the public lands can be entered to
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, large quaint
ties oflands of inferior quality remain unsold, because
they will not command that price. From the records
of the General Land Office it appears, that, of the pub
lie lands remaining unsold in the several states and
territories in which they are situated, thrty-nine mil
lions one hundred and five thousand five hundred and
seventy seven acres have been in the market, subject
to entry more than twenty years; f~orty-nine millions
six hundred and thirty-eight thous Ind six hundred and
forty -four acres for more than fifteen years seventy
three millions seventy-four thousand and six hundred
acres for more than ten years and one hundred and
six millions one hundred and seventy-siX THOUSAND nine
hundred and s~ixty-one acres for more than fVaASears.
Much the largest portion of these lands will continue
to be u~nsaleable at the minimum price at which are
permitted to be sold, so long as large territories of lands
from which the more valuable portions have not been
selected are annually brought into market by the gov
eminent. With the view to the sale and settlement Of
these inferior lands, | commend that the prise be
graduated and reduced below the present minimum
rate, combining the sales at the reduced prices to set
tiers and cultivators, in limited quantities. If gradua
ted and reduced in price for a limited term to one dol
lar per acre, and after the expiration of that period fu
a second and third term to lower rates, a large por
ton of these lands would be purchased, and many wor
thy citizens, who are unable to pay higher rates, coulC
purchase homes for themselves and families. By adopt
ing the policy of graduation and 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, if not injustice, to which they are
subjected, in consequence of the United States contin
uing to own large quantities of public lands within
their borders, not liable to taxation for the support o
their local governments.
| recommend the continuance of the policy of grant
ing Prescriptions, in its most liberal extent, to all those
who have settled, or may hereafter settle, on the pub
lie lands, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, to which
the Indian title may hav beed eXtDguished at the time
of settlement. 1t has been found by experience, thai
in consequence of combinations of purchasers and 9th
er causes, a very small quantity of the public lands
when sold at public auction, commands a higher price
than the minimum rate established by law. The set
tiers on the public lands are, however, but rarely able
to secure their homes and improvements at the public
sales at that rate because these combinations, by
means OF the capital they command, and their SUPER
or ability to purchase, render it impossible for the set
tier to compete with them in the market. By putting
down all competition, these combinations Of capitalists
and spectators are usually enabled to purchase the
lands, including the Improvements of the settlers, a
the minimum price Of the government, and either turf
them out ofthcir homes, or extort from them, according
to tleir ability to pay, double or quadruple the amount
paid tor them to the government. 1t is to the enter
prise and perseverance of the hardy pioneers of the
West, who penetrate the wilderness with their FAM
lies, suffer the dangers, the %privations, and hardships
attending the settlement ola new country, and prepare
the way for the body of ~emlgrants who, in the course
of q few years, usually follow them, that we are, In
great degree, indebted for the rapid extension and az
f grandlzement of our country.
Experience has proved that no portion of our popula
ton are more patriotic than the hardy and brave mel
of the frontier, or more ready to obey the call of thei
country, and to defend her rights and her honor
wherever, and by whatever enemy assailed. They
: should be protected from the grasping SPECTATOR, anc
secured, at the minimum price of the public lands, il
the humble homes which they have improved by thei
labor. With this end in view, all ~veXatious or unneces
sary restrictions imposed upon them by the existing
prescription laws should be repealed or modified. Il
is the true policy of the government to afford facilities
to its citizens to become the owners of small portions
of our vast puplic domain at low and moderate rates.
The present system of managing the mineral lands
of the United States is believed to be radically defec
tive. More thana million of acres of the public lands
supposed to contain lead and other minerals, have beer
reserved from sale, & numerous leases upon them have
been granted to individuals upon stipulated rent. The
system of granting leases has proved tobe not only I'M
profitable to the government, but unsatisfactory to the
citizens who have gone upon the lands, and must, il
continued, lay the foundation of much future difficulty
between the government and the l%essees. According
to the official records, the amount of rents received by
the government for the years 1871, 1912, l743, and
1914, was &6y354 "a, while the expenses of the system
during the sumo period, including salaries of superin-
~tendents, agents, clerks, and incidental expenses, were
t~wenty-siX thousand one hundred and eleven dollars
and eleven cents-thc income being loss than one
fourth of the expenses. To this pecuniary loss may
be added the injury sustained by the public in conse-
quence of the destruction of timber, and the careless
and wastetul manner of working the mines. The sys-
TEN has given rise to much litigation between the Uni
ted Suites and individual citizens, producing irritation
and excitement in the mineral region, and involving,
the government in heavy additional expenditures. 1t
is believed that similar losses and embarrassments will
continue to occur, while the present system of leasing
these lands remain unchanged. These lands are now
under the superintendent and care of the War De-
partment, with the ordinary duties of which they
have no proper or natural conneXion. | recommend
the repeal OF the present system, and that these lands
be placed under the superlntendenCc and management
of the General Land Office, as other public lands, and
be brought into market and sold upon such terms as
Congress in their wisdom may prescribe, r~eserving to
the government an equitable per centage Of the gross
amount of mineral product, and that the presumption
principle be extended to resident miners and settlers
upon them at the minimum price which may be estab-
lished by Congress.
+ | refer you to the accompanying report of the Sec
rotary of War, for information respecting the present
situation of the army, and its operations during the
past year; the state of our defences; the condition of
the public works; and our relations with the various
Indian tribes within our limits Or upon our borders. |
invite your attention to the suggestions contained in
that report, in relation to those prominent objects OF
national interest.
/ When orders were given during the past summer
for concentrating a military force Oh the western from
tier ofTeXas, our troops were widely dispersed, and in
small detachments, occupying posts remote from each
other. The prompt and expeditions manner in which
on army, embracing more than half our peace estab-
lishment, was drawn together on an emergency so sud
den, reflects great credit on the officers who were in
trusted with the execution of these orders, as well as
upon the discipline of the army itself. To be in
Y.I-- l. II 1-H-l II