The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-13

e for themselves and their families By adopting 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 con-
tinuing to own large quantities OF public lands
within their borders, not liable 10 taxation Tor the
Q support OF their local governments.
| recommend the continuance OF the policy OF
granting prescriptions, in its most liberal extent to
all those who have settled, or may hereafter settle.
hon the public lands, whether surveyed or unsur-
Neyed, to which the Indian title may have been
exiiogushed at the time of settlement II has been
found by experience, that in consequence OF com
binations Of purchasers and other causes, very
small quantity OF the public lands. when sold at
. public auction, commands higher price than the
minimum rate established by law The settlers
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 su
peror ability TO purchase, render II impossible for
the settler TO compete with them in the market BY
putting down all competition, these combinations
of capitalists and speculators usually enabled
to purchase the lands, including the improvements
of the settlers, at the mini mum price of the govern
ment, and either turn them out OF their homes, or
extort from them according to their ability to pay
double or quadruple the amount paid for them to
the government II is to the enterprise and perse-
verance of the hardy pioneers of the West, who
penetrate the wilderness with their families, suf-
fer the dangers, the privations, and hardshps at
tending the settlement of a new country, and pre-
pare the way for the body of emigrants who, in
the course OF few years, usually follow them, that
we are in great degree, indebted for the rapid ex-
tension and aggrandizement of our country.
Experience has proved that portion of 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 rights
and her honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
assaed. They should be protected from the grasp
ing speculator, and secured, at the minimum price
Of the public lands in the humble homes which
they have improved by their labor. With this end
in view, all vexations or unnecessary restric tious
imposed upon them by the existing pre-emption
laws, should be repealed or modified. II is the
true policy of the government TO afford facilities to
Its citizens TO become the owners OF small portions
Of our vast public domain at low and moderate
rates
The present system of managing the mineral
lands of the Uiited States is believed to be radi.
cally defective. More than million of acres of
the public lands, ,supposedto to contain lead and other
minerals, have been reserved from sale, and nu-
merous leases upon them have been granted to in.
dividuas upon stipulated rent, The system of
granting leases has proved to be not only unproft-
able to the government, but unsatisfactory to the
citizens who have gone upon the lands, and must,
if continued, lay the foundation of much future diff
ficulty between the government and the essees
According to the official records, the amount OF
rents received by the government for the years
1871, 1912, 1913, and 1874 was six thousand three
hundred and fifty -four dollars and seventy four
cents, while the expenses of the system during the
same period, including salaries Of superintend-
ents, agents. clerks, aud incidental expenses were
A.
lars and eleven cents-the income being less than
one-fourh of the expenses To this pecunlary loss
may be added the injury sustained by the public IN
consequence Of the destruction of timber and the
careless aud wasteful manner of working the
mines. The system has given rise to much ltiga-
ton between the United States and individual cit
liens, producing irritation and excitement ia 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 remains unchanged. These lands are now
under the superintendence and care of the War
| Department, with the ordinary duties OF hch
thsy have no proper or natural connexion. re-
commend the repeal of the present system and that
these lands be placed under The superntendence
and management of the General Land Office, as
other public ands and be brought into market and
sold upon such terms as Congress in their wisdom
equitable per centage of the gross amount ofmine.
raj product, and that the pre-empton principle he
extended to resident miners and settlers upon them
at the minimum price which may be established by
Congress,
| ! refer you to the accompanying report of the
Secretary Of War, for information respecting the
present situation of the army, and its operations
! during the pas! year; the state Of our defences;
the condition of the public works; and our rela-
tkax lid
its or upon our borders. invite your attention to
the suggestions contained IN that report. in relation
| to these prominent objects Of national interest
When orders were given during the past summer
for concentrating military force ON the western
| frontier of Texas, our troops were widely dis
persed, and in small detachments, occupying posts
remote fiom each other. The prompt and expedi-
tious manner in which an army, embracing more
than half ouT peace establishments, was drawn to.
gether on an emergency SO sudden, reflects great
credit on the officers who were intrusted with the
execution of these orders, well as upon the dis
cipline of The army itself To be in strength to
protect and defend the people and territory of
Texas, IN the event Mexico should commence
hostilities, or invade her territories with large
army which she threatened, | authorized the gen.
eral assigned TO the command of the army of occu.
patton to make acquisitions for additional forces
from several of the States nearest the Texan terri
toIy, anu "hiCh Couiu ihost cApeuluOusIy lurnlsn
them, if, in his opinion, larger force than that
under his command, and the auxiliary aid which.
under like circumstances, he was authorized TO
receive from Texas, should be required The
contingency upon which the exercise of this au-
thority depended, has not occurred. The circum-
stances under which two companies of State artil.
lerY from the city of New Orleans were sent into
Texas. and mustered into the service OF the United
States, fully stated in the report of the Secre-
tary of War. recommend to Congress that pro-
vision be made fol the payment of these troops, as
the commanding general thought it necessary to
receive or muster into our service.
During the last summer, the first regiment of
dragons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, part of them ad.
vancing nearly to the possessions Of the Hud son