The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1845-12-19
great degree, indebted for the rapid ex-
tension aud aggrandzement Q + our coun-

Q tension and aggrandizement 0 4 our coun
I try. M
r Experience has proved that no portion
of our population are more patriotic thar
the hardy and brave men Of the frontier
or more ready to obey the call of thei
country, and to defend her rights and he
honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
assailed. They should be protected from
the grasping specuator, and secured a
the minimum price Of the public lands, ir
the humble homes which they have i'm
proved by their labor. With this end in
view, all vexatious or unne cessary resric
tions imposed upon them by the existing
preemption laws should be repealed ol
; modified. 1t is the true policy of the
government to afford facilities to its citi-
zens to become the owners Of small por.
tions.of our vast domain at low and mod.
crate rates.
The present system of managing the
mineral lands of the United States is be
lleved to be radically defective. More
than million Of acres Of the public lands,
supposed TO contain lead and other min
erals, have been reserved from sale, and
numerous leases upon them have been
granted to individuals upon stipulated
rent The system of granting leases has
proved to be not only Improbable TO the
government, but unsatisfactory to the cit
zens who have gone upon the lands, and
must, if continued, lay the foundation of
much future difficulty between the gov,
ernment and the lessees. According to
the Official records, the amount of rents
received by the government for the years
lS4l, 1912, 1S43, and 1914, was So 1854 "A,
while the expenses of the system during
The same period, including salaries Of SUI
perintendents, agents, clerks, an incl
dental expenses, were $26, i'll 1.-THE in.
come being less than one>fourth the ex-
penses.
To this pecuniary loss may be added
the injury sustained by the public in con.
sequence of the destruction Of tim Der, and
the careless and wasteful manner of work
ing the mines. The system has given
rise to much litigation between the Uni-~
ted States and individual citizens, produ-
cling irritation and excitement in the min
eral region, and involving the govern.
meht in heavy additional expenditures.
1t is believed that similar losses a nd en-
barrassmenls will continue to occur,
while the present system of leasing these
lands remains unchauged. These lands
are now under the superini endence and
care Of the War Department, with the or.
dnary duties of which they have no prop
er or natural connexion.
recommend the repeal of The present
system, and that these lands be placed un-
der the superinte ndence and management
of the General Land Office, as other pnb-
lie lands, and be brought into market and
sold upon such terms as Congress in their
wsdom may prescribe, reserVins 90 The
Government an equitable per centage Of
the gross amount of mineral product, and
that the pre-. emption principle be extend>
ed 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 con-
diton of the public works; and our rela>
tions with the various Indian tribes with,
in our limits or upon our borders. l in
yite your attention to the suggestions con-
tanned In that report, in rela ton 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 dispersed, aud in small
detachments. occpyng posts remote from
each other. The prompt aud expeditions
manner in which an army, embracing
more than half our peace establishment,
!" 40 A'""h 'HStNHCi uu dH emergency SO /
sudden, reflects great credit on the officers
who were entrusted with the execution
'f these orders, as well as upon he dis
'ipllne of the army itself. To be in
strength 10 protect aud defend tie people
and territory of Texas, in the event that
Mexico should commence hostililies, or
invade her territories with large army,
which she threatened, | authorized the
General assigned to The command of the
lrmy of occupation to make acquisitions
or additional forces from several of the
States nearest the Texian territory, and
Which could most expeditiously furnish
hem, ii, id his opinion, a larger force than
hat under bis command, and the auxillaryl
i'd, which under like circums tances, he
vas authorized to receive from Texas,
hould he ranuired The cont;n~aso. +,