True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-12-24

lConclndeI 80 2d go. !


may hereafter settle, on the public lands,
whether surveyed or unsurveyed,t 10 which
the Indian title may have been extinguish
ed at the time of settlement. Ii has been
found by experience, that a combination of
purchases aud other causes, very small
quantity ofthe pnbic lands, when sold at
public auction, commands higher price
than the minimum rate established by
law. The settlers ou the public lands, are
however, but rarely able TO secure their
homes and improvements at the public
sales at their rate; because these combtaa-
IONS, by means of the capital they com
mand, and their superior ability 10 par-
CHASE, renders it impossible for the settler
TO compete with them in the market BY
putting down all competition these combi
nations Of capitalists and spectators are
usually enabled to purchase the lands, in
GLIDING the improvements Of the settlers,
Mt the minimum price of the government,
and either tun them ont Of their homes,
or cytolt foga them, according TO their
ability TO pay, double or quadruple the
amount paid for them to the government.
1t is 10 the enterprise and perseverance of
the hardy pioneers OF the West who pene-
tgate the wilderness with their families,
suffer the dangers, the priyations, and
hardships attending the settlement Of
new country and prepare the way for tae
body of emigrants who, in the course Of
few wears, usually follow them, that we are,
in great degree, indebted for the rapid
extension and aggrandizoment ofour coun-
try.
Experience has proved that no portion
of our population are more patriotic than
the hardy and brave men of the from
tier, or more ready to obey the call Of
their country, and to defend her rights
and her honor, whenever aud by what
ever enemy assai'od. They should be
protected from the graSping SPECTATOR
and secured, at the minimum price OF
the public lands, ia the humble homes
which they have improved by their Ia
Dor. With this end in view. all yeXa-
tious or unnecessary restrictions imposed
upon them by the existing presumption
law should be repealed or modified. Il
is the true policy Of the government 10
afford facilities to its citizens 10 become
The owners Of small portions Of our
vast public domain at low aud moderate
rates.
The present system of managing the
mineral lands of the United States IS be-
licved TO be radically defective. More
than a million Of acres Of the public lands,
supposed TO contain lead and other mia
erals, have been reserved from sale, and
numerous leases upon them have been
granted upon a stipulated rent The sys-
TEN of granting leases has proved 10 be
not only improbable to the government
but unsatisfactory TO the citizens who
have gone upon the lands, and must, if
continued, lay the foundation of much
future difficulty between The government
and the lesSees. According 10 the Off
cial records, the amount of rents received
bv the government for the years lS4l,
1912, 1913, and 1884, was SG,35l "a,
while the expenses of the system during
the same period, including salaries OF
suparintendentS, agents, clerks, and in
cidontal expenses, were S26, III 1.-The
income being less than one-iounh OF the
expenses. To this pecuHiary loss may
be addGl the injury sustained by the
public in consequence OF the destruction
OF timber, and the careless aud wastJtui
manner of working the mines. HE sys
Hcm has given rise to much litigation
between the United States and inI!yid-
ual citizens, producing irritation aud eX-
element in The mineral region, and in
voving the government. NJ heavy addi-
tonal expenditures. II is. believed that
similar losses and embarrassmeuis viii
continue to occur, while the present sys-
ten of leasing these lands remains I'M
changed. These lands are now under
the superintendent and care Of tie War
Department, with the ordinary duties OF
which they have no proper or natural
CONFESSION. / recommend the repeal of
tie present system, aud that these lands
be placed under the superintendent 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,
raserving 10 the government an equitable
PER ceniage OF the gross amount ofminoral
product, aud that the pre-. empdon prin-
cipic be extended 70 resident miners ana +
settlers upon them, al the minimum price
which may be established by Congress
Infer you TO the accompanying repat Of
thc Secretary cl War, Tor the Informative rc-
sQeetior the urfscut situ1iiUn Of The army. and