Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

If not injustice, TO which tney are SuoleCt
ed, in consequence of the United States
continuing to own large quantities ofpub-
lie lands within their borders, not liable TO
taxation for support Of their local govern
ments. ,. s.--... -..
recommend the continuance Of the
policy Of granting pre-emptions, in Its
most liberal extent, to all those who have
settled, or may hereafter settle. on the pub,
lie lands, whether surveyed or unsurveyed
10 which the Indian title may have been
extlngushed at the time of settlement
1t has been found by experience, that in
consequence Of combinations of purchas-
ers and other causes. very small quantl-
ty Of the public lands, when sold at pub
lie 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
and Improvements at the public sales at
that rate; because these combinations, by
means Of the capital they command, and
their superior ability TO purchase, render
it impossible for the settler to compete with
them in market. Byputting down all compe.
ton, these combinations Of capitalists and
spec ulators are usually enabled to purchase
the lands, including the improvements ofthe
settlers, at the minimum price Of the gov
ernment, and either turn them out Of their
homes, or extort from them according to|
their ability 10 pay, double or quadruple
the amount paid for them to the govern
ment. 1t is the enterprise and perseve-
rance Of the hardy pioneers Of the West,
who penetrate the wilderness with their
families, suffer the dangers and hardships
attending the settlement Of new country,
and prepare the way for the body Of en-
ligrants who, in the course OF few years,
usually follow them, that we are in great
degree, indebted for the rapid extension
and aggrsndizement Of our country.
Experience has proved that no 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 defend her rights and her
honor whe never and by whatever enemy
, assailed. They should be protected from
the grasping speculator, and secured at
the minimu m price Of the public lands,
, in the humble homes which they have inn
proved by their labor. With this end in
view, all vexations Of unnecessary restric-
tions imposed upon them by the existing
preemption laws should be repealed or mod
flied. 1t is the true policy Of the govern.
ment to afford facilities to its citizens to be-
come the owners of small portions Of our
vast public domain at low and moderate
J rates.
i The present system Of managing the
mineral lands of the United States is be-
lieved to be radically defective. More
than million Of acres Of the public lands,
supposed to contain lead and other minerals
have been reserved from sale, and numer-
GUS leases upon them have been granted to
individuals upon a stipulated rent. The
system Of granting leases has proved to be
not only improbable to the government.but
unsatisfactory to the citizens who haye
gone upon the lands and must, if continued
lay the foundation Of much future difficulty
between the government and the lesees.-
According to the official records. the amount
Of rents received by the government for the
years 1541, 1912, 1s43 and 1874, was &c.
354 74,while the expenses of the system du-
ring the same periods including salaries of
upeaintendents,a agents. clerks, and inciden-
tai expenses were twenty.six thousand one
hundred and eleven dollars & eleven cents.
the income being less than one-fourth Of
the expenses. TO this pecuniary loss may
be added the injury sustained by the public
in consequence Of The destruction oftimber
and the careless and wasteful manner Of
working the mines. The system has Civ
en- rise to much litigation between the u
nited States and individual citizens, pro-
ducing irration and excitement in the min
eral region, and involving the government
in heavy additional expenditures. 1t is be-
lieved that similar losses and embarass-
ments will continue 10 occur while the
present system Of leasing the lands remains
unchanged. These lands are now under
the superintendance and care Of the War
Department, with the ordinary duties Of
which they have no proper or natural con-
nexion. | recommend the repeal Of the
present system, and that these lands be
placed under the seperintendance and man.
agement Of the General Land Office as
other public lands, and be brought into
market and sold upon such terms as Con-
gress in their wisdom may prescribe, re-
serving to the government an equitable per
centage Of the gross amount of the miner
al product, and that the preempton princi-
pie be extended 10 resident miners and set
tiers upon them, Mt 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 ar
my. and its operations during the past year
the state Of our defences; the condition of
the public works and our relations with
the variouslndian tribes within our limits or
upon ourbor ders Invite your attention to
the suggestions contained in that report, in
relation to those prominent objects ofnatlon