Democratic banner., 1847-01-04

the minimum rate authorized by existing laws,
and remain unSo!d. induces ne again to re-
commend he su'iectto YOUR favorable COLI
Sideration. Many millions If acres Of these
lands haze be-. 81, red in tic market TOR
mere than 30 wears, and larger quantities
for more than 10 or 60 Years: and being OF
an i%nicrior quality. they must remain unsafe
able for an iaic!init" period, unless tie
price at which they MAY be purchased shall
be reduced. To place a price upon item
above their real value is hot only TO prevent
their sale, and thereby derriv" the treasury
Of any income from that source, but is UNI
Just To the States in which they lie, because
it rrtards their growth and increase OF pep
~ulation, and because they have M power to
levy a tax upon them as upon other lands
within their limits, held by other proprIe-
tors than the United States, fer the support
of their local government.
The beneficial effects Of the graduation
.pliuciple have been realized by snmr of the
States owning the lands within t!trir limits.
in which it has been adopted. They have
been demonstrated also BY the United States
acting as the trustee OF the Chickasaw
tribe Of lndi ms in the sale of their lands
lying within the States Of Mississippi and
Alabama. The ChickaSaw lands. whi"l'
would not command in the market the mini
am price established by the laws OF the l.
nitcd States for the sale Of .hcir lands,
were in pursuance 81 the treaty of 1914
with that tribe, subsequently offered for
sale at graduated and reduced rates, for
limited periods. The result was, that large
quantities Of these lanes were purchased,
which wonid otherwise have remained mn,
sold.
The lands were disra.cd Of al thcir real
value, and many pcr>o's Of limited means
were enabled 10 purchase small tracts. up
on which they nave settled with their taml-
lies. That similar results would he produ-
ccd by the adoption 81 The graduation poll
cy by tn. United States, il all the States liz
which they are the owners of large bodies
Of lands which have been long in TIE market,
camno be doubted II cannot be a sound
policy to withhold large quantities of the
public lands from the use and occupation
If our citizens. by fixing upon them
prices which experience has shown they
will not command. On the contrary. ii is
Il wise policy to affold facilities to our citi-
els 10 become tie owners, at low and
moderate rates. of frccholds Of their own,
instead of being the tenants and dependents
Of others. If it be unprecedented that thc>c
lands, if reduced in price, would be Sccur-
ed in large quantities ty Spectators or
capitalists, TIE sales may hc restricted. i,
limited quantities, 10 actual settlers, or per
sors purchasing or purposes Of culti, ati"n
In my last anon unrSSa.r. ! submitted
for tue consIdcraticn of Congress tie pres
II tSyStem If managing tie mineral lands
ri the United States, and recommended
that they should be brnughtinto market ana
sold upon such terms and under Sucir IT,
strictions as Congress might prescribe. "
the act of TIE 18th of July last, preserved
lead mines and contiguous lands i'll the
States of Illinois and Arkansas, and Terri
tories of Wisconsin and Iowa." were au-
tIIorizcd to be sold. Tie act is confined,
in It's operation, to ''lcad mines and CONT
guOuS lands"
n large portion of TIE public lands con-
tanning copper and other ores is represented
TO be very valuable, and I recommend that
provision be made authorizing Tie sale of
these lands, upon such terms and conditions
as their supposed value, may, in the iudg-
lnent of Congress, be deemed advisable,
due regard TO Tic interests of such
Of cur citizens as may be located upon
them.
1t will be important, during our present
to establish a territorial govern
nent and to extend the jurisdiction and
avs of the United States ovcr the territory
Of Oregon. Our laws regulating trade and
Intercourse with the Indian tribes east of
he Rocky mountains should he extended,
o the Pacific ocean, and for the purpose of
executing them and preserving friendly re-
ationS with the Indian tribes within our
limits, an additional number of Indian a.
will lie required, and should be au-
horized by law. The establishment of Gus
om-houscs, and Of puSt-ofiiccs and pos, ,
Dads, and provision for the transportation .
# the mail on such routes as the public l
convenience will suggest, Require l%rgi=la- J
iv" authority. II viii be proper, also, 10
StabllSiI a surveyor generals office III that 8
e%rritory, and to MAX tie necessary rrnvis- -
on fer surv' yingthc rhlic la DIS, and bling >
ng them into Iuarktt. ASour citizens who q
reside in that distant region have been [
TO many h"rdStipS, priv"iions, (