Washington telegraph., 1850-11-13

,.,ce the days OF the crusades, have su ch
p5ultitudes been seen, moved by one im-
,,use. as have made their way across
:,,oun,ains, plains, and deserts. to the far
,,f Ophir of the Pacific. If reported
mineral wealth in California, remote as
cbe is from any portion of the civilized
world, with so many obstacles and dan
cprs to surmount in reaching her, is made
accessible by the hope of gain, why
shoud we not. occupying The very centre
of the most enlightened and enterprizing
nation on earth, lacking not one natural
element of greatness enjoyed by the
most prosperous of the States-eXpect a
like influx of population aud wealth.
when we shall in the proper manner
make known our superior resources!-
If however, we remain inactive, and
treat all these valuable gifts of nature
with so little consideration, as not even
70 bestow upon them an examination.
can we reasonably expect private enter
prise, having no identity with the State,
or interest in her prosperity, to under
take task deemed by our Legislature
either unwor ,hy of their attention, or too
oioantic TO be undertaken by them!
1t is your duty, as faithful guardians OF
the peoples interests, to examine lhlo
shis subject, and take such action as Will
.,resent Io the world our superior adVah-
.aoes. We must move, and that speedl-
", upon this subject. If we Woulc not
see ourselves a barren waste, IN the midst
of prosperity; all arid spot, in tertlie
Garden. This is an age OF advancement;
and, unless we keep pace with 1t, we
ran bu: expect to be left in the rear OF
those States, far below us i'll every thing
with which nature can enrich.
Believing that it is not yet too late, by
a proper application of the means IN our
hands and the development OF the resohf-
ces at our command, 10 take that position
among the States of this Union. SO much
~ be desired, and for which nature has
manifestly designed us, [ deem it my
dutv, as it is my pleasure, 10 recommend
10 vour favorable consideration the adcp-
sion of certain measures. which the ll,
terest uf the State demands.
would recommend that speedy aud
efficient means be provided to procure
thorough geological survey of the State,
by some man of ability and reputation.
Every consideration OF public policy aud
public expectation demands this at your
hands: because il is known, that nothing
is waning to rive us the ouly elements
of greatness which We need-population
and weallh-but that our resources shJu Juid
he made Known aud in no other way
can this be SO efficiently done as 10y caus-
inc our mineral wealth to be made
known TO the world III an authentic man
ner
There can be no objection urged to
the immediate adoption OF these meas
nres on the ground of our pecunlary en-
barrasnents On the contrary, L mann
tain, that, instead of this contemplated
survey, being Il drain upon the treasury
OF the State, it will, III lew years &c
the source Of increased revenue. Ours
is a system of ad uaLoTeM taxation, and,
as a natural consequence, the greater the
amount OF property subject to taxation,
the lighter the burthen must tall upon
the community in collecting gwen sum.
This proposition l hold 10 he not more
true, than that thorough survey anG re-
port OF the geological character OF thlS
State will attract labor and capital: thus
giving us TWO essential elements of great
hess.
BY an act Of Congress, approved on
tie 4th of September, 1878, donailon
of 800 0O0 acres of land was made TO the
State OF Arkansas. by the general gov
eminent. for the purpose. as 1t Is express
I lnn
ton of Internal improvements" by ac-
ceptng this grant, the State made her
sell a party To a contract; by winch she
is bUund to eXpenG The funds arising from
the sale of these lands, upon works OF
public character, under tue control, 10y
natural Inference, OF the State or her
agents, as condition annexed TO tlis
graut The general government reserved
tie privilege OF using such public works
as ,r,sht be constructed, free of charge;
these rights the State guaranteed 10 her
How, then, can she comply with her eh-
gagenents, if she gives up 10 ahothef
the entire control over this luna! Ifue,
it NAV be said, that the counties, i'll thus
instance, may be held, by the State re-
spon>ible ior the fulillment OF these OBJ
tuations on her part; yet we leave IL
open 10 the suppositlon, that those to
whose charge we have impaired THIS
trust, may regard their obligations TO us,
as lightly as we appear 20 have done to
the general government.
Hv reference 10 the concise and salts
factory report of the Land Agent, 1t Will
be seen that all the land conveyed 10y
this grant to the State, has been located,
and, with the exception OF tlo /9'loo
acres, confirmed aud tile vested III the
State.
OF these lands, t,co hnndred and '',ne-
tuone tkousa,ad three hundred ostd thar-