Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07

Sd August 1885, order suspensions which arise
and accumulate in the administration Of that Office under gen.
era laws. He also suggests slight modification Of the
presumption provisions of the act Of 4h September ls4 and
the delegation Of authority the General Land Office sell
abandoned military Sites such had been appropriate
ed to public uses and afterwards relinquished.
These recommendations, if carried by early legislation
will be productive of beneficial results.
Amongst the first and most prominent subjects claiming the
attention of Congress the necessity of making provision by
law for speedy and complete extension of the land machine
~ over possessions the Pacific At present there is
mode by which good title be obtained any part
the public domain in that great of territory.
Nothing contributes retard the improvement Of
country than uncertainty in relation to the title to its SOIL
Great has already been experienced from this
in California.
Grants alleged to have been made for large Of
land in that State by authority Of the Spanish Mexican
Governments Many Of these are of very questionable
dy but until they shall have been examined and settled by
tribunal Of competent Jurisdiction they will continue throw
cloud the title valuable bodies Of land and seriously
affect the settlement and prosperity the country To
dy this evil would seem to be proper to make provision by
law Tor the appointment OF commission investigate all
claims Of this character with view their final adjudication
But the extent Of the powers with which il should be invest
ed subject worthy the serious Of Congress
The Commissioner Of the General Land Office has discussed
formation in regard tot.
Mineral Lands.
The proper disposal Of these lands subject Of much in
nsic difficulty and which great diversity Of opin
ion exists among judcous men.
Three different modes Of dsposng Of them have been sug
gesed each Of which has advantages and all of which
liable serious objections The report from the Depart
Of the Interior which accompanied the last annual meg
sage Of the President Congress recommended that the
ea lands should be divided by actual survey par
cells and leased out for terms of years. reserng the Gov
eminent by way of rent per centage the products.
Many persons whose opinions entitled respect have
urged the grant of licenses individuals fixed prices TO
mine within particular DISTRICTS with without machinery
the license may prescribe Others Of equal Judgment and
experience, insist that the only way avoid difficulty and
make the mineral lands available is lay them of into small
tracts, and sell them out at auction.
The arguments in favor of leasing them are certainly en
tied to great respect But careful examination Of the sub
ect and reference to experience of the operation
of that system in regard the mineral lands in other parts Of
the Union, have induced doubt whether the evils nse
parable from would than couAerbaance its adva
ages asysem ouds which would become
odious to the people, The relation of landlord and tenant
being established between the Government and the occupants
Of the mne the jealousy and irritation which that relation
too often engendes would arise The essees would re-
gard the Government exactng and oppressive landlord
and strong feeling opposed TO the payment of would
spring up The officers entrusted with the supervision of the
mines and the collection Of the public dues would become
ec,s Of hatred and dstrus and the miners instead Of look
ing to the Government their guardian and protector from
wrong would be driven by the force of circumstances into
attitude Of hostility it the Of all the evils which
oppressed them. Attempts enforce the payment Of rents
by legal process would prove above because the whole
community would have interest adverse their collection
Collisions between the tenants and the officers Of the law
would ensue the feelings Of the people would be aenated
and the whole country involved 10 turmoil and confusion
No considerations Of pecuniary character should in
duce the Government to adopt policy which would tend 10
consequences like these The system Of licenses obnoxious
to similar objections, varying only in degree therefore
Of the opinion that the mineral lands should be divided into
small tracts and sold in fee simple the highest bidder at
public auction The extent Of the lots should depend the
apparent richness of the mines but they should be small
tuny Of becoming bidders, and thus enlarge the eldof
petition far as possible ,fs s-t1 Z. III. +@@-
these lands leased it will be necessary for the Gov
eminent to maintain large number of officers in California
al high saaress, whose responsibility must from the ccum
stances Of the case be almost nominal But by selling the
lands all conneIon between the miners and the Government
will be severed, permanent interests will be acquired in the
country, and new stimulus given to the enterprise Of
citizens
Indian Affairs. ,
Our relations with the Indian tribes will demand the prompt
and earnest attention of Congress The annexation OF
Texas, and the recent treaty with Mexico have it is es
mated added about hundred and twenour thousand
persons to Indian population Many of the tribes thus
brought under control fierce in their disposition and
predatory in their habits and is feared only be restrain
ed from committing great oursges the persons and pro-
perry Of the inhabitants Of neghborng territory by the mill
tary power of the country. J, :r.
No provision having been made by law until the close Of
the last session Of Congress for the appointment Of agents
take charge Of the tribes in California and New
Mexico, the Government had Of obtaining much
satisfactory information respecting their condition and wants
hoped however this defect will be supplied by
and commissioners who have been recently appointed and
who their way to the scene Of their labors
Shortly before the close of the last session. and mmedi
aey after the passage of the authorizing the appointment
of Indian agents for California nominations were made to
and confirmed by the Senate Of three persons well qualified
for the discharge of their respective duties. ~
Instructions prepared by the Department and when
the agents ready to set out their journey dis
covered that by some oversight no appropriation had been
made pay their salaries Their therefore
arrested for the time; but deemed important that all
unnecessary delay should be avoided and provision had
been made for the appointment and payment three commits
sones negotiate treaties with the Indians of California il
concluded appoint the persons commissioners
who had been nominated and confirmed as agents. By
adopting this the commissioners were enabled to pro-
coed without delay to the Indian territory where they will ac
qu such knowledge of the habits and character Of the In
dams will qualify them to efficiently the discharge
of their duties agents, the appropriation shall
be made for the salaries when that is done their functions
as commissioners will cease. a "
"A resident superintendent and three general agents have
been appointed for the Indian tribes of Oregon.
Two special agents have boe commissioned under the
Of September 1885, cooperate with the resident agent
Texas in conciatng the Indians Of ks State Under the
authority OF the act three commissioners have been
pointed to accompany the joint commission engaged in
running and marking the boundary line between the United
States and Mexico for the purpose Of obtaining full and
rect information in regard the Indian tribes who scat
tered along our southwestern frontier and possible esab
hsh friendly relations with them
greatly to be regretted that authority conferred
by law for the appointment Of resident agents in New Mex
Of the territory Of the United States The Indians Of that
country, comprising the Camanches Navaioes. Utabs