The republic., 1850-12-05

The surveys OF the public lands have been pressed
forward with commendable activity, and having
been completed in several States, the archives con
nected with them have been delivered to the State
authorities AS required by law:
4cres.
The sales of public lands in the year
ls49 amount to. to.........,........ 1925, ,9O2 IT
Area located in that year in salts
faction Of Mexican war bounty land
warrants ........-............. 3,4O5,52O 90
State selections under the act OF ith
September, lS4l 4l..... 259 500 60
Improvements of rivers, &c. ....,..... l35,246 81
Choctaw certificates ............... 53935 33
Total acres thus disposed of. $50. 5lS4,4l0 81
During the three quarters OF 1850 there
have been sold. .................... sGe,os2 %
Located by Mexican bounty land war
rants during the lst and I'd and part
of the Sd quarters rs........... l,52O,l2O 0C
State selections under the act of 1871. 379e05 o.
Choctaw certificates ............. 46, 800 90
Aggregate thus disposed of in the lst
ID, and part of the Sd quarters of
1901 .... ................. 2,olo,3oO IL
1t is shown by the Commissioners report that
the public lands have been rich source of revenue
TO the Government, averaging about one and n
quarter millions of dollars per annum for the last
fifty years over and above all costs and expenses,
1t is gratifying to find that the business Of the land
office is actively progressing. The accounts of all
the receivers OF public moneys have been adjusted
to the 30h September last. speedy consumma-
ton is anticipated Of State selections, under the
grant of the 4th September, lS4l, and for various
internal improvements under other laws. Mea
surcs have been adopted to give effect to the mun
fcent donation OF swamp lands' To certain States
of the Union by the act OF Congress Of the 2Sth
September, 1850
The Commissioner recommends an extension of
the act of Sd August, 1916, in order to remove
suspensions which arise and accumulate in the ad
mnistration OF that office under general laws. He
also suggests slight modi hcation of the pre-emp
ton provisions OF the act OF 4th, September, ls4
aud the delegation OF authority to the General
Land Office to sell abandoned military sites, or
such tracts as had been appropriated to public
and afterwards relinquished.
These recommendations, if carried out by early
legislation, Will be productive OF beneficial results
Among the fret and most prominent subjects
claiming the attention of Congress- is the necessity
of making provision by law for speedy and COM
pete extension of the land machinery over pos
eessions on the Pacific. At present there is mode
by which good title can be obtair ed to any part
OF the public domain in that great extent of terri
tory.
Nothing contributes more to retard the improve
ment OF a country than uncertainty in relation to
the title to its soil Great inconvenience has al
ready been experienced from this cause in Califor-
mia.
Grants are alleged to have been made for large
tracts OF land in that State by authority of the
Spanish or Mexican governments. Many of these
are OF very questionable validity; but until they
shall have been examined and settled by tribunal
of competent Jurisdiction, they will continue TO
throw a cloud over the title 10 valuable bodies of
land, and seriously affect the settlement and pros
perity of the country. To remedy this evil il would
seem to be proper to make provision by law for the
appointment Of commission To investigate all
claims of this character with view To their final
adjudication But the extent of the powers with
which IL should be invested IL a subject worthy OF
the serious consideration OF Congress. The Com
missioner of the Gencr al Land Office has discussed
the question fully, and his report contains much
valuable information regard %
Mineral Lands
The proper disposal Of these lands is a subject of
much intrinsic difficulty and one on which great
Diversity Of opinion exists among Judicious men.
Three different mode. Of disposng of them have
been suggested, each of which has some advan-
tagcs, and all Of which liable TO serious obiec-
tions. The report from the Department OF the In
terror which accompanied the last annual message
OF the President 10 Congress recommended that the
mineral lands should be divided by actual survey
into small parcels and leased out for terms years
reserying 10 the Government, by way OF rent "A per
cCntage on the products. Many persons, whose
opinions entitled 10 respect, have urged the
grant Of licences 70 individuals, at fixed prices, TO
mine within particular districts, with or without
machinery, as the license may prescribe. Othcr.
OF equal judgment and experience, insist that the
only way TO avoid difficulty, and make the mine
raj lands available, is to lay them off into email
tracts, and sell thsn. out at auction.
The arguments in favor Of leasing them arc
examination Of the subject, and reference to our
own experience Of the operation OF that system in
regard TO the mineral lands IN other parts Of the
Union, have induced me to doubt whether the eyl-
iHseparable from II would not more than counter
balance its advantages. II would create a system
of leuds which would soon become odious 10 the
people. The relation Of landlord and tenant being
established between the Government aud the occu-
pants Of the mines, the jealousy and irritation
which that relation too often engenders would soon
arise. The lessees would regard the Government
an eXacting and oppressive landlord, and
strong feeling opposed TO the payment Of rents
would spring up. The officers entrusted with the
supervision Of the mines and the collection of the
public dues would become obiects Of hatred and
dstrust, and the mners, instead Of looking TO he
Government as their guardian and protector from
wrong would be driven by the force of circum-
stances into an attitude OF hostility to it, az the
source Of all the evils which oppressed them. At
tempts to enforce .Ee payment Of rents by legal
process would prove abortive, because the whole
community would have an interest adverse 10 their
collection. Collisions between the tenants and the
officers Of the law would cngue, the feelings Of the
people would be alienatcd, and the whole country
involved in turmoil and confusion
No considerations Of mere pecuniary character
should induce the Government 10 adopt policy
which would tend 10 consequences like these. The
system of licenses is obnoxious 60 similar objcc.
tons varying only in degree. ] am therefore OF
the opinion tbGt The mineral lnnds should be di-
yided into small tTacts, aud gDf in fee simple 20
the highest bidder at public auction. Thc oAtcnt
Of the lots should depend on the apparent richness
Of the mines, but they should be small enough 10
afford persons in moderate circumstances an op-
of becoming bidders, and thus enlarge
the field Of competition "a far as possible
n these lands leased IL will be necessary for
the Government 10 maintain large number Of Of
hcers in California at high salaries. whose respon-
sibility must from the circumstances Of the case,
be almost nominal Bot by selling the lands all
conncrion between the miners and the Government
will be severed. permanent interests will be ao-
luired ia the country, and new stimulus given
10 the enterprise OF cur ciiiyens.
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, IL is estimated, added about
Dne hundred and twenty -four thousand persons to
1ur Indian population. Many Of the tribes thus
brought under our control fierce in their dispo
'tion and predatory in their habits aud il 10 feared
AN only be restrained from committing great out
-sges the persons and property Of the inhabit-
'nts Of neighborng territory by the military power
Df the country
No provision having been made by law until the
,lose OF the last session Of Congress for the ap
pOintmont OF agents 20 take charge Of the numerous
ribes in California and New Mexico, the Govern.
nent had no means OF obtaining much satisfactory
niormation respecting their condition and wants |
= :. C-ot.