Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-12-18
STATNTON VA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1880

der general laws. lie also suSSe''' " '''S"' ' -
the pre-empon provisions OF the act OF 4h September
le4 and the delegation of authority to the General Land
Office 10 sell abandoned military ses, or such tracts as ao
been appropriated public and afterwards renqushed
These recommendations if carried out by early leglsla-
ton. will be productive of beneficial results.
Amongst the first and most prominent subjects claiming
the attention of Congress is the necessity of making povs
ion by law for speedy and complete extension OF the land
machinery over our possessions the Pacific AT present
there is no mode by which good title can be obtained to
apy part Of the public domain in that great extent OF errl
tory.
Nothing contributes more TO reard the improvement OF
country than uncertainty in relation to the title 10 its SOIL
Great inconvenience has already been experienced from
this cause in California
Grants are alleged have been made for large tracts oil
land in that State by authority of the Spanish or Mexican
Governments Many Of these are very questionable va
ldty, but until they shall have been examined and setea
by tribunal of competent Jurisdiction, they WI" coh'nue
o throw cloud over the title to valuable bodies OF aho'
and eeriopslv affect the settlement and prosperity OF Inc
country To remedy this evil it would seem TO be proper
o make provision by law for the appointment OF commS
90 ;nvos,;ra,e all claims of this character, with view
TO their final adjudication. But The extent OF Inc powers
with which it should be invested is subject worthy o' 'e
serous consideration of Congress. The Commissioner
the General Land Office has discussed the question luy
and his repo contains much valuable Information IN fegau
to it.
.1Eneral Lands.
The prorer disposal of these lands is subject OF much
intrinsic difficulty and one on which great diversity oil
opinion exists among judicious men,
o. of of them Deen
sogesed each of which has advantages, and all OF
which are liable serious objections The report rom '"e
Don,rment of the Interior which accompanied the last an
nua message OF the President to Congress recommended
that the mineral lands should be divided by actual survey
into small parcels and leased out for terms OF years. reserV
inc to the Government by way ofren per cenage on 'e
products Many persons whose opinions are entitled 10 re-
spect have urged the grant of licenses to individuals at
fixed orces to mine within particular districts, with or
without machinery the license may prescribe Others
of equal Judgment and experience, insist that the only way
- .;d dificultv and make the mineral lands available, IS
% Law them off into small tracts, and sell them Out al auc
toa
The arguments in favor Of leasing them are certainly en-
titled TO oreat respect But careful examination OF Inc
and reference to our own experience of the opera
ton of that system in regard 10 the mineral aEds In ohe
p,rs Of the Union have induced to doubt whether the
evils nseparabe from would not more than counlerbal'
ance its advantages. 1t would create system or euds
which would soon become odous the people The rea-
ton Of landlord and tenant being established between the
Government and the occupants Of the nlnes The jealousy
and irritation which that relation too often engendes would
soon arise The lessees would regard The Government as
an exacnp and oppressive landlord and strong feeling
e nrInnu
officers entrusted with the supervision OF the mines ana inc
collection of the public dues would become objects o haeo
and dstrust and the Miners instead OF looking 10 e uo'
ernmen as their guardian and protector from wrong ~oud
a driven by the force Of circumstances into en- atlade Oh
bos,tv 10 it. as the source of all the evils oppressed
Them Attempts to enforce the payment OF rents by legal
oooss ,vord move aborve because the whole communl
r would have an interest adverse to their collection Col
ns heween The tenants and the officers of the law would
ensue the feelings Of the people would be aenaled' anu
the whole country involved in turmoil and confusion.
No considerations of mere pecunary character should
induce the Government to adopt policy which would tend
to consequences like these The system Of licenses o'
noxious to similar objections varying only in Degree a
therefore of the opinion that the mIhefal ia'''
no divided into small tracts and sold in fee simple 10 the
hiqhest bidder public auction The extent o ne ,o''
should depend the apparent richness OF the mines ou'
thew should be small enough afford persons in moderate
circumstances opportunity Of becoming bidders and mus
enlarpe the field Of competition as far as possible.
fhese lands are leased will be necessary for the Oov
ernment TO maintain large number OF officers IN Oaof-
MA at hoh salaries whose responsibility must from 'he
circumstances OF the case be almost nominal But by SELL
inc the lands all connexion between the miners anu 'e
Government will be severed permanent interests Will O'
acquired in the country and new stimulus given 10 the
enterprise of our citizens.
Indian .4fdirs.
Our relation with the Indian tribes will demand the
nronDt and earnest attention Of Congress- The annexation
Of Texas and the recent treaty with Mexico, have, 1t Is
estimated added about one hundred and twenty thou
sand persons to our Indian population Many of the tribes
thus brought under our conro fierce in their disposition
and predatory in their habs and it is feared can only be
restrained from committing great outrages on the persons
and property of the inhabitants Of negh5Orng territory by
the military power of the country.
No provision having been made by law until the close o.
the last session Of Congress for the appointment of agents
take charge of the numerous tribes in California and New
Mexico the Government had no means Of obtaining mucr
satisfactory inrmaton respecting their condition ana wants
1t is hoped however, this defect Will be supplied by the
aren't and commissioners who have been recently appoint
ed and who are now on their way to the scene of their Ia
bors. .
Shortly before the close of the last cesson, and mmed
atey after the passage Of the act authorizing the appoint
ment of Indian agents for California nominations were made
TO and confirmed by the Senate Of three persons well quail
fed for the discharge of their respective dutles
Instructions were prepared by the Department and when
the agents were ready to set out on their journey was dis
covered that by some oversight: no appropriation had been
made to pay their salaries Their movements were 'ne'e'
fore arrested for the tme but il was deemed mpof'a"'
that all unnecessary delay should be avoided and as
ion had been made for the appointment and payment
commissioners negotiate treaties with the lndlans0i 0si