The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-09
peaceful, and law.abiding as any people in the

| world.
| The leasing system was the cause of much irri-
| taton, jealousy, and complaint the part Of the
States within whose jurisdiction IT practiced.
| They Justly complained that they were crippled in
their by being restricted in the power Of
taxation; that the General Government, instead of
selling the land retained the fee and stood in the
attitude of a powerful and opulent landlord, bold
ing large portion OF the population in an abject
and servlc state of tenancy, destroying all induce
| mcnts TO cultivation, or the making Of permanent
improvements or settlements upon the land, until
Congress, seeing the accumulated evils and perni-
cIous consequence abolished as before stated, the
whole system.
1t may be argued that in regions containing the
precious metals, and where the lands in many
cases aside from the minerals, are yalueiess, the
same results would not be experienced; that 1t
would be unjustifisbie disregard Of the public
interest to sell Tor any ordinary price tract OF
land spn,annga rich gold or quicksilver mine,
while il would be equally unjust To individuals to
charge them such price for lands that should prove
wholly worthless.
The aswcr il, that this state Of things existed in
the Lake Superior, regions. with this difference,
that here the mineral Is copper, while on the Pa
ciic il is gold sc. The lands however, in both
regions, aside from the minerals, are equally va
lueless yet those who were engaged IN the Lake
Superior operations checriuIly purchased large bo
dies Of worthless land, extending even To three
miles square, at high rates, for the purpose OF sc
curing good mining location and the fact that
the mineral on the Pacific is the more valuable VIII
only have tendency to cause the greater efforts to
defeat the Government in the collection of the
tribute.
The further allegation may be made, that in the
Lake Superior region mining could only be carried
on proftably by companies and at a very heavy
outlay Of capital and labor
by recent advces from California 1t appears that
individual mining is declining, and that the mine
raj wealth of that country can only be successfully
developed by combinations OF capital and labor.
Further: IRON these advices | ain Inclined to
think that those engaged in the mining operations
there do not probably realize as much as the same
number employed in agricultural or other branches
Of industry in that other sections OF our Union;
and that but comparatively few Of the many thus
engaged acquire more than sufficient 10 pay their
expenses, or to enable them TO return to the old
States.
Such being the fact, when all are left free and
untrammeled To prosecute their labors, wholly un-
constrained as to time place. and to ENJOY the
fruits of their toll, what would be the state oil
things IL the country were swarnlng with oHce-
holders and the cnterprising emigrant, after sur
mounting the most appalling difficulties, dangers,
and hardships, should find himself subject to the
dctaton of agents of the Government to direct his
movements and require OF him share OF the means
acquired by trying efforts and herculeaD labor
therefore recommend that the lands In Califor-
MIA be sold. Those that are agricultural, in the
ordinary way; and those that contain valuable
minerals in small lots, and SUBJECT at nrst 10 an
increased mnmum that these mineral lands, after
due public notice, be put up to the highest bidder.
in quantities. only suit the demand; that. after
such offering, il they remain unsoid, TO be SUBJECT
to entry at an increased minimum
And fit be the determination OF Congress tosecurc
a recompense for the valuable mineral contained in
those lands, that they provide by law that all those
minerals shall be assayed, in California, by the
United States; that given ratio OF the same, thus
assa yed, shall enure to the Government; ana that
no mine raj shal be exported from the country until
il is tbus asssyed.
The business of this Office has been greatly increas
ed by the general and special saton OF Congress
granting bounty lands, providing ior the ADJUST
ment OF private claims, and making donations 70
the States for internal improvements Besides all
this we have in anticipation, the arduous and I'M
mense labors incident to the management of the
.'privstc land clnims,' and Of the 'pubfc lands
in our new acquisitions, which, doubtless, 10
greater or less extent will be assigned 10 this oice
by carly legislation
Notwithstanding the nctua accumulation oil du-
tics, and those in prospect it Is not proposed az
this time 10 ask any addition 10 the employees oi
this office, il is hoped that, by an energetic and
jealous application Of our present force to the pub
lie business, il will be found adequate to The rcali
cation of the just expectations OF the country
For the statistics alluded TO in the foregoing,
beg 10 refer 10 the accompanying statements IN al
phabetcal order; and for the condition Of the sur
vcys, 10 the able reports herewith from the Sur
yeyors General.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
J. DUTTERFIELD,
Commissioner.
Hon. A. III III. STUART,