The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-04


consider the number Of benefciaries under lis pro-
visions, or the extent Of the domain granted.
Deeply imprs ssed with the responsibility incl
dent to the administration Of trust Of such mag
ntude, have sought to make the necessary ar
engagements to insure its prompt and efficient exc
cuuon. Forms have been prepared, with ample
instructions to guide applicants in presenting their
claims, and assurances given that every proper ia
cility will be afforded for the establishment Of just
demands under the law.
Plates have been ordered to be engraved for
printing the warrants, and every precaution has
been adopted to guard against fraud and forgery.
These plates will soon be completed, and there
need then be no delay in commencing the issue Of
warrants. l regret to say, however, that the law
contains no provision for the employment and
compensation Of the clerical force necessary for
its own execution. '."7
Under the terms of the law, as have been con-
strained to construe them, the warrants are not
assignable. The holders Of them cannot, there
fore, make them available until they have been To-
Gated and patented. This process will necessari-
ly require considerable time, and 1t is therefore
peculiarly proper, in order to ensure the enjoy
iment Of the bounty by those for whom it was in
tended, that no unnecessary delay should be en-
countered. To avoid this evil, the Commission
err recommends that provision be made for theem
ployment of two efficient clerks, with a salary Of
81 700 each, competent to investigate the claims OF
applicants. This recommendation Except IN re-
gard to the amount Of salary, which is unnecessa-
ly doubt have is whether two will be sufficient.
To guard against all contingencies, would re-
spectfully urge the propriety of authorizing this
Department, in the event that two clerks should
prove insufficient TO keep pace with the business,
to employ one or more in addition, and such tenn
porary assistants as may be required from tim TO
time. Unless the Department has the means OF
adjudicating the claims fast they present
ed, and of issuing the warrants when they are al
lowed, dissatisfaction and suspicious of favortism
will inevitably arise.
Should Congress concur in these views ofthe
subject, shall esteem it no less privilege than
duty to see that their benefcent policy is carried
out with all practicable despatch and economy.
Public Lands.
The report ofthe Commissioner Of the General
Land Office exhibits some very interesting cts.
The surveys Of the public lands have been pressed
forward with commendable activity, and, having
been completed in several States, the archives
nected with them have been delivered TO the State
authorities as required by law:
The sales of public lands in the year
lS49, amount to 1873 ,902 II
Area located in that year in satisfac-
ton Of Mexican war bounty land
warrants -3,4O5,52o 90
State selections under the act of 4th
September, l84l 259, s06 GO
Improvements of rivers, &c. 1926 81
Choctaw certificates $685. SO
Total acres thus disposed Of 5,ls4, 4l0 81
During the three quarters Of 1850
there have been sold 1863 ,OS2 81
Located by Mexican bounty land
warrants during the 1st and 3D.
and part Of the Sd quarters l,520,120 90
State selections under the act of lS4l 379, 805 SO
Choctaw certificates 46,360 So
Aggregate thus disposed Of in the
LIST, I'd, and part Of the Sd quarters
Of 1850 -2,S15,36G AZ
1t is shown by the Commissioners report that
the public lands have been a rich source of
nue. to the Government, averaging about one and
quarter millions OF dollars per annum for the last
fifty years 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 adj
usted to the 3Oth September last. speedy con-
summation is anticipated ofState selections, under
the grant of 4th September, l641, and for various
internal improvements under other laws. Measures
have been adopted to give effect to the munifcent
donation Of swamp lands" to certain States Of
the Union by the act Of Congress Of the 18th Sep
tember, 1850.
The Commissioner recommends an extension
o the act Of Sd August, 1886, in order to remove
suspensions which arise and accumulate in the adj
ministration of that Office under general laws. He
also suggests slight modification Of the pre-emp-
ton provisions of the act of 4th September, ls4l.
and the delegation Of authority to the General
Land Office to sell abandoned military sites, or
such tracts rs had been appropriated to public use,
and afterwards relinquished.
These recommendations, if carried out by early
legislation, will be productive Of beneficial results.
Amongst the first and most prominent subjects
claim ing the attention of Congress, is the necessi-
ty Of making provision by law for a speedy and
complete extension of the land machinery over our
possessions on the Pacific. At present there is
mode by which good title can be obtained to any
part Of the public domain in that great extent of
territory.
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 Cali
fornia.
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 a
tribunal Of competent jurisdiction, they will con-
tinue to throw a cloud over the title to valuable
bodies of land, and seriously affect the settlement
and prosperity of the country. To remedy this
evil it 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 adju dicaton. But the extent Of the
powers with which it should be invested is sub
ect worthy of the serious consideration Of Con-
gress. t. Commissioner of the General Land
Office has discussed the question fully, and his
poet contains much valuable information in regard
to it.
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 judiclous
men.
Three different modes of dsposing ofthem have
been suggested, each Of which has some adyanta-
ges, and all Of which are liable to serious ohjec-
tons. The reports 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 sur
vey into small parcels and leased out for terms Of
years, reserving to the Government, by way OF
rent, per centage on the products. Many persons,
whose opinions are entitled to respect, have urged
the grant Of licenses to individuals, at prices,
to mine within particular districts, with or with
oct machinery, as the license may prescribe. 9th
ers, of equal judgment and experience, insist that
the only way to avoid difficulty, and make the
mineral lands available, is to lay them of into
small tracts, and sell them out at auction.
The arguments in favor of leasing them are GER
tainly entitled to great respect But careful ex-