Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-04-17
Le.tG from fte Secretary Of the Interior TO The
Senator's from Wisconsin
DEPAETsiEST OF THE ISTERIoR,
NA-aINsTos, March 10. 1881.

Senator's from Wisconsin.
DEPAErnESr OF THE IsTER1oR,
NA-aINeroS. March Is, 1851.
GExrLEsf5N l have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt OF your letter Of the 18th instant
winch Stems 10 have been written Just on the eve
OF your departure from this city, at the close OF
the session Of Congress. For fear OF msTepre-
sorting the purpor1 and general tone Of that let
ter take the liberty OF quoting it in full before
[ reply TO it:
On the late Menominee purchase, in the State
OF Wisconsin, there now settled and residing
some twenty thousand people The government
has established there several post Offices. The
state government has organized within that dis
'rlct, or embracing it. several counties. These
settlers are ready, willing. and anxious to purchase
the land Oh which they reside: but il is not vet
surveyed, and has not been brought into market.
They were encouraged to make their settlements
by the known and long established policy OF the
government "a regards pre- emption rights, hoping
that, when the land should be SURVEYED they
would be treated as other settlers have always
been treated and allowed TO acquire the title to
their homes and Improvements, beng in the mean
time permitted TO avail thems elves Of the usual
privileges OF the settler as regards timber that
they might live aud improve their homes and
farms. Bat what has been and Is their astonish-
nent 10 and thar, after making their settlements
or locauons, II has suddenly become the nractice
them of from and deprive them Of all timber and
lumber privileges. without which not house
not even post Office for the gOvernment-can be
0uilt, not fence made, or a bridge constructed
without which. in short. they cannot live upon bat
must abandon the land. 10 the great Inconvenience
OF themselves, tfe detrimeut Of the State as well
as the general government. The marshal of the
State-aud presume by direction from vour
depaFtment-has been AMI IS continually seizng
every log and plank cut manufactured by these
settlers Tor the purposes Of their improvements,
and the improvement OF the roads, bridges &c of
the country and the settlers themselves are be
ing harassed perpexed aud annoyed BY suits for
taking lumber for these purposes
Against all this the undersigned, senators from
the state Of Wisconsin, would, and do respectful
ly. yet earnestly and firmly, py7ttSi. as being IN
necessary Injurious, and oppressive. No class Of
agricultural settlers upon the public lands have
been treated for the last twenty years: and the
undersigned are unwilling 10 remain silent while
this unprecedented course IS pursued towards their
constituents. If II be the design of the govern
ment 10 thwart or subvert all the benefcent ends
OF the presumption system, the undersigned desire
70 know It. and that the country may know it
el5ut II not, then they would most respectfully ask
that you order the marshal Of Wisconsin 10 cease
the annoyance and embarrassmenJs complained
of
feel that It is due 70 the administration and to
the country that your letter should have prompt
and | trust 4 satisfactory answer
/ beg leave 10 assure Won that YOU have entire
" mlsconcelyed the policy OF the government
II you suppose that it has been dictated by any
purpose 70 thwagt or subvert all the benifcent
ends Of the pre-emption system or to harass
perPleN, and annoy the settlers on the public do
main IN your State. No such purpose exists, and
no Instructions either designed or teading TO pro
duce such results, have enIinated from this depart
Inent On the contrary, 1t has been the constant
81 dor aA-,f-
pioneers every facility which can be given con
sistently with the law for the settlement and i'm
prOyeulent Of the country. With equal conf
dence | Affirm that there has been no disposition
on the part OF the Executive 10 prevent actual
settlers from using the timber on tue public lands
for the erection Of public OF private improve
meuts. Its object, in all the instructions which
have issued from TINS department, has been mere
iy TO preserve It from spoliation ana waste: and
+ / tniah, Il you Will take the trouble to inform
yourselves accurately on the subject YOU will find
that Is policy has been beneficial the occupants
aud adverse only to the interests OF lumber-ner-
chants and spectators.
Timber is essential to the permanent settlement
Of the country and Il IS therefore proper sub
ject OF protection by The government
There are Two systems which may be pursued
IN regard TO It One is to preserve it for the ben
cit OF the actual settlers, and 10 allow them to
take from the lands which they propose pcrma-
T
for their own Use OF public Improvements but at
the same time to prohibit spectators, having no
interest IN tie country, and design to make per
manent settlements IN il, from roaming through
the national domain and stripping It of its timber
The other IS TO give full liberty to every greedy
advsnturer TO cut and destroy wherever and to
whatever extent he may think proper. and there
by 10 leave an insufficient supply for the actual
settlers. The frs; has been the policy OF the ad-
ministra,ion. II any officer has acted otherwise
than ~ accordance with If, he has acted not only
without instructions. but contrary 10 the wishes
/ OF THIS department Il / 10 understand your
letter as asking that this system shall be aban-
doned and the opposite one adopted, | am con
strained TO say the department cannot accede to
Jour wishes. But to avoid all MISUNDERSTANDING
on the subject in future by any officer of the gov
eminent wlil cause specific instructions TO be
issued to lie marshal Of Wisconsin to permit ac-
tnal settlers 70 take 4 reasonable amount of tim
Der for their own or for public improvements.
but 10 prosecute with the utmost rigor. those who
depredate on the public domain fer the purposes
Of speculation.
am, gentlemen, very respectfully, your obedi-
ent servant,
ALIEN. IT. II. STUART, Secretary.
Hons. J. p. HALKER and Henry DoDGE Senator's
from Wisconsin.
STATE LINE, April l4th, 1850
Mn. FDfTOR-As this apneors IN no