Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-26
sronlArIou o. TIE PUBIC DOMAIN.


The Republic of the 18th Instant, contains the
correspondence between the Secretary of the In
terror, and the Senators from Wisconsin, touching
certain alleged and oppressive acts OF the United
States Marshal Of that State, in reference to the
timber of the public domain. The ground ofcom-
plant is, that lumber belonging to actual settlers
has been seized and possessed by the Marshal, who
the Senators presume has acted under the direc-
ton of the Interior Department, to which annoy
ing and embarrassing treatment they enter profess
sedly respectful, but really an impudent protest
They desire to know whether tits the design of the
government to subvert the beneficial ends of the
presumption system, and respectfully ask, while in
spirit they demand, the Secretary of the Interior
to put his veto upon the unprecedented course of
the Wisconsin Marshal. Strange to say, this let
ter was written just on the of their departure
from Washington, the Senators having remained
dumb throughout the entire session of Congress-
The complaint is DEL acto against the Department
of the Interior, and certainly sense of duty to the
country, as well as their particular constituency
should have led the Senator'S from Wisconsin. to
bring the matter before the public from their seats
in the Senate. But to Mr.. STUART's reply.
After acknowledging the receipt of their letter,
the Secretary quotes it entire, for the purpose of
exhibiting or rather through fear Of msrepresent-
ing, the purport and general tone Of the epistle-
He then proceeds to its consideration and assures
the Senators that they misconceive the policy of
the government, if they suppose it has been dicta-
ted by any purpose to interfere with prescription
rights, or to annoy and harrass the settlers; and
adds
"On tho contrary it has been the constant aim of the
Administration to afford 10 the hardy pioneers every acil.
AZ which be given, consistently with the law for the
settlement and improvement Of the country With equal
confidence affirm that there has been disposition on the
part Of the Executive prevent actual settlers from using
abe timber the public lands for the erection of public
private improvements. Its object, all the instructions
which have issued from this Department has been merely
10 preserve from spoiatiOn and waste and think, if you
will take the trouble 10 inform yourselves accurately the
subject, you will find that its policy has been beneficial
the occupants, and adverse only 10 the interests OF lumber
merchants and spectators"
The Secretary proceeds to show that timber is
essential to the permanent settlement of the coun-
try and is therefore a proper subject of protec-
ton, and asserts that this has been the policy OF
the government, and will not be abandoned. To
prevent misunderstanding, however, he evil cause
specific instructions be issued to the Marshal OF
Wisconsin to permit actual settlers to take rea-
sonablc amount Of timber for their own use or for
public improvements, but to prosecute with the
utmost rigor, those who depredate on the public
domain for the purposes of speculation
This policy viii strike every one as eminenty
wise and proper, The suspicious circumstances
attending the protest presented the Republic
marks, just in season to run away, brands it as
rather more the offspring Of demagoguesm than
anything else-its object the manufacture Of CAPT
tai for home purposes.