The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-11
From The Alta California.
Letter From Hon. Il. Butler King.

In compliance with the promise made TO the Mi
ncrs' and Settlers Convention, have the homer TO
address 10 you such remarks on the important ques
tons connected with its deliberations the presEn 2
nature of my official duties will permit. ] regret
that those duties have been and are such very
much TO delay and limit the views which, under
moro favorable circumstances, should not fail to
present.
As the mining and agricultural interests Of Cali
fornia are the great foundation on which the pros
perty of the State must rest. the underwriting poi
icy of our Legislators, both State and National,
should be to give the greatest possible encourage
ment and development TO those interests
The difficulty has been 10 decide what ought g.
be done TO promote those objects. Tho Govern
ment Of the United States holding control Of the
public domain, VIC must look 10 the Legislation Of
Congress for such measures IA our condition re
quires, and the interests OF the whole country will
Justify and support.
Tn. fret great question to be decided 10, shall
the public domain anywhere, and especially IN
California, be hereafter regarded a source u re-
venue 70 the national treasury
For myself, unhesiatingly give IL as my opin-
ion that the agricultural portions Of the public
lands ought to be given to actual settlers for cult
walton and improvement, without cost or charge,
except for surveys and grants, and that the mines
be lett free be worked under the rules and regu
lations established by the miners themselves.
Tho product of gold, for the last year, is esti
mated by the bankers Of this city at eighty mil
lions of donrs. and that Of the coming year at
hundred millions. This contribution TO the wealth
Of the nation and it's proper share TO the revenues
Of the treasury, ought to cnttle to the most hbe
raj measures on the part Of Congress and the Exec
utiye.
the Presidents message, II is apparent that the
public domain il not required a source of rcve
nue.; and If the product Of gold shall continue at
lie present rate per annum, Of which there cannot
be a doubt, the amount received from customs du
ties will be ample hereafter for all the purposes Of
Government.
have not the authorities before me. nor have !
| time TO enable me to 90 into an elaborate state
to show the effects which have been produced
on the commerce and revenues OF the country and
all the productive interests OF the Ststes east Of the
/ Rocky Mountains by the product of gold in Cali
fornia. yet am willing TO hazard the opinion that
the revenue OF the fiscal year ending the 3Oth If
| June last was augmented at least hfteen millions
| Of dollars beyond what would have been received
| into the treasury If gold had not been discovered
and collected in California. II this view Of the
matter be correct, our State has already contrib.
utcd and is contributing indirectly to the national
| finances amount almost if not quite, equal TO
that which is produced by the exports Of either If
the two great divisions OF the Union the Atlantic
| side.
There cannot be a question, therefore, that the
time has arrived when the true interests of the
whole country will DO best promoted by relnquish.
ing the public lands for the purposes OF actual set.
clement and cultivation, and confirming by act RI
| COngrsss the rules and regulations established by
the Hlh'Tr WeH15cNtht ueHnlnR the TlRnts OF thOsc
who may be employed in the collection Of gold, or
who may invest capital in machinery for the pur.
pose Of working the vein mines.
The great distance from the Atlantic States to
California and the expense Of the journey, give to
the occupants Of the public lands IN th. State and
Oregon peculiar claims TO the favorable conside.
ration Of Congress; and cannot cntcstain a douut
that If those claims shall be clearly presented, the
policy Of making liberal grants to actual settlers
will be adopted.
4 49,, a.. ~, 10 T.. Al.
obedont servant,
r. BUTLER KING.
To J. H. MckUNy, $50 President Of the Miners
and Settlers Convention at Sacramento.