The Nevada journal., 1854-01-13


the relief of the State, Recommendations sim-
} lar to those now urged were presented for the
consideration OF the last Legislature but most
OF them were passed over, unheeded or neglected
. and great dissatisfaction has, during the year.
been manifested by our common constit uents,
who confidently expected that thorough svs-
tenn of reform would be matured and adopted
and consequent reduction of taxation Justified
/ feel called upon to again direct your at
tention TO our Revenue Laws complaints
against some portions of which, especially the
t license system, have reached me during the re-
cess, and the question of taxation is, therefore
presented as one deserving OF careful examina-
tion. In the revision of the system, I am
aware that circumstances must, to some extent
control your action, but the we'll settled princi-
pies that taxation shall not be burthensome-
that a greater amount Shall not be levied than
is required to defray the expenses of an econ
omically administered Government it
shall not be imposed to protect one interest at
the expense of another-and that it shall be so
assessed, as to operate as equally and uniformly
upon all as possible, ought not, in any degree
be, departed from in your legislation on the
subject.
The agricultural interests Of California,
though but partially developed is now one of
conceded Importance, and should, as far as it
can, consistently with the Constitution, be fos-
tered by judicious legislation. The develop
ment of our agricultural resources, it is true,
cannot be said to have advanced as rapidly as
others of the great interests of the State But
in view of the many and formidable existing
obstacles to its rapid development, it is mat
ter OF surprise that SO large portion of our
enterprising citizens have engaged in tilling
the soil, and that so many valuable improve.
ments have already been made.
| The greatest obstacles to the rapid improve.
ment of the country | would here remark, are
! to be found in the unsettled condition of land
titles, and the fact that the boundaries of but
few OF the numerous grants throughout the
State have been defined by proper authority.
Until the titles to those grants shall have been
settled and their boundaries accurately ascer-
tanned by actual survey, errors will be commit
ted by settlers IN locating pre-emption claims.
| And, as it is now more than probable that
many years must elapse before the obstacles
can be removed, by the final settlement of
these perplexing questions, judicious legislation
for the protection Of the bona-fde settler, would
seem, in justice to The enterprising and useful
portion of our people, to be absolutely neces-
sary just and proper.
Entertaining the opinion, tha, in all cs
where the location has been made in good fa...
by the settler, under the impression that there
exists no title adverse to that of the General
Government, just compensation should be al
lowed him Tor all necessary and substantial i'm
proyements, in case Of ejectment, it is deemed
duty. to commend the subject to your favorable
consideration.
Before dismissng the question however. it
may be proper to add, that most of the States
Of the COnfederacy have sanctioned the princi,
pie by legisating for the protection of the actual
settler.
For details your attention is respectfully di.
rected to the Revised Statutes of Illinois, page
I'll. Hutchinson's Mississippi Code, page $50.
Revised Statutes Of Texas, page 900 and go.
Clay's Digest of the laws Of Alabama pages
800 and 32l. Thompson's Digest Of the Laws
of Florida, page 1871 Revised Statutes OF
Ohio, pages 606 aud 696. Revised Statutes Of
Indiana, page 800 Pennsylvania Digest bv
Dunlap, page 969. Revised Statutes Of Mil
souri,, page 444 and AS
With view to the further encourapeutef1, OF
agriculturists and as all inducement to diversity
of pursuits among the people of the State. I
would respectfully call your attention to the
proprlety OF again exerting the iu1uencc of the
Legislature i'll an effort to obtain the passage
of law by Congress donating The public do
main in California, in limited quantities. 10 ao-
There certainly exists 10 good reason whv
the Government should, in California, REQUIRE
from the settler one dollar and twenty-five cents
per acre, and in Oregon, donate it free of
charge
The California overland emgrant travels
abont the same number of miles, and two-thirds
OF the whole distance over the same road he
encounters the same difficulties and dangers en-
dures similar privations and hardships and is.
moreover, subject to like expenses and sacrifices
in making his arrangements at home, as well an
losses on the journey
The discrimination made by the General
! Governmt Mt in this matter adverse to the in.
terests of the settler in California, is therefore.
regarded as exceedingly nnwise, if not unjust.
and trust will be re-considered by the military
organization, at exposed points, and through
them, render material aid 70 the civil authorities
IN the execution of the laws, and in short
lime, give perfect security to the pei pie of the
whole State
But II Congress cannot be induced to change
Its policy, and donate the public domain to SET
tiers In California, and if the present act is to
remain IN force, it ce tainly ought to be so
amended as to exe I'd at least another year, the
time allowed for pre-emption upon uasurreyed
lands. 1t this amendment be not made, and
prescriptions npon unsurveyed lands prohibited
after March next, the growth and improvement
OF the State must be greatly retarded, and tho
interests of our people very injuriously effected
BY the act Of Congress, approved September
18th, 1850, entitled g An Act to enable tho
1 State of Arkansas and other States to reclaim
swamp lands within their limits. " it is provided
I" that to enable the State of Arkansas, and
other States, to construct the necessary levees
and drains, to reclaim swamp and overfiowed
lands therein, the whole of these swamp and
overflowed lands, made unfit thereby for cult
vation which shall remain unsold at the passage
of this act, shall be and the same are hereby
granted to said States"
The second section of the act requires the
Secretary of the interior to make out list Of
the lands and patent therefor, and transmit
them to the Governors of the several States