Daily national Democrat., 1858-11-09

Sometimes, also the enforcement of the bond
would be great injustice to the miner, be-
cause he would very frequently throw up his
operations before he had realized any profit,
for the reason that the ground did not pay
as well as he expected. On the other hand
again, the mere worth of the crops, fruit
trees, &c, for the one season, would be moth
ing, as compared with the total destruction
of the land itself, which would frequently
happen, for the miner goes to the bed rock,
and washes off the entirety Of the superin-
cumbent soil.
AS between the two great interests of min.
ing and agriculture, it would be difficult in
deed for the legislature to decide which was
entitled to the greater degree of favor Both
should be protected. The miner should not
be deprived of his right to dig, nor should
agriculture be driven from all the available
spots for cultivation in the mineral regions.
The subject, as we have said, is one of great
dill Guilty, and should be carefully studied by
our legislators Unless some wise policy is
hit upon by our State L gislature, to remedy
this perpetual conflict of the two interests, it
may be that the General Government will lie
forced out of regard for the peace and har-
mony of her citizens, to change its determi
nation with respect to the mineral lands, and
throw them int the market, as other lands,
so that absolute own ership of the soil as well
| :. IL L., -, 81,
same person; or at any rate be forced to pur
sue this policy with regard to those extensive
portions of the country which embrace the
two interests.
We observe that there is, at this time, al
unusual degree of excitement in and around
the town of Columbia. Tuolumne county on
this subject generally, but more particularly
ON account of disputes with reference to the
use of timber growing upon the description
Of land which we have had under considera-
ton. The Weekly News thus refers to the
matter:
There has been considerable excitement
and angry feeling amongst us lately, growing
out of disputes between the squatters and
miners, AS to the right of the latter to cut fire
wood on land claimed by the former. Two
of the most fragrant eases occurred on the
land claimed by Mr.. Northrup, of Columbia.
In one instance he instituted suit against
miner of the name of Welsh, and Others, for
cutting wood on his ranch, and gained a ver
diet of So and we pres e that he was EN-
boldened by such verdict to go step further.
Accordingly. the next miner he caught cut
ting wood he gave into custody for stealing
it, Another case happened on land claimed
by Mr.. Parsons, of Matelot Gulch which en-
ded in blows and resort to the District
Court, and verdict in favor of the miner,
and we might 90 on filling column after co.
lumn with cases wherein the squatters have
acted with the greatest injustice towards the
miners but neither time nor inclination per
mits it. To such an extent was it carried
that the miners found it absolutely necess.ry
to call meeting to ascertain whether some-
thing could not be legally and peacefully done
to remedy such great and constantly ace 1u-
lating infringements upon their rights and
privileges. They accordingly posted circu
lars throughout the district summonng a
meeting at Columbia on the evening of Mon
day, the lst inst, when the greatest assem-
blage of miners met that has been seen since
the memorable water strike"
After going on to state that the Govern
ment of the United States had specially ex-
empted the mineral lands from sale, leaving
them free to be worked by her own citizens,
and also by men of all nations and after fur
ther stating the opinion that the Government
never contemplated throwing the wood or
timber growing on the mineral lands into the
hands of "heartless monopolists and specula-
tors" or excluding the miners from the use
| of fire-wood or timber with which to construct
their cabins and other necessary works about
their claims; and after further declaring that
the miners had been much harassed with ex-
pensive lawsuits by parties who have fenced
in or had surveyed and recorded ''nearly all
the mineral lands" thus excluding miners
therefrom unless they give security for DANA.
ges done to crops, nurseries, &c, and further
declar ng that these parties had in some in
stances taken up their ranches so as to encir-
Gle mining cabins and claims, and then prose
cuted for damages or arraingned for petit
larceny miners who chopped wood for the
purpose of cooking their yictuals. the meet
ing passed the following resolutions
Resolyed. That while we have no DISPOSE
ton to encroach on the legal or just rights OF
our fellow-men we contend that ito the Mi
ners belong the Mines" and that they are
entitled to the free use of as much timber as
they choose to cut to build cabins, work their
claims and also wood for fuel
Resolved, That should there be any more
prosecutions of our brother miners for exer-
cising their just rights in working the miner
al lands, chopping wood or timber, that we
| will nake 1t our common cause, and carry it
up to the highest tribunal.
RESOLVED, That in order to carry the fore
going resolutions into etfectas well as TO sus-
jan our rights and interests in general, we
form ourselves into a society, which shall be
called "rhe Miners Union of Columbia"
Resolyed. That We cordially invite the mi
ners of other parts of the county and State.
who feel or fear the encrOachments of specu-
ators upon their rights, to cooperate with
us in rolling back the tide of oppression
which has so stealthily crept upon us,
Resolved, That there be committee Of
three appointed by this meeting, who shall
conduct all correspondence that may be ne
cessary to carry out the objects of this meet
ing.
ResoOUed, That there be committee Of
i H.