Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-10-17
DEPARTMENT OF TUE INTERIOR. }
WASHINGTON, Oct, 4 1860. {

DEPARTMENT OF TUE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, Oct, 4 1860. {
S1R:-The President has referred to this
department your letter Of the Path ultimo
addressed to him, in which you urge the
postponement Of the land sales in Mime.
sofa. advertised to commence on tho 18th
instant. rfl1"T.
There is great force in the considerations
which you have urged and the settlers who
feel unable to make payment for thei1
land before the day Of sale, have nv sy,npa.
thy. But my convictions Of duty rs : pub
lie officer, compel me to adhere strictly t
tbs regular administration Of the land laws
In . recent letter addressed by me t.
John T. Porter, Esq, Of Mankato, I TOOL
OCCASION to review this matter deliberately
and ]. shall best do, justice to- you. and t.
tnyselt, BY quoting the following remark,
made IN that letter:
The law makes it the duty of the Exec,,
tive to cause the pul1ie lands to be SURVEYED
Is rapidly IS appropriations made BY Con
|gress will justify and imposes on him tn,
further duty, when the lands have been sur
vcyed, to offer them for ssle b1 proclamation
II il true the law is silent Is to tho tim,
when this proclamation shall be made, bu
thesp'rit and tenor Of the law, sanctioned
BY uniform previous practice, contemplate
that the public sale shalt follow the sur
|vey. 8 early q the public officers can pro
coed With their respective duties with accu:
Tracy: .5a4i ~ DSeHH9 ID l9Ii i Z1l1
Now this is the line Of duty how has j,
been performed id the Territory Of tho State
Of Minnesota? Allow n1e to give you tn.
ACTS, and II you OF the people Of the Stat.
|of Minnesota, are Of the opinion, that ,
postponeusens Of tho land sales is favor. 4
public eood. you will see that OF the peopl,
|of the United States, you have been thu
most favored, most INDUCED; and that thu
present complaints have the least bupds
ton OF justios., In giving YOU these facts
I an conscious that, I. oppose tho Depart
E'sent 70 criticism hom the citizens Of othc
tportiors q the Union, ss we'll rs the cen
sures from tbs tfns friends Of the prosperity
md substantial growth..of Our own State
}The public landsar NOT subject teta1atio,
~ the State; the resources of the Stati
Treasury must be,deyivcd lprineipsily iron
tho tai on real estate, and unless the lard,
are sold, they can yield no revenue. OF Tw,
citizens Of equsl wealth are on adjjoi:iinl
tracts The one goes forward psyslor hi
land . soon Is the, law allows him I'd do 50
secures his title, and, thus he subjects hi
homo to the sexaction Of yodr tax. gathererr
The other equally protected BY your law
fand sqnlly prosperous appeals again IN,
again 20 thu suthoritiea Of the . Unite,
Ssa.es ito'gve hins more time TO- Pay hi
land. and peafsct his title; and thus enabl
him to eyads the contributions to thu 0tats
Is It just to the State Of Minnesota that thi
des,:rtmeet should suspend the execution {
the laws e ths United States; when thereb
Ithe st.te; Treasury sin y deprived :
sources !! ofre.enua u which she IL 1tsiti
Is !: just, Is bet1ween' The }ci.isens, tha
No entire burden sf Ststs taxation sEcnl,
Oil opD1 that portion Of her. people who
dwell n thnss part :lof tho StatsWhe,e .th'
public lands hsvs. besnf brought int market
whist another portion settled upon, uaof
lered pubic lan1s are relieved from any
share q: b.srdsnsn Of, fiat the p,omp
|andy Provideht trs- emptos oxano6e ltaad
who has paid lot His hsm, md otb&aiuesd III
title, shall pay ill tho local tsxes 81 tt,
county q district, whilst his neighbof VII,
enjoys the sans protection from tho laws
y deferripg the entry Of his quarter section
is.oi6 ssch contributions entirely? f.
p but - retunlto the,sutject of the sur
vcy. proclamation, and Xithdrawal Of land