The Placer herald., 1863-07-25
lands and the timber thereon, for miles in

lands and the timber thereon, for miles in
extent to railroad companies.
As is known the Marshal demanded pos
session, which was refused, and the military
arm called upon to sustain the civil officer
in the execution Of process. News of these
things getting abroad, an excitement sprung
up in the vicinity of the mine, which if not
stayed would have spread all over the
Coast, like consuming flame. The author,
tiles at Washington were telegraphed, and
and the War Department came to the relief
of the President, as appears by the follow
ing despatch from Gen. Halleck:
WASHINGTON, July 49, 1868.
| Received July 1872 NJ.
To F. BnLIxGs-The order for military
occupation of New Almaden was surrepttiously
obtained. The Secretary Of War has directed
| Gen. Wright TO suspend operation>--to restore
everything as he found it, and 10 obey no orders
that do not come through the proper channel.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in. Chief.
Now in the first place, the officer Rand
is not military officer; the authority to
him is not military order, and the military
force have nothing to do with the matter
except to act as posse to sustain the civil
power Secondly, it will be observed that
the warrant is dated on the Sth May last
and the dispatch July l3th-mo,e than two
months after. If the warrant was "surrep
select Leonard SWEET, his old law partner
at Springfield, Illinois, and start him across
the continent with SO little consideration!
Is that probable? And why does it take
the vigilant servants of loyal Caifnrnia's
interest, two months to fnd out the little
mitsake9
Another query suggests itself-if this is
not intended as the first step towards assum'
| ING control of the richer mines of this
coast then it reflects upon the unwarranled
cupidity of Mr. Lincoln-for why else would
he dip his finger into the case, and send his
intimate business friend to watch over the
matter? For one, we believe it is the pre-
cursor of evil to our people, that it is the
intention Of this administration to seize
upon the best yielding mines of this coast,
Of every description, and replensh the
Golfers exhausted by war and wholesale
theft, from the proceeds thereof
We have but space at present, to point
out one or two facts as basis for such com
clusion. In the official report of Caleb B
Smith, then Secretary of the Interior (see
| Message and Documents lS6l-2, Abrdg'
ment, page 445) occurs the following recon-
mendation:
THE valuable and extensive mineral lands
owned by the Government in California and
| New Mexico have hitherto produced no revenue.
All who chose to do So have been permitted to
work them without limitation. 1t is believed
that no other Government owning valuable min
eral lands has ever refused TO avail itself Of the
| opportunity OF deriving revenue from the priv
iege Of mining such lands. They the prop
erty Of the Whoie people, and it will be obvious
| ly just and proper to require those who reap The
advantages OF mining them, to pay reasonable
amount a consideration for the advantage
enjoyed
Here is branch of the Administration
having the peculiar care of this subject
arriving, after the most mature reflection to
this conclusion. and these reports are first
examined and sanctioned by the Cabinet
The echo to this is found in the arguments
used by Attorney General Pixley last fall
through the Bulletin, upon the green back
currency question. This gentleman is well
posted in the designs Of his party, and
speaks plainly and to the point.
are legal currency. because the war has made
their issue IN Imperative necessity. and therefore
the courts will sustain them as legal; and fur
ther, maintain that if the court, do not sustain
the Government in its currency. the government
tcW put dOton the courts and declare martial
latc.
II the Government needs gold to carry on the
war it will take it and give pictures for it, if it
needs private property for public use, it will
take it, There is no private liberty ami there
is no private property Vhen Government
needs men and means for acar."
Here is food for reflection. 1t is evident
that if for the purposes of prosecuting war
the services of men may be obtained by
force, it is equally just to conscript private
property, and for this purpose there is no
more inviting field than the mines Of the
Pacific Coast present.
Every supporter Of the Administration
policy is pledged to assist in any scheme it
may deem "neresssry;" and it rs certain as
fate that the richer mines of California will
pass into the hands of swinding appointees
SO certain AS success crowns their efforts in
September next. This stay of proceedings
in the New Almedan case, is but repreve
it is not final decision hy any means.
Revenue LAw.-We are indebted to Mr.
Patton, County Auditor and Recorder, for q
pamphlet copy of the Revenue Law Of the
State As an evidence of the attention o
our Republican State Controller to his bust
ness, we observe bv concurrent resolution
of the Legislature, passed April 9Th 1868
he was authorized to collate and publish it
pamphlet form these laws for the instruction
of the officers intrused to their execution
! and II is on y now near the lst of August
when assessors have nearly completed theil
rolls, that these Instructions are furnished
them. r. O. Cravens, will regulate the Con.
troller's office next year.
DEMOCRATIC GRAND RALLY AT MARYs-
vILLE.-Ihe Democracy of the counties O