Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1863-11-24
Mineral Lands.

utilSIl poHeillileIt, d p1oPosluoA, WHICH,
contains huge snake in the grass. 1t is
that of having Congress give the Mineral
Lands to the State. Beale, by virtue Of
his position may be authorised to make
suggestions to the Government, but his
business and line of life have not been
such as to qualify him in an eminent de
gree to judge of the proper policy Of the
Government or the best Interests Of the
people with regard to the mines. lie has,
it occurs to. US, stepped somewhat beyond
the strict line of his official duty, and we
are wary of him. Our confidence is lin
tied III the disinterestedness of officials
who take vast sight more trouble on
themselves than the law requires, and we
commence smelling for the rat. 1t is pos
sible that the views of Beale- are hon
estly entertained, bAt we, beg leave to
most decidedly differ with him. The
people of California have neither the need
nor the desirefor this munifcent gift so
generously asked in her name, but with
out her authority. They are very well
satisfied q let the title to the mines re-
main where it is-in the General Govern
ment. That owner gives them all the
privilege they desire upon the mineral
lands-the privilege of working them free
ly. and in the manner and under such
regulations as the peculiarities of the diff
ferens localities and districts suggest to
the miners themselves. They have no
desire to have the ownership of those
mines pass into the hands of the State
and their disposal entrusted to State
Legislature. When their minds change
on the subject we shall hear some intima-
ton to that effect, from the people and
their mouth-piece will not be Surveyor
Beale. They have Congressman to repre-
sent them before the National Govern
ment, to ask of it any loan or extension of
privilege, and when public sentiment
manifests itself favorably to the views ell
tertained by Mr.. Beale, it will become the
declared policy of some party or political
aspirant. The day when such policy
will be advocated on the stump among the
people, will be far distant. The man or
party that breaches it will for years to
come, will be essentially and effectually
marked. The people own the mines now,
to all intents and purposes. That own
ership is uncircumscribed and extends to
all sorts and conditions of men. No
price or condition is affixed to the free
right of every man to enter upon unoccu-
pied mineral lands and work them as he
will. How long would that right remain
an open public franchise after the legisla-
ture had the sale of those lands in its
power: How long would it be before,
in the language ofour contemporary, "they
would be mainly in the hands of Euro
pean and New York capitalists, who
would erect baronies here not whit bet
ter than the plantations in Alabama, or
the Irish landlord system-when the many
would have to toll and sweat for the bene-
fit of the few ; " The day would
be past when the poor man could
hold a mine in his own right, and
if fortunate, acquire wealth, The only
position he could occupy in the mines
would be that of a day laborer, with
his master, in nine cases out of ten. in
Europe. The proposition in question
would, undoubtedly, meet with very pow
erful advocates if applied to our Territory.
Our mines are of class far more inviting
to foreign capitalists than those of Cali
fornia, and were the General Government
to offer them for sale in fee simple, they
would pass into such hands in the twink
ling of an eye, and the American citizen,
without capital, would pack his traps with
dispatch and seek other employment.
London, Paris and Hamburg would own
the country, and the American Flag fly
ing over it would be merely ornamental
matter of form. We quote, in conclu-
sion, the final paragraph of the Bee, which
most forcibly expresses sentiments with
which we thoroughly coincide:
"The French Emperor talks, it is said, of
going to war with our country for these
mines. He would conquer California to pos
sess himself of them; and yet Lieut.. Beale,
himself military man, we belieye, but evil
den:ly no strategist, suggests, in his inno-
cence, plan for the adoption of our Govern
ment, which, through his agents here, would
put these mines of California and Nevada in
to the hands OF Napoleon at one-tenth the
cost which would be required for him to pre-
pare to take them by force! French capital
controlled by the Emperor, would own the
best of those mines before ten years would
pass; and no gold should be taken out, or
silver either, save what that Government rer
quired or what it pleased. These mines now
belong to America and Americans, and the
only mode by which they can still thus be-
long, is by letting well enough alone. Let
Government tax them, if needs be, to help
pay the expenses of the war, but let it never
place them in possession of this State, unless
upon conditions that they cannot be alienat
ed-that the State cannot dispose of them in
fee They are the DeOnle'S and should be