Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-08
MINING TITLES.

tles has seemed to touch raw and sem
sitive spot with our people; yet that some
thing must be done 10 do away with the
sense of insecurity that surrounds the
tenure by which our mines are held, is
daily becoming more and more apparent.
Il is matter of difficulty, not to say i'm
possibility, to induce men of capital to
invest largely IN these mines, so long as
their capital is subject to the uncertain
ties of future legislation. That heavy
amounts of capital are absolutely indis-
pensable to the proper development of
the resources of the mineral States and
Territories, Is fact too patent to admit OF
question and the owners of undeveloped
mines who hope to, one day, reap some
substantial benefit therefrom, must use
their endeavors to remove those obstacles
which, at present, deter capitalists from
investment in mining property. We have
given our views as to the matter in former
articles. We perceive that the same ques-
ton is being seriously and actively agi-
tated in Colorado Territory. The cha
racter of the mining interest there is pre-
cisely to that Of this State, and the same
character of legislation is required for the
one as for the other. We gave, some
time since, an account of a meeting held
at Central city, and the resolutions pass
ed thereat. We have now before us q
copy of the Colorado Mining Journal OF
November 22d, the leading article in
which is devoted to the subject Of Fed
eral Interference with Mining Titles"
The paper has heretofore occupied ground
adverse to the interference of the Federal
Government with the mineral lands;{but
a more thorough investigation and more
extended experience has wrought change
in its views of the proper policy to be
pursued by Congress. The article ex-
presses the views of the mass of the peo-
pie of Colorado, as we infer from its coin
cidence with the sentiments expressed in
the resolutions passed at Central city.
As the course of reasoning is equally ap-
plicable to the condition of affairs in this
State, and as the subject is one of much
Importance and will, undoubtedly, be
brought before Congress at its present
session, we quote the Journals article en-
! tire:
We have been among those who have al.
ways regarded with 4 jealous eye any Fede::
raj interference with our mining titles and
local laws, believing as we did, and as a
great majority of the people now believe, that
our past success in regulating these matters
was sufficient guarantee Of our ability to
grapple with them in the future; and that,
in any event, if Congress undertook to legis-
| late upon them at all, a great majority of its
! members are so little acquainted with the
popularity of our condition, our wants and
| capacities, that any interference short Of an
| absolute conveyance of the title in fee by the
| General Government to the settlers would
work more mischief than good, and leave us,
| in many respects in an infinitely worse con-
dition than we are at present. Especially
so, if it sought to overcome any existing diff
fculties BY means OF placing us in Seigno-
rial tenure condition, remnant Of British
Feudalism that would lily comport with the
spirit and genius of our institutions, and the
age in which we live.
We now think, however that some Fede-
raj Legislation is necessary for our security,
that we have right to demand, and that
Government ought to have the justice to
| concede for small remuneration the para
mount right and title Of mining claims, as OF
agricultural. to those who possess and de-
| yelope them. So much Of Federal legisla-
ton we are in favor of, but "only this, and
nothing more" As the subject is one that
deeply concerns us, and as we barely escap-
ed the infection of this seignorial tenure sys-
| tenn upon us at the last session of Congress
| by the united and timely effort Of our citi-
| zens at home and abroad. Does it not there
fore behoOve us to seize the first opportunity
| in declaring our wishes in this respect, and
| claim from Congress some law that will quiet
our titles, and set them forever at rest
If we could assure ourselves that our pos
sessory right would never be called in ques-
ton BY the General Government or the SUI
preme Court, but would ever remain subject
only to local laws, we could Herewith be
content. But have we such an assurance |!
What pledges have been granted us that
some future Congress may not attempt the
passage of measures similar or worse than
the one introduced in the last ? or that the
Supreme Court decide we are all trespassers,
and liable to a summary ejectment?
Whatever motives the trainers of the pre-
emption laws of 1871 could have had in ex-
empting mineral and saline lands from the
provisions of that act we will not now stop
TO consider; but we know at the time of the
passage Of that law, the mining, particularly
gold mining interests of the country was OF
small moment compared with the present.
The only gold mines in the nation Of any ac-
count that were worked successfully, and
those only on a small scale, was in the State
of Georgia. II the law makers Of that time
could have conceived the existence OF a state
of things like the present, it is fair to pre-
sumo they would then have made suitable
provisions to ensure the safety and perpetulty
Of mining titles. Since then, however, such
vast and constantly increasing interests have
grown UT, that it seems meet and proper that
some legislation OF the character indicated
should be required, and we know Of no bet.
ter time than the present to urge the atten-
ton of Congress to this matter.
These barren rocks among which we have
made our homes, at that time supposed
almost worthless for any purpose whatever,
have since proven the richest heritage left us
BY our fathers, and one of the greatest sour
ces Of wealth to the nation; and we can
| easily conceive how serious consequences
may arise in the future, il the government
continue to retain the fee to property gen.
orally equally distributed among million Of
its citizens, and Of incalculable value. The
assumption of State government by Terrific
ries afford no remedy. A State government is
as powerless to deal with this matter as a
Territorial. We are Of the opinion, there
fore, that it is high time something was done
that the people who have made their homes
in the Rocky Mountains, struggling for that
which will be necessary bye and bye to pay
of the interest on our national debt, and per-
haps yet save the country from bankruptcy
and disgrace, should have some guarantees
that among the ever shifting political changes
in the country, the amendment Of the Con-
stitution, secession of States, or decision o.
courts could ever ruthlessly take from them
or their children property acquired under the
many social and political privations common
l.. r