Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-23
ANOTHER WANT,

under peculiar circumstances, and the
world generally don't agree to the her
mit's proposition. The wants of which
we are about to speak, however, are not
those Of individuals, but the wants Of the |
new State which we have just created.
Having assumed the character of State |
we have become vested with many nights |
of which as Territory we were devoid.
1t now behooves us to take the proper |
steps to secure those rights and make |
them available. We have also many |
wants, and are now in position to make
those wants known to the General Gov
eminent and insist that they be supplied.
As we have often said, and the fact will
not be contravened, it is upon the pros
perity of our mining interest, that the
very existence of the State depends; and
that any policy which works disastrouslS
to that interest will work ruin to the
State and render it an uninhabited desert.
This interest must be fostered and encou-
ragged by the most liberal legislation on
the part of Congress, and every induce
ment held forth for the rapid and healthy
development of the vast mineral resources
known to exist within our borders. This
is necessity not only to the prosperity
and existence of the State but to the well
fare of the whole nation. 1t is fact that
will be apparent to any one who will
give the subject thought, that the vast
yield of the precious metals from the Pa
cific coast, has been the nerve and vitality
which has given strength to the national
arm in the giant contest which it has been
and still is waging, not only for national
existence but in vindication Of the prin-
ciple of free government. The National
credit is not based upon the power of the
nation to extort from the people the an
nual interest upon huge national debt
never intended to be paid, as is the case
with other nations of the earth. Within
the boundaries of the United States there
lies territory many hundreds OF miles
square, teeming with mineral wealth.
From the Rocky Mountains on the east,
to the very sands washed by the waves
of the Pacific; from the Mexican frontier
to our northern boundary line, actual ex-
| ploration has established the existence of
a perfect network Of mines Of the pre-
cious metals, which, for richness are I'M
surpassed, if equalled, on the face of the
globe. To develope these vast mineral
resources, to compel these barren regions
to yield up the enormous wealth that I'M
derles them, as the more fertile portions
of the nations domain yield their rich
harvests, is to add to the great aggregate
of the national wealth to an extent that
will place the United States at the very
pinnacle of power and grandeur among
the nations of the earth. These mines
are the property of the nation and sub
ject to the legislation of the General Gov
eminent. As that legislation shall be
wise or unwise, so will the nation be be-
ne6tted by the wealth which lies beneath
its feet, or present the picture of the miser
perishing of want amid his treasure-chests.
That the mines of the precious metals are
the absolute property of the government,
is question too well settled to admit OF
argument; and that every miner is a tres
passer is an admitted fact. The mines,
however, are a species Of property OF
which the government cannot benefcially
avail itself by direct means. They
must, in order to produce yield
that will benefit the government
be wrought by individuals, with the free
consent of the government, and under some
fixed and established code of laws. The
explorer and prospector must have the en-
couragement and guaranty of the govern
ment in plain, unmistakable black and
white, that his time and labor shall, if
successfully expended, not be expended in
| vain. The man of capital who enables
the discoverer to develope the wealth he
has discovered, must have the assurance
of the Government that he will be pro-
tected in his investment. 1t may be said
that it has not been, and is not likely to
be the policy of the General Government
to disturb those who are in possession Of
and working the mines of the precious
metals. We believe the proposition to be
true. We have no idea that it is the
present intention OF the Government to
interfere in the premises, nor have we Sc
rious apprehension that it will do so in
the future. That, however, is simply
matter of opinion; there is no positive
assurance of the fact. 1t is that assurance
that is needed, and it is the absence Of it
that we are complaining of as "want."
Capitalists are chary of investing in I'M
certainties. They are wary about trust
ing to the freaks of future legislative bod
les. Capital meets with but little sympa-
thy or tenderness at the hands Of the pub
lie, and it behooves it to surround itself
with every possible safeguard. Capital
from abroad is an indispensable necessity |
to Nevada. The character of our mines |
is such, that merely strong arms, no mat
ter how willing or how numerous, cannot |
develop them. The great length of time
required to open one of our mines makes
it too heavy venture for the poor man,
and the paying ledge once discovered, re-
quires costly machinery for its profitable /
working. Capital must come to the as
sistance of labor, or labor must abandon
the field. To bring the capital here, all
fears of disturbance in the enjoyment of
its property by the Government or by
individuals must be dispeled. This can
can only be done by Congress extending
over such mining property the strongest
possible protection. What the precise
character OF this protection should be, and
q n s. u