New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-23
THE PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE BILL.

I've questions arise, viz whether the priri-
ssea the bill would confer should be granted to
say person or persons; and secondly, whether, if
SiHabiectionabe in other respects, they should be
Eaaatesred upon @ corporation.
Ete public domain is trust set apart and held
11E the general welfare, upon principles of equal
Estacs, and not to be bestowed as special privilege
On every class. The proper rights for the disPosal
V1f public land have from the earliest period, been
1Se subject of earnest inquiry, grave discussion
2gd deliberate Judgment. The purpose oil alrect
eFefle was the first object, and rms vas attaiLied
by Public sale to the highest bidder and subse-
s1gsaSy by the right of private purchase at 1Hed
For quarter of century the quantity OF land
szbi eot to agricultural pre- emption has been lin
Eszd SO as not to exceed quarter section, or one
Aandred and sixty acres and, further, to guard
against monopoly, the privilege OF pre- emption is
s1et allowed to any person who owns three hun
-siEed aud twenty acres Of land, in any State or
territory of the United States nor is any person
entitled TO more than presumption right; nor is
1t extended to land to which the Indian title has
zEot been extinguished. The time of payment for
ssTe-smpted lands is not extended beyond twelve
Ei2aatls, within which time the minimum price
E1nst be paid.
Etwas soon covered that the surest aud most
speedy means Of promoting the wealth and pros
peritY OF the country was by encouraging actual
settlement and occupation; and hence a system
Ct pre-emptory rights, resulting most beneticially
IA all the western territories. BY progressive steps
1t has advanced to the homestead principle secur.
ssg to every head Of family, widow and single
nan twenty-one years of age, and every soldier
wfIo has borne arms for his country, landed es-
safe Sufficient with industry, for the purpose of
Iadependent support. Without tracing the system
az tie presumption laws through the several
stages ii rs sufficient TO observe that it has certain
Ust and plain principles firmly established in all
aHr legislation The object of the laws is to en-
courage the expansion of our population and de-
Es8Gpment Of our agricultural interests, and hence
g3AAy have been invariably restricted to settlers.
Actual residence and cultivation are made
ia Tr1lqF tlfn
8ge from the abuses of speculation or monopoly
she law is rigid as to the mode of establishing
claims by adequate testimony, with penalties for
perjury Mining, trading or any pursuit other
saaa the culture of the soil, is interdieted-the
mineral trade being expressly excluded from pre-
Sumption privilege, excepting those containing
coal which, in quantities not exceeding one hun
Eed ana sixty acres, are restricted TO individuals
"a actual possession and commence with an en-
HANGED minimum Of twenty dollars per acre.
Where the settlement is upon unfruitfu terri
sorry the time for payment is limited to the day of
EGblic offering designated by the proclamation of
She President; while to prevent depreciation OF
Che land by waste or destruction Of what may
sEdustitHte as yalne, penal enactments have been
made for the punishment of persons depredating
On public timber. Now, supposing the New York
Ind Montana iron manufacturing company to be
entitled to all the prescription rights which it has
seen found expedient to bestow on natural per
sons, it will be seen that the privileges conferred
ny the bill in question are in direct conflict with
every principle heretofore observed in respect to
Ia4e disposal of the public lands.
Ike bill confeTs presumption rights to mineral
a1ds which, excepting coal lands at any enhanced
minimum, have heretofore, as general principle
seen carefully excluded from presumption The
sEeet Of the company is not to cultivate the soil
ar to promote agriculture, but is for the sole pur
E0sa Of mining and manufacturing iron. The com
EI6By is not limited, like ordinary pre-emptors to
aGe presumption claim Of a quarter section but
zazF pre-empt two bodies of land, amounting in
the aggregate to twenty sectiohs containing Il 600
9STes or eighty ordinary presumption rights. The
'a1fllder is not protected but the contrary,
Before the censummation of the title the COM
Mauy are allowed to consume whatever may be
necessary in the erection of buildings and the
business OF manufacturing iron. For these special
privileges in contravention of the land policy of
30 many years the company are required to pay
GHly the minimum, and are granted credit of two
years or twice the time allowed ordinary pre-
=EasFtSrs Of offered land.
NOT is this all. The presumption right in ques-
d1R covers three sections of land containing iron
are aud coal. The act passed on the lstof July,
Bs64 made it lawful for the President to cause
aracts embracing coal coal fields, to be offered
nc public sale in suitable legal subdivisions to the
Highest bidder, after public notice, of not less
'8aan three months, at minimum price of twenty
d0lisrs per acre, and any not thus disposed Of
were to be liable to private entry at said mini
s1anm.