The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-05-12
VIE MORTAL

MEMORIAL
To the Honorable the Senate dnd House of
Of the United States in Congress assembled:
Your memorialists the members of the Territorial
yention of Montana, assembled at Helena would respect
fully represent
That the Territory of Montana is composed of one hun
dred and sixty thousand square miles, embracing eighty
seven million of land large portion of which is
auriferou and argenerous in character and promises
become of the richest sections in minerals upon the
American continent and pethaps unrvaed in the world
The discovery and as yet partial development Of Mon
tana and is owing the intrepid courage of the hardy
pioneer who has rsked life and all that is dear him
the fascinating allurements of this Eldorado.
The people OF Montana proud of their allegiance to
the Federal Government and feel deeply thankful for the
favors already received and part without
representation in either branch of the national council
Convention assembled do most earnestly protest against
the survey of national gold fields into small parcels
and selling out the ultimate title proposed by what is
known as he Sherman Julian BILL which bill has already
been introduced into the House of Representatives we
make this, our firm protest and adduce the following
| reasons:
1st The passage of such bill proposed would entail
great hardshps upon the people of this Territory who
have by their energies, developed the country,
and subdued nnumerabe Obstacles besides induce
mens presented them such character to carry
explorer far in advance of permanent settlements and
therefore beyond the limits reached by the
| public surveys"
I'd. That the discovery of gold California in le4s
and which remained undeyeped for three and four
turies after its first exploration and the subsequent dis
covery of the precious metals in the Territories adjacent
due alone to private and individual enterprise and there
fore merits the most commendable beraty guaran
tees from Congress that the ownership title be placed
| upon a solid and substantial basis.
3D. That we present to in part the views of the able
Secretary of the Interior Hon. j. P Usher who SAYS
usage in this and in all other countries comedies to the
discoverer admissible right in limited reasonable
extent to the fruits of his labor enterprise"
4th. That the sale of the mineral lands cnunot be
tested by the stan dard of public competition case
with the arabic portion of the public domain would
TO expose the adventurous explorer to such
ttion against capital which had rsked nothing in the
investigation and in way aided in stimulating the
prise by which it would seek to be benefited"
9TH Added to these obstacles presented thresh
hold OF any scheme for the devesture of title the gold
and silver bearing localities is the absolute mpossbty
of fixing any just minimum these lands for the reason
that no two given acres of equal value the localities
now known and worked permanent mines VARYING from
few dollars to several thousand per foot upon vein OF
lode Ii q medium between the two extremes be named
only few sales could be effected monoposts and more
than one half would remain unsod owing the excessive
| price"
9th. But were it admitted that a minimum which
should be just to the public could be determined upon
would be found tha: the which could be actually
necessary to the workable odes would be nconsdeabe
and the price Insignificant that the expense of survey
and disposal would far exceed the product of sale"
fh That tendency of capital to grasp aud consolidate
all interests OF such limited extent may be monopozed
such that by system of devesture the
and people of the prOpretorshp of the auerous estate
would result in the rapid concentration of the public inter-
ests in the hands of the few the prejudice and deprva
ton OF the many and as the cheapest capital endowed
with the highest tendency TO monopoze, is fair pre-
sume IN TACT may be confidently predicted that foreign
capital would, in few years and control the vast
mineral resources of the country without having given any
adequate valuable consideration therefor"
9Th. That 'Once monopolized the working of these
vast fields of wealth would be regulated by the interests of
capital and that capital interested in forwarding the views
OF competing nations and enhancing their material pros.
pey against the interests If not the expense indirectly
of the Government and people of the United States"
9h. Ihat the material and moral prosperity and
advancement OF this Government and people will be best
promoted by the adoption of course with fegard to
the mineral wealth of the public domain shall secure the
largest product with the most equitable distribution among
| our own people"
10TH That the sale of these lands would be to exchange
the Republic, liberal generous benefcent proprietor
for the sharp remorseess capitalist, to wiring the
aboring classes enormous profits. 1t would in fact be
policy contradiced by the enlightened systems of Europe
that which has existed under other soveregns this
continent and in the Island of Cuba for than hun
dred years"
llth. That political economy, if properly considered
would certainly suggest other mode than that of the
sale OF the mineral lands and if Congress will for one
moment consider the fact that since lSs not less than one
thousand millions Of dollars in gold and silver have been
extracted from these lands, and all owing individual
capital and enterprise and thereby adding G solid and
substantial wealth of the Government and without which
our finances, to-day as nation would be in precarious
| if not ruinOus condition. We feel assured the sound
policy OF allowing the mineral domain forever remain
in possession of the Government and of throwing widely
to the energetic and ambitious pioneer all avenues lead
| ing thereto will not be questioned
18TH That the United States has hesitaed to extend
her commerce with the several geographical divisions of
the world portion of which are the non importing pop
uaton OF Asia although at the hazard of constant drain
OF her treasure yet all these drains rapidly supplied by
the yield Of the precious metals from mineral lands
under the present system of propetorshp of whole
people, and if the present system is strictly adhered to-
that ere many years the United States will equal If not
surpass France in wealth. although now considered
the richest nation of the world in the precious metals
18TH That We therefore, ask and recommend you leg
ate upon this important subject touching the vital
interests OF the nation and people alike end that the
mines and minerals Of the public domain the property Of
the nation be thrown open to the occupancy Of all citizens
That regret Territory Idaho threatens the
sequestraton of portion of valuable and pro-
ducve agricultural land lying the and north west
Of Territory, commencing, proposed at the inter
section of the Bitter Root Valley with the base of
the Rocky Mountain and running thence north along
the Hath meridian the British possessons-hus taking
from Of the most popuous counties Missoula the
Territory of Montana and that the said section is especially
necessary to the support of people who developing
the gold fields within borders and that your Honorable
bodies will ever oppose any division of Territorial
domain.
RAILROADS.
That projected Northern Pacific Railroad and known
the Lake Route is awakening the vlies interest in the
minds of people and that do heartily endorse
the proeci and that looking but few years into the
future we may confidently promise all the support which
true brave and generous people could extend towards
connecting and cementng the two great Oceans by sys
TEN Of railway which will and must traverse Territory
from east to west thereby placing Montana Immediately
on the highway from the great cities of the East to the
We call your attention to the report of the Secretary Of
the Treasury dated 25h June 1864 touching inter
national relations of the northern frontier of the United
States the latitude of 45o north extended of Min
nesota is not only central to the Lake coast and the rail-
roads of northern Illinois and Iowa. Wisconsin Mnne-
Su. o. .6e grss @ am ahu 'ns
developed to be occupied in the Territories of
Dakotah, Montana and Idaho. Other conditions being
the future emigrant route win follow the and
(when population warans) that win be the general drec
ton Of the Northern or Lake Railroad Route 49,.
| TERRITORIAL ROADS.
That the upper part of the Missouri river is so obsructed
with rapids and boulders for three hundred miles below
Fart IN Ye0dnY mt A,fu