The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-09-01
THE NEW MINING LAW--.LETa
TER FROM HIGHLAND.


The following communication repre-
sents the unanimous opinion OF the
miners, who sustain the position OF the
PosT in opposing the new mining law"
The subject is so important that we
cheerfully insert it in o,lr columns. The
passage of acts of this character shows
to the voters of the Territory that they
cannot exercise too much discrimination
in selecting a proper representative to
sit in the Congress at Washington. By
the election of the present inefficient
incumbent, they declared that they pre-
ferred man who advocated certain polit-
ical theories, to one whose commanding
talents and high character would have
been invaluable in defeating unjust leg
islation. We have no doubt that a
majority of our readers will agree with
Judge Alex. Davis, thorough democrat,
who candidly declared, in the meeting
that assembled in Virginia City, on the
22d ult., as follows: 1T would have
been better for the interests of Montana,
if we had elected W. F. Sanders instead
of Samuel Mclean. | say this as life
long democrat, who has no sympathies
!, in any degree with the political princi-
| pies which the former gentleman has SO
:, boldly upheld" We do not insert the
above extract as personal compliment,
but as a suggestion. The people of
Montana must choose for high offices
nen who will maintain their privileges
Nth knowledge and ability; or be pre-
'. pred to take the consequences if they
/ throw away their sufrages upon dema-
gogues like Mclean. If the citizens OF
the mining districts will stand upon this
Independent platform and support the
best Candidates for their votes, there will
be n more, injury caused by imperfect
d ara uncalled for enactments like the
j new mining law
HIGHLAND, August 26th, 1866.
EDITOR PosT: In the issue of the
PosT of August 18th, | read the new
mining law, and also your comments
thereon. was pleased to see that the
leading journal of this Territory took 9
decided stand against such foolish
unjust and decidedly ruinous law.
wish that every journal, not only in this
Territory, but also in every mining State
and Territory, would take as firm stant
, against law go rrlinous TO their bes
interests, and more especially to theil
=. future prosperity.
r The rapid settlement of these States
! and rritories-Oregon, California, Ida
no, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Ari
zona and Montana-was caused by the
: discovery Of the precious metals, and by
the system, of free mining therefor. Tht
unparalleled growth and progress o
those States and Territories are strong
| testimony in favor of the system Of free
mining; and with that system rests the
future prosperity of all those States an6
, Territories 1t is only necessary to poin
to this cluster of States and Territories
!, to this once howling wilderness con
verted, in the short space of fifteen years
into habitable place for hundreds o
Y thousands of enterprising people-tt
= show the result of system of free min
ing. These States and Territories have
been the magazine from which the Fed
eral Government drew its sinews of war
}. 1t was the army of miners gathered int
these States and Territories, that fur
nished the means to maintain an army
that crushed the late rebellion. Anc
). now it is the small corps of sappers a
Washington that, by erroneous legisla
Y ton, would sap the strength, not only
of those States and Territories, but o
the general government. If the late
IL enactment by Congress is enforced-i
st miners are compelled to comply with thu
'S provisions of that act-it will not only
N arrest the exploration and development
of much mining land, but will decrease
The production of the precious metals IL
! mines now opened and such resul
;, will be reached in two or three years
The prospector will no longer risk hi
life among Indians, brave the hardship
md deprivation of a prospector's life, tt
Explore the mountain for new mines; tt
Ilevelope them with hard labor-whel
le knows that he has not the means tt
comply with law, by which he cal
- hcauire title to his discovery and tha
Of Capitalists can oust him from his hard
IN earned discovery, ON account of his ina
Re bility to comply with the provisions o
81 the mining law. mad. a.f.-. -..
- Now would ask: What is to b.
gained by the enactment by Congress o
such a law? VIII Government deriv'
70 any more revenue from the sale of min
ieral lands than from a moderate taxa
tion of gold at the mint? | answer, No
And think that careful calculation o
the probable net receipts from botl
sources, will show a balance in favor o
taxation of gold at the mint. Senate
Williams of Oregon, in discussing tn
mining bill in the United States Senate
very Justly said Il think it wors
than folly for the Government to under
take any system of this kind, with yiev
of increasing its income; for, instead o
ne adding anything to the revenue OF tn
Government, it will only impose new AM
M grievous burdens upon it"