, 1866-01-19
Ivop TuE MINERAL LANDS.

/
sale of the mineral lands. These PROPOSE
tons uniformly come from men who are en-
tirelv ignorant Of all that relates to mining,
and Judging only by results, think they see
in the gold and silver miues Of the Pacific
coast the means of extinguishing the Ma
tional debt, as also source Of revenue from
which to defray the expenses of Govern
ment. No amount Of argument serves to
enlighten the men who lead in this cru>
SADIE against the mining interests, and with
each recurring session of Congress the
same battle has to be fought over. This
year the question comes up in the shape
of a proposal, to-, sell the mines, and
place the whole mining interest of the
country under the control of capitalists No
better plan could be devised by which to arr
rest prospecting" than the one suggested,
and in the event of its adoption, the very
first effect will be to stop the search for new
mining districts II is known that large
numbers of the Oldest and most experienced
miners spend the greater part of their time
in prospecting" When broke or unfortu'
nate, they will work for wages, but just as
soon as they make raise, of they 60 in
search Of new diggings. In this way this
class Of men, as a rule, keep themselves poor,
J but whilst impoverishing themselves they are
] of iaestimable benefit to the country, and as
= such are deserving of every encourage
. ment. In all his wild hunts th rough gulches
, and over mountains, the hardy " prospector'
. is chesred with the prospect of making a
D 6, discovery" aud when this is done, under
e the present nining|regulations, he is sure Oi
r "a good thing" To change this rule, and
a sell out the mineral land to capitalists, will
r be to leave the prospector " without any
ilducement to follow a pursuit that is a
!, best precarious. 1t is strange indeed tina
p our Eastern friends can not be made to an
n derstaud the mischief that attends this con
'e slant meddling with mining interests. Th'
10 people of the Pacific coast are law abiding
V loyal, and patriotic They pay their take
st aud coutribute their fall proportion tOWarC
ID dsfrayiug the expenses Of Government
10 Called upon to face difficulties and uOderg
=, bGrdships that would sppsl less determine
IN men, it would seem that uuder the eircum
- stances they are deserving Of encouragement
ur Other Governments, less liberal, offer larg
;" rewards to the diIcovereIs If new niUia
no districts. Our people ask no hvors of thi
ne or any other character. All that they de
at the thftt ana tHAt taS8o aS8o be- St E6sSst0r PPsS
ng shall be allowed to take out the treasure h
en- is fortunate enough to discover Not a sir
1t gle man Of any prominence who has visite
the mining districts, but knows that this
io the true policy. Speaker Collar, Generl
sr Ashley, and the various other gentleme
it. Who passed through the mining districts il
Io the course Of last Summer, we're all unsui
nous in the opinion that it would be wors
a, than suicide to change the present miniu!
Of policy, and from these gentlemen we lool
rd for efficient aid in eulighteniDg that class O
u men at the East who are constantly endeav
y, y, oring to repeat the folly of the youth VIII
h. "killed the goose that laid the golden egg.
al Let the mining interest be protected snC
at iostered, sBd they viii continue rich dowr,
to to the Government, but let different polio,
In be pursued, and it will be found in the enc
g that in grasping after a shadow We have los
the substance. Under the laws of Spani, Al
:. also of Mexico, mines were uniformly se
20 cured to the " denOuncer (discoverer,l Iht
e Government claiming nothing more than
"royalty" or Szed per centago upon tht
yield. The more nearly our own Govern
y, meut initiates a policy of this kind, the
more rapid will be the development Of the
. one great interest that has peopled the Pa,
ciic coast.
J. HBLL's GATE MAIL.-We notice BY our
, exchanges that the Postmaster General ad