The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-07-07
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Des Moines, June 10th.

Des Moines, June 10Th.
The Republican Congressional Con-
vention, ON the 7th instant, nominated
Major General, Dodge, amidst immense
excitement. t--..,.4. .--..s
!, , .rF.. Chicago, June Goth.
Wards rolling mill was burned, last
night--loss, 100000. ..-' ,l.y
A Washington letter says, owing TO
the representations of ]. Ross Browne,
agent of the California fruit growers, the
Senate has decided to take off the tax of
five cents per gallon on native wines,
and to impose tax of fifty cents per gal
lon on foreign wines of inferior grades.
General Ortega, who claims to be the
constitutional President of Mexico, has
an agent at New York, through whom
he has submitted a proposition to Mr..
Banks, chairman of the committee on
federal relations, looking for an alliance
with the United States. =. ..- n,,
$40 CHICAGO, June 21st.
2 The following is a summary of the
Senate debate of Monday, on the bill to
regulate the occupation of the mineral
lands, reported May 2Sth by Mr.. Con
ness, from the committee on mines and
mining, as substitute for Summers
bill, The substitute having been read
Stewart moved to add the following sec
ton which was adopted, namely:
THAT as further condition of the
sale, in the absence Of the necessary
Legislation by Congress, the local legis-
.lation of any State or Territory may
provide rules for working the mines, in
volving drains, or any other kinds of
means necessary to their development,
and these conditions shall be fully eX-
pressed in the patent +rs,r ....
Stewart explained the laws and Gus
toms of the miners, which he said were
founded on reason and justice, and chal-
lenged the admiration of all who invest
gated them, and series of wise and jul
dicious decisions have moulded these
regulations in a comprehensive system
of common law, embracing not only the
mining law, but also regulating the use
of water for mining purposes. This sys-
tenn has spread over all the mineral
States and Territories, and it is well un-
derstood by million of men, A miner S
law is part of his nature he made it
and he loves, trusts and Obeys it; he
has given the honest toll of his life to
discover wealth, which when found, is
protected by no higher law than that
enacted by himself, under the implied
sanction of just and generous govern
ment. Senators who have not given
this subject special attention, can hardly
realize the wonderful results of this
system of free mining. 1t would be a
national calamity to adopt any system
that would close that vast region to the
prospector; but the Importance of legis-
ton which shall give title, so important
| for permanent prosperity, is daily in
creasing by the agitation of the subject
! by the introduction of bills looking to
what the miners regard as q general
| system of coniscation, by the absolute
necessity of some system guaranteeing
to capitalists indemnity for their invest
nients, to extend to the miner the pre-
emption, applicable to agricultural dis
tricts. Absurd and impossible nature
does not deposit precious metals in reg
ular forms of discrimination between
perpendicular forms of earth, or will il
do to sell lands in advance of discovery
for this would stop explorations and the
spectators would never find mines.
! Your committee have therefore pre-
pared bill, which may be improved by
experience, but your committee woulC
apprehend evil consequences from any
material change in the plan at this time
/ The bill continues the system of fre'
mining, holding the mineral lands opel
to exploration and occupation, subject t.
legislation by Congress and localities.
recognizes the obligations of the govern
ment. to respect private rights whicl
have grown up under its tacit consen
and approval. 1t proposes to allow mi
ners who have or may hereafter occup.
and improve mines in good faith, ant
according to local rules, to purchase a
the rate of five dollars per acre, and re
ceive patent therefor, in such form a
shall grant the mine, with it's deposit
to any depth, with such reasonabl
amount of surface as the miners shal
determine by law to be necessary 70
working the same 1t also provides tina
in case of disputes RS to the right c
possession, for the determination of tina
question in local courts, where miners
. laws are understood and adminiptoroe
makes the public surveys conform to ns
ture and not nature to the survey.
requires the payment of three per cen
of the net proceeds into the treasur
1 until the debt shall have been pait
which is in lieu of the stamp tax no.
I levied. 1t furnishes the means to actus
settlers of acquiring titles to their hom
steads by segregating agricultural frol
mineral lands, and confirms the right
the use of water, and the right of way
bitches, as established by LEGAL law an
the decision of the courts. In short,
proposes no new system, but sanction
regulates and confirms system to whie
the people are devotedly attached, RI
!, removes those of doubt and uncertain'
which recently have depressed and
tarded the growth and prosperity OF o.
mining communities. In my opinio
% this bill will furnish homes to thousan'
of families, will furnish titles, and ]
crease the production Of precious meta
:, The proposed tax is not large, and w
t. not be oppressive; but as all the subje
X will bear and is just three per cent. mo
than the farmer pays on the net pl
De ceeds of his farm. Those who have
productions have no money with whi
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