The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-15

before the nation BY robbing them Of the
lands they have selected, ard the money
and labor expended upon them ID good
faith And this is the unanimous opinion
of the court. Il totally ignores the strong
and pointed authorities which the whole
country has understood to have settled the
law to The contrary, and the whole policy
of the Government during the past forty
years and whoever will read it carefully in
the light Of the facts Of the case will find
that It deliberately pettifogs the cause of
the monopolist from the beginning to the
end.
But the Government has not only thus
favored the squandering of the peoples
rightful patrimony, but in some instances
it has shown itself positively unfriendly to
the producing classes, and especially to
that grand army of occupation, the pioneer
settlers. give two notable examples. In
the year 1864 Congress granted to the
State of California the famous Y Yosemite
valley. in perpetual reservation as pleas
ure ground and spectacle of wonder. But
Z ~ luIu6u Oul Nudt3 pliOt " tuo SAdhe'
Hutchings and Lamon, two enterprising
settlers, had selected homes in the valley
under the redemption laws, built their
cabins, planned orchards and vineyards, and
expended some thousands of dollars in
making themselves comfortable, while brav-
ing great hardships and privatons in this
remote and inaccessible region. California,
however, having accepted the grant caused
an eioctment to lie brought against these
settlers, who appealed for protection to the
legislature. And an act was passed, sub
iect to its ratification by Congress, reserv-
ing to each of them one hundred and sixty
acres. including their Improvements, and
reserving to the State the right to construct
bridges, avenues, and paths over the pre-.
emptions, so that the public use of The valley
could not be Obstructed.
Early in the present Congress a bill wa.
introduced in this body confirming the act
referred to, aud thus redeming the pledg,
Of the nation, embodied in the pre- emp ior
law, that their homes should be secured t,
them on compliance with its prescribed con
NiAOhc' Icy nOiC AuC Fui1 pic uptOIe
in the valley, and the simple, naked ques
ton presented by the bill was whether tn,
Government would maiUtain its plighteC
faIt1. The nation recognizes the sacrednes
Of contracts. 1t will not allow any law t
be passed importing their obligation, and y
between individuals compelr treir perfor
mances. Should It then deliberately VIC
late Its own contract with these pioneers
and thus proclaim its iaithlessness to al
settlers? The House OF Representatives
on the I'd day Of last July, answered thu
question in the affirmative BY it, record
ed vote Of one hundred AID seven agan>
thirty one, il declared that Hutchings ak
LamCn should be driven IRON their homes
and | must say that know of no vote sine,
the passage Of The tugi i've slave act 0
1880 which calls more loudly for gener
aud unhesltating reprobatiOn. 1t insult
our hardy pioneers, who have encounters
wild beasts and tbe seal png-knife Of til,
Indian in exploring our distant border
and extending the march Of civilization, b,
telling them they are outlaws on the publ
domain