The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-11
TO DEFEND THE DOMAIN.
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION
The National Free Grasssrs Must Not
Encloso Public Lands--Actual Set
tlers's Rights TO be Respected
and Protected General
Washington News

WASHINGTON, Aug. l0,-The follow
ing proclamation by the president was
issued to-day:
BY the President of thD United States OF
America, n Proclamation:
WHEREAS, Public policy demands
that the public domain shall be re-
served for the occupancy of
actual settlers in good faith. aud
that our people who seek homes
upon such domain shall, in no wise,
be prevented by wrongful interfer-
enco from the free and safe entry
thereon, to which they are entitled ;
and,
WHEREAS, 10 secure and maintain
this beneficial policy statute was
passed by tho Congress of
the Usited States on the
25th day of February, in the
year 1885, which declared to
be unlawful any iuolosure of public
lands in any Stale or Territory, to any
OF which land included within said
inclosure the person, party, assooia-
ton or corporation Masking or con-
trolling such inclosure had no claim,
or color OF title, made ar acquired in
good iaith, or an asserted right thereto,
by or under claim made in good
faith, with a view to entry thereof at
the proper land office; and which the
statute also prohibited any persons by
force, threats, intimidation or by
any fencing, inclosuro, or other
unlawful means, from preventing
OF obstructing any persons from
peSceably entering upon or establish.
an 4 n nnt r,r nufH
tract of public land subject to settle
ment or entry under tho public land
laws OF the United States, and from
preventing or obstructing free passage
and transit over or through the public
lands; and,
WHEREAS, II is by the fifth section
OF the saie act provided as follows:
THAT the president is hereby author
lied to remove and destroy any unlaw-
full enclosure of any said lands, and TO
employ civil or military force as may
be necessary for the purpose;" and,
WHEREAS, 1t has been brought 10
my knowledge THAI unlawful en-
| closures and such as are
pcOhibited by the terms of the afore-
said statute exist upon the public do
| main, and that actual legal settlement
thereon is prevented and obstructed
| by such enclosures and by force,
threats and intimidation; now,
Therefore, |, Grover Cleveland,
president of the United States, do
hereby order and direct that any and
every unlawful enclosure of the pub
lie lands, maintained by any person,
association or corporation, be inn
mediately removed, and | do hereby
forbid any person, association OF cor
poration from preventing or
obstructing by means Of
such enclosures or by force,
threats or intimidatlons, any person
entitled thereto, into po tceably enter
ing upon and establishing 2ettlemont
| or residence upon any such part OF
public land which Is subj4ct to entry
aud settlement under the laws OF tho
United States.
And / command and eequiro oOch
and every officer OF tho United States
upon whom the duty has legally de-
yolVed TO cause this order 70 be obeyed
and all the provisions OF the scJ OF
Congress herein mentioned to b9 faith.
fully enforced.
Ia testimony whereof,
have hereuntO set my
hand and caused tho seal Of the United
States TO be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this
9TH day Of August, in tho year Of oul
Lord, ono thousand eight Hundred and
eighty five, and Of the Independence
OF tho United States of America, the
one hundred and tenth.
! GROVER CLEVELAND.
By the president; II. f. BAYABD,
Secretary Of State.