Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1898-03-19
SENATOR VIM. NJ. STEWART.
solid Reasons Why sie should be Re
turned to the U0ited states senate.
A Partial Review of His Work in
that Body.

read and thoroughly digested by
every man in the State:
Before Nevada became a State
when it was part of Utah-Wm.
NJ. Stewart became a citizen and en-
tered into the affairs of the country.
This was in April, 1860 He was
foremost, as many VIII remember,
in the litigation which resulted III
the settlement of the titles to the
Comstock lode, and the most conspic-
uous figure. He, himself, was inter
ested in mining and milling to a very
large extent. In 1861, IN connection
with his partner, kirkpatrick, he
built quartz mill a short distance
below Gold Hill, and was also a one
third owner in mill that was con-
structed the same year on the Car
son river. He also in the same year
built, in connection with John Atch-
ison, the Stone House, in Carson
City, now owned by Jacob Kline.
In the Fall of 1861 he was elected by
the people of Carson to the Territori
al Legislative Council, and succeeded
in securing the location of the capi-
tai at Carson City. He served in the
first Constitutional Convention that
was held in the Territory. In 1862
he built costly residence in Virgin
ia City. In the Fall of 1864 he was
elected to the United States Senate.
The question at that time (outside
of the war) which engaged the at
tention OF the people OF the mining
States and Territories of the West
was, whether their mining POSSESS
ions should be legalized and their
rights recognized by the general
government, or the mining lands sold
at auction in legal subdivisions to
the highest bidder, and the purchas-
ers put and kept in possession by a
sufficient standing army.
The fight that Senator Stewart
made for the miners in 1866 was a
remarkable one. Mr.. Julian, Chair
man of the Committee on Public
Lands of the House of Representa-
tives, had been twice elected on
platform of the sale Of the mineral
lands at auction for the purpose OF
carrying on the war. Mr.. Julian was
instructed by more than two-thirds
vote of the House of Representatives
to bring in a bill for that purpose
and to provide a sufficient army to
protect the purchasers. Mr.. Stewart,
colleague, Senator Nye, succeeded III
passing a bill through the Senate,
which recognized the rights of the
miners. The bill went to the foot OF
the calender in the House and seem
cd in hopeless condition. To eXtri-
cate it and put it on the calender
where it would be reached, Mr.. Stew
art attached it as an amendment to
. H,I ,.,I,tph hnj c.r.I tl,t. III
regulating ditch rights, and thus the
title of the first mining law had re-
terence to the rights of the owners
of bitches.
The Chairman of the Committee on
Public Lands, Mr.. Julian, reported
this bill and Mr.. Stewart in the mean
time had prepared the House to vote
him down and pass the Senate bill.
1t SO happened that the three Sen,
ators Conness, Nye and Stewart had
the casting vote on many important
questions which were then pending.
The location of two or three navy
yards hung in the balance. 1t was
arranged to locate one at League Isl
and in Pennsylvania and several in
New England, provided the miners
rights should be respected.
MI. GOlGWdlL luSNlllSb AilN II
he did on that occasion on the ground
that it saved the miners OF the West
from confiscation of their property.
From that time until 1902 he occu-
pied his time in consultation with
those interested with the miners,
and finally effected the passage OF
the law of 1872, which still remains.
1t may need amendment now, but
the people have been SO well salts
fed that it has remained on the stat
utes for twenty-five years.
Mr.. Stewart gave his undivided
efforts to the establishment OF mint
in Nevada, and, although his col
league was earnestly for the mint,
Mr.. Stewart must have the credit for
engineering and securing the pass
age of the bill. Mr.. Stewart was
then out of the Senate for twelve
years. Since his return to that body
he has been working i'll season and
out of season for the great cause OF
the restoration of silver, upon which
the prosperity of the whole nation
largely depends. He is most earn
est worker. He works night and
day for the great cause, and to his
unceasing efforts must be attributed
much of the success which has been
achieved in drawing the line be-
tween those who are in favor OF the
restoration of silver and the money
powers OF New York and London.
His great fight has been to make sill
ver the issue to be decided by the
vote of the American people. The
Chicago platform made it an issue so
far az the Democrat marty was con-