The Montana post. [volume], July 31, 1868, Image 1

About The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
THE MONTANA POST.
Al Newspaper, Devoted to the Mineral, Agricultural and Conmmnercial Interests of Montana Territory.
-'(L. 4, NO. 41. HELENA, MONTANA, FRIDAY, JULY 31. / S , 8, WHOLE NO. 203
I IInI II I I nI- , ,,I! ,nH
! Aýý I- . MI LLB, - - EDITOR.
:IIE t'.'MPAIPiN OF 1Nmic'
N tiE 111 U1101 RepublicanTicket,
PRESIDEj~NT,
GIENERAL U. S. GRANT,
OF ILLINOIS.
VIEU PRESIDENT,
'( JIll- I lIR COLFAX,
40f In iana.
t(itionl RebuhlliCifua Tickets.
Lens i. and Clarke County.
1, r Clz' Ii---2 11 11 -trict.
RI:I0IAil) McNErL.
I A-nJ I-. -::..1 b;-trict.
CHIAD. IIENSDRIE
FIRANK tE'TCWHELL
JlhlIN KINNA.
For A-se~sor.
J-11N A. NELSON.
.1 u-tlc' 'lq t 1i,' ac*e
'L.N-I- 11r.-cinct.
F C '-tall--.
Ii 1-. LL..VAN1. i " aPr.,cinct. )
1ý, \ý.I1.I1" ac,. ll.' i artiiv
r " 1. l''r::l aI"Ti:.-I I y the
' S.1ira t tr lr-i!*n:l., andl
I ' X Ir".i'-.nt. h
r i P-1 ~ *' :"I."i1 rtat I ri :1 ):17
ar.i f'" r,:!i1 n t hat they, as- tanl
\ .rý ..nI it~re tir :hb Nation liar
½ : I.,tt.fl2 II'IP4P\. Ti," (tnintv
I 2 it ..:.i' ILand.Ir I',,,rth CLuue.e
;i-·- · ' .r_ r \L.. T rket. ';aI .t in: ( i.,n
F - . . "~ Nfl!, V."." Fr-,n 1i
'"-.r.n *'i~v."r -tntr I )-?f
'r.,, ( r.rr·; I ,r . II r"--t ui l:' l" _ i", }1 ..n
P I' . A -P"'., ' . P . "
- -Ia : 'i N-'a. M `tt n u.\ 1' 1'r '.e \\'.' n .
i" t· . .1 It. r' ,. c int'..
!,. i tv r ." \ iE 1I i 61'1
...T 1 . IT'. Lal r-,t r: ., I.(. 1cctt r of Int -
.ri:l i-v,..-, oll " I fanl it nt i" i I\'ci.L a joke
n. , nl .lick ite noltd ." ,t Saturday.
: , il; . ic,.c,, :V , a.f tel.rani in
:,r:iin- iii:.: that a Mr. Morris had
,, ; .,.: ! liv the President as his
:c,.,. ,aid cufiruled l; the Senate
*>irin! the co inig hours of the session.
U iterp,.-itio)n of friends procured a
rr,,.,,l, 't. . in ,,t the c ntiriiuation, and
Ir 31 rri- wa- utt t'l'.lector for a few
ur, "Li. the ,tiicial head of Mr.
anti"2 rl , -.kilullý guillotined was re
" ,.,,, :L n.atly as thouihii Robert Hlou
,l:i i.:t l, :,. it. It is not half so de
a- '.,t :, . ' .v ho :rucku L illy IPat
" -n. a- " who is Mr. Morris :"' Is he
:1 ,:,.J'.- ad t ait l lte rge P., the poet;
it'u nlI ar. th1e trienit of Lafayette
i... wv:ho put his autograph below
i .:.. , ,n the (.re.t I)D claration
I r the tinancier ot the first Con
: Ti:,oas. the stateSinan, or
:.. the Bishop. By th.l wvay, who
Lrri' . tt.--It is now under
Sthiat Mr. Morris is *"lke" Moore,
rni.r' v ,t Virginia. lte is presumed
', in, t:t sile situa::tion as the Moor
. i; oc:;:.'atiol,'s gone."'
i;ETTIN.' IrTNE.%SY.
t .iuiv N:h. tle J! rvK., in noticing
lh. .,iaget of the ,s.s, u:tio)ns denounc.
in. ii, i.xcieutive ', ounittee in general
:AIn cit ,o. M. iinne.v in particular, said:
\., . -h hr, I, .iP ci; ally to refer tothe pat
l. tt in andl wi-doini of the Convention as
i. l ,el.cd l Iv the protmptnepY and unanimity
w ith which it paredl resolutioni condemning
t .. h.huio,.r.bleC c.,urse of G o. JM. Pinney,
:r:i;;:. . f the Union Territorial Commit
t.. ::. 1 th i r,,maindier of the members of the
c!\ ci'. t", :on'litt.'' to whm were intrusted
"l.." . ntrl ,,f thie atftirs port:aining to the
i rtyv i thtie Territory.
.i i: vw fromn the II rvatl of the 2)th.
'- : ttrer of .-ulreime indifference to us
,... :,r ':.nev be :us.aine'l or repudiated by
,rrltorl.i otoventini of Republicans.
S' \w a'::r to understand that what
-t1: rio::lsm and wisdom" to you on
- -:. \; ten days after "a matter of
, li :: rcnce." Paling the way
i:: ~- e.icte again. are you.' Your
S' fiz,: l. :.nl the old "record rheumat
. i:º, in v.)ur bones. You know a
,::i i.andtl i~ shaking up your "kill
n.- :r. u (don: relish the idea of
S..1 with tile "Parson's Para
. . Head Bilks." You squirm
. 'u.t v,) have the disorder and
. ,.- to take nine double doses of
t:..i when thei proper time comes,
S... / , .ay /,,mse fi vm chooai
THE COUNTY ASSSESMEN T.
We have yet to hear of a people that
entertain fears of being too little taxed,
and even were such a community to ex
ist, the Territory of Montana would be
the last place in which to look for it.
What, with U'nited States, Territorial
and County taxes and licenses, we have
enough to pay for the privilege of being
governed. perhaps too much, but cer
tainly not too well. Nevertheless, and
at the risk of being charged with incon
sistency, we must complain of the ex
treme and almost ludicrously small as
sessment that has this year been made
in the County of Lewis & Clarke. We
herewith give the figures showing the
assessed values of property in the County
as they appear upon the books in the
Treasurer's office:
I'e .kri acres of land..................... .......... l'. ,4e'3
Value of tuow l1ot ................................. :)01l,4e2
Caplita, iunvrted iii 3Mrchardlize ............... 4.4,5!.
.. aulafaeturesa.............. 76t.615
,i I h,,rye. ......... .. .............................. 36.t,679
. II m ul es ....................................... ..... 21. :k)
i ;-1 oxren...... ..... ............................ fi^, 40
-1 .-9 Cowi and ,alvea ......................... : }.r i
1l) ep ............................................ . . ....
('arriage ,of every dlc.ritiou ................ a)l, 6( )
\l.onr , and credit...... ......................... 1'4,74:1
iclocks, wathers a:.d . . ry........ .......... 12, 175
.M usical in.trument ................ ............... 4.7:M1
I ou.eh, ,i flurnlt:r- .... ........................ !,433
Shares in incorpr.-ed c. mnpani............. 21,15.'
All , hier property .....................-......... .. 4.9y5
T" tal .......................... ......... .... ...... . 1, E 3.6 17
So this is the assessed value of the
prol~erty of the Counlty with a debt of
."50,00i l:. ging ,ver it. WVe leave it
to our readers to compute for tllhenselves
how long it will take to pay this debt
with at tax (,f not to exceed one per cent. I
tthe limit fixed by law) unon the above I
amount. But yet it is not the small
ness oft the assessmelznt itself that we ob.
jec' t,, !or. as we said in the beginning.
petolee are never olunI. to colnplain of
being to lit, t;axt., .a,,i if the County
C'tllui.iiiouers bl:,,ali ,.-e fit to levy a
tax of only one mill ,on the dollar, and
could k°.p the whl.-: , tlhe governmen
tal machine greas.,i with that amount,
w- F-should bhe ti.h * . t, find fault. But
with thl, prf.nr i'.t' .L 'of taxes we do
Co)lllilain that ::i :a-la-sIuent cannot be
as small as that ab!\-e. diveln and still be
Just and ( equitabile. W\X have faith to
Ibelieve that there are ,1otne honest men
in our community, some who make true
returns to the Assessor. It is equally
true that there are many who strive by
every eel-like, contortion of conscience
and slipping around of property to evade
the paymVint of their just dues to the
County. To see that no, ,uclh evasion
takes place isi the principal duty of the
Assessor. Has he performed that duty
Everything seems to show that he has
not. A careful examination of the fig
ures above given, even without compar
ison with any others, will show any
thinking muan that the amounts are not
sutticiently large. Who does not know
that the value of the town lots in this
city, with their improvements, is
double the amount given in the assess
mlent roll': "'Capital invested in mer
chandize $4~-54,50" Why, the freight
alone on goods annually brought to this
town will equal, if not exceed that
amount. In the amount given as invest
ed in manufactures there is a great dis
crepency between the truth and the fig
ures. We know (,t one instance in
which property valued at $30,000, was
assessed for only AX.000. The number
of horses given is far below the truth?
for we can find under the charge of three
or four livery stables in town the "660 "
reported. The item of "moneys and
credits, $184,743,'" it true. would give a
not very flattering showing of the finan
cial abilities of our people, allowing
them, as it doe&s, only about twenty-five
dollars each in currency. But, as the
" roaring farce '" after the comedy comes
" 10 sheep,'" the total number in the
metropolitan County of Lewis & Clarke
on the first of July. And yet the sup
ply of mutton, all of it reasonably old
has held out remarkably well at
our hotels and restaurants since then,
and even now there is no scarcity of
sheep meat in the market. In excuse
of the smallness of the assessment roll,
we are informed that the listing of some
of our heaviest merchants has been post
poned until after the arrival of their
I stocks in order that they might be fully
taxed. This is all very proper perhaps,
but even when these additional returns
are in, the total assessed value of the
property in the County cannot exceed
42,500,000. Madison County, in its de.
preeed condition, abandoned by many
of its business men, and from which a
large amount of capital has tied
to Helena. returns x'(2,100,000. Re
garding this as a true statement, and
it is probably much too low, the amount
of assessed ,rprerty in Lewis and
Clark should be, at least, $5,000,000,
or doub",- what will appear upon the
books when the returns are all complete.
The effect that this liscrepaney has up
on tax payers is to extort double thejust
amount from the honest man, because
the rascal pays nothing-to rob him who
conscientiously nxates proper returns
for the purpose of paying the tax of the
rogue, whom the assessor does not take
the trouble to look after-to cause our
honorable men to pay a tax of ten mills
on the dollar when five mills would
bring the same amount into the County
Treasury if the assessor performed his
duty in that energetic, impartial and
fearless manner which should character
ize a man in his position. While it is a
notorious fact that the Territorial As
sessors have never performed their duty
in a proper manner, as a comparison of
their returns, with those of the correes
pondmig U. 8. oflcers will show, it is
also a notorious fact that the Asseseor
of Lewis and Clarke County has always
been more culpably n lgeat in the
performance of his duty than amy other.
While this County pays over half of
the United States' taxes, it has never 1
yet equalled Madison County alone in I
the size of its assessment loll and will I
barely do so this year, even it the final I
returns are as large as promised. What is
the remedy for this state of affairs ? We
answer, intelligent legislation and al
change of officers. The bungling laws
with which we have been thus far pr 1
vided, show us no remedy in the case of a
too low assessment, thus leaving open a I
wide door for partial and unequal taxa
tion. The honest man must pay the
tax of the rascal and there is no redress.
Gov. Smith, in his message to the last
Legislature, recommended that As I,
sessors' compensation should be made to
ccnsist alone of a commission upon tax
es collected ; but. notwithstanding the
fact that the total sumn expended in col
lecting the United States' taxes is less
then this percentare' would amount to,
the Legislature, failed to act upon the
suggestion, and continued the per diem
allowance to the officers, thus offering a
premium to him who should occupy the
most time in doing the least. That we
may have this law changed, we must
put in the Legislature men who shall
consider their duty to the public para
mount to any obligations to partizan
office holders, and who will consult con.
cerning the good of the people rather
than concerning the best way in which
to increase the eniolunimeits of this or
thlat fat etlics. The navies of such men
appear upon tlet the Union Ticket and
will receive the hearty support of all
thinking men. But not only do we need
new mien to enact laws, but new to put
them in effect. The present Assessor
has been faithfully tried, with what re
sult, we have shown. lie is again nom
nated by his party, but we do not need
himni ('co. John A. Nelson, the Republi
can candidate, is the man to fill his place,
to vigilantly and impartially per
Sform the duties of the office, and give
us such an impartial assessment, as
shall take from dishonesty the premiums
which it now receives and thereby re
duce the taxes of honest men one.half.
He will receive a heavy vote.
SHIPMtENT OF ORES.
While many of the mills of Montana
are saving a handsome profit on ores,
it is still a fact as indisputable as un
pleasant to c,ontermplate, thlit machinewy
and the processes known and in use are
inadequate to the proper treatment and
separation of some of the richest assay
ing rock in the Territory. Ores are to
day netting a handsome profit, while the
tailings run from the sluices will assay
double and treble the amount saved in
the mill, still others are intractal4,
I the mill or furnace being incompetsmt
under any treatment in practical useo to
effect a separation of the base and pre
cious metals, with a margin for the own
ers. .t is held that 99 per cent. of the
fire assay of rock can be made in prcti
cal reduction of large quantities, ana
this guarantee is made both in New
York, Swansea and Berlin. The fact
that ores less valuable than those of
Montana are shipped from California
and Nevada, and more recently from
Colorado to the East and Europe, and
the fact demonstrated that they are ca
pable of thorough reduction, has per
hape been the principal cause of a move
ment that will result beneficially to
Montana ; first in establishing the value
of ores; second, the proper treatment
of them and in the introduction of pro
cesses and reduction works suitable to
the character of the ores. This move
ment is the shipment of ores, some to
Jersey City and New York, others to
Vales and Prussia. The first shipment
was a ton and a half of smelted copper.
in pigs, by Mr. Charles Hendrie, of the
Helena Foundry and Machine Shope,
and was sent by the Mountaineer about
June 1st. It was shipped to Swansea,
Wales, and a letter per last mail from
Branch & Cooks, forwarders, St. Loals,
advises him of its departure from there,
per Atlantic Mail and Steamship Cbm
pany. The freight from Montana to St.
Louis was $40 per ton ; from St. Louis
to Liverpool we believe the rates arebut
S10 per ton. The copper was from the
furnace of Harvey, Ray & Co., Butte Uty,
and was smelted from the Parrott and
Original lodes. The supply of ore is in
exhaustible, and the furnace is capable
of smelting two tons of ore per lay.
The percentage of copper is from $ to
71 per cent.; the ore red oxyd and gleen
carbonate, the best quality, an- its
value from 20 to 25 cents per polnd.
With all this it is not manifest to the
proprietors that, at the present rate of "
Labor, etc., it can obe made prontsle,
unless the gold and silver known toex.
ist in it can be separated and a faller
margin had for contingencies. Fire
assays hlve shown the presence of pre
cious metals in pay ing quantities, and
this shipment is made to ascertain ti its
separation under the most skillful tsat
ment, the value, components, and best
method of practical separation. If it
pays metal will be shipped for separa
tion, or the requisite means adopted for
its reduction and separation here. The
company has also a mill at Butte City
to reduce milling ores. This was the
first shipment from Montana to Europe.
and returns from it are anticipatedin a
couple of months.
Another shipment made on atarday,
was 1,000 pounds of argentiferous galena
ore from the Lee Mountain lode in Tea
Mile District, by Mema. T. B. and D. G.
Tutt, the well known Helena merchants.
This was also shipped to Swansea. It
assays about $80 per ton of gld and
silver, the proportion being, gold $; ail.
ver 1. The object is to seertdal the
proper method of reducing that shame.
ter of ore, and the introduction of proper
machinery for that purpose.
By far the largest shipment of am yet
made, Is that of Cole 8aanderr, the in
domitable. It consists of twqnty teas
of silver ore from the Poor Man's Jef
lode in Flint Creek District. lbveteen
tons go to the reduction works of Secor
Swann & Co., Jersey Cit, and three
tons to Berlin, Prussia. The Jersey
City works are duplicates of those used
at Swansea, and a thorough practical
test will be thus made of the famed
Poor Man's Joy rock, by two different,
and superior, processes. The ore is be
lieved to be extremely rich, as a button
of 2 or. 3 pwts. of pure silver, smelted
from one pound of rock by Mr. Mollitor,
would indicate. This is at the rate of
over $5,900 per ton. It is not to be sup
posed the entire quantity is that rich,
but there is a considerable portion of the
shipment choice ore, and it is believed
will yield from $500 to $1,000 per ton.
The cost of transportation from the lead
to Berlin is calculated to be less than
$100 per ton; that to New Jersey, going
by rail from St. Louis, will be about $10
.per ton more. The last lot brought
over from Flint Creek was shipped at
two cents per pound, currency, to Ben'
ton. This also is shipped for like pur
poses as those above mentioned, and
should the results be as good as antici
pated it will instigate the shipment of
large quantities of valuable ores next
season, and the eventual introduction of
machi,-ery adapted to their economical
and perfect separation.
We see the question raised in Colora
do as to whether or not it is to the best
interests of the Territories to ship their
n-res outside for reduction. We see no
valid objection to it. Certainly we have
ores enough. If the labor is too high
here, or the machinery is not adapted to
saving the precious metals, it is well to
send it out; let the wealth of our quartz
be seen ; capital be stimulated to invest'
ment ; improved machinery be introduc
ed, and when labor becomes cheaper
there will still be sufficient ores to last
for ages. California and Nevada quartz
came into notice by this means, and the
falling off in shipments from there, at
present, is owing to the advance in
freight. from t.5 to $15 per ton, to Eng
land. Colorado is shipping ore to C('hey
enne for $40 per ton. and from Chey
enne to Newark. by rail, at $39 per ton.
Montana can chip by wagon, to Benton,
for :20; trom Benton to St. Louis for
$20: from St. Louis to New York, or
foreign ports, for $10 or $15--giving
Colorado a p;rotective transportation
tariff of $7:), and Montana $50 or $55
per ton. It will be seen by this that we
can lay ores on the New York docks
for $2.5 or $:0 per ton less than Colora
do. We have 30 steamers reaching
Benton annually, with a capacity of
6.000 tons. Two-thirds of this tonnage,
at leas:, is unused on the return trip,
and if these,. .hipments give a margin,
the opportunity will be turned to good
account by another year. However, none
but rich ores will warrant shipment, for
although asmesre reducers guarantee a
return of 90 per cent of the fire assay,
they charge $E8 in gold for milling ores,
and the expense of mining, transportr
tion and reduction, requires an assay of
at least $1.50 per ton, to justify the ven
tures. Its chief obji.cts we havestated ;
they are in the highest degree com
mendcable, and it is to be hoped, as an
ticipated. that these shipments will re
sult in great good to the minirg inter
I ests of Montana.
i! -- - - _____
FUNDING THIE DBET.
The financial problem has finally been
solved-the (tordian knot is cut by a
general funding bill, the sure, safe and
most direct method of egress from the
labarynth of perplexity, confusion and
danger, in which the finances were in
volved. It is one of the few measures
which, it is anticipated, the President
will not veto; his views on this ques
tion, singularly enough, harmonizing
with Congress. The exigencies of the
war required the issue of bonds at a
high rate of interest. The redemption
of Five-Twenties after five years from is
sue, and before maturity-twenty years,
is at the option of the Government.
These 5-20s bear six per cent interest,
payable in coin, semi-annually. There
are three issues of them, dating from
1862-'6'64-'6. Those of 182 amount to
4500.000,000, and it was shown by care
fully prepared tables, that by the original
bill funding them with thirty-year five
per cent bonds,that the total saving to the
Government on the one issue at the ma
tarity of the 30-year bonds, in 1898, would
be $269,912,460.00; more than one-half
of the amount. The bill was however
modified, making the interest 44 per
cent, thus making a still greater saving.
The entire amount of 5-20's of the three
issues, and 7,3-10ths, convertible into
5-20's at maturity, contemplated as re -
detm !,b 1,h the new bonds, is $1.013.
442,700.00, or three-fifths of the entire
debt. The wsving on the interest, and
the $135,000,000, annually set apart
from customs, f r this snecific purpose,
will pay the interest and principal at the
maturity of the 80-year bonds. As.the
interest is now fixed, it is a fraction lees
than three dollars per annum to each
person in the United States, with a
wealth and population doubling and re
doubling itself rapidly. In Frana the
rate is 2.00, and in Engsand &26. There
is no threatened revolutions there on that
account. although the Johnny Bulls,
with all their mature plans and smooth
ly working systems of finance, pay more
than we, and the wealth and popula
tion gives no noticeable relieL Besides,
under the the new bill, Jay Cooke & Co.,
and others are cut out of a per centage
on sales. Those holding the old bonds
can convert them, or the Secretary of the
Treasury an sell the new ones at par,
and redeem theold bonds as they become
due. This bill is one of the fruits of the
expuresuoa of the Chicao Convention,
distinctly demanded in the resolations,
whilh the a*mse sid meant exactly
what they did ot say. We said "amen"
to the rmelassla; my "aMles" to the
ndg 1I, and yet claim oomastsaey.
The New York Convution having
managed to incorporate in its platitudes,
resolutions to the same general effect,
and thrown Pendleton and his '" irre
deemable " ideas overboard, it ;may be
accepted as a settled fact, that all men
of all parties, will unite in acquiescence
to this measure. The Democratic big
gun was spiked before a shot was fired ;
its chiefs are stripped of the war paint
and feathers, and stand disarmed on the
day of battle. The faith of the nation
is sustained, we have passed the ordeal
unscathed, and the government has vin.
dicated itself from the aspersion that in
base ingratitude it would defraud its
creditors and evade its honest debts.
The Fortieth Congress has not done a
better deed than this, and with this es
tablished and in effective operation, the
further reduction ot taxes and final ex
tinguishment of the entire debt will be
of easy accomplishment, and the nation
will have borne manfully, heroically and
honorably, the burdens that .'ame of
the Great Rebellion.
DUTY.
On Monday next, occurs the general =
election in Montana. On that day we
give expression by our ballots of the
judgment of the people of thing& past.
It is the verdict of "well done thou good
and faith.~ul servants," or condemnation
if they have proved recreant to their
trusts. We do more than this, we dele
gate to officers the power of the people
to make and execute our laws for another
one or two years. Those we have en
trusted bring their actions to the ballot
box for reviewal. A vote cast for the
doer is an endorsement of the deed, and
an instruction by the voter to continue
in the future as in the past. Once a
year those who are governed rare the
governing power. They have months
for consideration, but a moment to act.
The ballots that decide the legislation
of the Territory right or wreng ; that
pass upon the ability, efficiency and hon
esty of officials ; that indicate the will of
the people for the future, make the irre
vocable verdict of a tribunal from which
there is no appeal, and it behooves those
who vote rationally, as men worthy o1
citizenship in a mighty nation, demon
strating the theory that man is capable
of self government, to consider well the
principles involved in the simple act of
casting their votes. It is not a question
that should be decided by verbal miasma,
raised by the heated ilr.aginat! )-s of
scheming, intriguing otflce-seeker,, who
flounder about in the filthy pool o,t poli
tics, until every exhalation is a ,.encli
in the nostrils of honesty and judgl:ent.
It is not a question that poor whiskey at
free bars, or Judas pieces of silver-bri
Vlery, either of the bowels or the tr,.eches
-should decide. It is not a question in
which party predilections should he al
lowed to swerve men from a conviction
of right, and impel them to acts of vio
lence aga.nst their better iudgment. It
is a question whether the public servants
have been faithful or unfaithful in the
discharge of their trusts, and if you pass
opinion on it let it be conscientiously,
rationally. We have given an exposi
tion of some of the acts of the last Leg-
islature, somewhat limited by our
space and time for review. We confi ss an
inability to portray in the startling col
ors they deserve, the acts of that body,
iniquitous in the evil they are working
to the people of the Territoy, no matter
whether framed in gross ignorance or
premeditated wrong. You have the
statutes before you, judge whether the
exposition is just or unjust. Not the least
wrong are those of finances, and the
impositions upon miners,which the near
approach of the election may preclude
us from noticing, yet these are matters
the practical workings of which are pat
ent to all, and against which the voice
of Montana has been raised in stentorian
tones. A portion of that Legislature re
mains;another portion must be chosen
by you on next Monday. Democracy
has a majority here, and that element
presuming to represent it was unani
mnous in the Legislature last winter.
You have trusted them and been betray
ed ; you have asked thez:l for just and
equal laws and they Lave given you
statutes that no "white man's govern
mnent" should be guilty of*; that a black
and-tan carpet-bag, negro-equality Leg
islature would blush to acknowledge,
and that even the field hands of Louisi
ana would repudiate. If you permit the
opportunity to pass without a rebuke to
those no shamefully misrepresenting
you, it will be virtually approving their
action, arming and nerving to
further wrong those who have
used their power for evil with
every energy they possessed. The very
end democracy strove to attain and suc
ceeded in last year, is a curse to legisla
tion-a body a unit on political is
sees. There never tras a govermnent
with but one political party that did not
beooms a tyranny; never a legislative
bidy so cotituted that was not corrupt.
The experience of Montana is no excep
tion to this general rule, and it will be
come worse and wickeder, as success
emboldens it to deeds of hostility to the
United States, and mal-administration
of local affairs. Neither does the minori
ty want to be hopelessly in the minority
-a presence that will only excite to
brow-beating and contumely. It should
have a strength that would command
notice and respect, and without that,
your laws, resolutions and appropri
ations will grow more grievous until a
sudden tide of revolt will throw the en
tire political control of the Territory
into the hands of the opposite party.
Democrats can see this plainly working
in Montana toeday, and while we ordis
narily view it as a party journalist. we
Scan say independent of that, that to re
tain the majority in this Territory for
f 186!)9, Democrats are necessitated to yield
liberally to Republicans in 1863. Taking
this view of the case, it is the duty of
4ecery Republican to go to the polls on
1 Monday and vote the ticket, that we
may have denunciation of, and relief
from, the monstrous burlesque on legis.
lation that last winter issued its edicts
d from tihe Capital. It is to Democrats a
npoint of honor and discretion, not to
r, seek longer to foist the impositioni upon
this people that is well nigh shattering
their party to fragments and bringing
disgrace upon their name, and to repu
diate its acts. It is the duty of all to
see that good Republicans are sent to
the HIouse and Council, that bad may not
become worse. We subm:.L this view ot
"dutv" to the electors of Montana and
hope that it may be given consideration
and meet approval.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
We are indebted to a friend for a copy
of the Reports of Mr. J. Ross Browne
and Mr. J. W. Taylor on the Mineral
Resources of the United States. It is a
volume of nearly 750 pages, and is,
without question, the most valuable re
port ever made upon the precious min
erals of this country. In it we find, per
taining to Montana, the report of W. S.
Keyes, M. E., to Browne, 20 pages; the
report of J. R. Blatchley, to Browne, 15
pages; Mr. Browne's personal report, 9
c)ages, and Mr. Taylor's personal report,
I page-in all 45 pages. The reports of
Messrs. Blatchley and Keyes, from a
histy examination, appear to us as
nearly correct as could be approximated
to, and evidence a thorough research,
a careful collation of such statistics and
facts as are obtainable, and a manifest
desire to tell the truth. TJme difficulties
of collecting statistics is perhaps un
derestimated, but let any on«- however
familiar with the working. .and those
conversant with the operations, in any
one gulch, be commissioned to :scertain
and report its product, and he will find
what a Herculean task it is. Having
tried this in Alder (julch a year ago our
experience \'as in ascertaining from one
that the total yield was between ý17,
000,000 and $18,000,000; from another
that it was not less than $60,000,000,
and from a third that the other two
"were crazy"-yet either of these men
would unhesitatingly condemn any es
timate differing from theirs. Such are
the difficulties of making up reports in
the Territories. In so far as pertains
to the geology, agricultural resources.
history, climate, etc., the reports are
doubtless beyond question in the main,
and Montana, although not receiving
that elaborate notice bestowed on Cali
fornia and Nevada, has yet beeil accord
ed a reasonable space. There are many
points in it not given in the summary
published from the _ meri'ah Jurnal
of M"ining which we shall hereafter pre
sent to our readers.
SOLD.
The Gazette was deliriously gratified
yesterday over ' a good joke," iperpetra
ted by the Republicans of (t*alatin
county, in nominating Mr. Philip Thorpe
.'r the Assembly. The (arrz Itt hau ltee-i
most egregiously sold on the matter.
and set up the halloo betore it was out
of the woods. * Mr. Thorpe is about ii .
thorough a " black-and-tan " * tepubl,-
can as there is in Montana; can date his
affiliation in Montana back to the or
ganization of the first Union League
and demonstrate it with as nfany
straight votes for the Union party an
any man in the Territory (Republicans
only vote once at any one election).
Notwithstanding this the Gazette, with
dignified pomposity, asserts, parenthet
ically, "He is a democrat." In mercy to
the Gazette we hope the wags of the
town will be less severe in their practi
cal jokes. The Republicans .(f Gallas
tin have some idea what they are about,
as you will appreciate by next Monday,
and they neither mistook their men, or
nominated thoee who had been dead
half a year as the wide awake democ.
Sracy of Ohio did a few days since. Mr.
T. was not present at the Convention,
but he will be at the next seseion of the
Legislature, which will answer the par
pose fully as well.