Western representatives successfully argued that western miners and prospectors were performing valuable services by promoting commerce and settling new territory, and they tacked legislation legalizing lode (hardrock) mining on public land onto a law regarding eastern canal rights.
Western miners and prospectors were performing valuable services by. This was what western representatives argued. Western miners and prospectors were promoting commerce. This was what western representatives argued. Western miners and prospectors were settling new territory. This was what western representatives argued. They tacked legislation. This legislation was legalizing lode (hardrock) mining on public land onto a law regarding eastern canal rights.