The government didn't say so.
3 seconds sound clip from the The Westerner (1940) movie soundboard.
You can hear this line at 00:53:07 in the DVD version of the movie.
Quote context
[...]
- You sure told them off, son.
- Yep, and now I'm going to tell you off.
- I'm sorry I stopped them from lynching you.
- They got a right to defend their homesteads.
- You know this ain't homestead land. You just said so yourself.
- The government didn't say so.
- Judas Priest, I don't see how you can talk up for scum like that.
- They proved up on their land, and they got deeds to it.
- When you make war on them, you're making war on their women and kids, too.
- Those people were starved out last year.
[...]