Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-05-11
TO THE EDITOR.
CoNeREss HALL,
thrill O. 1900

CoNGRESs NALL,
.1trii 9, 1922.
DEAR SIR-It is with much regre,
that | have to communicate the refusal
'ol Congress TO make an appropriation
to pay for the surveys o. the public lands,
made under the authority of Gen. Rec
tor, during the last year; aud for which
there was then no appropriation. Ii
seems that Gen. Rector made mistake
in the Interpretation of Mr.. Crawford's
Instructions, and considered them as Civ
ing him authority to survey a much
greater quantity than Mr.. Crawford in
tenGea. think the Interpretation was
natural one, and such as should have
given them.
Having exceeded the appropriation
however, there must be an excuse for it,
and the fauH must fall on the least de-
iensive party. And as Congress has de-
termined on holding their public officers
strictly to the law, and to pay no ercesS
of appropriation, i, is important that
when there is such erceSS and when there
is public excitement produced by il, for
each one concerned 10 clear his skirts as
far az he can. This being in some de-
gree natural, do not mention il in CEN
sure. Bul in addition to this objection
10 appropriate the necessary SUN to meet
these claims, i was urged by Mr. Cooke,
of Tennessee, and several Others, thai
the most shameful frauds were practised
Oh the part OF these uryeyors-thal they
did not run their lines in many instances
exceh on PAPER. That it was almost
all done in faifhleSs manner. That
Gen. Rector had made prodigal con-
tracts to his relations and friends, allow
ing some OF them TO make as inuch as
ten Thousand dollars, without performing
any part ofthe work. That Gen. Rector
had not settled his accounts for two years
and more, and that he was freely and
literally sqnandering the pubic money,
to enrich his friends and favori.es. II
gas also urged that from the official state
mcnts made by Mr.. Mcigs, that there
was fraud in the returns--that the lines
were crooked and not correctly run
But, all these statements were made,
and, although widely differing from any
character that Gen. Rector has hereto
fore borne, which stated flily to the
house, there being ne means Q! rebuiing
hem by h,'oof except the returns which
we're al, received by the Secretary oithe
Treasury, but which had no weight,
1uid not remove the impressions made.
And unless the Secretary of the Treasn-
~ can explain aud satisfy the Senate, be-
i0rcthey act upon the appropria,lon bill,
hat these things are not well founded, |
fear those people will be driven either tc
sue Gen. Rector or petition Congress,
and make proof that their work was well
done. l still hope, however, that MIR.
Crawford viii. satisfy the Senate, and thai
the appropriation will be made.
have given you this hasty statement
lof VIVA, passed, because I conceive the
character of Gen. Rector, and the sur
veyors employed by him, have been in
correctly understood, and therefore mis-
Represented; ard also, because | atm
anxious to inform them Of the reasons
which have prevented them from getting
the earnings of their labor.
l am, very respectfully.
DAN'L. P. COOK. I
-rxrs % dss.----
| MARRIED--At CARLYLE, Washington coun-