Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-23
LAND FRAUDS.


been directed, by resolution of the Senate, to
inquire into certain frauds said to have been
committed in the sales of the Public Lands,
made report thereon, in part, accompanied
with sundry documents.
Mr.. POINDEXTER said he now laid before
the Senate all the evidence the Committee had
been able to collect during the present session.
Immediately on the Senate'S instituting the i'll
ouiry, the Committee had caused commissions
to ISSUE for the purpose of collecting testimony,
directed to individuals in Mississippi, which did
not reach them until two months after they were
sent from here. The Clerk OF the Committee
was willing to make affidavit that he, on the
first of April last directed and put into the post
office here five letters to individuals in Missis-
sippi, and here was an answer to one OF them,
dated at Clinton, June the first.
Mr.. P. here read the letter, by which it ap-
peared that the gentleman did not receive the
letter directed to him until the day previous to
the date Of his answer. He mentioned these
facts, Mr.. p. said, for the purpose ofeXplalnlnS
why the Committee were unable to report in
full. One of tine dispositions taken by the Com
mittce was from Nh. Emanuel Rowe, q gen
tleman ofiategrity andrespectabity, and whose
character was vouched for by the Hon James
Barbour, of Virginiil, and his brother, the Hon.
Judge Barbour. He wished this deposition to
be read in order that the Senate might have
some idea Of the kind of frauds that has been
prautise6 on the public at their land sales
The deposition OF Mr.. Rowe was then read.
Mr.FORSYTTI said that the deposition which
had beer read exhibited some extraordinary
facts He had no objection to printing the aftl-
/ davi; and thought that the Treasury Depart
ment ought 10 be Put IN possession OF the facts
! in order that il might take some notice OF them
| Mr. PORTER would be very unwilling that
Che deposition should be printed without his ha-
wing made 4 single remark. lie did not intend
10 impu@a the general correctness OF the airda-
| w.t. but with respect to one individual who was
mentioned Nj Ellis, lie Was person Of great
responsibility and honor. lie (hlr. ~ should
think that that gentleman had done nothing
more than put lnoncy INTO the hands of an indi
| ridual to bny lands Nh Els WIS not man
who would act in such manner as to deprive
/ aly man Of ar Clua, chance OF purchasing
! lands
/ Mr. POINDEXIEI. said :ir;,t The honorable
Senator from Louisiana yoad observe that
there was not { word said in the affidavit against
Mr.. Ellis. u only represented him as the agent
of the Louisiana Com 2any The commission
which he Mr.. - had forwarded 70 Mississippi
had been detained two months instead of GTTir-
Ing there in twelve days. Re thought tha, so!he-
thing should be done 81 Government to put Cd
end TO these frauds ;.n0 he considered ,hn 5uG-
gustion Of the gentleman from Georgia perfectly
correc:-it vas right tnat tho tactS l!cUlG DC
opportunity Of tnahins; an inquiry en- lie suh-
iect.
MIR. PORTER believed thct. the sale; OF tLo
public lands Offered the strongest tonlptaicc5 l.
commit frauds. He Vas glad 20 licar tllat .here
was nothing said in the affidavit inlpnsa:nC .ha
character of My. Ellis.
MIR. KING expressed MS opinion th&! Il ~';s
utterly impossible 20 prevent spectators from
purchasing INC lands. The Government 10,
passed laws, and every thing haG beel Gene
that WIS thought calculated to PIT & stop t. spe-
tUlations, 5ut all without effect T. iucoGk &c
ascertained .Lat the Government officers laC
participated in these frauds tGer they oEgh: ia
s.antly to DE dismissed.
Mr. FORSYTH had some douot us 10 the
rrop>iety o. printing the documents, inaG.aIch
IS they wcIe Of ar &c p&rte character lie
thought they- ought nGt 10 be published without
first giving the persons charged an opportunity
of being heard
MI. BLACK had 20 objection 20 the printing;
bat hothousht that the deponent must have been
in some deglec, deceived; .ie Ene" some OF
the persons named, ard believed them to be
highly respectable If there was any such com
bination, aud such reQuisition made Oh the set
tiers he knew nothing oft. He made some ey-
planatlons to ward off suspicion of wrong from
the officers of the Government stating hattherc
was scheme to buy lands under fictitious names
and thatit vas 10 defeat this scheme that an i'm
q
had been consulted by the Register, and adYis
ed this course.
Mr.. POINDEXTER asked hi colicagnc if nc
recollected any thing about an address to the
company.
MI. BLACK replied in tie negative. lie was
not present.
Mr.. POINDEXTER said that the Committee
had received the highest testimonial o. the cha
racter of the deponCnt.
Mr.. FORSYTH suggested, that, rs inGivilu-
ais not connected with the Government, and
said to be respectable, were implicated in the
transactions, it might be prudent 20 withhold The
printing
Mr.. CLAY hoped the printing could be o.
dered. No one, who looked at the subject,
could doubt that there had been great and
shameful frauds. He thought the document
ought to be printed, so that every member of
the Senate might be in possession of oopy-.
he did not despair of the practica5ility Of pre-
Ventlng combinations in the purchase of lands. |
Gentlemen ought not to give up the subject. he
saw no reason, in what had been said, that the
documents ought not to be printed at present, |
loeS rr,frt I1hf 10