Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-02-14
THE LAND FRAUDS.
From the L.gansporf Pharos, Of FEB. 9.
Reuly 10 Austin w. Morris.

becomes
A. w Morris published in the Indiana State Journal
of the 9Th of February. might as well say in the
commencement of my communication, that Mr. MOT
rs has always professed to me the highest personal
regard and all his malice against me IS founded on
the fact that prevented him from concentrating a
most daring f.aud.
But few weeks since, Mr. Morris spoke of me 10
n mutual friend, in such terms. both man and n
Judge. as would be highly CON- ELEMENTARY to any man,
if they had emanated from an honest man.
Mr. Morris, in his communication, attempts to JUS
rify his under the law of lS43-but that law ne
yer covered the lands he attempted TO enter.
The lands Mr.. Morris attempted to enter of the
original see ciIOns and were governed by the law OF
1880 whilst the law OF 1913 covered the future
lections (known ''blue dog lands) The differ
ence in these laws i easily perceived. The law OF
1880 provided for the sale of the lands then selected
BY paying fourth at the time of purchase, and the
balance in 1917, and the interest annually; and IN
the interest not paid. the land was to be Tor
fe.ted By subsequent acts OF the legislature, the
holIers Of he lands authorized to redeem them
on payment of certain PER cent. on the interest,
wl.ch per cen. has BEEN reduced from 100 down to
To- by different acts Of the legislature.
Unds. the con structioa placed these Its by the
cnnms ioners-t (which that the penalty only at
the first years intcrest-and that the inter
es did II bear interest -mlnv persons preferred TO
ray Tie entire tract, and 10 permit the
interest accumulate the others until able 10 pay
both principal and interest This will lie found TO be
considerable saving to tie land holders, and this IS
the why much Of this land was IN default. =
large proportion of these lands have been par'' 49,
and most Of them will be before lS47 no e'so"
ever supposed this class of lands W. ~
try for non-payment of interc,''' on'n VI. "
visit TO Peru Opinion 'as lothuea Oh .e ia", a''a
thaso ,and aOIderS Some eight or ten years SINCE
IL .Ilai commits >ioners, finding that no interest had
been paid for several lot OF land owned ny
Samuel Ward situated in this county, advertised anu
publicly sold IL, at considerable "u. dhIe' "'u
became the purchaser and the succeeding legislature
nassed an act sor MS relief refundng him the overpus
rn,do on the second sale what due on the
first sale, and confirming bis title under the first SALE
This act confirmed the holders in the opinion that
the land could be sold without further legislation
But does not the act Of l-43 provide for their entry
1t does not -
The first section on page 267, which Is section y
provIdes-.That the future selections of canal lands.
&c. and sections 2l4-l5 provde-'All such canal
lands" &c, and then follows sections 2lS-i9-2o.
permitting private entries. when MISUNDERSTANDING
to the former sectons-and covering future selections
and none others The law of 1880 cox cred almost all
the White Dog lands or lands east Of llppecanUe,
and the law of 1913 all the ''Blue Dog lands, or
lands of the Tppecanoe. and some few tracts OF
..White Dog lands. On the "Bue Dog lands. TO
forfeiture could occur before November last, these
lands were sold In November lSl3. But few, II
any, were delinquent and if these lands had been en-
tered the officers could not be cenSured the law
imperative and the holder OF lands aware OF lis pro-
visions
Such were the laws governing these lands at the
commencement of the last of the legislature
The law of 1880 covering all the original selections,
and the law of 1913 the lands selected since that
time.
At the last session law was passed covering all
these lands-rcduclng the penalty OF redemption TO III
per cent extend ny the time Of payment on the bal
ance of the principal for FIVE years,-and providing
that where the lands forfeited for non-paymen
of interest they should be advertised and sold LANDS
are sold fer axes.
b. tho pr VISIONS Of the sButlcr b.l' TIE time o.
paymen. OF ii principal was also extended five
years Both OF these laws approved ON tie 1911
Of January.
On the next day Norris OIL i approved attempt
inp 10 repeal the provision, 10 the lands IN bOth
tive last mentioned laws and was intended to extent
tho provisions Of tie 2Is-'l9-'20th sections Of mg
o67 r. e. to the ..White Dog lands. But no cour
would have given ii such constructions 1t Icing al
amendment To the act of 1913, which only cosere
future selections.
But I e design Of the rascals was 10 get the I'm
firms, houses mills. &c. on the " aba>h-which ar
worth from $50 to 500 per acre, and some OF who
fifteen years since, sold at about so per acre-0
81 - per acre, in "White Dog.
Morris purchased one rraci-owned by Upton
heirs. which was purchased by Gen. Upton at 50
per acre-at 81 -. and there was due the State Iron
linton, heirs, threc-fourihs of the original purchas
money.
This is killing two birds with one stone cheatln
Unions hers and cheating the State Such was IL
construction placed this famous law by THIS A.
Morris A law to seize the lands OF Tie widow,
the orphan and unsu>pectlng farmer, ana to CIV
tbem 10 set &c rascals at n nominal price, and ih
under pretence of relief think any person can pc
ceiye the rascallty Of these scoundrels
shall now attend to Mr. Morris personally.
not claim to be the only man on the Wabash, or
N,,har, Indiana as intImated by Mr.. Morris and h
fe,. I.ucus. or TO have the influence they are WI
;nr TO weld me. had no lot or part IN the 10
Wavne meeting where some OF the first men OF u
State. including Gov Bigger, endorsed the Peru NEE
,no and placed the mark OF Cam on your iorehea
There is one thing for which am famous, aud Ia
"a s,cakinc and writing what think and know, nj
that | shall now do.
have no doubt Mr. Parker of Fort Wayne. Is
honest man and that you deceived MIN IN the proviso
of vour law-hc beng your personal and pol''ic
f;c,d and have no doubt Col. Reyburn III say I'll
eyerv word YOU state about him /, utterly false
Morris denies that his visit To Peru was To cnt
l.ods with the exception of Dr. Canbys lands
which he wished To enter 10 cheat the United Stat
-b,, saws that II was To pay interest. | ask, WHY "
no engaged day and night in filing certificates for Y
Smiths signatures wi ich all Peru knows to be tru
John Fitzgerald stated that Morris was the owner
that il would not do for him 10 take the certificates,
it would be unpopular Why DID Morris scar
certificates from Smiti, ana Whit eA'u'e u'u "o .
for his conduct
Rut all cir,ums,antial testimony may be laid asst
in relation 10 the interest Of Morris in the trans
ton On Friday night last, John fopst, oil Peru,
r,ved IN Iocansport. with the following adverti
men, To get II printed at the Telegraph o!hce Nj
Us not al Peru but John d. Defrees, his brother
law, il there as his agent
.sSsop the ScOundrc1:
S..tfl. ltf. ella