Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-22
,ANoTHER ISLANDER NAILED TO IhE
G0uNTER.

MIR. B. B. Kercheval, author oil the ieuef pun
lished below, is one of the most uneAeep''on"o''
citizens of Michigan. He was born III hep'uc"y
has resided many years in Michigan, has been
member Of The State Senate, and now enjoys the
confidence and esteem OF all parties with whom
he is acquainted:
| To HE Editors Of The Louisville Journal:
DETROIT, July 90, lS4s.
Sirs: Your paper Of the ooh nsl. has JUS
been put into my hands, with It's editorial article
headed Financial Operations of Gen. Cas-
As was the agent OF The Western Land Asso
citation, SO called, whose operations are alluded TO-
il is an act OF jus ice, no; less 10 General Cass
than 10 myself, that should publicly expose the
lalsehood OF the article, which shall Go by a
very brict slalement-nol permitting myself 10
doubt that regard 10 truth viii! insure its admit
lance into your columns.
In 1886, an association was formed at Wash
| inglon Tor the purchase and entry OF western
lands. Gen. G. was one Of The company, and up
on his recommendation, as he was western man,
and had known me from my youth, was ap.
| pointed the agent Tor making The purchases and
locations; and gave bond in heavy p.naliy for
The faithful performance of my duties. The Hon.
| Henry Hubbard was treasurer, and 10 MIN all
the assessments were TO be paid except those OF
| Gen. Cass, the funds for which being al Detroit,
were to be paid 10 me directly, asreeably 10 The
articles OF the association They were so pah,
and were credited BY me. and were charged 70 nee
| up The books OF the treasurer and accounted
for on settlement From time 10 Iime, as other
funds were required, they were RENTED 10 me oy
The treasurer. Ii is not true that Zen. Cass MAD
the control OF the whole business lie had no
more 10 do with il Than any other stakeholder =
The purchases were commil!ed 10 my charge, and
| received my authority and Instructions from +.
Markuc, Esq, corresponding secretary, and rom
The Hon. Henry Hubbard, treasurer. Gen. Cas-
left The United Slaies as minister 10 France, in
Oc.ober 1886, and did no! return until 1912, long
after he dissolution OF the association, and he
never directed me in The execution 81 my duties,
either before or after his departure. | was re-
sponsible 10 the officers OF tie association, and
upon my earnest Recommendation, lis affairs were
closed at Washington in October, 1887, at which
line | was requested 10 apprasc the properly,
which | did, and il was divided into forty Two
shares and assigned by lot the lois being drawn
by The Hon. W. 5. Fulton, OF Arkansas, to zach
share holder, and have receipt 10 my posses
sion showing the delivery OF The deeds 10 all The
parties except 10 the Hon. D. Webster, whose
conveyance was delivered 10 N. X. Thomas, Esq,
his attorney. This closed The business Of the as
sociarion under The articles Of agreement. The
property OF each person, al his request, remained
in any hands for sale till 1888, when The whole
was surrendered up, and my responsibility ceased
Gen. Cas-, As have stated, was all his time in
France, and be did not receive his proceeds Of The
purchases I'LL after his return, an! hen in proper.
| " al a loss Of more than one half OF the amount
| paid, besides Interest.
| That The whole operation was unfortunate for
| all concerned no one regrets more than 10; but
| il will excite no surprise when The history oil the
purchases OF land in the western country, in
1886 and '37, is Iecolecied together with the high
| prices given, and The immense fall in the value
of property which Immediately afterwards took
| place. Al any rate, | alone am responsible Tor
he purchases, and have yet 10 learn that there is
| he first allegation did not ACT in good faith =
| You say you are 'au horZed 10 make this state
menl by member OF The association. gentleman
/ VINO paid $40 ,000inlo the hands OF General Cass
or his agent, and sho has never received anything
| in consideration 4 his money" | shall not SOP
\ TO expose the dishonesty Of 4 man who, ia ina
| king such chlrge To effect political object
! says be paid Hat amount 10 Gen. Cas- or his
| Gscn', when he must know perfectly we'll that
| was the agent II The association, and No! vi any
| individual composing it, Does he mean b. The
| distinctive hee 1sed that he does not know 70
| which Of themh. paid lha, large sum; or has he
| 10 voucher, her 10 show tor itself Or 10 quicken
! bis memory Or Ices he use Gen. Cass's Lame
| when be knows le uses it faIsely2 do not know
who your thurman, is; bur whoever he may b.,
| know the s.ilansnttU be false, and challenge
him TO The PROT of il. have already explained
| how The payments ware made, and the books Of
| The association and The accounts OF the treasurer
| will confirm ny assertion. II This man was a
s;ochboider ahc paid his money 10 Inc treasurer,
(he could no! ply ii 10 anybody ese) he had either
sold out his s;o:k previous 10 The division, or else
he received his, share at The time The division was
made renes nv challenge to him. Let him
show that Eva received dollar OF his money
and die not account for il, and nc shall be repaid
with Interest, as soon as the amount can be count.
| ed down. II will be difficult 10 make any man
| who knows Gen. Cass believe that your inform.
ant has had a Just demand agains, him for len or
| Twelve years ur the sum OF $4,000, without
| even asking lin 10 pay it. He has not indeed
| elected much slrewdness in his story, but he is
certainly shrsEd enough 10 know, that such
debt is worth ,ssins Tor, and almost any body
else you'd say worth prosecution. Such Tor
| bsarance is in iself rare merit.
What Gen. cass' position as Secretary of War
had 10 do wilhnis interest in such company, |
am utterly al sloss 10 conjecture Certainly the
| honorable men With whom ne was associated,
| Wcuiu nave tIls Iucd vi Will uihI
| in company, 10 order 10 take advantage ot his
official nfuente and position. And your intor-
mant bot leveasa trait Of character the more in
coniessing in fat his participation in such mo-
| lives. But he iced not fear 2uy Temorsc Of con-
science. Gen. Cas- as Secretary Of War, had
no more 10 do viii The sale Of Tue public lands
than With the slle of land in the moon. nor did
| his Official situation give him the least control
over The sui jsct There is no law, no usage, no
proprie,y whchnrohibiIs any member Of Con-
sress or officers ,fthe government IRON pnrcha.
sing pubic lanes, excepting those directly con-
trolling The sale. And from The foundation OF he
system, there ha, never been any hesitation upon
| The sutjecl. The public land is sold in the respec
tive districts, whsrc it is situated, and he, who
pays his money here, has light 10 any unsod
| tract. The onlyprohbion as to purchasers, is
| in rrspecl TO The Register who keeps the books
AMI receive. The entries, and he can only make
them 'by application in writing 10 the Surveyor
Geneid!,' and in that amer, he even can buy
all ne ana in his district As Ia he Receiver
The other officer charged with The sales he is un
| der no prohbtiyn; and these officers have al
ways purcha.et as much as they please.
| know nU;hag 81 anr such letter, as you state
Governor Hubbard wrote, nor do believe he did
write such a ole. lie can speak Tor himself
All know is, letter in hose terms, could moi
truly lie written by any one.
am, sirs,
Your obedient servant,
B. B. KERCHEVAL.
ucTII 7 THEW r0Mc,n