The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-08-07
[Ernm tina Louisville Journal. |

We published an exposition two or three
weeks ago that has excited much attention and
given rise TO much comment throughout the
country. We allude TO our exposi Ion of the
conduct of Lewis Cass in getting up, whilst he
was Secretary of War under President Jackson,
the" Western Land Association" for speculation
in the choice lands ofthe West. In order that
no one, who failed to see that exposition,
may doubt the fact of Cass's connection with
such an association during his scholarship,
we republish copy of one of the blank certifi-
Gates Of stock:
WESTERN LAND ASSOCIATION.
Be it known, that Lewis Cass, Henry Hub
bard, Francis o. ]. Smith, Francis Markoe,
junior, and Ramsay McHenry, on the 18th day
of April, A. ID. 1886, entered into an associa-
ton with the combined capital of S220,00O,
for the purchase and sale of Public Lands, in
certain Western States and Territories of the
Union, according 10 certain articles Of agree
merit bearing said date, and signed by said par
ties; and that Is
proprietor of thousa I'd dol
lars of said capital. whereof the aggregate sum
specified in the underwritten certificate has
been paid and said thou
sand dollars being portion of the capital orig
inally assigned to said In said
articles Of agreement, and subject to deduc
ton of one third part of the profits accruing
therelrom and to the payment ola proportional
fraction of the necessary expenses of the con-
sttuted Agent of said Association, and to no
other deduction.
Be il known, also. that said stock is trans
ferable in whole, or in parts not less than one
thousand dollars, by an assignment OF this GER
tifcate BY said or his
Attorney, and record therefore being made by
the Secretary in the transfer book of the asso-
citation.
Washington city 1886.
President.
Secretary.
Casss four associates, mentioned in the GER
tificates of stock, were the Hon. Henry Hub
bard, the Hon. F. o. J. Smith, Francis Markoe,
jr., and Ramsay McHenry. 1t was one Of
these gentlemen that gave us the facts set forth
in our exposition and authorised and reques-
ted us TO publish them, including the alleged
facts that Cass, who, on account of his supe-
rior advantages as Secretary of war, had the
management of the whole business, was bold
| ly charged BY his associates with swindling
them of their money. We by no means in
sist upon this charge of swindling, although
our informant, who paid ten thousand dollars
into the hands of Cass or his agent, says that
he has never got anything in the shape either
of money or land, and that Cass, after failing
TO render satisfaction to his associates when
called on for an exposition of his transactions,
quietly submitted TO the charge of villainy from
the Hon. Henry Hubbard, neither rebutting it
nor resenting it. But with this charge we
have nothing to do-what We wish to hold up
to public apprehension and scorn is the con.
duct of Secretary of War in using the mighty
advantages of his official station for land spec
ulation, and monopoly. In order that our rea-
ders may have some adequate idea of the ad
vantages as land-speculator which Cass pos
sessed in virtue his office and some adequate
idea of the monstrous improperly of his avail
ing himselfof those advantages to the injury
and the absolute destruction ofindividual com
petition, we invite attention to the following
statements which our exposition has called
forth in the st. Louis Republican. That pape
copies the exposition and adds:
! In connexion with the foregoing, we pub
fish the following communication from re-
spectacle citizen of this city, a gentleman who
is every way able TO sustain his assertions
land who will, wherever he is known, find en-
, dorsers.
When we first saw the statements of tn,
Journal, they struck us so monstrous, and a
n evincing such degree of moral and official tur
pitude, that we hesitated to publish the article
We had made frequent illusions to this specu
; lation and the connexion of the u. S. govern
ment officers with it. but we did not under
stand its full extent.
The public will better understand the mo
tives a. the game which these high function
aries of The Government were playing, wher
they reflect that this speculation was to be con
fined TO the purchase of mineral lands, in the
Galena district, in Wisconsin, and the south
ern part OF this State. As the management
leasing, sale &c, of the Sc lands were confided
to the Secretary Of War, and as he had the ap
polntment OF the agents, was the first TO re.
lceive their reports, and have within the range
of his official power the best possible means o
knowing (as far as could be known) the most
valuable mineral lands, and those promising the
lgreatest return TO the purchaser-as he had il
in his power to prevent the discoverer of the
mine from entering himself~-the scheme pro.
/: missed wide field of profit. Why it has fail
ed to produce the results anticipated, and
: which the official position of Gen. Cass gave
him right to expect, we do notattempt to ex
e plain. The following is he communica tior
a alluded TO:
Cor. CaSs and Lqad Speculation.-In the
Louisville Journal is statement respecting ar
association entered into by Gov. Cass. Senator