Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-08-10
President.
Secretary.

CATION.
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 factsset 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
10 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 rebuttng 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 a Secretary of War in using the mighty
advantages ofhis official station for land spec
ulation, and monopoly. In order that our rea-
ders may have some adequate idea of the ad-
vanages as land-speculator which Cass pos
sessed in virtue his office and some ADEQUATE
idea of the monstrous impropriety 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
lish the following communications from a re-
spectacle citizen of this city, gentleman who
is every way able to sustain his assertions,
AMI who will, wherever he is known, find en-
dorsers.
When we first saw the statements of the
Journal, they struck US as so monstrous, and as
evinclng such degree of moral aud official tur-
pltude, that We hesitated to publish the article
We had made frequent illusions TO this specu-
N-AOAA =
ment officers with it. but we did not under
stand its full extent.
The public will better understand the mo.
tives and the game which these high function
aries OF the Government were playing, when
they reflect that this speculation was to be con-
hned TO the purchase of mineral lands, in the
Gaiena district, IN Wisconsin, and the south
ern part OF This State. As the management.
leasing, sale, &c:, of the Sc lands were eonfided
TO the Secretary OF War; and as he had the an
polntmcnt OF the agents, was the first to re-
celSe their reports, and have within the range
OF his official power the best possible means of
knowing las far as could be known) the most
valuable mineral lands, and those promising the
greatest return to the purchasers he had it
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 10 expect, we do notattempt to ex-
plain. The following is he communication
alluded to:
Con. Cas- and Land Speculation In the
Louisville Journal is statement respecting an
association entered into by Gov. Cass. Senator
Hubbard and Others, in the year 1886. The
writer OF this was atBarnum's Hotel, in Bal
timore, In 1886, with friend from New York
AH0 SVHtlE uidH WdS called out OF Our room, by
another, then high tanctionary of the U. s..
Government, and general outline of the Cass,
Hubbard, & Co. proposed speculation was
made. and al offer TO participate was made my
friend, who consulted me as TO the prospect of
entering government mineral lands, then I'M
der the direction and control of the war De-
partment-Gen. Cass being Secretary was sun
posed 10 be advantageous for such a purpose.
My advice was not to enter into the specula-
tlon, tor IT any advantage arose from high func-
uonaries of the u. States being of the associ-
alton. they would be unfair or surreptitious.
My advice was followed. How the matter
ended eventually, do not know.
M. T.
In addition to all this, let us renublish the
statement made under oath before a committee
of the U. S. House of Rep, in 1886 BY the Hon.
Henry A. Wise, now Locofoco candidate for
elector in Virginia:
believe that Lewis Cass, Secretary of War.
was engaged in specializing in the public lands
while Secretary of War; that he made exhorb-
liant allowances TO favorites; paid one for
services never performed; another after he had
full knowledge that the favorite had forged his
official signature; permitted commissions un
der him to be antedated, and has ordered a
treasury warrant TO be paid to the assignee of
disbursing officer who had gambIed it awav
ftor h,JA