Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-06-07
Des rIoines River Grant.

Des rIoines River Grant.
The Locofoco Board of Public Works,
and the leaders Of that party, are trying
hard to get out of The dilemma in which
they find themselves placed by the ac-
ton of a Locofoco officer, by accusing
the Wings of doing just what they have
done. The Board were not candid and
fair enough to publish the correspond
ence entire, and let the people Judge for
themselves; but Published the part that
suited their own purpose-and with
view TO create an excitement against the
Wings, and make capital for TO help the
Locofoco candidates at the August cleo
ton, they put out, highly colored and
garbled statements N advance of the pub
LEGATION. hoping by this contemplate
course to forestall public opinion.
We propose to review this matterf from
the beginning, and see who have robbed
the improvement in fact, and who are
ilsreal friends. The Locofoco congress-
ional convention that met here recently,
passed resolution, declaring that
wing, or the wings, were robbing the
Improvement of the lands donated by
Congress, and the Locofoco papers in
the State make the same charge; and
this is backed by the Board of Public
Works.
This we deny, and accuse them of do
ing all the mischief yet actually done to
this improvement. Out of their own
mouths we will condemn them. In the
first place we presume that they will moi
have the hardihood TO deny that by the
act OF Locofoco officer, Or. M. Young.
Commissioners of the General Land Of
6ce,) %, 600 acres of the land above
the Rackoon Forks, was advertised aid
actually SOLD. To put this matter at
rest, we quote from the LIST .Report of
the Board of Public Works. signed by
II. w. Sample. Charles Corkery, and
Paul Brattain. Here il is:
"I'he same commissioner of the Gen
eral Land Office r. M. Young, who
on the 23d of February, Is4S, said that
were entitled 10 those lands "throughout
the whole extent of that river," did, on
the 10Th of June following, advertise
part of those. lands for sale by proclama-
tion, as belonging TO the United States!
Our attention was not called to this sin
gular inconsistency until September,
whenwe Immediately addressed The COM
missioner, i'm the belief that these lands
were proclaimed in error, and that the
order for their sale would be rescinded
on having his attention directed 10 it, but
our letter appears 10 have been metlwith
silent disregard. The sale went on as
if nothing had occurred, and portions OF
the State lands were sold for cash and
military land warrants. 1t NAV be prop
er 10 state also, that in anticipation of
such action as the Legislature in its wis
dom may think proper 10 take in this
matter. we have filed copy Of our let
ter TO the Commissioner, accompanied
by protest against the sale, in the Dis
trict land Office at Iowa City. II is our
opinion that no time should be lost in
bringing this subject before Congress, or
some other proper tribunal, as the sue
cess Of the improvement depends ON the
extent Of the appropriations
sit will be seen that the commissions
er Of the General Land Office, promised
10 furnish this office with the approval
OF the Secretary of the Treasury, dia-
gram Of the grant, and list Of the tracts
granted. We waited until after the adj
journment Of Congress, in order that
full time might be hadto prepare them.
aud it was not until the 18th of August
that we called for them again We then
Represented the embarrassment under
which we labored for want of the list
and diagram particularly, as we were a.
bout to revive the sales Of land, but no
attention appears TO have been paid to
our pressing and respectful request.''
And. again: from the communication
Of 9. Cookery. published in the Courier
Of the 24ih August, ls49:
ss'fhe conduct of the cautious but wi
~ Capital Reporter has left NO doubt on
my mind for The last year. that some in
trigue Of this character was on foot, h n
] was ignorant of the extent or nodus
eper0ndi.
ssc~ seaI - .sgs~asi ss
notwithstanding the inconhoveriibIs