Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-13
x.cr.,.rv walkers Decision.


w. are at last-after il could be withheld no long
er-favored with this precious, this all-important
document. We copy it below from the Gazette,
and we beg all OF readers, to pay particular al
tention to it. Th> Gazette knew very well, from
the first, that it would not bear examination--that
ii was another Of the accustomed frauds upon the
public, Of that specous tribe of political jobbers
which ruled at Washington during the reign of the
man from Duck Creek.
Let US look at the matter with candor, and as
certain from what we know, from the letter ITSELF
as well a. from other sources, what the OPINION OF
Mr. Walker il really worth, and how far it was
binding upon Mr. Ewing.
From the letter below, it appears that on the sth
ofJAxvARv, ls4s, the Members Of Congress from
this State wrote to Mr. w. in relation to the terms
Of the grant. Their letter is not given u.s. but, at
cording to the Gazette it was written because the
Comnsissioner Of the Land Office, !occfoco officer
and a. we think, occupying the office when the
grant was n,ade and, doubtless as we'll acquainted
with its true extent as those who voted for itthis
officer, we say, according to the Gazette had
it the same Interpretation as Mr. Ewing now does,
and had proclaimed the lands for sale. or this
Messrs Dodge Co. complain on the 9Th of Janua-
~, ls4s.
On the ID of March, ls4s, Mr. Walker replies -
This was just days before his term Of office ex-
piredi He had had the letter nearly t,co months in
! his possession, at last he ventures to make his
| oracular resronsei And now that We have his re-
| ply now that we can see what are its terms, we
affirm that no man who reads it can, by the utmost
stretch Of his creduty. believe that it is any more
decision upon the merits Of this question: than MIR
| Walkers private opinion upen any other matter
| would be. 1t is the mere opinion Of MIR Walker
| II was not acted upon by the Commissioner then
| in office, who had given the grant contrary con-
struction. II was not acted upon by the next Com
issioner. Had it been decsion the latter would
| have been compelled to obey it, and when he had
violated it, Messrs Dodge 4 Co., would not have
failed to indicate the violation to Mr. Ewing. Mr.
Ewing expressly says this opinion had not been act
ed upon. Mr. Walker says merely, that he had trans
mined copy Of his letter to the Commissioner. He
! gives no instructions; says nothing about follow
ing his opinion but merely sends the papers to the
Office where they, by law, belonged.
Now. what may be reasonably cleaned from all
| this. Common respect for those about to s" into
! Office at that time, would have induced any one but
locofoeo officer. to leave the matter 10 be settled
/ by his successor. But this would not have accom-
plished the object in view. Mr. Walker dare not
decide the matter in opposition to the Commission
cr, hut he could in opinion'' With the gen.
femen from lora This would do their bushes
| for them. They could call i, u decision! The Com
missioner would act as il decision had not been
made. The Iowa gentlemen would again bitterly
complain. The whig Secretary would decide agains,
I Inv how 10 nj
ade Of their patriotic devotion to the interests OF
Iowa! and assert that Wing officials had robbed
Iowa Of its rights under the grant,! This is the
game they have played, and it is as contemrtibie
and dap,ninE game men of their ca!ibre have
ever attempted.
We now repeat what we said last week, that il
the gentlemen are in earnest, let them apply, MI
| Ewing advised them, to Congress, for an eNplana
tory act. II the grant was extensive affirmed
Congress will n hesitate to say so. The gentle
men have majority there. They can have it al
the locofnc"s please. failure to do this will BE-
an absolute confirmation of .sorinion,' that
this whole affair is but 4 miserable farce---a con-
temptble trap to catch the votes Of Io,rd. Here i,
the letter:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March ,. 1910.
GxNTLEaEN:-i have the honor to scknow l-ds. the
ceip q communication Of the sth OF January last
and accompanying papers the construction OF the
ofConsress 'srsntine certain lands to the Territory
Iowa to ard the of the navigation of tn.
Des Mones river in said Territory approved s,h August
1876. concur with in the conains cd in you
communication, and am Of opinion that the in aues
tion extends therein stated both sides of the
from its 20 its Mouth, but lands tive
in the State OF Missouri
| have transmitted your commnn alton ard accompa
nyng papers, with copy OF this letter, to the Coams
soner Of the General Land Office
have the honor to be, respectfully, obj
Z. !. WALKER, Secretary OF the Ire asnry.
Hons 4. &. Dodge and G. w Jones, l.. :. Senate.
g Letter and w. Thompson, u. :. House Rep.