Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-03-06
The Georgia Lands.

The eltor of the Indiana Journal Publishes the
tpeech Of Mr. Usher in relation to the Georgia lands
and with fOsrish of trumpets says" We should like
TO learn the snon Of our neighbors of the Sentinel
this subject. VIII they publish the speech of Mr.. Ush
el If so, agree publish any speech, made by any
EemOeratie member, in reply to it,"
The natural inference he drawn from tbs remarks
Of the Journal Isl that the act quoting the claim Of Mr.
Green party measure else why lug into the mat
the speeches of democratic members' So far Mr.
Usher and the editor Of the Journal are concerned We
have doubt but their object is make political CAPT
tai; but while find such leading wings Mr.. Pratt
and others supporting Mr. Green's claim that object
will fail entirely Of its mark
This whole matter, in opinion may be summed up
in a nut shell. When Gov Wright came into Office,
clamor was raised that there something wrong
the part of the acting Governor vino preceded him,
the transfer aud sale Of the Georgia lands. He very
properly opinion refused raty the transaction,
until the matter should be cleared up and to prevent
injury 10 innocent purchasers and to bring the matter to
issue, offered the land for sale There being bid
ders, under dispute of title he brought the subject
the attention of the Legislature and recommended u-
dicia Investigation. Mr. Green, who held bond and
deed from the acting Governor, applied the Legisa-
first, refused, although the judiciary committee of the
House, of which Mr.. Pratt was a member recommend.
ed the passage of the bill and was, we understand
this occasion, that Mr.. Usher made his speech At
this point the whole matter involved in dilemma
from which neither the State Mr. Green could be ca.
silly extrcaed without joint action of both. The only
resort for the State, tedious and expensive law
suit with Mr. Green, and which might at last, result in
L
to pay up, and other expenditures be incurred
the lands. The next movement the introduction Of
bill auhorising the Governor pay the the
lands This was somewhat startling some Of the
members it said that the expenditure be in
CURED would the State three thousand
dollars-and another contract published in which
Mr. Collins the State agent, had sold a Mr.. Roches
Of Lafayette the whole of the interest Of the State
and above Mr. Green's interest ;or the sum of fifty
dollars-and it contended that Il the State gained
the lands Mr.. Rochester wond fall heir to them for
that small sum; or least, the State would be
PEELED to have a lawsuit with him.
1t this .gc of the proceeding that Mr. Davis
OF Scott moved amendment, fully recognizing Green's
title; which adopted, and which is now the law of
the State We believe that Governor Wright in this
whole Transaction acted a faithful public officer. 1t
bis duty to guard the public interest and the Leg
islature may have acted wrong in raiying Mr. Green's
contract aid had they believed that Mr. Green was act
ing the partner of the acting Governor corrupt
transfer OF the property in which these gentlemen were
to share the profits, the property should been lost
father than TO give damning an act
We cannot believe they entertained any such opinion or
their course would have been diRereat
These Georgia lands have been connected with MOTH
ing bat evil Indiana from the very beginning They
we're taken security for debt due the State negotat
ed by Of whis Fund Commissioners for t,ro hun
drsd ald forty thousand dollars And to show the nu
liability or dishonesty Of mans judgment, solemn re-
port made TO the Legislature, by a sworn officer
q Fund Commissioner that the security was ample to
secure the debt The year that Green bought the lands
Mr. Defrees, in conversations told the acting
Governor that he beliered those Interested with him
would give five thousand dollars for the lands and lr
Collins it is said made sale of the lands Rochester
Tor i've thousand! The natural conclusion Of the Legis
iature would be- that the these lands got rid
oil the better If expenditure OF three thousand
dollars had to beincurred and expensive pros
eeuted, If five thousand dollars much nj the end
as could be got for the State.
Several speeches made by those who favored Mr.
Green's claim bur the reporter for the Journal has only
volunteered to give Mr.. Usher's, which was labored
effort. Had there been desire do justice to all par
ties these speeches would have been suppressed and
the Sentinel asked to hunt them up We have notes
on the SUBJECT neither present hear the ar
guments and knowledge of the grounds which the
friends Of Mr. Green rested his claim not at all per-
Icct. Whenever receive the guments both sides
Of this question, if deemed necessary, will place
them before the public; bat in the absence Of ali the
facts the other side of the question: think would
DC unjust place the remarks Of bitter and vndictve
political partisan record crafty wing ed
i.or.