The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-26
s,,pvryoP GESEIAlsHIp,

unlustitiable attacks upon the surveyor
General The following comments in re-
ply We quote from the Tribune OF thai
CITY -
.There is one, and only enc, Of the points at
tempted 10 be made by the Express, that proper
III demands word Of notice. Referring to the
appointment OF Deputy TO make personal ex-
aminations Of work in the field while surveys are
in progress, the Express holds the following Ian
guage:
s.-i. must be arparen. TO all outside Of the
Surveyors office, that this assumption of power
is suprsnely foolish, and that the necessity for
the Office, can be justified only BY an unjust and
odious reflection upon the Deputies"
Now, will this astute critic and judge Of other
mems actions be good enough 10 inform the void
wherein the s'supreme foolishness' alledged, con-
sisis, Is il in the fact that examinations Of the
nature contemplated, are calculated 10 close up
the avenues TO fraud and peculatIon, and cut off
by that much, opportunities which might be
found by the Surveyor General himself TO make
a profit by that sort of lenient and easy-song
dealing with his deputies, which would enable
them 10 pass fraudulent work through the Office,
Just as readily as tina, which was faithful and hon
est We have met with men before now who
thought stopping leak through which few
dollars might from time 10 time drop into their
own pockets, was the height Of foolishness, and
our neighbor may be one of that Sort Honest
and candid men, who are sufficiently acquainted
with facts to make M judgment, know that
the only sfoolishness' properly chargeable in
tits connection, is found in the fact that the pub
lie service has been permitted to suffer so long
for want of suitable system OF field examine
tons. Had system of this kind been irtrodn-
ced with the beginning of the Land System, il
" ould have saved an almost incalcGlable sum OF
money TO the Government and individuals, and
avoided an amount OF perjury and personal diff
Guilty frightlul to contemplate. Does the Editor
dispute thisl II SO, we point him 10 the case OF
Louisiana, where sl00, 900 have been expended
from the National treasury for the correction Of
erroneous and fraudulent surveys; TO Missouri.
where the amount expended for these objects has
been nearly or quite as large; TO Michigan,
where fraud, or fraud linked with ncompe'ency.
his cost the Government already so 900, and
tina, perhaps but the beginning Of The end; to
Arkansas, where the bill has reached say $780,
900; 10 Iowa and Wisconsin,, where The facts are
bu; Just beginning TO be developed, and yet hun
drets and perhaps thousands have had TO go for
correction ana re-sarvey. And yet, an editor is
found who is reckless enough to stamp as s.su-
premely foolish,'' an act of,he Surveyor General,
which for IFS only object, the prevention of such
losses to Government these; combined as they
must ever be, with losses to individuals and evil
10 neighbofhoods.
Ii the Editor Of the Express or any Of his Lo-
cofoco friends, wish TO prefer formal accusation
against the Surveyor General, of transcending
the rights or duties Of his Office, in sending an
examining deputy into the field, We presume he
will be found entirely ready 10 meet the issue;
but it would be probably, just as wen to wait
for Deputies themselves TO complain, before talk
ing about The 'sodious reflection cast By such
measure. As well might the compositor who
works by the 1000 ems in the Express office,
complain that his work was examined, or even
his proof read, as the Deputy Surveyor complain
that an examining deputy was appointed TO veri-
fy the faithful execution of contracts while the
work is in progress in the field. The truth is,
the step taken BY Mr. Sargent is one sanctioned
BY the plainest dictates of justice and common
sense, and its adoption reflects greater credit up
on his administration Of the Office than any other
&C, that he has done''
We are particularly impressed with the
propriety of the above remarks from the
fact we are informed through gentleman
Just down from St. Peters, that he met with
party ofSurveyors returning 10 Dubuque,
who had been sent out by Gen. Sargent 10
execute a contract of subdivisions In Min
nesota, but on account of the fraudulent
manner in which the town lines had been
run, they were obliged to abandon the
work.
1t the predecessor OF Gen. Sargent had
have provided for the examination of this
work in the field before payment, does the
editor Of the Express think it would have
been an assumption Of power supremel,
ioollsh!" 1t at all events might have de-
teeted the preparation Of fraud 10 time to
have saved some thousands Of dollars TO the |
public treasury.
The remarks in which the Express man
mas been pleased to indulge, in relation to
onrself, we regard not at ALL We have
not Strengthened an inch" as he surmises
since the appointment Of Gen. Sargent,
nor, we must confess, could we be aggra
waited to lengthen a foot should that edi-
tor cross our path, as we are conscien
iiously opposed 10 cruelty to dumb animals.
4 few years ago he had the honor Of al
introduction to our brother, now Of the
Evansville Journal, and ever since, having
had the persons COMPOUNDED in his mind,
Just as he is 10 the habit of getting ideas,
he has left no opportunity unimproyed 10
twit us upon our lilliputian size!
The editor Of the Express fails to recog-
n thu lfEn.t.o, e Il