The New York herald., 1851-08-07

taken place. He writes -
rants ark with pain that the Presideat and mem
ber (of Congress) have lands Of their to SELL
they would not Be 30 nessctfu IN providing for the ocs
tion Of ths military warrants which then might come
competition with them The fact to many Of hold
ing such lands being undeniable the mputation be-
forces the necessity the part Of our government to
defeat Is soon as Pos'iss the charge q neglect
The speculations Of Mr.. Dayton in military laud
warrants, while he was Speaker Of the House Of
Repre- were conducted in New York by
the firm OF Lawrence, Dayton K Co., house
the spring Of 1855, and consisting cf Jonathan H.
Lawrence, Jonathan Dayton, ami Francis Childs
the latter at the time a merchant, aud We believe
democrat. Sixteen letters from Mr.. Dayton,
written by him from Philadelphia, mostly to Mr.
Childs, dated between January and May, l796,
were produced in the Court Of Chancery, aud are,
even at this day, curiosity, developing. as they
do, the enormous specuistions which were then go
ing on in these military land warrants by members
OF Congress with Mr.. Speaker Dayton at their
head), and others. The position Of Mr. Dayton,
as Speaker Of the House, gave him opportunities
Of keeping his partners advised of the doings in
Congress with regard to Land bills, which, Of
course, he did not fail to do as appears by the lot
ters ia question However very little concc almcnt
respecting such speculatons was deemed necessary
BY public men engaged iu them at that time
Among other prominent men mentioned ia those
letters, is James Watson, Of this city, leading
federslist, and United States Senator from the
State Of New York in l7sS. Ho was large opera.
tor in the military land warrants, having been com,
misary in the army.
The following letter will give an idea of some Of
the transactions Of the spectators -
PmLADEIpHiA, January q, 17a8.
DfAk Sra II have been very directly informed that
military land warrants have been, within tcw days,
sold in New York upon time at seventy i've dollars per
hundred acres WIZ yeu employ some broker who is
Ia TINT Line TO inquire how much be had in cash for
them to the amonnt Of two hundred warrants or 1000
acres and how much upon time, with without the lc
any other person make 1t known that 1t my wish
70 FELL, such information might possibly have in
bii for the sale Of Isnds in the Northwestern terri
tory have fixed the price at two dollars per acre and
have admitted military warrants in pay for all
chasss in the proportion Of one-seventh. As
1t comes from the press will transmit to you The
same commttee are preparing two other bills the one
other for the grant Of tAe military tracts upon the lo,a
ton Of military warrants You VIII obige me BY writing
ON this subject, by Mondays mail. JuNA. DAYTON.
i. S-Mr. Mitch ell wss one yho gave seventy Ave dol
lars.
Y. Cn,IDs ESQ.
When Jays treaty with England had boon rati-
fed by the Senate, and the appropriations to carry
the same into effect were Ter discussion in the
House, gre at alarm was felt among business mon,
from tho fear that the republican majority in the
House, led by Edward Livingston, would refusc
the appropriations. Mr. Speaker Dayton, there
fore, exerteG himself to prevent catastrophe which
would seriously affect the money market and the
spirit of speculation. In the following lotor to one
n,
Of endeayoring to influence the democratic mem
bers Of Congress from the State of New York, to
vote for the appropriations and gives some curious
information;-
DEAR SIR II have received yours Of yesterday The
alarm which you mention to prevail ia the CITY of New
though am far from believing that the present state Of
things ~srrsuts 1t. The shock which private credit is
RECEIVING, and the fall Of produce well as the sagnA
tio0 OF commerce though t be Temporary ser
ouc evils. cannot the friends OF Lyingt Havens,
lIathorn, Van Cortlandt and Bailey, be induced 20
ncnstrste seriously With them against their opposition
making the proper provision carrying treaty
into effect Request Mr. Childs to Isks the attempt
lie or his friends must know who have the greatest in
fuence with "a gentlemen aud they will, sure,
respect much tbs advice Of their friends and sup
Iccrs immediately addressed 70 them personally, than
that CT petition directed to the House of Representa-
tives. But do not discourage the latter mode
of declaring your sentimens; but L recommend the
senaing even into the districts OF the members
have mentioned In order 10 engage influential men to ts
active There viii b. time to do this for the discu sons
viii probably be very engtby-or ii they are not the
Grst vote viii not be 20 conclusive but that may
change Whenever few will from the ars;
joray That msjcry IL diminishing three from Mary
land and tbs from Jersey who voted for Lviogstons
Iess utons, will vote tor carrying the treaty into
elect tive New York members, and Two or three are
watering but inclined to the Virginia side, the
sir that il making does not shake their nerves Tel Mr.
Chias they must be active and appoint respectable
mees t. correspond in all directions, excepting south
oi The Potomac Keep up for time the spirit that Is
that your srrabgs monts and establish men Ia New York
should go forward for cannot persuade myself that
majority will persist in their opposition, tnst IL they
do the oonse will 10 important sppro
hsnd,d. This Il intended for you and Mr. chlds only,
as ! would not say snyihins which would tend 70 relax
purchase you hint NJ may, believe, be made adysnta
geosy you can hit upon the price when 1t is at its
can accommodate you here for humber of days, aud
until you are more In essh With tie !5o dolsrs Yours
With esteem, J0NA. DAYTON.
Tho great speech Of Fisher Ames, in favor Of
iha mi. for tha a1a
the 18th April. when the opposition, alarmed
for the effect il might produce, carried an
adjournment. The noxt day three more speeches,
one ey Mr.. Speaker Dayton, were madO. but
nobody attempted to answer Ames. The oppo-
sition had claimed q majority Of ten. The vote,
when il came 10 be taken. stood 10 to ~, and
Muhlenberg, democrat, chairman Of the Commit
tee Of the Whole, voted with the federalists. in Ca
cf the resolution. In the House it was carried,
81 20 A, liacy, Of New York, democrat, voting in
the Affirmative. Tho New Jersey members all
voted for IL. The New York and Pennsylvania
members stood two to one in its favor; and from
Msryla land there was but one vote in the neg alive.
From the States south Of the Potomac there wcro
only four votes in it, favor, and but four New Eng
lana members agsir Il 1t. Thus, by this close vote,
were the appropriations paced for carrying jays
treaty into elect; and to Mr.. Dayton, doub .less,
weIe the tederalsts indebted for his tact and exer-
tions to obtain msjority in favor Of that impor
tant messure.
Ia the United States Senate, MIR. Dayton took an
active Tart in debates and proceedings, and after
his fix years term Of service had expred he retired
Ia private life lie was among the persons ca irged
~ih beng concerned in Barrs conspiracy, in isb5,
aud WAS arrested therefor, but pro ,cedings we're
had against him and the other persons arrested ex-
ceIt Burr and Blennerha sset
1ho father Of Jonathan Dayton, General Elias
Dayton, an officer Of the revelation. and th gugh
an the enjoy Of competency and domestic COM
tort, took sn active par; ia the war .som the COM
mereemeht, and never suitted the tented Geld
unlii nc ennsnnmat!on of Independence. In Feb
ruafg, l1ls ntngress appointed him a Colonel in
the New Jersey line, snd at the time Of his death,
Gin July, 1901 he acid the Office OF Major General
IN the Militia. lie was much esteemed for his
generous, sincere, and upright character. lilo was
seventy years ofa5e ut bis death
AARON CCrEN was born at Elzsbetbtown, in
l5JS, cf which place his ancestors, who were Of
l.nglish origin, were smcng the first settlers. lie
graduated ~ Princeton in 111j. and entered early
into public life. lie served an officer during the
whole Of the revolutionary war, after which be
'sctised law for many years With great eputstion
in l,e', he was Connty Clerk Of Essex, and after
wards held various other Offices, always acting