Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-01-17

PreNlOuS 10 1850, an opinion had generally
prevailed that by fair construction Of these
grants, Ohio was entitled 10 large quantities of
/ land ia addition to those she had been allowed
blythe Commissioner ofthe Land Office. Efforts
had been made, but no satisfactory adjustment
concluded; and, on the 18th day Of Feb, 1850,
the General Assembly passed resolution in
these words:
"ReSolrcd, That the Governor is hereby
! authorized to employ such means as he may
deem best fsr the interests of the State, TO OBJ
tain from the Government Of the United States,
any lands to which the State may be entitled,
under the Grants heretofore made by Congress
for Cisral and other purposes" &c; "provid-
c{ that no charge shall be made or the Treas
| ury for carrying this, resolution into effect"
afterwards. on the 25th day Of the same
month, my predecessor entered into a con-
/ tract with the Honorable John w. Allen of
I'Cuyuhoga county, by which, amongst other
things. il was agreed thai Mr.. Allen should
undertake the adjustment of these lands with
i ;he GENERAL Government, and have one third
! of all he should obtain for the State of Ohio,
/ in addition to these before received, as a con-
sderation for his expenses and services
/ If nothing was obtained for the State,
nothing was to be paid. This contract was
signed by Mr.. Allen, Governor Ford, Officially,
and G under the Great Seal of the State. My
first iutimation that such contract existed,
WAS on finding it with the files soon after
come into Office. Mr.. Allen employed assis-
iAnee, and, during the past season succeeded
in obtaining complete title to between sixty
and seventy thousand acres ofland. Applica-
tien Was then made for conveyance of one
third VI these lands, to be held by Mr.. Allen
in common with the State. This was refused
| doubling whether the resolution conferred sufi-
ccnt authority, and whether lands obtained
under these grants and the avails of them
were not upon such conditions, and so pledg-
ed to the payment of the Canal debt that
they could be directed in no, other way.
1t was agreed, however. that an equitable
division, without prejudice to any right of the
state. should be made by an agent mutually
selected, and thus remains for the action Of the
General Assembly, or Judicial decision. This
was to be done at the expense of Mr.. Allen,
and to facilitate his title, should the General
Assembly 90 direct or the Court so decree.
Whether such division was, or was not made,
| am uniformed.
These lands were afterwards advertised and
sold, in part at the Land Office in Defiance.
Mr.. Allen, before the sale applied to the Aud
itor of State for instructions to receive the bids
Of Mr.. Allen, at the sale, TO the amount of tWen-
| ty thousand dollars, BIZ the Receiver, without
the payment Of the money, and the matter to
remain until the question of title should be
determined. The Auditor gave the instruction
with my advice; but the bids of Mr.. Allen,
! though, made for some reason were not receiv-
ed, and part or the whole of said lands were
sold TO others.
| shall still refuse to execute conveyance
to Mr.. Allen, without the direction of the Gen.
eral Assembly, or his right to it under the res
elution shall be judcially determined. AL
that has been done has been with the view tc
place the business in position to be closed a.
The earliest practicable period.
| 1t is not my wish to threw any obstacle IL
the way Of Ms Aliens claim. Hehas perform
ed important services, had it not been for which
the state would have been without all she has
gained by them. perhaps forever. These land.
are, in fat an unexpected acquisition 10 tht
State, and if the contract cannot be executed
Mr. Allen is Justly entitled to the benefit of j
in some other mode Of compensation. There
are still other lands, many thousand acres,it il
supposed, to which the State is Justly entitled
under the above grants, but which cannot b'
obtained, as it has been determined at Wash
ington, without further legislation by Congress
To these claims, Mr. Allen was, during the las
f and is, at the present session, attending witt
a commendable industry and perseverance
and it is believed the bill will be perfected it
the State, in the course of few months.
have at the present time no Legislation t.
11 81 of III
General Assembly may properly be deferred
until the business is finally closed. Indeed,
would not have been brought to your notice
in this communication, but for the purpose o
disabusing the public mind, as many report
have been cirulated prejudicial to the actor
of some of the officers of State, the past sum
mer, in relation to these lands.
The State Capitol, of which bare mentio
+, has been made. has been carried up with YER
crediiable exertions, the past seson. When tn
Inconvenience of the present halls oflegiSlatio
: and the insecurity of the State Offices are con
; sidered economy alone would seem to deman
, that the New State House should be finished
in the shortest practicable period, cousisten
with its durability and plan. The appro
: priation of the last session has been, it
believed judiciously expended, but was foun
: insufficient to place the building lin safety 70
t winter, and other sums have been advances
BY the Auditor for that purpose, with my cor
eurrencs, and which should be provided for i
! such appropriations as shall be deemed expe
dent by the General Assembly for the currer
year.
; The second Annual State Fair of Ohio wa
. held in Columbus in September last. Their
: was exhibited great variety ofinVentions, i
labor saving machinery, and farming imple
ments many of them highly important an
useful to the agricultural portion of our people
: Also, in the several branches of manufacture
and mechanical ing enuity there was no less dis
: play of utility and skill There were eve
: specimens of statuary of the finest marble fror
: the qusrries of Vermont, which would hav
: done no discredit to the chisel and genius c
the great sculptor of the age.
, The improved breeds of horses cattle, sheeI
: swine. and poultry, could hardly be excelle
in any other part of tie Union. The Pomo