Washington telegraph., 1853-05-18
Gov. Conyyay's swamp Land Let

by reference to our paper of last week,
letter bearing date 23d March, 1853. from
his Excellency, Gov. CONWAY TO the Swamp
Land Commissioners may be seen, asking
them, and the agents acting under them, to
cease from selling lands illegally. and to set
aside ard annul ccr.ain sales already made,
which in the estimation of his exccllcncy,
arc Illegal
The editor was absent from town. or this
letter should have received notice at Tlis
hands last week While we have for the
Office Of Governor the highest regard, we
are compelled to differ. in opinion, from the
individual who fills that cffice
The Swamp Land Commissioners form
distinct branch, bureau of the government,
and as the law expressly mikes it the duty
of the Legislature to elect none but compe-
tent men, to Gil the Offices Of Swamp Land
Commissioners, it is but fair to presume.
until the contrary il shown-that they IN
derstand and discharge their duties accord
ing to law. Assuming this to he true, they
should act independently, and without suffer-
Ing themselves to be interfered with. or die
tated to, by any other officer or department
of the Government Their official acts
should be their own. and free from any in
fuence whatever. The Governor has Just
as much right to interfere with the Judges
Of the Courts in the discharge of their off,
cal duties a. the Swamp Land Commission
ers. 1t would be just as proper for him TO
address letter to The Judges Of the Su-
preme Court, informing them that their pre-
docessors had made an illegal decision, and
asking them that it should be ''set aside
and annulled.' lie could do the one with
as much propriety as the other
Looking at this letter, VIC cannot see to
which it is the most complimentary, the old
or the new board Of the Swamp Land Com
missioners. 1t says that the Old board has
acted Illegally; and says, in effect. to the
new board, that it has not the intelligence to
see, or find out, the illegal acts of its pre-
decessors
How according to the suggestion of his
Exccllency, are the Swamp Lands to be ap-
piled to the building Of Railroads! The
State has not the power to dispose Of the
Swamp Lands, for any purpose until they
are reclaimed. They are to be held sacred
for their own reclamation. And if the
State had power to dispose Of these LANDS,
how can it be done, in the absence Of a law
authorizing it unless by calling the Legis-
latnre together? and this the Governor ap-
pears to dread worse than rabid dog breads
water.
We warn persons holding lands under
entries made, during the term Of Office Of
the old Commissioners, and after the 9th Of
February, 1883, against being frightened
ont Of their rights by this paper manifesto.
We express no opinion as to the legality or
illegality Of the entries but this We DO say
that they cannot be ousted or dispossess-
ed Of their rights, by a mere nod Of the
head, or dash Of the pen. Of an executive
officer
If these entries are legal the Courts will
protect the persons claiming under them in
their rights. If they are Illegal, the Courts
alone can dispossess them. Ii is not in the
power of the Governor or the Commission
ers TO do so.
We hope that the Governor, seeing the
ridiculous attitude in which this letter places
him, will do himself and the State tile jus
tice to set things right in this behalf There
are none 70 wise but they may err; and it
is certainly better to confess and forsake err
ror, than to persist in it against light and
knowledge. Gazette d. Dcns0crat.