Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-06-30
For the Courier.

4 T
Ma. EDIroR.--M May be permitted, as
an ses OF justice 10 my reputation rs a
man. and for the sake OF truth. TO make
a statement ,hrough The medium Of your
valuable paper, in relation 10 tr.nsac-
ton in which am made to suffer i'm rep
fu,aiion in yoar State, by misrepresenla-
ton and falsehood.
la The fall season OF 1851 visi,ed
Iowa for The purpose of purchasing some
wild lanis, ard found vacant lands in
Appsnoose county which suited me; and
having been told ihai great portion OF
the vacant lands in that county was
claimed by the Land Club Society,
went. 6rs, TO the Township Register, and
asked him TO show me their code
of laws for the government of the Soci-
ETY.. examined them carefully anG
found that no person, though he might be
a member OF The Society, was entitled 10
the protection Of he club, unless the
lands which he sought TO protect. bad
been regularly recorded in the Registers
Office in The township where the land
was situated. had already taken the
numbers of several tracts Of very desir-
able land, which, upon examination, /
found registered. All such passed, anc
entered such only a, did not find regis.
tered. Atter~ard. purchased sundry
timber Chains. and paid in every instance
the price asked for them. Subsequent.
ly, in the spring OF 1852. returned 10
the S,ase of Iowa, 10 The same place,
and bought and paid high prices tor sew
eral Other timber claims, and entered
sundry other tracts of prairie lands, al
ways strictly abiding the celebrated club
laws. and always paving the full price
asked for them, refusing, however, TO pay
for any no. registered.
The object of this communication il
This. One of my neighbors visiting
Iowa this Spring. informs me tina, he
heard my name spoken of in connexion
with these lands in different parts Of the
Slate. (lo~a City and other Places
charging me with having entered poor
mems claims withou. paying for them,
&c; aud that dare not show my face
again in Iowa. &c, &c. Now, Mr.. Ed
itor. visited Iowa he second time. and
that, loo, after hsd been informed that
very poor man who only owned 800
acres Of land adjoining 70 some that
enlersd first, with 100 acres of il in Gull
tva,ion, and a fine farm house upon il,
&c. complained and made some severe
threats agaia.. me for entering his claim,
with no other or better weapon 30 defend
me. than small pocket knife. And
will now inform he good people Of The
Slate of Iowa. that If il should at any
time become necessary, or suit my con-
yenieacc to visit Iowa again, having a
Consciousness of having done and acted
in every resper, in all my land transact
tions in Iowa. in accordance with strict
Justice between man and man, l shall
wan, no other or better weapon to defend
me. ! pay tax 10 support the govern
meni OF your young and hourishing State,
being the owner of considerable land in
il, which | may OF may no, inhabit, but
some of my children in all probability
will. and nus. make you good citizens.
II 10 on their account, and on account OF
numerous relations aud cid acquaintan.
ces, in your State, that wish my self
placed in my true position in relation to
this matter, and therefore ask of you as
an act of Justice. to give the foregoing
Statement, place in your columns. and
oil others friendly TO justice to copy.
Respectfully.
w. Ii. CRAIG.