Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-11-13
,resen1 ment bw the Bane CozlnGy
Gnaro.t - 81 .,E.

Grand Is EEE'y.
( We publish the following Presentation
| the Grand Jury of Dane County, with
4 comment. The mind can scarcely
1,oceive that, a Grand jury promiseuous-
I selected from populous County, hav-
l. heavy Democratic majority, could a.
T. on such a Presentment without the
4 ,,uaest testimony. Read what they pre-
1t;
The Grand Jurors Of Dane County, in
,.np a brief and somewhat lab0rious SEES
NJ feel that they would be doing them
lies injustice, if they failed to call atten-
N to some acts in the administration of
s,te affairs, and to urge the necessity for
passage Of additional penal and re-
4 naming statutes by the Legislature at It's
.y session.
The laws relating to the sale of school
nj University lands, and the loaning Of
he School Fund seem especially to de-
ognd revision, and the enactment of Sc
re and adequate penalties for the protec-
ion Of the people Of the State. The pub
policy in relation to the sale of these
4 gr1s was obyious-to preserve them for
4 he use Of the people-to sell them in Inn
I ed Quantities, and to actual settlers alone
land that every newly arrived emigrant
i I'D citizen, seeking, might have and Sc
Me a homestead for use and cultivation,
! Oh ssy terms, and with long time to make
garment. 1t was also, part of the same
| rIcv, that the School monies should be
sned more particularly to this class Of
osons to enable them to make com
tenement, and aid their industrious eff
BITS to gain a livelihood.
/ We find from such examination as our
/ line would permit us to make, that this
o.cy has been openly disregarded by pub
officers, especially during the past ten
aonths. .."
We find that great numbers of persons
4 sao had with great trouble and expense
/ o themselves selected out limited quanti-
les of lands for use and occupancy, were,
| d the months Of April, May, and June
last, turned away from the State land of
Gee in the Capitol, by those having them
charge, on the pretence that said lands
we're all sold.
We find that Daniel M. Seaver, Alger-
BON s. Wood and Carl Habich,-in an ir
|asponsible capacity as Deputies and Clerks,
gere chief persons in making these state
ncnts to applicants, and that they were
aIfully and Intentionally untrue: and
they escape Indictment only for the reason
that we are informed we cannot hold them
directly answerable under our laws.
We find that the pretended sale of lands
James Ludington took place in Milwau-
ae That Daniel M. Seaver, who was
not commissioner, and had no right to
make such sale, was the instrument en-
3oyed-that the blank application of
hmes Ludington was void and must have
zen known to be so by the Commission
rs as against actual and legal applicants
that his deposit of money in a general
\ gay to cover his after selections, was lie
al and in violation Of law.
We find tina Tbs State officers, los their
| sole and especial interest and acoommoda-
|tic9. end in violation Of public policy and
|1ght, withdrew the School lands from mar
at and closed the land office doors against
etuaI applicants and settlers until he had
time to select out 10000 acres of the best
tracts. And we find that the pretence
that he had purchased all the School lands
Unmarked which was published in the press,
and repeated by the State officers, depu-
TIES and clerks, was untrue
In the leaning Of public monies We have
reason to believe, that great favoritism and
and partiality is exercised, and the policy
Of such laws is utterly disregarded. A
great evil of the system is the constant
practice Of the officers Of charging and re-
ewing large sums rs fees, not allowed by
aW' And, as we learn, the system has G.
ien extended to charging for commissions
@aed to public officers.
A great and unnecessary increase of Of
aoeH another growing evil, deserving a.
,ajement. The increase at the last SEES
son OF the legislature, adds many thousand
lax annually to the burthens of the people
a1J several of these offices were procured
be created, and the salaries fixed by
members Of that body, who were them
selves appointed to fill them, as we believe,
pam and direct violation Of the Consti-
1t'on Of the State. There was also, a
15at and useless increase of salaries to va
Nous officers, which require radical re-
saetlon, or total repeal.
We ask that laws may be passed to pro-
aol, and punish the taking Of illegal fees
TO prevent and punish the stealing Of
Oils either by clerks Of the legislature, OF
y others, from their files, while in process
q passage through the legislature,-to pre-
Vent the passage Of acts through one branch
q that body, from being certified as hay
ne passed the other, by any officer, when
they have in fact never been before it il
Proper form--and to prevent the manifest
tauds attending the sale of School Lands
Finally we ask for a great reduction o.
expenditures and taxation. These cxpen
dtures have increased over twenty folt
ance the organization of the State govern
nnt-and are evidently increasing, not
outstanding the creation Of a public deb
'omeet extraordinary expenditures.
In conclusion, we congratulate our fel
ov-ciizens of Dane County, on the small