Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-10
Gov. Reeder's Explanation.

fpecuiatlOns IN lands OF the Territory OF
Kansas, apparently IN violation of the acts
Of Congress and Of the regulations Of the
departments. NJ. Reeder's letter is a clear.
concise aud tcmpcrately written document,
and fully meets the questions. He commcn-
ces his answer to Secretary Marcy by noii-
eng the very general manner in Which the
charges are made against him, and the en-
tire absence of any specification on which
10 make point or rise an issue. lie then
says:
ain relation to the first charge, Of pur>
chase Of llaf-Breed Kansas lands, have to
say that have purchased no such lands at
all With others | have agreed TO purchase
them in case the contemplated purchase
shall receive the sanction and appreciation of
the President; and this, in my opinion, is
a material and substantial difference. Until
the President, by his appreciation, and the
vendors by the execution Of their deeds
cunsummate the contract, it prec'udcs us
from any interest in the land, and even the
privilege Of entering upon or possessing IT,
The papers we're submitted by us to the
President on the - day of January last for
his approval, and as the government has been
for years in the habit Of approving similar
contracts, we did not apprehend any difficult
~ whatever. They ", re referred to the Ia
dian Bureau, and the Commissioner reported
adversely to the confirmation, alleging that
the vendors had no right to sell, that there
was no evidence of their competency to
manage their own affairs that there was no
evidence produced by US Of the value Of the
land, that the transaction had not been
brought to the notice of the Indian Agent,
that no certificate was presented TO the Presi-
dent to prove the official character of an Of
iicer whom the President had appointed, and
that the purchase money (which was to be
paid IN cash when the deed was mndel had
not been sufficiently secured, and that in the
opinion Of the Commissioner, the contract
was demorusng and dlsgraceful.
Whether this last reason was base upon
the assumption ofactual fraud in the contract.
or upon the Commissioners idea that publlc
officers had no right to purchase. | confess |
have never been able, after careful examina-
ton of the report, to discover. Upon recei-
wing this report, the President, on the 49, dsy
Of January. without rejection or approval,
ordered the papers to be returned. doubtless
with view 10 enable us to supply the form
al Deficiencies demanded by the business
regulations Of the Departments, of which
We had been ignorant. We inferred. Of
course, that the last reason above was no,
concuued in by the President or he would
at once have disproyed the contracts. and
tcrminated the whole proceedings.
We proceeded TO supply the rmal def.
ciencics. and IN the beginning OF NAV last.
again laid the papers before the President.
with an argument and brief from mvse E 10
prove by the opinions of Attorneys General
and the decisions Of the Supreme Court. that
the vendors had q RICH, to sell r. dispositions
proving their idcntty-their competency 10
manage their own affairs. and the value Of
the land--prooi that the matter had been
brought to the notice Of the Indian Agent.
and that he had made no objections. To which
add now my own assertion that distinctly
stated 10 him that we had agreed 10 purchase
one tract, and would endeayor 10 contract for
others; and although Mr.. Clark denies. IN a
general way, that the matter wa. brouph,
before him, he is coniradctod by my allega-
ton and the deposition of a dislntercsled
witness.
These papers were not acted on by the
President mp TO the 2jth May, and have no
knowledge that they have been acted on up
To this time. To the matters contained m
their and my letter Of April 1855, to Com,
missioner Manypenny, which the Presiden,
informed me be bad read, | have bot little Ia
add, unless my attention shall be called 10
some particular point. We knew that the
vendors we're entirely competent to manage
their own affairs, and would have the aid 81
the President IN doing so. We knew thu,
the transaction was honorable and fair
throughout, free from oil fraud aud deceit
we believed they had the right to sell and
we believe 40 stl! ard although it is posi-.
I bic we may be mistaken in this particular
/ yet we would not be guilty Of so much dis.
respect 10 the President as 10 believe that he
would consider such an error cause of re-
rHoyal. We also believed that we had the
same right 20 buy as any other individual
/ provided the Transaction was fair one and
marked by no imposition, deceit or fraud
We have already shown that the transac.
] ton was marked by fair aud honorable deal.
| ing throughout aud that the vendors had
ample opportunity for consultation and de-.
I liberation, and for this refcr.to the deposi.
tons now before the President. II the Pres.
idcnl Is moi satisfied on this point, earnest.
I ly request that may be informed in what
particular he differs from me, and up9r
which facts his opinion is based, and il vii
be my pleasure 10 disproyc any and every
statement tending to raise doubt in that d.
rccton"
In reference 10 the second charge. tht
Governor says that he would respectfully re-
ques, some specifications Of wha, is alluded
TO, and he continues:
The only matter TO which can Judge
that your general illusions can apply. is an
allegation that IN October, 1854, |, with 9th,
er-, procured CLAIMS to be marked upon the
Kansas Half Breed Reservations In reply
/ ! have only TO say, that as stated il is untrue
! In October, 1851, several gentlemen. includ
ing myself, happened to be at the house O
Dir. Ellison IN portion oflhe territory will
which we were entirely nnacquanled, and
! had never seen before. Being informed that
desirable claims were to be had in the vein,
/ lty upon lands open TO pre-emption, we re
/ Quested that he would mark them out for Us
and knowing that the Kansas Half Breed
lands were IN the vicinity, but utterly igno,
/ rant OF their lines, we requested HIM care
fully TO avoid entering upon them, as we hat
no desire 10 trespass upon these reservations
and knew perfectly well that the marking OF
claim upon an existing reservation woul,
be utterly frui,less and nugatory, resulting
IN the loss of our labor without the leasl
chance OF benefit.
Mr.. Ellison piofessed to know the lines
and assured US he would avoid these reser, es
/ have nauar sAan tham since nor ,lo now
know where they were made"
The Governor concludes by urging as a
matter of justice that he should be informed
by the President d" Of the particular act ia
which exception Is taken, and the particular
aspect IN which it is considered cupabe
and II any law or regulation is violated,
what that law or regulation is"
The Government Is about to make a clean
breast of IT, BY publishing all the documents
IN reference TO the removal of Gov Reeder.
Sam Houston Dueiid. Judge J. tells a
tale about Sam Houston which is good
enough to print" During the canvas that
resulted in Sans beating Burnett for the
Presidency of the Republic of Texas, some
rather harsh terms had passed between the
| parties, when Burnett took occasion 10 send