Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-10-16

turns summerset and decides
that where the selection has neen approved BY
the Secretary of the Interior, the la1ds if pro-
ven not 10 be swamp will have to be brought
into market by thirty days notice thereof
But that the contestant would have the prefer
enoe at the orlina ry cash price where the lands
had not cen approved. Thus making I've
classes Of swamp land and comprehending tho
greater part in the first class. This was done
lust prior to the foul combination between
Pierce and Price.
No reason is given for the distinction by the
Commissioner between approved and un.p.
proved lands, except that IN 1883 circular
was issued by the General Land Once Depart'
ment to the local officers throughout the Uni
ted States, instructing them to permit no lands
which had been withdrawn from market from
any cause whatever 10 be entered, without being
first restored to market by thirty days notice
thereof. II Is an incontrovertible fact that
both classes of this located 80 called swamp
land were equally Withdrawn from markelj
none OF the local land Offices would permit one
acre of it to be entered at any price. Yet the
Commissioner says that the contestant Will
have priority in The one class and not in the
other, because the Secretary Of the Interior
has approved the one and not the other.
Was there ever anything presented to ths
mind more superlatively ridiculousl On the
10th ol May, he says in writing about approved
lands, that the contestant of the States claim
il successful, will be permitted TO enter tho
land. On The 3lst Of July he says the contes'
tant will have the preference right TO the unaP..
proved lands, il successful, but the approved
lands will have 10 be restored TO market py
thirty days hotice. This last decision was
made only few days before the infamous CO.
alition between Pierce and Price 10 defraue tho
Government, and amounts virtually 10 this:-
You need not trouble yourself about the Ifauo
that has been committed, for il you are success
ful you wi have no preference right over tne
Spectators.
The contestants affirm (and call upon the
Congress Of the United States to do them Jus
| tice) that If the selection Of lands under the
act OF 1850 was fraudulent. said election was
null and void ''ab initio," and no right OF the
State ever attached thereto, for the reason that
fraud vitiates every Transaction, even the most
solemn adjudications OF Court. That the
approval by the Secretary of the Interior or the
President Of the United States could not oper'
ate in any manner 50 ss to give validity TO tho
selection. If the premises are conceded, ana
we think they will not be denied, the Oldest
legal applicant for the lands thus fraudulently
selected under the Act OF 80 would be entitled
to enter them ct the ordinary cash price, II
proven not to be swamp within the meaning VI
the act, upon the equitable principle ''q1i prisr
sst in tempors potion ea in jurs." II the Gov
ernmcnt refuses to act upon this principle, no
fraud can ever be detected, for there would be
no inducement prompting indiyidusls~ 70 act in
the premises.
Having briefly called attentiont tothe fraud Of
Missouri, in selecting lands under the Act Of
80, and, the infamous coalition between Pierce
and Price to cover the transaction, we invoke
the power of Congress to do justice 10 those in.
dlviduals who have expended their money in
ferreting out the fraud upon the Government.
WIN. II. TAYLOR.