Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-11-03
Hon. Griffin 3. Miller

EDITORS MlNERvA:- Il find i'll your issue OF
the q tn inst communication from Mr. G. b Miller Com
missioner of the Second Swamp Land District written he
that may both sides and than judge tor them
Selves" This all that desire. In every communication
upon the subject Of msmanagemen of the swamp lands and
funds arising their se made assertion that was
drawn from and sustained by the reports of the committee
Jonts) of which Messrs. sms and ebert chairmen
Mr.. Miller admits that he entered IA, 200 He for
gets however that he did in the of John
Slde and that he interested in the entering Of these
lands
State. We only doubt the propriey of public officer avail
himself of the knowledge he obtains officially sposing
of it to land spectators for their and his benefit and
then apply the funds arising from the sale of the lands
and thousands of dollars in addition to these lands
from nlndaton. That this has been done by Mr. Miller is
shown by the Report" Mr. Miller offers to take Messrs
Pugh Harang and Williams, to examine his operations as
Swamp Land Commissioner. Messrs. Pugh and Williams
were of the Committee of the Senate and House of Repre-
senatives and concured fully in the Report made to the
Legislature.
Why Mr. Miller should alude to his official bond, cannot
imagine The committee did not him of defacaton
and certainly have not No action would lie against him
for the entry Of lands joint account with Mr. John sHde
have made accusation against Mr. Miller only give
extracts from the Report of Messrs Smms and lebert
These fully sustain the inference drawn, viz that
Mr. Miller has secured the lands of Mr. John Slide and in
which he has an interest, from nundation.
He says spaefu1 of earth has been moved by Mr.
improve said l,nds.'
The charge is made tht the work was done the land
entered by Mr. Miller for himself and NJ John Sdel The
charge Is that the Scamp Lana Funds employed
to these ltnds from inund0tion This does not
rest upon the inference based upon the evidence found
at page 50 of the Report
provenents Oh the Atchaalaya benefit to lands entered
by Mr.. Miller Mr.. Caldwell who had been the Engineer
of the Second Swamp Land District and who well
quanted with the country, replied 81 think they dre To
another question of Mr. Smms, Mr. Caldwell, stated that
"e lands belonging to said G. B. Miller scere bented by
securing for them erentnaAy, e better drainage and
preventing them from being oUerf01ced."
Hon. W. W. Pugh, propounded the following question.
When did this system stopping ofthe mouths comence?'
to which said Caldwell answered 1T coneenced IN the
gear 1858, at the instance Of said G. B. Ner as I6e-
Here, and auhist Dir. Yam Wtnckle Commissioner"
make no accusation against Mr. Miller, I have simply
shown by extracts from the Report Of Messrs snms Of
and who from personal knowledge of madmnistration in
that branch of the public service caused investigation
be made and W. W. King OF New Orleans and y" W. Pugh
of Assumption who exhibit mass OF evidence concusvey
showing that land spectators the persons principally
benefited by the operations Of the Swamp Land Commits
soners.
page Al of the Report
Mr.. Miller appointed Swamp Land Commissioner
whilst member Of the Legislature in 1853 BY the tes
of Mr. Sgur page 20 of the Report he contemplated
entering lands This he did after he had acdded s,odns
hunted up the lakes, bayous and Marshes" in 1854
with Mr. Sles money, that he levied and secured these
lands from overflow, and improved its drainage with the
States money upon evidence found in the Report
the assertion of 7u Payer" wish not to do in
Justice to Mr. Miller and make statement on any per-
sonal knowledge, will only judge him by the Report of his
pary-the Democratic. That his conduct censured
if not directly, by implication is certain.
The committee says in the Report pages I" dppers
from Mr.. Ne,'s eri7ece, that during the time he
acting is Commissioner he interested equally with
another individual in the entry of large body Of seca
lahd say ID acres belonging to the State the principal
part of which situated in his District and the
mander in adjoining District the aeo'ks Of scic, in