Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1856-10-11

HANNAH 1IlOs w 10ss
the public sales Of school lands have been
conducted, as this branch Of the subject was
pretty fully Investigated BY a committee Of
the Senate, appointed for that purpose at
the session of 1866. The committee, would
refer also to the testimony taken before
that committee, and also to the testimony
Of Daniel Seaver to be found III bis affida-
Wit, herewith submitted, in reference to the
Waupaca sales. There is no doubt but
THAT the practice prevailed generally at
these sales Of making false bids and then
forfeiting the same. The Commissioners
then re-offered the lots, upon which the
bids were made SO early the next morning
after the sale that no opportunity was Of
lfered to bona fde purchasers to bid upon
them. Some Of the lots were not re-offer-
ed at all, and they were then left subject
Ito the private entry Of the spectators.
It will be seen at once that these prac-
Itices were not only violation of law, but
they tended directly soNthe depletion Of
school fund; for many Of those who desi-
Ired to purchase these lands at the sale
were farmers, who were willing to pay
more than the appraised value, as they
wished to obtain them for purposes of cul-
tivation. There must have been collision
between the Commissioners and persons
making these bids, or the Commissioners
would have re-ofered all the lands in COM
pliance with the law at some suitable hour
and on such notice as the law contempla-
ted In the course Of the examination Of
witnesses, it also appeared that it was not
unusual to allow time for the payment Of
the amount required by law to be prepaid
on the purchase Of these lands at the pub
lie sale, and in many instances the amount
was not paid until some time after the re-
turn Of the Commissioners to Madison,
and in some time instances, as will be
seen, no payment whatever was required.
The Committee did not deem it neces-
sary to make any very minute investiga-
ton in relation to the very large sale Of
school lands to James Ludington in
May, 1854, as this matter also was the
subject of-inyestigstion by the Legislature
in 1855.
It is, however, but proper to state that
Mr.. Ludington on the 18th of April, 1854
made application for all the unsold School
Lands, in this State. That it appears
from memorandum signed by the Secre-
Itary Of State, dated July Sd, 1854, writ
ten on the same paper containing the APP
|plication that the application Of Ludington
having been made under the impression
that the unsold School Lands Of the State
did not amount to more than about7O, 900
acres, by the consent Of the Commissioners
the same was withdrawn, and new applica-
ton was made for portion of the lands. On
the lst day of May another application
was filed in the office by him for all the
lands embraced in a list accompanying tho
application, which listcontains descriptions
Of nearly 1900 lots, being about 81, 900 a
ores. There was no provision of law at
that time limiting the amount Of land
which might be entered by any one
person. But the evidence Of james
Halpin and DR.. Hunt discloses a sug-
gestive and somewhat remarkable fact
in relation to this sale to Ludington.
1t seems that Seayer, who had charge of
the Treasury Department at that time,
went TO Milwaukee and an interview with
Ludingion, the resultof which was the APP
lpIication for all the unsold School Lands,
and that Seaver received from Ludington
!. transfer Of two thousand dollars of stock
lin the Bank Of the West, which he (Sea-4
very said he had made clear out Of the
transaction. The improperly of a State
officer, or any one in the employ Of the
State, receiving money under such circum-
stances, is evident to every one. It is the
manifestation Of mercenary disposition
which totally units the recipient from hol-
ding any office of trust, and will inevitably
lead to corruption, dishonesty and fraud in
the business transactions of the State. In
connection with this matter, It may be asI
well 10 allude to the testimony Of Messrs.
Ludington and Chapman, in reference to
the amount required by law to be prepaid
upon the certificates issued to Ludlngton
on the purchase.
These gentlemen both swear that they
paid the whole amount called for by the
certificates, and which was due on them,
which amount was $13,845,05, and that
this amount was paid to the treasurer or
his deputy, according to list, and account
attached to the affidavit Of Mr. Chapman
marked &C." The whole amount with
which the treasurer has charged himself on
account ofmonies received from Ludington
Tor Chapman on the purchase is $l0,189,-
10, making a difference Of $3,655 35 a.
cainst the school fund. Of this latter a.
mount there is no account whatever upon
the treasurer's books; and the books Of the
secretary Of state agree with those of the
treasurer within one dollar and ninety
cents. On the certificates issued to Lud-
|ington for that part Of his purchase lands
lying in the county of Iowa, there was due
on delivery Of the certificates on account
Of principal and interest the sum Of 81
|266, 40 which he swears that he paid; but
the only credit to the school fund for lands
sold him in Iowa county, on the books Of
the treasurer is $l4,24. Unless Messrs.
Ludington and Chapman are mistaken,
and they swear positively to the fact, the
whole amount due on certificates delivered
| RI them was Maid 10 Seayer. And this