The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-05
FORT SMELLING RESERVATION AND SENATOR
DOUGLAS

We give below letter from this distinguished
senator repelling the charge, which has been made
against himself and others concerning the sale Of the
Fort Smelling reservation. Much has lately been said
and written on that subject The black-republcan
press has teemed with the grossest and most UNI
founded charges against the Secretary of War in re-
gard 10 the sale of that property. We have not
deemed il necessary heretofore, TO notice these cal
umnies, to defend the distinguished head Of the
War Department from accusations, which carried
their rcfutaton in the unworthy motives which
prompted them. But we now say, that at the proper
time, we shall present such an explanation of the
case, win be deened full and conclusive refuta
ton of these malicious and groundless charges
CHICAGO, August 20, 1857.
Yesterday, ON my return home from short visit to
the Upper Mississippi friend called my attention to
articles in various newspapers assocating my name with
certain land spcculaons In our new Territories, and
pausbly connecting my recent visit to Minnesota with
the sale of the Fort Smelling military reservation While
am In the habit of treating the daily assaults of the
partisan press with Indifference relying upon the people
who know to do me justice, deem it proper to say
that my recent visit to Minnesota had reference to the
sale of the Fort Smelling reservation nor to the sale or
purchase of any other land When many OF pub
lie visit Territories and frontier settlements,
during the Of Congress- for the purpose of obtain
ing information which be useful TO them and TO the
country in the performance of their public duties it is
hardly Just that they governed by higher
motive than combinations to deaud the govern
ment of its most valuable lands.
/ had no knowledge, information, intimaton that
the Fort Smelling reservation to be sold until after
the sale made and then only learned the fact by
public and newspaper reports am not Interested
directly or indirectly in any land property which the
of the United States has sold either at private
or public sale outside of the State of Illinois, and in this
State have such interest except to the tracts of
land in this county which entered few years ago and
am now improving for farm When became chairman
of the Territorial Committee of the Senate twelve years
ago determined to purchase own, or become
interested in any land town lots, other property in
any Of the Territories of the United States whilst held
that position for the that would not allow
enemy even pretex for saying that my public action
was influenced stimulated by my private interest
have never departed from this rule in any instance
and hence am free to say that do not own and
have owned any lands town lots other proper
ty IN the Territory Of Minnesota in any other Terrific
ry of the United States have any interest," directly
or indirectly in the SALE rents profits of any lands,
lots property OF any description In any OF the Ierto
ries of the United States.
Should any question connected with the sale of Fort
Smelling before the Senate for my legitimate action,
shall then be ready to do full and ample justice to the
distinguished gentleman who presdes over the War De-
partment and at the time express my opinions free
y regard the propety of the sale, and the sucien
cy of the compensation paid by the purchasers.
S. DOUGLAS.