Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-07
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Minnesota, on the pretence that through his
Vaccinations all the public lands in the Ter
ritOry (of Minnesota have been withdrawn from
settlement by presumption for four months In
order to enable private corporations to locate
the best lands for railroad purposes.
This is grave charge. But it happens 70 be
utterly without foundation. No more OF the
public domain in Minnesota, subject to entry
by pre-emption, has been temporarily with
drawn from market, than just so much as Con-
gress ordered to be so withdrawn, in passing
the law granting lands in aid of the construction
of railroads in that Territory.
1t was the duty Of Mr.. Rice to secure an ap-
preparation of public lands in aid of the con-
struction of railroads in the Territory In that
he succeeded under circumstances which would
have defeated the efforts Of almost any other
gentleman entitled to a seat in the House, we
care not who that ether may be. The whole
country is cognizant Of the remarkable embar.
easements thrown around his efforts to that end
by the incidental proceedings of the House with
reference 70 his blu. In this city, where all
the circumstances are well known, his success
has earned for him the reputation of having
been the most effective man, so far as taking
care Of the interests of his constituents is con-
cerned, connected with either House of the last
Congress-an enviable legislative reputation,
indeed. The four months withdrawal from
pre-emption of the lands near the route of the
railroads provided for in the act, is a provision
common to the regulations for carrying into
effect all other such land grants, and is there
fore invariably carried into execution.
The correspondent Of the Times making this
unfounded charge against Mr.. Rice cannot be
bona .fde settler in Minnesota, as all such
realize the debt Of gratitude they owe to that
gentleman. No; he is some outside speculator,
disappointed because he failed to secure by
hocus pocus some particular tract likely to be
made of great value by the construction of one
or more Of the contemplated Minnesota rail-
roads. We may not forget to mention that the
four months provision alluded to above, is de-
signed to secure lana fde pre-emptionists in
the enjoyment Of their rights, not only against
the cunning speculator trading in bogus pre-
emption claims, but also against the railroad
corporations, who are allowed that time only in
which to fix their lines of route, least, il longer
time be allowed them, they may manage to
shut out the actual settlers from an undue
share of the lands to be made valuable by the
construction Of their railroads.
HE GREAT CURRENT CONTROvEESY-New
York, it seems, cannot exist without a current
controversy over which to make noise, at least
in the newspapers. That over the question
who killed DR.. Burdell?-has hardly ceased, ere
they have another over the question-who wrote
" Nothing to Wear?' Really, the press of the
Empire City seem determined to lash them
selves-notwithstanding the enervating state of
the thermometer-into as white heat over the
latter, as over the former. The public of Gotham
care nothing whatever concerning its final solu-
ton. Yet by mixing personalities in their dis
cussion of it in long columns, tho press of
Gotham seem to have succc eded In throwing
some popular interest into it. Though spirited
and amusing, there is nothing substantial in
the verses over which all this pother is taking
place. That is; there is nothing in them cacu-
lated to secure readers for them year hence
But Gotham must have a controversy. So as
no more appropriate subject to dispute over is
at hand for the newspaper men and the outside
scribblers for the press, Miss Flora McFlimsey
is made the heroine-no, the deity of the hour
However, Mrs. Cunningham through her icti-
tious confinement Jauz pas. is likely at once
to put Miss Flora's nose out of joint.
MISTAKES AT LAND OFFIcEs.-It not unfre-
quently occurs that serious though apparently
slight mistakes are made by local land Offices
IN making out papers for individuals, recording
entries, claims, payments, &c. which generate
an inhnity Of trouble, not only at the General
Land Office in this city, but to purchasers of
Government lands, their heirs, and assignees
1t is almost as necessary in point of law that
the land ONCE records Of such lands should be
correctly kept in all respects, as that deeds for
them passing between individuals should ex-
press plainly the meaning of the parties to con-
tracts for their sale and transfer. The remedy
for the mistakes to which we allude is yery
simple. Viz: earnest efforts on the part of new
appoinfees to the places of Registers and Re-
ceivers and their subordinates, TO master as soon
possible, by due study, al the requirements of
them set forth in the regulations for their gov
eminent in the discharge of the functions of
their Offices.
HE MURDER OF Mr.. STEvENs-It is feared
In this city that the Mr.. Stevens recently robbed
and murdered in Kansas, for which two persons
were hung by the mob on Friday last, and
Wood and Kuowlton, their companions, were
about to be hung, according to the Leavenwor.h
despatch we published yesterday, is no other
than the Government. agent Of that name en-
trusted with the Superintendent of the current
sale Of the trust lands Of the Weas, Pianke.
shaws, and Peorias. We mentioned a day or
two since, that $4,000 in transfer drafts had
been receiT ed from him at the Interior Depart.
ment. 1t is supposed that he had at the time
about $4,000 by him, or rather in the hands
OF the receiver, acting in conjunction with him
and further. that it is almost entirely in the
shape of transfer drafts, the payment of which
can easily be stopped, if the robbers have Sc
cured them or any Of them That, however, is
not believed here as il the Governments agent
is the Mr. Stevens in question, it can hardly he
that he, rather than the receiver, had the pro-
ceccs OF the sales Of the trust lands in bis DOS