The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-05
Judge Douglas and Minnesota Lands.


The fusion papers have set up quite an
outcry about the recent sale, under the di-
rections of the Secretary Of War, of the
Military Reservation Lands at Fort Smelling,
in Minnesota. 1t is alleged that, by a COM
bination among spectators, with the conni-
vance of the L. S. officers charged with SUI
perintending the sale, the lands were sold at
prices much below their actual worth, &c
As crazy old women sometimes become pos
sessed with the idea that everything that
goes wrong in this world is attributable to
the maign influence of the moon; so the
republican editors, having made abuse Of
Judge Douglas a cardinal point OF their
| faith and practice, have been seized with
in our government but Judge d. is at the
bottom Of it. They therefore very natural,
" charge, that, in his recent visit to to Min.
nesota, he concocted and managed all the
alleged roguery at Fort Smelling. The charge
has elected from Judge d. the following let
ter which we find in the Chicago Times OF
| the 30th ult.:
CHICAGO, Aug. Goth, 1857.
| Filter Of Times :-Yesterday on my re-
turn home from a short visit to the Upper
Mississippi, a friend called my attention to
articles in various newspapers, associating
my name with certain land speculatons in
our new territories, and plausibly connect
ing nv recent visit to Minnesota with the
sale of the Fort Smelling Military Reserva-
ton. While | am in the habit Of treating
the assaults Of the partizan press with in
difference, relying upon the people, who
know me. to do me justice, deem it proper
to say that my recent visit to Minnesota had
no reference to the sale Of the Fort Smelling
Reservation nor to the sale or purchase OF
any other land. When so many OF our
public men visit our new territories and
frontier settlements during the recess OF
Congress, for the purpose of obtaining in
formation which may be useful to them and
to the country, in the performance Of their
public duties, it is hardly just to assume
that they are governed by no higher motive
than TO form combinations TO defraud the
government Of its most valuable lands.
had no knowledge information, or init
nation that the Fort Smelling Reservation
was to De sold until after the sale was made,
and then only learned the fact by public ru-
NOR and newspaper reports. | am not in
terested directly or indirectly in any land or
property which the Government of the l..
States has sold either at private or public
SALE outside of the State OF Illinois; and in
this State have no such interest except as
20 the tracts Of land in this county, which |
entered few years ago and am now impTov-
ing for a farm. UheH Ibecga.s chairman Of
tie IerritOrjdt toHmittCe ~ tic Senate
ti-eiCc years. aga, | determined never to pur-
chase or own, or become interested in any
land, town lots or other property in any OF
held that position. for the reason that |
ould not allow an enemy even preteXt in
saying that my public action was Influenced
or stimulated by nay own private interest.
| have never departed from from this rule
in any ore instance, and hence | ain free to
say that do not mo-" oSn aud never have
owned any lands, town lots or other proper
ty ia the territory OF Minnesota or in arr
other territory Of the United States, nor
have any interest directly or Indirectly in
the sale, rents or profits oil any lands, lots,
or property OF any description, in any Of
the territories of the United States.
Should any question connected with the
sale Of Fort Smelling come before the Senate
for my legitimate action | shall then be
ready To do fall and ample Justice to the
distinguished gentleman who pTcs'acs over
the War Department, and al the same time
express ny iuious freely in regard TO the
proprioty Of the sale, and the sutiic.ency OF
the compensation paid 10y the purchasers.
:. y. DOUGLAS.