The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-19
THE GREAT {. sTEELE.n

tn ie6efu W INC Bteut osoeio, VI eaiS VI rVfe
Smelling reservation; and the Union makes an
attempt to throw the ugly load off their CALLED
shoulders. The Union says
"The charge is, that the Secretary of War, to
serve his own private interest, or that of his
special friends, sold the reservation clandestiney
at price not equal 10 one-fourth (some say one
tenth fits value. This is the head and front Of
the accusation. II it be true, we admit, not only
that the Secretary's reputation as man of integ-
rity is lost forever, but that the administration
which placed him in power and keeps him there
has forfeited the claim which we supposed ii to
have on the public confidence
The Union then asks
"Is it likely to be truey Is it not ON the con-
trary, a most improbable story ON It's own face"
The question with the public is not whether
this charge Is likely to be true or not, but whe-
ther 1t is true or not AS to likeihoods, we must
say that, knowing as we do the antecedents, the
proclvites, and the constant practices of "the
plumber party"-knowing that il is a part of their
tactics policy, and system of keeping up their
strength to give influential and active individuals
and companies opportunities of running their
hands deep into Uncle Sans strong box, and
making good hauls therefrom-that with them
fat jobs and contracts part and parcel of "the
spoils" for which they fight, and with which they
reward the faithful-we must confess that the
likelihood is, that the great Steele" is true, in
the manner and form It has been charged upon
the Administration.
The following are the facts of the case, from
which every man can draw his own inference
without any aid either from lawyer or the
Union.
/. A few words were inserted in the present
army appropriation bill, as if to escape observa-
ton, reviying portion of law of the Sd of
March, 1sl9 but which law was not explained.
That law authorized the Government to sell such
military reservations, or parts thereof as were
useless and not needed. Not word about the
sale of the Fort Smelling reservation. The object
of the revival of the law of lS19--and nobody
knew what that law was-was studiously kept in
the dark
2. By mere accident, lawyer of St. Paul
discovered the words inserted in the appropriation
BILL and, referring to the law of 1919, discovered
what it was. Pointing out his discovery to
another lawyer Of the same place, they began
to snuff the object, or, in the good old Saxon
phrase, to smell rat" They both knew that
Steele had been to Washington time and again,
with the view to get the Fort Smelling reservation
sold, and had always declared that he intended to
be the owner of it. They knew also that Mr..
Steele had had his agent here the whole session,
for some purpose, and the conviction at once
seized them that this cautious, clandestine steal
thy legislation part and parcel of plot to get
possession of that valuable property for a song,
g. Fully convinced of this fact both these gen.
tlemen wrote articles for different papers, with
view to expose the plot, and without consulta-
tion-for neither knew that the other intended to
write or had written on the subject--each esti-
mated the value of property at $50 an acre, or
1915, 200, though one Of them, at least was ready
to join company to purchase it at 100000.
4. Some noise being made about this plot for
the purchase, clandestnely, of the Fort Smelling
reservation, Mr.. Steele denied, point blank that
the revival of the act of 1919 had anything to do
with Fort Smelling, and declared that some other
reservation was the one aimed at.
8. But the people in that vicinity not being
satisfied of that fact Mr.. Steele and his friends took
another tack and not only acknowledged that the
revival of the act of 1919 was designed to au-
thorze the sale of the Fort Smelling reservation,
but gave out that II had already been sold under
that authority, and purchased by Steele, at Sll
an acre and it was therefore useless to interfere
in the matter. This being boldly asserted, was
believed, and no steps were consequently taken
to prevent the disposal of the reservation at pri-
vate sale. Nevertheless, rB-the sale was not
made until three months after; and then so Sc.
crctly and candestinely, that no one in the neigh
borhood knew anything about it, until it was
completed!
Why were the people in that neighborhood
kept thus in the darkP Why was not competi.
inviting written, sealed bids for the property?
There were men there who would have been
glad to purchase the reservation for $780, 00O but
who were kept designedly, it appears, in igno-
rance in regard to everything relating to their in
tention Of selling and Of the sale. They were de-
frauded, as well as the public, merely to let an
individual, who probably represented certain prom
inent political characters, well as himself have
an opportunity TO buy the property at his own
price. This is in accordance with, and is, in
truth, a part Of the system Of the "plunder,"
or "spoils party" Mr.. Steele and his associates
car hereafter afford to pay large sums Of money
to enable the party to carry any particular State
or States by illegal elections, ballot-box stuing,
&c. "The inference Of fraud and corruption,
says the Union, "in the sale is drawn entirely
from the inadequacy of the price" He might
add, Also and the dark, intricate, tortuous clan.
destine and stealthy manner in which the sale
was effected; and if these, altogether, are not
enough, we are no judges of evidence.
The Union thinks it we're preposterous to be.
lieve such change [of corruption] against wise,
prudent and high principled man like Governor
Floyd. But let us ask, we're not the members Of
General Taylor's Cabinet, Mr.. Meredith, Governor
Crawford, Reverdy johnson and Mr.. Clayton,
"wise, prudent and high princped menH" And
yet, did that fact prevent the Union from making
the charge of corruption in reference to the Gal.
phin claim Did It deter it from raising the hue
and cry of ".fraud,"" Gaiphinism," y" corruption,
dc? BY no means. Is Governor Floyd more
"wise, prudent and high prncipled" than all other
menY Such claim is absurd.
The Union says the commissioners were in