Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-03

all the hue and cry to which Senator D alludes;
in order to make the world believe that the pub
lie men Of the Democratic party have become
lnoculated also with the noxious infection. But
to the Senator's letter:
"CHIcAGo, Aug. 20, 1857.
Editor of Times: Yesterday, on my return
home from a short visit 10 the Upper Mississippi
friend called my attention to articles in various
newspapers, associating my name with certain
land speculations in our new Territories, and
piausibly connecting my recent visit to Minnesota
with the sale Of the Fort Smelling military reser-
walton. While am In the habit Of treating the
ence, relying upon the people, who know me, to
do me justice, deem 1t proper to say that my re-
cent 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 Con-
gress, for the purpose Of obtaining information
which may be useful to them and to the country,
In the performance of their public duties, II is
hardly just to assume that they are governed by
no higher motive than to form combinations to
lands.
81 had no knowledge, information or intima-
ton that the Fort Smelling Reservation was to be
sold until after the sale was made, and then only
learned the fact by public rumOr and newspaper
reports. am not Interested directly or indirect
ly in any land or property which the Government
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 as to
the tract Of land in this county which ] entered
few years ago and am now improving for farm
When became chairman of the Territorial Com
mittee of the Senate. twelve years ago, deter
mined never to purchase or own, or become in
terested in any land, town lots, other PROPERTY
In any Of the Territories of the United States,
lSf hp1 hat for fha hat
would not allow an enemy pretext for saying
that my public action was Influenced or stimula-
ted by my own private interest. have never de-
parted from this rule in any one instance, and
hence am free to say that do not now own, and
never have owned, any lands, town lots, or other
property in the Territory Of Minnesota, or in any
other Territory of the United States; nor have
any interest directly or indirectly in the sale,
rents, or profits Of any lands lots, 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 full
and ample justice to the distin guished gentleman
who presides over the War Department, and at
| the same time express my opinions freely in
gard to the propriety of the sale, and the sufi
| cheney Of the compensation paid by the purcha-
serS. s. A. DoUGLAsn
AN EVIDENT MIsTAKE.-We find the follow
ing in the Baltimore San of this morning:
ARRIVED FROM THE PLAINS MIR. Walter Scott,
OF Hartford county, has just arrived from graw $
wagon-road expedition, which he left on the ID
OF August He states that they have had consid-
cradle trouble with the Cheyenne Indians, who
had stolen some Of their mules, and whom they
followed and had a skirmish with, killing FIVE
and taking six prisoners: He also reports the
expedition laying over at Fort Kearny, unable to
proceed on account of the troublesomeness of the
| savages. Mr.. Magraw was greatly in want of
men, several having been discharged and large
number deserted. Grass was plenty on the plains,
but water very scarce, and the men and animals
very much fatigued. There was also he says
considerable dissatisfaction among the men in
regard TO the payment of their salaries, the APP
preparation, it is said, being nearly exhausted
Otherwise the expedition was doing as well as
could be expected.
We infer that there is an evident mistake in
all this. Some week or two ago, we published
advices from Mr.. Magraw himself up to the ID
Of August last, at OPP. m the evening Of the
very day on which the Sun says Mr. Scott left
his camp, Fort Kearney.
Mr.. NJ alluded in that letter to no such train
Of difficulties as those said to have been mar
rated by Scott as having befallen him; but he
did give the details Of the previous Indian at
tack on Russell and Walkers cattle train,
wherein some of the men of those contractors
were killed. We feel certain that this is the
affair on which this bugaboo story about trouble
experienced with Indians by Mr.. Magraw' s
party, &c, is based.
MOVEMENTS OF U. S. TRooPs-The follow
ing order dated August 18th, has been issued
by the War Department:
IL being deemed inadvisable to detach Brevet
Brigadier General Harvey from service i'm Kan
sas, Colonel A :. Johnston, Second Cavalry, is
assigned to the command of the Utah expedition.
and will proceed TO join the same without delay.
As Col. Sumner, first cavalry, may be daily ex-
pected with his column of horse and foot, Brig.
Gen. Harvey Will, in anticipation, detach six
companies Of the 2d dragons to escort the civil
officers of Utah on their mission. and remain at
tached TO the command of Col. Johnston. The
companies so detached will, IL possible he car
ried TO at least sixty privates each, by transfers
from the remaining companies.
The staff departments will supply all the wants
of those Dragons as well az the wants Of other
attachments Of the Utah expedition that may be
rema ming behind.
Brevet Major Porter, Assistant Adiutant Gen.
eral, will promptly report himself for duty to
Leavenworth
BY order Of the Secretary of War:
5. COOPER, Adj. Gen.
SCHOOL LANDs.-Where school sections are
deficient in quantity, the law makes provision
for indemnity upon other lands. Patents are
not issued for lands selected as indemnity, but,
upon the tracts being approved by the Secre-
tary the title vests in virtue of the second Sec
ton of the act of May 26, as that law declares
that such indemnity lands are to be held upon
the same tenure and upon the same terms for
the support of schools as section sixteen, and
the issuing of patents, of course, becomes neces-
sary. The proper entries in such cases, how
ever, are made upon the books of local land
Offices, so as to prevent interference and secure
the title to the school authorities.
| THE MARYLAND DEBT INTEREST MONEY
We hear that the necessary papers are being
prepared at the Treasury Department for the
immediate despatch to the Treasurer of the
State Of Maryland of the sum of S27O, OOO due
that State from the General Government for
back interest on her advances to the United