Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-30
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

The KANSAS STATE BILL.-As we 60 to
press to-day the closing scene of the passage of
the Kansas State bill is being enacted in the
House hall evidently. Its passage was then a
certainty obvious to all. Republican party
legislative flibustering can delay it but few
brief hours longer.
REPORT OF THE FORT SMELLING "INvRsrI.
eating CohNIrrEE.-The action Of the ma
Jority Of this Committee was by no means
unexpected. Throughout their entire inyesti-
CATION that majority gave evidence in their pro-
eeedings Of but two purposes first, to white.
wass the fact that Robert Smith, of Illinois.
got up the case to revenge himself for the de-
feat OF the schemes of himself and his co Fort
Smelling reserve spectators of old, to get pos
session OF the balance OF the property at 81 .25
per acre; and next, TO generate Republican
party capital. by making q report scouting the
facts as developed in the testimony, in order
to censure member of the Administration in
connection with the sale. These facts will be
found to be irresistible conclusions with all
fair-minded persons, on rejecting on the de-
tails Of our previous exposure Of smith con-
nection with the transactions by which the
government was plundered out Of the really
valuable portion of the Reserve, (the town site
OF Minneapolis and the er-power) and on
the details OF the plain and unyarnisbed re-
port of the minority of the Committee. every
statement and conclusion of which Is borne out
by the evidence whereas, eyery statement
and conclusion of the majority is in direct yio-
lation OF the weight Of the testimony upon each
Of the points it treats
other subjects Ofgreater national Importance
have so occupied the Star columns of late. as
thatWe have found it impossible for two or three
weeks past TO follow up our exposure of the con-
nection OF Robert Smith, of Illinois-the mover
FOR the committee of investigation-with the
transactions by which the Government was de.
Irauded out OF the most valuable portion of the
Fort Smelling Reserve. Nevertheless, we have
oy no means lost sight of the ubject as all who
read this article will comprehend. We propose
70 follow 1t up in instalments a our convenience
until we have developed sufficient of Smith,
connections with the transactions to satisfy In.
Country what the Outcry he and his co-eopsuira-
tors to defraud the Government i'm this Fort
Smelling affair have made, really means. We
nave often expressed the opinion that nine
tenths OF the fashionable charges against Of.
hcers OF the Government, and any and all deal
ing with the Government W no will not spbm;,
10 De biack-mailed, or who stand in the wav of
the peculating- specializing schemes of the vein
ers, result from disappointed rage; and VIC
think that IN the example Of this case. a. we
have proved il up from the record and Smiths
own letters and contract, we make the fact
plain. Yet we have any quantity of similar
testimony within our reach, small portion of
which We use below.
we LETT Smith-in our exposition-inyeigh-
Ing against Tuttle for failing to pay him 81 900
lor one-eighth, and discoursing about the Day
ment OF his dues to the Government at 81 25
per acre, for the Minneapolis property, worth
perhaps $500 per acre,
we nave now to-day to say that having got
through bis Presumption bill he set himself in.
ousuiousiy 10 work to get his share of the
Fiuhder-the three eighths Of the wbole-wb;cb
ne had oargained to receive, in the face Of the |
18th section Of the general pre- -emp,ion I,w
which is as follows, (see vol 5 Statutes a,
Large, page 4j6, section 49,
- That before any person cIsinin9 ,h. t,..
OF This act shall be allowed to enter sucb I,nd
h or she shall make oath that no mr. - ~,
hesei had tue bcn~hi Of any right of prr-emp,ion
uhd"f THIS at that he she is not The nvv,,.r -,
.uIee hundred and twenty acres of land I'm any
otat- OF Territory Of the United states nor hath
ne % SUE s-ttied upon and improved said land 10
elI the sahe on speculation, bat in good faith 10
aPP'oPriatr % 10 his or her own ~ 1sj We u.e mr. |
,t.sI. aud That he or she has not directly or i'm
Va 80 o. i.iaur any az ieement contract i'm anv
way ~ay % manner with any PERSON @, nr,sons wh.y
.o,,''t "g which the title which d. or sbe ,,iah,
whole q, 81 The United States should ennrr in
- n n,h or herself; and IL anv ~" 49,
Or She shai nh al swear falsely In The prem,e.
lies Of perury snS 70 all the pains and penal
he or she may have paid for said ,. na""ey which
Sau Will the same, and any gran, or
n ,hs hanSs ~ h h or she may have made. e,cpn,
'ole consideration, shall be null and void yam,
With this provision Of Law ON IN. go.