The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-04
Y For IL. Herald Of Freedom,
LEcoMpToN, Aug. soth. 1858.


LEooMPToS, Aug. 3oth, 1858.
Ed. HERALD OF FREEDoM-SIR Ny
attention has been called to letter that
appeared in your paper of the 2sth inst,
signed by Thomas B. Price. Ny expe-
rience of the manner in which the busi-
ness has been carried on in the Regis
ter's Office at Lecompton, differs material
ly from the statements made in the let
terof Mr.. P. Since discussion has
arisen and reached some publicity; char
ges of mistrust on the one side, assertions
and facts on the other, it becomes neces-
sary that full, fair and correct exposition
of the whole matter should Fbe made. |
shall not attempt to assail the character
of the Register or defend him from the
assault of any one. will make state
ment, and the Register, nor no one else
can deny it, and let the people be the
judges.
There are now on file in the Registers
Office at Lscompton, about 1900 dec
laratlons, and for each declaration, ex-
cept the declarations of town sites, the
Register has received one dollar each
making thirteen thousand do liars For a
declaration for town site the Register
has received three dollars each. For FL
ing declarations of both descriptions the
Register has received fourteen thousand
dollars. The law allows the Register
fifty cents for each declaration. Then, ac-
cording to this calculation the Register has
received about seven thousand five hun
dred dollars more than he is entitled to
by law. In addition, there is the issuing
of notices by the Register in contested
cases the charge required for this, is fif-
ty cents to parties. He has made three
thousand dollars in this part of his bust
ness. And in contested cases, no case
ever passes unless they pay ten dollars,
and in some cases more. In the case OF
Prentiss Us. Tappan, the charges for taking
the testimony alone, was one hundred and
ninety dollars. This was paid Jointly
by Prentiss and Tappan. We will now
proceed to state the manner in which the
pre-emptor is accosted when he goes to
the Registers Office. The Registers chief
clerk acts the part of getting hold of the
pre-emptor's certificate, and hands it to a
man employed for the purpose, and the
pre-emptor is told to follow that man. He
is conducted to an office and his papers
made out, and five dollars demanded ;
with astonishment the pre-emptor pays
it. He is then conducted back to the
Register and his papers presented. The
Register knows that five dollars have been
deposited for his benefit, and the pre-.
emptor goes on his way rejoicing, al
though the five dollars was what he did
not expect. has his land, even if hs
has paid premium for the Registers ia
vor. There have been over four thou
sand pre-emption entries in the land of
fee at Lecompton, at five dollars for eacl
proof sheet. This would make twenty
thousand dollars. Seven thousand fou
hundred dollars average in filing, ant
three thousand dollars illegal charges fo
issuing notices in contested cases, making
over thirty thousand dollars that thu
Register has received. l now defy tn,
Register, Mr.. Price, or any honest man, t.
show the law that authorizes the Regis
ter to charge one cent Of this thirty thou
sand dollars. The former good conduc
of Col. Moore will not satisfy the publ
for his present course, or even if he ha
been an officer whose zeal in the dis
charge of his official duties has jeopardize'
his health to such an extent as to rende
him confirmed invalid whose privat
purse supports in great measure, an Of
fee which is open at all hours, to enabl
those claiming the right of pre-emptior
TO secure their lands before the sale; an
whose generosity has saved to many help
less families their humble homes, o
whom the whisper of treachery, to sa
, the least is most ungenerous return.
If Mr. Price understood the matter q
| we'll as others, he certainly would nc
, have written that sentence. IF Co
r Moore's conduct has been the same for th
. last quarter of century as a public ol
r ficer, as it has been since the Land OF
: fee opened at Lecompton, his privat
/ purse ought to be sufficient to buy one
! fourth the land in this district. No ma
. believes that Col. Moore has given to tn
3 poor pre-emptors in this district, one hun
: dred dollars. The idea is endea favored
be conveyed by Mr.. Price, that "no pa
per can be correctly made outside of tn
Office, unless by some one having direc
access to the records. The commissions
: of the General Land office differs wit
l Mr.. Price. According to his instruction
!. the Register is bound to give all proE
? er information, to enable the pal
a ties to prepare and present their claim
( for official action thereon. Then, if tn
! Register is so generous to pre-emptor
: why is it, that every one is charged fiv
3 dollars for writing proof-sheet that ca
/; be written correctly in five minutes
Why is it, that the Register has som
two or three runners hired at his offic,
e to run men into this office to get their ps
: pers made out ? The reason why th
! Office is open so long, is not the desire tn
Register has for the pre-emptor to g
his land before the sale, but the desir
Az Aoz 80 .-ok Al G.. ILL,