The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-10
The Commissioner OF the Land ONCE.

The Commissioner Of the Land Omce.
The Mount Vernon Advocate, which
seldom casts any censures upon the con-
duet ofany officer of the Administration,
and when it speaks, does so in very eau
tious terms, does not hesitate in its last
issue to express its belief, in the COM
plicity Of the Commissioner Of the Gen.
eral Land Office in the fraudulent sales
Of lands in Nebraska and Kansas to
Bright, English and Foley. 1t gives the
following reasons for crediting the
charges against the Commissioner. They
are enough to awaken public Indignation
against all the parties concerned:
The yincennes Gazette charges the Conn
missioner Of the General Land office with
completely in various frau liz, IN connection
| with the disposition of tie public lands
| 1t il well known that the graduation act Of
| 1854. Was taken advantage Of in this State,
particularly, by a class of inscriptions spec
1 ulators TO obtain large quantities OF the
public lands that were by that act opened
| for entry at mere nominal prices, the mini
mum being twelve and u half cents per acre.
! This too, in violation of both the spirit and
the letter of the said Act, by which its adj
vantagos were restricted to actual settlers.
The charges implcatc the Commissioner in
the systematic violation of lie Act in this
State, and ia opU opinion correctly. Not
withstandlng the meaning and purpose OF
the law were rs plain as language could
| make them, by series of twistings and
distortions Of its phraseology, the Commits
sioner in his Interpretation of the law, and
instructions to his subordinates OF the local
Offices, grossly perverted that meaning and
purpose, and gave the ampest opportunl-
ties for the complete Illustration of that pur-
Lpose. We have in our possession one of the
circulars directed to the local officers by the
;mmissioner, for their guidance under the
law. \ more perfect perversion OF the
meaning OF q law by its administrator 1t is
impossible TO conceive Of; all OF which, OF
course, tended to open the door TO that Sc
ries of frauds that have been so successfully
practieed under the law in this State partic
ularly, and by which it is charged the Com
missioner has personally prohted.
The msuffciency of the law as admins
tered to effect the ends designed becoming
, obvious, Congress passed supplemental Ac'
to remedy the defects of the original. But
in his character of interpreter and admins
traitor OF this Act as well as The previous
one, the Commissioner managed to render II
3 a nullity likewise. 1t provides, among Other
, things, that where fraudulent entries wer,
proven under tire original act, that the land
should revert, and be subject to re-entr.
D upon the terms prescribed, viz: actual settle
. ment and cultivation. being complied will
in good faith. This provision, as well as al
: others looking to the dispossession of tin
r parties illegally in possession, has, it is no
toriously known, proven perfect dead let
Q ter. In no instance that has come to on
A.. knowledge has it ever been enforced. w
ourself, in two distinct cases in which W.
= were engaged, submitted to the general de
, partmcnt the most conclusive proof OF frauC
> on the part of enterers, yet without effect II
either case. The parties entering were bot
t wealthy men ard heavy landholders, liyinI
r in distant part of the State. ....-.
- They, with others, made the tour of tn
: Southern part of the State, selected such un
occupied Government land as they chose
and by mutual perjury obtained certificate
a of purchase therefor. Their clamSto settle
ment aud cultivation were based upon mer
u pens Of poles, without covering, which the
G erected on the lands. and few hills of cor
which they planted, and Immediately left I
care for themselves. Such were the facts i
n the cases alluded to, which we substantiate
by the sworn testimony ofthree disntcreste
and credible witnesses. Also, the furthc
n fact, that from the day of this prctende
SETTLEMENT and cultivation" to the date {
the certificate we submitted, neither of tn
y parties, nor any one in their behalf, ever Sc
foot upon the lands. t~r
Yet upon being furnished with these fact.
: and assured that whatever else was necessar
v to establish to the fullest satisfaction of til
, Department, the transparent character of I'll
fraud practced, the answer was coolly re
G turned that "the proof made by--undc
j, the graduation Act of August, 1854, is in nc
u cordance with the provisions of said law, an
j. patent will be issued to him for the land j
q question"