Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-10
~Our promising friend Jim Thor

"Our promising Irlend jim 1hor-
ington writes on from Washington to
the Arcadians of the Gazette to com
PLAIN Of Judge Weston's refusal to ap-
point him Swamp Land Agent. His
letter, like all other productions Of his
pen, is veal, heterogeneous, and full Of
untruth. Although it is hardly worth
passing notice, perhaps, its mistate-
ments ought not to go uncontradictcd.
jim starts with the insinuation that he
has already saved the state 100000
acres Of swamp land, which but for his
valuable services would have been ir-
revocably lost. Let us see how he
effected this wonderful saving to the
state. Mr.. Parvin, the Register Of our
state Land Office, says in his annual
report: The whole number Of acres
Of swamp land returned to this date is
6l6,9l8 acres. When Jim got to
Washington, he inquired Of Ii. l..
Skinner, head of the swamp land bu
reau, what number of acres of swamp
land had been returned to that office,
and was promptly told l,752,296 acres.
Now what in the name of reason had
Jim's inquiring of II. l.. Skinner to do
with saving, 100000 acres. of. swamp
land for the state! Had he any in
strumentality, any influence in procur-
ing those large returns to the Wash
ington land office! Certainly not
All he did was to ask question of
Washington official, and receive an
answer which was already known to
many in this state. OF course, whether
Jim had ever been sent on his GRAND
to Washington or not, the figures
would have been the same, and the
rights of Iowa the same. To claim,
therefore, that he saved the state
100000 acres of swamp land is per-
fectly absurd. Those lands belonged
to us long before Jim ever thought Of
going to Washington. We regret to
be compelled to charge Mr.. Thoring-
ton with falsehood, but when he says,
that he assured Judge Weston that
If his services were not needed, that his
commission should be returned, and it
should cost Scott County nothing" he
says what he knows to be untrue. We
have the best authority for saying that
Thorington never made any such state
mcnt or proposition to the County
Judge. But even ifhe had made such
IN offer, Judge Weston would not, in
our Judgment have been justified in
aigning any such power Of attorney as
Thorington presented to him for execu-
ton.
Jim further complains thst many
counties have refused to give him
special authority to act as agent. If
Jim be agent for the State, perhaps he
can explain why he wants to be ap-
pointed agent for the counties. If he
rspresents the whole, why does he de-
sire special authority to represent a
psrti Moreover as he is agent for the
State, We expect him to look after the
interests Of the State, of which Scott
county is part, and We think we will
b under NO obligations to HIM, even
n be should be Of some service to this
county. Scott County must pay her
peoportion Of that two thousand dollars
which the State has lavished upon him,
and We want to have something to
show for our money.
We are sorry Jim won't tell the
tsuth, end We will do him the justice
1osay that W do not believe he evel
u11oos . klsshood, il he can make I
$3.50 - without Il.
- 1sas 3 CAvaaaaoA vill plsaa,
- ! a1ltsf 49,,