New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-02
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SWINDLE THE
G0VERNNENT-SrA STARTLING DISCLOSURES.

Correspondence Of Toe Phisiephis Press. - ~
NAsHINGIoN, Jan. 81, 1879.
There lie much talk, in private circles, about the
probable of grand scheme foru ed smong GER
tam spectators high places, in this city, 70 opt
Of the island Of ok Island in the State OF
illinois, conisning about 900 acres of land aud esti-
mated 10 be worth upward of - OO,VOo. This leland
was set spart as military reservation as long ago a.
1879 and has remained military reservation Tor more
than forty years For toe last ten years various az
tenpts have been made by spectators u obtain pos
session Of it in come way ss speculation, bat they
have hitherto beer thxared by the promp' aud active
measures Of the War Department a lev months
after Mr, Buchsuans II augurston, comoinston was
made, in ths city, by George w. Jones, Unitsf states
Senator from lows, and IA man calling himself Major
Lindsey, 70 become possessed OF tue island by To-
eating lot Of squatteTs upon IT, building cabins TOR
them TO live in, acd then setting mp pre.empuon claims
10 II under tie pre-. emptOn law.
The agent whom the Government employed 10 pro-
tect the leland snc keep sqdattrrs off, aud who uoder
former Administrations, mas always discharged TN.
duty faithfully, was removed oy Mr. Bncha0an, and
another appointed in bis place. who, 10 the surprise
and asionishmeIt Of everybody, permitted these EN-.
ployees of Joles and Lindsey 10 take possession OF
the Island, protecting them, and doing all 10 his power
to aid them in the accomplishment Of their scheme
quarrel il ps, has arisen nong these settlers
aha they have ranged themselves Into two parties,
ca h claiming the island II is reported that one party
lie represebtsd by Montgomery Blair of this city, who
recently Solicitor TO the Court OF ClNus aud me
Other party, Jones, Lindsey Il Co., by young Mr..
Fitch, Of Senator Fitch, and United S,at-s Dis
trict-Atorney for the Nothern District Of luloos IN
which this Island is situated. Is it not remarkable
feature in this transaction that United States Senator'S
ara United States Att rLeys and Solicitors should be
parties to scheme To defIaud the Government OF the
United States out Of 4 large and valuable tract OF
lard worth millions OF dollars, while their duty Is,
under then oath Of Office to protect the rights and H.
teIest Oi the United States against such attempts
II appears from The ChIcdgO Press and Tribune,
which seems 10 be in the confidence Of this gang OF
Spectators that they trying 10 take shelter under
some ioose expressions 10 the opinion OF Judge nc
Lean in the Rock slaud bridge case, 10 wnlch ne de-
olared that the military reser yation. having been
abandoned il 1915, became part OF the public lands,
ard subi,ct TO the general land laws. Now, II DIR.
Fitch, the United 5. ates District Attorney, under
stood lis duties and desired to execute them, and not
to aid these swndleIs, he would know that the Sd
preae Court Of the United States 10 very mp ortant
and noted case, decided directly the reverse OF hs
when Gen. Besnbi,n Of Chicago proved preemption
right to the Fort Dearborn reservation III that city
In that case, notwithstanding Gen. Beanbien had re-
sided for thirty fUry years upon the reservation,
notwlth standing the proclamation OF Gen. jackson
declaring tue Reservation subject to private entry ana
pref mptioI tie Court decided that having once been
a military reservation, it could never bec)m subject
to private entry presumption, and couli only %
disposed Of 10 such manner Congress should pre-
scribe for tue sale Of military reservations According
to that decision thess wouldbe pfeemptors can nave
10 claim whatever TO pre- -empti1n on Rock lslsod
The Conmis soners If he General Land once,
learn has decide or is about TO decide, IN favor OF
those preempors, and also understand that the Sec
rotary of the Interior opposed TO 1t, and VIII over
rule such decision if made. Anticipating this last 70.
cult he conspirators trying to procure an act OF
Congress confirming their pretended preGmptloos and
it is said that on application of Senator Jones and
othes OF his associates, the COMMITTEES on Public
Lands Of the House OF Representatives nave aireaiy
agreed to report in favor of giving Rock Island worth
now couple millions of dollars and daily increasing
in yaoe 10 gang of plunderers for 81 - An acre, or
little over 81 100 These are the facts OF this as
founding case but hope the timely exposure OF this
scheme viii prevent it contamination.