The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-07-05

Gov. Willard has recently made a labored
speech in defence Of the many charges made
against him for the manner in which he has
conducted the affairs of the State This
speech has been published by several of the
Democratic papers and commended as tri-
umphsnt vindcatioa Of the course Of the
Governor, hence we shall from time to time
make it a text upon which to comment
giving truth in explanation Of it's sophistry
facts for its unfsirness.
We make the following extract from the
speech. it being all that is said ia regard to
the swamp land swindle:
"Col. Lane charges me with a conspiracy
to make money out of swamp lands At
no time have ever bought an acre, either
Governor. This he knew and believed when
he made the charge. And now what ans wer
has he got to make to all his conduct
Does he say that he is ignorant OF tie pub
lie records OF the country VIII he come
to you and say Il ask your votes to be the
Chief Magistrate of Indiana when l have
thus misstated the factss' If so, your an
swer should be to him. '.You have no right
to claim a suffrage from us when you trav-
erse the State and ask for yourself as an
excuse for your SANDER, nothing but igno-
rance"
1t will be recollected that the general
government granted to the State of Indiana
all the swamp and overfo we'd lands in this
State. belonging to the government. upon
condition that these lands should be drained
and rendered fit for cultivation. The extent
OF this grant was near $685. 900 acres
The government continued to sell these lands
for short time. and when called upon by
Gov. Willard. paid over to him SIS, 52o, all
which he paid into the Treasury except
$1,000. By what right he retained that
money, and as we understand still retains
it. we do not pretend to know. and had he
explained by what authority he keeps that
money perhaps the people of the State would
be better satisfied. The Report of the Au-
di,or of State also ext ibits the fact that Gov.
Willard has received nearly So 900 for fees
in discharge Of his duties to this land fund.
And perhaps the Combination" which
Col. Lane referred to may be found in this.
Let US see: according to our memory, Au-
ditor Dunn instructed the County Treasu-
rers to issue to every purchaser of these
lands. certificate for every forty acres so
purchased, instead Of . certificate for the
entire amount so purchased BY one ind;vidu-
al. These lands we're generally purchased
in large tracts. and the operation is this: In
case one person purchased section. 60
acres, he received 10 certificates and as many
patents, when one patent for an entire sec
ton or more would have been entirely sufi-
Gent. The Governor received fee of l6S
on each patent issued-the Auditor 30 cents
on each parent, and the Secretary of State
SO cents and sometimes 81. Thus the fees
under this operation on each section of land
was about $50, when it should have been
but little more than 81. under fair and
honest charge. These fees are. as we under.
stand, charged to the State or fund. and not
the purchaser. Thus the Governor, Audit
or and Secretary of State combined" 20
steal from the State not less than $4,000.
Of which his Excellency we suppose has re-
ceived his full share. We use the word
steal. however, in the above sentence, as un-
der.tood BY those who hang upon the gen
eral and state governments for support.
The subject of these frauds was referred
to committee Of the Legislature. for inves-
tigaiion. That committee made . report,