The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-06-03
The Delaware Lands.

nal has an article, which is designed to
be candid, we think, but which shows
that its editors are deceived in reference
30 the questions involved between the
Railroad Company and the settlers on
the Reserve. 1t refers to the difficulty
between the Company and the settlers,
and charges US with seeming disre.
gard Of justice and truth" and ode
termination to embitter rather than al
ley" the excitement and unpleasant
feeling between the Company ard the
settlers.
We deny the whole statement Of the
Journal in the premises. Our only ef-
fort has been to get the Company to
give the facts. which they have persis-
tently refused, and still refuse to do.-
We have offered our columns free for
this purpose.
The Journal shows its ignornace Of
the matter, and the misleading charac-
ter of its information at the very out
set. 1t says: "Tbe Government has
lately issued orders" &c. Yes. rsry
lately neighbor. rery. dated May 10,
1862 You see. friends. the Company
are attempting to deceive you as we'll as
the settlers. And this has been their
policy all along.
The Company hired lawyer. Mr..
Shannon, to pittifog their case before the
settlers. Why? Do honest men in an
open. straightforward business transac-
tion have to employ lawyer TO ex-
plain their intentions and endorse their
honesty Of purpose What is feed
lawyers endorsement of any mans
honesty worth
We ask. why any trouble at all in this
matter =? If the Company had always
pursued an honest. truthful and eonsis-
tent course with the settlers, would
there ever have been any difficulty !?
Certainly not. But this has not been
the case. The settlers have been de-
,ceiycd ). We knoc Il, for We were pre-
sent when bargains were made with
riem by Mr.. Denman which were not
fulfilled. but virtually and effectually re.
pudiated and much labor on the part Of
the settlers in getting out ties etc. lost,
AS the rotting ties at this very day,
eloquently attest.
One Of the evidences the Company
bring forward of their ability to get title
to the lands 10 the fact that they have
mortgoged oway all their inerest in tie
same! Iii is generally supposed that
when an individual is driven TO the
necessity Of giving q mortage on all his
possessions. he is either very hard press
ed in pecuniary matters. or else is con-
sempla;ing some scheme Of swindling.
Blu, ii is claimed that the mortgages
will release their claim on lands pur-
chased. Suppose they do. What right
ioes the mortgage give them TO the
land? Evidently only the "right. title
and interest" of the Railroad Company,
aud the Company have no title. and il
they never perfect one; then the mor'ga'
gees have none and never will have
And so it all comes right back to the
starting point. Has the Railroad Com
pany any right or title to the Reserve
lands I? We do not believe they now
have or ever will have good title to
those lands.
We were told in Leavenworth. the
other day. that Mr.. HarlOn. now Secre'
tary Of the Interior. said that the Com
pany had not paid tile interest due on
the bonds, and il not. then they have
forfeited their claim 10 the land under
l;c treaty.
You'll it not be quite as easy for the
Company to procure the official ver'h'
cation Of the fact that they had paid
The interest due and necessary to be
paid in order 10 give them shadow Of
tile 10 the land from the Interior De-
psrtmeut, as it would 70 get up erroue-
ous statements and thereby procure an
arbitrary order from the War Depart
men. for tie forcible ejsctment OF the
settlers Certainly it would. Why
aon't .bey do it? The inference Is
j,pesis.abie-Mey can not. This is what
III, settlers ask-they sant light. II
.hey purchase land they desire to get a
;,le that will secure it TO them. That
is al. And they are right.
The Company. through their Agent.
have quibbled. prevaricaied. deceived.
until the settlers have become distrust-
ful; and they have q right 10 be. In
stead Of getting a lawyer to tell Plausi-
n IL