The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-28
WASHINGTON CRY, d. c. !
July 29th, 1861
Hon. I. Y. MORRIS,

1902 @SNNI
Hon. I. n. NORRIS,
Dear sSir--At your request have looked over
my note to you dated FEBRUARY goth, 1864, in re-
gard to the two per cent fund.- and find that sI
can add cut little to what is there stated. can
only repeat that Mr.. Lincoln expressly stated
that the law was with the state, that the claim
ought to be paid and would be paid, but it was
bad taste the part of the TO urge the pay
ment of the claim during the existence Of the war
and the pressing demands upon the treasury.
then said to him, that Illinois would do nothing
to retard or interfere with a vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war.
She had given every evidence of devotion to
the Union; that she had a patriotic governor
whose whole heart devoted to the Union
cuse, and that the people of Illinois we're giving
him a vigorous support in his manly efforts to
sustain the government, and that it wss not the
money that the state demanded at that particular
time, but the state had the right to demand OF
the general government proper acknowledge
ment of the justice of the claim that doLe the
| state would readily wait until after the war, or
for that matter twenty years, rather than en-
barrass the national treasury. Mr.. Lincoln said
emphatically that he saw no objection to the ac-
acknowledgement of the claim with that understand
ing, and seemed pleased with the proposition,
and also requested me to again see the secretary
of the interior, which | did, and although his
important duties were at the time sorely press.
ing him he gave me very kind and attentive
interview he said he was afraid that if the state
pressed settlement under the existing -circum.
stances he would not be able to do the subject
justice; then repeated the conversation had
with the president and his request that should
make the the proposition to the secretary of the
interior. The secretary expressed his gratifca
ton at the proposition and spoke handsomely Of
the patriotism of Illinois.
do not pretend to quote here the precise Ian
guage used by the different parties in all particu
10 lint I no m To S,,b
stance, for in good truth, when / left the secre
tary that day, supposed you and he could
speedily the terms of settlement Geferring tn,
payment to a more convenient period for the
general government. 1t is some time since tba
conversation took place. but faithfully repeated
the whole of it to you on the same dav that it oc
| CURED, and refer to your recollection of TIT
event for the correctness of this statement.
Your friend, sincerely,
p. b. FoUKE.
So far as the record has been made I'D il
this case, the weight of authority stands
/ thus:
For the legality and equity of the claim
| Hons Thos. A. Hendricks, late commissions,
I of the general land Office, Hon. Jacob Thorn D
| son, late secretary OF the interior, (see pag,
2S printed report and Presiden; Lincoln.
Unanimous opinion OF the committee OF
public lands. Ii. r. of the 37th congress.
Hon. Richard Yates. governor of Illinois
! Hon. o. NJ. Hatch, secretary If State Of Hi
/ nois; :. X. Dubois, suditor of State of Ills
| Alex. Starne, treasurer Of State OF III. Da
vid Davis, L. 5. 5. Court; Hons ). II. Treat
| and Thos Drummond of the L. 5 District
court of Illinois Chief Justice J. ID. Gator
and Justice p. II. Walker, supreme court o.
! Illinois Hon. j. c. Robinson. Hon. W A
| Richardson, Hon. Isaac n Arnold, Hen.
! VIM. j. Allen, Hon. Jesse o. Norton, Hon
| VIM. K. Morrison hon. A. l.. Knapp, Hon.
! L. Trumbull, Hon. P, b Fouke, Hon. f, b
! Washburne. Hon. j F. FarnswOrth.
The unanimous opinion of two success iye
| legislatures of Illinois.
Hons Jas. S Green and F. P. Blair, Jr.
of Missouri.
Attorney General Bates on every question
| involved except the set-of, which was apph
| ed by the department after his opinion was
| rendered. and Hon. j. NJ. Edmonds, com.
gen land Office, see his letter. page 81
printed report for the equity.
against the legality and equity of tn
claim, VIM. 7. Otto.
Let me add:
Sometimes for the claim and sometimes
against it, and sometimes mum, depending on
circumstances, John P. Usher
'Denouncing all the above named gentle
men as supporting spurious shystering'
claim. John p. Usher
Is Gov. Yates. Col. Forrest. Judge Norton,
/ Col Fouke and Mr. Lincoln himself to be
believed, or John +. Usher? 1t is clear tha
somebody has told an untruth. And it IL
easy to detect the guilty party,
Is the record or John P. Usher to be be
lieved?
Quincy Nov Ia 1865