Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-04
J. HOLT,
Judge Advocate General.
MIR. Harlan and the Cherokee Lands.

Mr.. Harlan's contract with the Connect
cut Emigration Company, in relation to
the Cherokee neutral land" is getting
him into inextricable difficulties. He is
openly and on all sides charged with fraud.
The price at which he sold to the company
was $500, 0O0-$1 per acre-the payments
to run through a period Of nine years. It
is said that the Cherokees paid the Govern
ment $500, 600 for it thirty one years ago.
The Constitutional Union, in its issue of
Saturday, distinctly charges this transac-
ton as fragrant fraud, and devotes two
columns to its exposure. We make the
following extracts from it
Go! THE POOR INDIAN INFAMOUS OFFICIAL con-
DUCT OF JAMES HARLAN, THE LATE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR, THE CHEROKEFs THE INNO-
CENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LAND SPECULA-
TORS THE GAMERS BY THE CUNNINGLY DEVISED
SCHEME;
On the 3Oth day of August, 1856 the last ddy O,t
one that Hon. James Harlan, Ex-Secretary of the
Interior, held the Portfolio of that Department,
he executed, by virtue of his official authority a
contract on the part OF the United States through
himself their representatives, passing the title
of the reserve lands of the Cherokee Indians in
the State of Kansas to the Connecticut Emigrant
Society. 100000 of the best land in the
State of Kansas-for $500, 0OO one dollar per acre.
i'll regular installments as below with the privil-
eye to the company OF taking the whole, receiving
the deed upon payment of the stipulated funs.
Now, the question naturally arises, tCEy did the
Secretary Harlan make this contract on the last
day, but one, of his official position?
1t will be seen that the price paid for these lands
by the Cherokee Indians, in 1885, was half mil
lion dollars in gold, equal at the present time to
nearly nine hundred thousand dollars 1t will be
remembered that thirty-one years ago land in Kan
sas WAS worth about one tenth of what it is now
in five years it will be worth ten times what it is
worth now. What capitalist but would say that
that land 7aoaC is worth ten dollars per acre :?
Here, then is the question of fraud, which we,
with the evidence before us, in our judgment pro-
nounce to be Jfdud upon the American people
and worse than fraud, glaring imposition, an
infamous transaction to the detrimcnt Of our fell
low-citizens, the Cherokee Indians.
This appears to us the most cold-blooded swim
die, and the most fragrant violation of the spirit
and obvious intention of sacred trust. that has
lately come under our observation It will be seen
from the date that this digracefu contract was one
Of the last official acts of the late Secretary of the
Interior. 1t is of itself well calculated to arouse
serious suspicious of the honesty of the transac-
ton. In view of all the facts, we think the con-
tract should be set aside as illegal, unjust and
contrary to the plain intent of the treaty
Tie Union charges that he " committed
this fraud for his oaCn benefit"
The New York Her0ldS despatch on the
same subject thus closes
It is alleged, with how much truth I make no
pretensions to knowing, that Mr.. Harlan is inter
ested in the Connecticut Emigrant Society. The
matter is now undergoing legal examination, and
it is probable that the contract of sale will be set
aside,