The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-11-08
9th e'aWWtB d,


srcnrrARr nAnLAn AnD ms ma.
DUC1Ao.ss q ~
Secretary HaAau has written aleassAy md
convincing refutation Of The changes made
against him for hisAAls oftke Cherokee nsu-
trail lands.n In NJ commencement Of his ist>
ter be says:
sHkA c1AExss vksa siftsd aad Szfrsd Of
all embellishments are narrowed down Y
these:
81. That I, a. Secretary Of the Intsrior,
sold tho 'Ceerokse ssutsal hnds = a&nnses
for less than they wers worth in the market.
~ That probably would mot have sold
them for less than they wers worth unl0s
had been induced 70 do 70 By personal pecu-
MARY interest.
''By inqniring of the purchasers these viii
fers would have learned that had no per
sonal interest in this company or in the sale
of these lands, direct or indirect, immediate
or remote, and that never held, or sought
to own or hold, one dollars worth Of their
stock and that no relative or business asso<
ciate of mine ever held or owned, or sought
TO hold or own any such interest or stock.
"This leaves but one inquiry, namely, was
the price for which these lands were sold BY
me less than their reasonable value, or rather
so far below ~ to render me justly liable 70
censureT'
And this second charge be elaborately re-
flutes. Referring to the fact that the sale was
made Immediately before retiring from the
Secretaryship Mr.. Harlan says:
But my revllers say this sale was conclu-
ded on the last day but one before turned
over the business ofthe Department to my
successor. What has that to do with the
wisdom of the transaction? was AZ COM
petent to act up to the last minute OF my OH
Gil term Is at any previous period. If it
would have been right week. or a month or
year earlier, it was equally right at the time
it was concluded. 1t WAS not done secretly
or in = corner, nor was knowledge of the
transaction withheld from my successor.
informed him fully of what was trying to
effect. He gave me no opinion asked him
for none. know was no more familiar
with the business than he was, and consider
ed myself competent todecidsd what vss for
the interest of the Indians as he WAS then, or
as be is now. He did, however, remark gen.
orally that he expected me to do whatever in
my judgment ought to be don ewhilel remain
in the Department without reference TO the
expiration of the term Of service, and that
the more businessI disposed OF the better he
would be pleased. But knowing from both
world il disposed to be csnsorious, and that
the hoeorable and pure are not more secure
than the corrupt and craven, from the slimy
missiles of the vile who crawl around the seat
Of power, fawning and hattering when in
pursuit of favors. and, viper like, striking at
the heel Of q departing benefactor, ~ he re-
tires from office, did request these purchase
ers TO leave the contract open until my sue
cessor should be innaugurated, not doubling
that it would meet with his hearty approval.
To this suggestion they replied thad they
we're on expenses, did not consider the trans.
action Of enough consequence to them 10
justify the delay or the Inconvenience OF re-
turning to the city that it must be closed
then or uever but if it should prove unsatis>
factory to the incoming Secretary, and they
should be so notified in reasonable time, they
would cheerfully acquiesce in the abrogation
of the contract. With this understanding it
was closed, the FRS payment $25, 600 made,
and covered into the Treasury
He then Sits the Attorney Generals opin>
ion upon the sale, and shows its fallscies and
false assumptions. In conclusion Mr.
Harlan says:
"Who are the parties that object to this
sale? As far as have been informed, two
have come to the surface. They protested as
hbtufucSs tuE tHt luutHhS uriUfc Tue ohiC " - /
made. One Of them informed me that if it |
should be contaminated he could and would |
break it up He stated frankly that If these
lands were sold as the lands of the Sacs and
Foxes be and his friends could make money
out of the transaction, and explained in de-
tail how it could be made to yield hands
come little fortune for several persons. The |
other protestant stated to me as a reason for
prefering the other mode of sale that it would |
he thought, enable the Indians to pay their |
indebtedness at an earlier period. But /
had reason 10 believe and did believe that he
was purchasing this Indebtedness for specula I
tive purposes. Not regarding them AZ dis |
interested advisers their advice was not fol- /
lowed by me. preferred TO follow my own /
judgment of what the true interests of the In |
dams and the people of Kansas required. l |
did what appeared to me to be both wise and |
just and neither fear nor doubt the judg> |
ment Of an impartial public opinion And if |
my successor should follow the advice of the |
Attorney General. set aside this contract, |
and succeed in making q better disposition |
of these lands, none Of his friends will be
more highly grati6ed than shall be with his
success"