The New York herald., 1868-06-01
a BIG JOB.
Fifty Thousand kansas Farmers TO BE
Swndled-sevep Millions OF Dollars the

WASHINGTON May 30 1868.
Some thirty. y.seven years ago the national govern
merit held in trust for the Cherokee Indians the sum
OF $780, 900 in gold, and having for about that
sum appropriated it, giving the Cherokees instead
deed to eight hundred thousand acres Of land in
what is now Southern Kansas. This tract Of land
was never occupied by the Cherokees, but was held
in trust for them by the national government, sup
posing that the rise in value would fully equal the
interest on the sum paid. Meanwhile II was taken
possession OF and improved by settlers, who
finding 1t vacant, supposed they could acquire titles
to It under the pre.emption or homestead law. ~
ton OF Kansas year ago, and the number has been
rapidly In creasing since.
IN 1865 the Cherokees applied to Secretary or the
Interior Harlan for permission to sell theland in
question, Offering 1t first to the government Tor
you take the interest and depreciation OF currency
into consideration. IL could readily have been resod
to the settlers occupying 1t In tracts OF l60 acres
each at the rate OF 81 20 per acre. or sl0000O0 for
the whole, thus repayng the government Tor outlay
expense OF surveying, &c.
An arrangement or treaty was finally made by
which the Secretary of the Interior was 20 have the
land appraised by commission and sold to the set
tiers at It's appraised value or he might sell II IN
body for sum not less than Ss00,000 cash.
worth from ST. 900 So 900 600 Mr. Secretary ala
not let much grass grow under his feet before selling
il to the American Emigrant Company OF Connects.
cut, OF which Mr.. John Williams, the author OF the
National Bank system, was general agent Tor
The sale was pronounced by the Attorney General
illegal and void and Nj. Browning, after taking con
troll Of the department resod the land to one Mr.
Joy, OF Detroit, whose right to IT was at once con
tested by the Emigrant Company. Having now
ever, reconcied their differences, both conte stan
putting forth every effort to get the senate
to legallZe the first sale
This tract of land Is nearly equal TO principally
Towns have grown up within its boundaries, and
much OF 1t IL now improved farms worth $50 per
II these sharpers get title TO the land the
settlers or a large portion OF them, will be at their
mercy-obiged to pay whatever ayaricious specula-
tors may demand or leave their homesteads.
II Is not likely that these heartless lobbyists VIII
demand OF their victims less than sl0 per acre on an
average which will bring the enormous sum OF
S. 000 00o-beng profit OF $1,000 900 ON an invest
ment OF $500, 900. This land having been
placed in the hands OF the government In trust
for sale, 1t was the imperative duty Of the secre.
tary OF the Interior 20 have offered II hrst 70 the
settlers whose toll had enriched it. II they refused
TO buy the sharpers might then have had q chance.
Such a straightforward honest course, however,
would have left no chance for the lobby gobetweens
TO make 81 200. 000
one very peculiar feature OF this transaction Is
that II s ali dxed up In secret session OF the senate
the House having no knowledge o! the matter al ahy
stage OF the proceeding