The union Democrat., 1870-12-17
Land eomml..io.,r wil.oa pAo.os.apaea


Lend Commissioners Wilson. Of whom Pres
ident Grant. in bis Cox letter. disclosed n
"suspcion.n is thus sketched bv George Al
fred Townsend 10 the Chicago 7iiLnne. Ii
may be chary Of the pity that The writer
Would awaken. We can at least appreciate
the honesty and fdelity of "Old Joe -
Il called upon Commissioner Joseph viii
son last Friday. NY object was not to dis
course with him upnn the cloud which had
suddenly come over his SKY, but to solicit
man and rerart. Good morning Mr. Com
missioner, - ! said. as the old mans plain
garh and worn features appeared. "caa you
give me your last report p Wilson. semi
shaven. aged, vet prompt as always. replied
Certainly. | want To crafty every body
who has the right. and | have tried to be
ol'ligiug and pnnctilous during my forty-two
yehrs Of hard work under the Government. !"
The old mans voice became little tremulous,
and | saw his nosril tremble. lie led the
way to his small side Office, where, over his
jet Of gas, his erp of tea was warming.
Rad seen him drink Of it often before, but
never till now had seen his hand shake.
The curious old man took up the cup to drink
and when he looked over The brim, as his
eyes met mine, stream of magnetism flowed
between US, and the tea appeared to burn
him so that he grew vatery at the eyes. AT
ter an awkward pause he exhaled part Of
breath. on which distinguished the words !:
''Da You sec how bad they treat me?" Eyes"
STAR | have worked forty-two years ~
ats hard" "And never any charge made
against me. Yet to have the President say
that he has had n suspicion about ne ?''
My dear sir" ! said. II know nothing
about your difficulties. To me you haze al
ways appeared to be a devoted and sometimes
an over-sanguine man about the large affairs
entrusted to you. Have you any reason to
suspect the secret of this late opposition to
yau ~ None replied Commissioner Will
son. 81 was put in here by Andrew Jack
son. n great many years ago. | have risen
to my place from the humblest position
MANY efforts have been made to set me aside
But this last one comes from such an uncx-
pected source, that do not know how to treat
il or what to reply" "You have had hard
work. Doctor. Have you laid up anything"
"Notbing. | may have to 90 to the poor
house and eat pea-snup." but you can
practice before the Land Office and make
more money than you get at present" mo
sir. ] will not demcan myself in that way.
] should no. return here to make money out
of the opportunities afforded me while in Of
fee" "Did you prepare patent for the
New Idria mine? IL first ordered two gen.
tlcmen. heads of divisions here, named Cal
YER and Lenox, 10 make an investigation in
this case, and report a preliminary decision.
They both reported in faver of patent and |
sent it to me. l also reported confirmatory,
and sent the decisions up 10 the Secretary.
] wanted the thing out of my Office. The cal
umny. audaety and villainy of that McGar-
rahan gnng had so disgusted and annoyed
me, filling my Office with listeners and thieves
that | was gra,ifed to find the case coming
to an end.n Mr.. Wilson is, perhaps, the old
est official in the United States in any high |
position. lie has been almost superservice-
able man, taking undue pains with his work;
hut had he served the Government all the
years of Methusalah, the politicians would
have wanted his place