The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-11-29
why the President Lost COnfi'
deiice In the Land Commissioners
4 LAND CLAIM OF OLD MIR
DENT IN THE CASE. %
INTERVIEW WITH COMMIS-
IS isar SIONER WILSON. lan7 4

INTERVIEW 2 WITH COMMIS
SIONER WILSON. eois
s.3f3Ia iii m9i -.1a----5is ie9scf ilsgs
/ Ila q 81 % niss ere -flcf ,slefiasofi- 81
The reason assigned BY the Presiden
for his lack of confidence ID Joseph T
Wilson, Land Commissioner, in the con
lfidential letter addressed to the late Sec
retary of the Interior, and published by
Gen. Grant, is SO extraordinary that
lhavs been at some pains to follow it uE
and get all the facts bearing upon the
matter. The President has said in ex
lplanation of his attack Upon the Land
Commissioner that he has had no conf
ldence in him since he was Instruments
lin the procurement of "a clause in the ac1
passed for the benefit of Mr. Dent, his
father in law, tlat defeated, the first
lclAm of the old gentleman 1t seems
THAT old Mr.. Dent was the holder Of .
Iclaim to lands in Carondolet. or neal
There. This claim through neglect ioi
some other defect had become invalid
land tile land made valuable, tits claim.
red, to the amodnt of half a million,
Through the improvements Of actual set
ltlers. Under the law passed to NEE
tsuch cases, Dent could locate the same
number Of acres on any public lantis
|seiling at one dollar and aquarter PEI
acre; but this did not suit the family .and
|so, after the election of Gen. Grant, an
attempt was made to pass a law thai
would reinvest old Mr.. Dent in tbs
Han de he claimed in or near 9Carontlolet
Missouri. Fvrtunately,the committee tc
whom was referred the matter turned il
lover to Mr.. Wilson. as was the habit,and
the Land Commissioner drafted the fol
l4owing, which may be found on page 458
United States statutes, large volume 15-
IAN act TO confirm certain private
| land claims in the State OF Missouri. BE
lit enacted, &c that the legalrepfesehta'
itives of Gabriep Cerre and Josephine
Bolaye, falling within the exterior bounj
diaries of the commons Anf Cafondelet
the former entered as No go, for four
hundred afpents. and the latter as No
275, for one hundred and fifty afpents,in
the first class of decisions OF the Board
of Land Commissioners under thetact. OF
Congress approved July 4,lS32, and the
2dof March, 1888, for the adjustment oi
private land claims in Missouri as re.
commended by said Board { Exs Doc.
So. first session, "a, p 1877 Z; and S. Doc.
lie, same sessions p 40; )siwhich claims
were confrmediby act of. Congress ap-
proved july Al, / 1856; subject to location
elsewhere than in place in case of con.
flict, (Statute Law, vols f5B,s D. 1864 be
and The same are hereby. confirmed in
place, subject to any adverse rights, il
suuh exist, and patents for said claims
Ebe issued accordingly" se@sisij,. 3 {,
Nowit seems that after the passage q
this act for the benefit Of the aged faith fsl.l i
er in law of the Administration, It was
fopnd that owing to the insertion Of tbs
first clause protecting innocent holders
the old gentleman found himself nc
nearer the valuable possessions than be. b6te.
fore. The Pressde,tt, am assured on
he best authority, drsD out the dutAor-
snip ct tAts troublesome clause, and s}' has
no corfdsncs since ~ Mi WILSON. 1.
Wishing to know al about 2l it, ! called
on the Land Commissioner, and found
him, as usual, hard at work. Although
somewhat advanced in Years, and worn
fby hard work, Mr., Wilson is well pre-.
served, and has many days OF public
service in him yet f,asked him ItFe II ne
knew why ne had lost tle confidence o
ms Exceiiency' as expressed m tae uos