The Portland daily press., 1871-03-03

rotary of the Interior desiring him not toissue
the patent, because the whole matter was be.
sore Congress. ~
Mr.. B. The gentleman need not proceed fur
ther. understand his question. have oppos-
ed the present President as earnestly as any
gentleman on this floor, and on this question,
before examined it, 1 was very much against
him, taking the side of the Secretary; but al
ter / saw thatsthe President had only inter-
vened to prevent the Secretary from granting
patents to the New Idlia Company until Con-
gress had determined the question of right |
became satisfied the President was right, and
the threat of the Secret Try to resign it he was
not allowed, in defiance of the pending Con-
bressional proceedings, to perpetrate this great
wong was unworthy OF him. say that the
act of the President aoas bold, manly, straight
fo,rard. and honest and 1 fully indorse and
CORDIALLY approve his conduct in that regard
| am not partisan enough TO refuse to do full
Justice to the President in such case.
With the fact that the report of the major
ity is purely one-sided affair, in which all is
suppressed but what suits the conclusions,
leave the matter for consideration.
The vote of the House was great surprise
for the mining corporations and their attor.
neys. 1t was confidently expected that "Bil-
ly" McGarrahan would "come 10 grief"
HOW TO MANIPULATE A DOUBTFUL CASE.
1t is conceded by all who are familiar with
The House, that there are few men who equal
the Hon. James B. Beck of Kentucky, in
point of ability, and none who surpass his
reputation for character and integIity-Dem-
ocratic as he is. His advocacy OF the minori.
ty report was remarkably able argument
and not at all smooth spoken in regard 10 the
points as he saw them. He denounced the
majority report Tor suppressing the facts that
told for the petitioner, saying:
"Does the majority think that it is not
worth while to tell the House that the docket
book and correspondence which would have
proved McGarrahan's case in all probability
bad been distracted from the Attorney Gen
erals Office; that all the letters in the Land
Office from January TO July, 1868, covering
the period when Mr.. Lincoln signed the pat
ent, had been stolen to prevent the truth
from being provelp Do they think it unm
portant to tell us that the circuit judge affirm
ed the finding of the commissioners on every
point except the necessity of possession, an(
that the Mariposa case had settled that after
their decision IN favor of Gomez; that an ap.
peal was granted to the United States Marcel
Is, 1858; that Good had so informed Judg'
Black, by letter dated March 20, 1858; tina
the New Idria Company had no existence til
January %, 1858, and entered upon thes
lands without pretense Of right, and with full
knowledge of The adverse title? All thes
things are cautiously concealed in the report.
The New Idria Company, being in posses
sion and working the mine, have been ena
bled to play the "Heathen Chinee" with
vengeance, and stock the game. Ex-Attol
ney General Black, as well as almost ever
lawyer or good official, with whom McGans
han has had anything to do, or by whom hi
case could be affected, has turned up as i
some way, before or after the time. service
were needed, as in the employ of the Ne,
Idria Mining Company. Dinner parties hav
been reduced to scientific game IN their b.
half, while newspapers and correspondent
appear to have been seen to liberal extel.
They could afford all this. The United State
fight their legal battles and the mines suppl
them with the cash, necessary for those
any other kind.
What will be the end of the case is dificu
to tell. 1t is claimed that patent must issu
to the New Idra, if this joint resolu ton fail
, but if | understand Gen. Butler, it is for th
United States TO compel the Company as
has sought to do with McGarrahan before
patent can issue. SPECTATOR