The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-12-29
THE R0BBlNi OF THE STATE UNDER
RADICAL RULE.
Ex-Governor Woods and Secreta-
ry May.
THE STEAL OF THE s5, 400.

This theft, in the highest places OF
trust in our State, and startling to
honest men, is one involving the char
actcr of the entire board Of officers
under the last Radical State admins
tration. 1t involves May to GER
tainty, and almost as certainly it in
wolves Woods. .
IN the act of Congress Of 18th OF
February, 1869, admitting Oregon as
u State, it is provided '.tbat five per
centum ofthe net proceeds Of sales of
all public lands lying within said
State which shall be sold by Congress
after the admission of said State into
the Union, after dedncting all ex-
penses incident TO the same, shall be
paid to said State for the purpose of
making public roads and internal i'm.
provements, as the Legislature shall
| direct"
As soon rs Governor Grevcr had
worked his way through the confused
condition of the public lands of the
State, in August last, he addressed a
letter to the Secretary of the Interior,
asking an account of the Five Per
Cent. Fund, and intimating that no
account had ever been rendered to
Oregon though she had been State
twelve years. The Secretary replied
that he bad referred the letter TO the
Commissioner of the General Land
Office, with instructions 10 state the
account and forward it TO the Gov
ernor: but saying at the same time
that he believed there had been an
account before. a letter shortly af.
ter came from the Commissioner, in
closing an account of public lands in
Oregon for the previous two years,
S6,56s 10; and Treasury warrant
soon followed for the amount, drawn
in favor of the Governor of Oregon
on the depository at the First Nation
nj Bank, Portland Answer was at
once made acknowledging this sum,
but requesting an account for the pre-
vions ten years In due time full
statement was received from the
Commissioner of the General Land
Office, showing that three accountings
had been had before the last one in
the time OF Governor Gibbs, and two
| in the tine Of Governor Woods. 4
search was ordered in the State
Treasury, and the amonnt transmitted
To Governor Gibbs, 81 ,545 92, was
found as having been received and
| placed in the School Funds, and no
account opened Of the Five Per Cent
Fund. But nothing coald be discov.
cred of the two amounts transmitted
10 Governor Woods. Two amounts
were respectively, 1864 10 and 81,
S57 i6.
Immediate notice was given to the
Comptroller of the Treasury of the
default, and request made that the
Governor be furnished with certified
copies of the original transactions
with the Treasury touching these ac.
counts. In answer, the following
certified copies were received:
STATE OF OREGON,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Salem. Aug. 20, 1867.
Hon. X. W. T}yior, Comptroiie,
Treasury Department, Washington
u. g.: ts
Sir: Referring to the annexed
communication, this certifies that "The
Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Com,
pany,' or order, are hereby authorized
to receive in behalf of the State oi
Oregon the amount therein specified
In witness whereof, / have hereun
to signed my name and affixed the sea
of the State aforesaid, the day and
year above written.
tSigned) SAMUEL L. MAY,
Sec. of State and Acting Gov
| (Indorsed,. "Pay to the order ot
Messrs. Riggs 81 Co.
Russell & ERWIN MFG, Co.
RICHARD +. BRuFf, Attorney.
(RfGGs.p