The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-05-31

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Iy of wood, so that when completed,
the locks win not be durable. The
Attorney General pronounced the
Swamp Land Law as the greatest
outrage ever perpetrated upon Ore
gon. He explained the manner in
which the swamp and overhowed
lands in Oregon were disposed of
by an Act OF the Legislature for the
interest of the Grover.Miller Ring.
lie pointed out the bad effects on
the interests of the State in retard.
ing settlements; in causing trouble
and litigation to many who have al
ready paid for their lands; and III
throwing a cloud upon the titles OF
all donation, homestead and pre-
emption claims along the margins
Of lakes and rivers, where submer-
gence occurs in times of high water.
Application was all that was nee
essary. The boundaries could be
indicated, the twenty cents per acre
paid, and vast tracks were thus ta-
ken. Pre-emptor's homes and i'm
proyements have thus been taken,
and lands which were paid for
over ten years ago, for which pat
ents from the United States were
received, have been offered for
sale as swamp lands. The law
creates most gigantic landed mon
opoly. Thousands of acres are
owned by single individuals. OF
the six millions Of acres disposed OF,
between one and two hundred per-
sons own the whole. Applications
for the most of these lands we're
made out by members Of the ring
Lefore the passage of the law, SO
thoroughly was this swindle intend
ed to advance the interest of the
favored speculator. Farms in
Southern Oregon have been claimed
by these applications; the poor
squatter has been supplanted in his
claim ; a principle has been inaug-
urated, which, it not repealed, will
involve this State in endless and
yexatious litigations, alike destruc-
tive of prosperity and harmony.
The Attorney General said that he
was in favor of repeating the law,
and taking the lands as indicated
on the field notes of the surveyors.
Upon the subject Of Railroads, the
speaker said the cry against Holla-
day was a humbug. A ADemocratic
Legislature put the land grant for
railroad purposes into Holidays
hands in 1860. His estimate Of
Burnett as a candidate for Con-
gress was true to life. An old
fashioned Democrat, but Of little
brains or force. Is now going about
the State discussing the resolutions
of 1898, and the U. s. Bank. If
he were elected to Congress, he is
SO much opposed in principle to
railroads, as in all probability to
start for Washington with an OK
team. He said as al Orcgonian he
took pride in having a man of tai
ent and force, a creditable Repre-
sentative from the State, i'll the
Lower House at Washington,
whether be be a Republican or
Democrat. 1t would be disgrace
to the whole State to send Burnett
there, as he would never be heard
from outside of drawing his pay.
lie was surprised that the Democ-
racy should put SO weak man in
nomination, asthey had many avail
able men among them, who are
vastly his superior. His opinion of
Judge Wilson, was, that he was a
man Of excellent character and
ability, and, if elected, would be
Of use aud credit to the State in
Congress. From here the Attorney
General referred to prominent ideas
connected with national politics,
which our space forbidsus tochroni-
Gle here. In the above notice of the
Attorney Generals speech, we have
only alluded to those points which
were the easiest forus to remember.
Ao,.o,,n. 1,,n 49, nl,,Is.,r. .o...-..I.