New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-23

"a! =
not OF TO-DAY, ALONE.
Sc RiaalnaAn haiaessiana1aeAefaAle
pet-baggers Of very recent importation,
ese MT b. sapposed 90 we'll posted in
matters of family scandal as those, like
ourselves, old residents. The Washington
Chronicle having revived the old story
about Mr.. Slidell confirming his own land
claim, with the aid of Attorney Benjamin,
the Picayune denies it fatty and indignant
". The circumstances of this alleged
legislative legerdemain, as. told at the
time, were these: It was at the session Of
ls4o-5O or 1851 that Senator Polk had in
troduced bill to quiet certain land titles
Of his constituents in the State Of Mis-
souri,. It passed the Senate and went to
the lower House, from which il returned
With material amendment The amend
ment was this Parties in Louisiana, among
whom was Mr.. Slidell, had purchased an
old Spanish claim known as the Houmas
grant. Il was understood 20 be case
where concession to extend an original
entry back into the swamp Of river for
timber. so opened the lines as that being
produced according to the words Of the
order, they included and added TO an or-
binary sized tract an immense boundary,
entirely inconsistent with the purpose Of
the order. and evidently not intended by
the granting government. This claim bad
been fled for confirmation before the com.
mission appointed to investigate the
validity Of these Spanish grants at the &C.
QUESTION Of the Territory of Louisiana.
It had been registered upon the calendar
Of those claims, but had never been con-
frmed. When the Senate bill Of Mr..
Polk came up from the lower House it
came up amended, by the confirmation Of
the Houmas claim. But the verbiage Of
the amendment was 50 cunning as that
few would have suspected its exact mean
ing. Referring 10 the report Of the
American commission, il confirmed all
the titles unconfrmed, printed on
such and such pages. When suspicion was
subsequently turned TO the subject is ap-
pea,ed that the Houmas claim was the
only one unconfrmed in those pages.
Still il vas but an amendment. When
the bill returned from the House il was
committed to the committee on public
lands. Of which Hon. Mr.. Benjamin Wal!
chairman. He reported il back without
amendment, and SO the litigated title to
the Houmas grant was confirmed in sena.
10, Slidell and others Of his associates.
It was not long before the successful
ring made known their triumphant trick.
But the occupants Of the Houmas grant,
understood 70 be, with their families, some
hundreds in number. determined to resist
this sharp practice Of then own chosen
representatives. Yet even then there was
question whether such . law had been
passed. No representative OF Louisiana
in the lower house was aware Of such
legislation. Hon. Miles Taylor, well
known as an honest aud vigilant sep1esen-
tative, was incredulous Of such an enact.
ment. Senate. Polk. Of Missouri, indig-
nantly disavowed any knowledge Of the
use made Of his bill. and as be was man
Of unimpeachable integrity, no one
dreamed he had anything TO do with it.
The representative Of these Houmas con.
stituents was ignorant that be had limo.
Gently aided to deprive them oftheir homes.
How could il have been suspected? . bill
ito confirm certain land titles in the State
Of Missouri eonceals . provision 20 dis.
possess the occupants under title to
lands located in Louisiana That act Of
ejectment is wrapped in words carefully
and legally chosen 10 hide its effect from
the innocent and absent parties in inter-
est. But still worse, the act Of eviction
was effectuaIy concealed by the assurance
Of two Senators (both cunning attorneys
by profession). who had been entrusted
with the equal protection Of all their con-
stituents. A close scrutiny soon brought out
the fact. The occupants Of the Houmas
grant held public meeting, denounced
this fraud committed by .heis own
representatives, aod sent 70 Wash.
ington an agent CT deputation
to implore justice at the hands
of Congress. Upon distinct statement
of the facts, Congress passed an act sus.
pending the issuance Of patents under the
act Of confirmation stated. The war be-
gan soon after. and we apprehend the &C.
cupants Of the Houmas grant will neve,
be disturbed in their possession by the
repeal Of the act suspending the patents.
But there is moral in this Houmas fraud
It is, that the tricks Of the carpet-bagges
taught nothing TO the home-thief of New
Orleans The Plaquemines frauds. the
Know Nothing massacres, the wholesale
robberies Of the McDouogh, Touro. Girod.
Fink-of all the charitable funds
ever left to the poor Of New Orleans
prove that . more adroit OF un.
scrupulous school Of political and party
knaves never infested any unfortunate
city. They at once formed upon and fell
in with all the rapacity brought by the
war, and the combination was fearful.
The disciples Of Slidell and Garland can
learn anything from the successors Of
these eminent artists. Trace any obiec.