Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-29


force was not sufficient to occupy all the
territory needing protection, and Ii th'
srny is reduRd, it will be necessary Il
Withdraw troops from Territories whert
new mines are about to be opened, and
where new comers need protection.
| greater force on the Rio Grande Is QUITO
the question. He did, however, sugges
that some infantry already there NIGH
be temporarily mounted, but was re
minded that the object on based on Che
| iEefficiency of the colored troops woulC
| still exist. The President did not seem
| able to give the Texas delegation much
encouragement that he would be able tC
afford people living on the frontier OF
their State much better protection in the
future than in the past.
THE ARKANSAS COLLEGE LAND SCRIP
WASHINGTON, Decefnber 23.-Undel
the act Of July 2, 1852, the State CT Ar
kansas became entitled to receive from
the United States agricultural college
land scrip covering one hundred and
fifty thousand acres. Twenty or thirty
years ago the government Of the United
States invested certain Indian trust
funds in Arkansas State bonds, on which
the State has failed to pay anything,
either principal or interest. Since the
war some Of the bonds with the accrued
interest have been refunded in new
State bonds, upon which, believe, the
interest has been paid, but q certain
part of them belonging to the Chicka
saw tribe have not been provided for,
and the secretary of the interior very
properly refused to deliver to the au-
thorities Of the State of Arkansas any OF
its agricultural college scrip. until the
payment Of these Chickasaw bonds
was secured. During the second ses-
sion of the forty-second congress in
1872, the Representatives Of Arkansas,
having failed to induce the secre-
tary of the interior to give them the
scrip, caused bill to pass the house per-
emptoriIy directing him to Go so. When
this bill was favorabIy reported in the
senate from the committee on public
lands, Mr.. Harlan called attention to
the facts above recited, showed that the
passage Of the bill would remove from
the custody OF the secretsty Of the inte-
rior the only security he has against the
State for the payment of it's worthless
bohds, and added: 1.-THE secretary of the
interior has written a letter advising
that it should not be done, but II the
senate think differently, let 1t be done
undeTstaDdingly." Mr.. Morrill,, of Yer
mont, then moved the following pro-
viso as an amendment, and it was
agreed to:
Provided, That no scrip as aforesaid
shall be delivered to the authorities Of
the State Of Arkansas until said State
shall have made some satisfactory ar
raDgement by which the bonds of said
State, principal and interest, now held
by the United States as Indian trust
funds, shall be funded in new bonds au.
thorized to be issued by said State for
this purpose.
The bill as thus amended went back
to the house, and the amendment was
concurred in without opposition. AL
this happened on the last day of the
session, June 10, 1872, and at so late an
hour that there was no time to have the
bill enrolled, signed by the presiding
officer of both houses and presented TO
the President, before the hour fixed for
the adjournment arrived The bill,
therefore, went over until the next ses-
sion and was one OF the first then signed
by the President. The date of his ap-
proval OF it was December Is, 1872. In
the meantime, betW cen June 10, 1872,
and December 13, 1872, the bill, al
though it had passed both houses Of con-
gress and was morally sure to receive
the approval of the President, did not
have the force Of Law, although, con.
tanning as it did al expression of the
will of congress, it ought to have been
binding on the executive departments
of the government. If it was not tech
nically law, it certainly had all the
force of q concurrent resolution, which
no public official would dare to disobey.
II gave special notice to the secretary OF
the interior that congress approved his
course in Withholding the scrip until
the State of Arkansas made
settlement OF her dis
honored bonds, and proposed to give
that course the sanction of specific law.
II the interior department held on to
the scrip, as ii bad been doing for years,
until congress met again, and the Presi-
dent signed the bill, the security for the
Indian hust funds would be made per-
and then the State Of Arkansas
would have q choice of two eOurses-
either to refund her worthless bonds or
her claim to the scrip. This
2ss the only proper and honest course to
pursue, and no subordinate of the de-
Dartment would have dared to do other.
wise. Indeed, there was at that very
lime on file in the land Office an official
etter from Secretary Delano, da; ed, May
|, 1871, forbidding the issue Of this scrip
Until directions came from the head OF
he department. But the representa-
ives of the State of Arkansas were bent |
IN securing that scrip, and they did not |
intend to make any arrangement for |
the worthless bonds of the |
State; in order to do so, it was necessary |
hat they should get possession of the |
befOre congress met. After |
hat this new law would prevent it. |
What means they used do not know, |
)ut the records Of the land office do show /
hat on the twenty-third OF October,
S72, General Cowen, then acting as sec. |
etary Of the interior in Mr.. Delano's |
.bsence, ordered Willis Drummond,
Of the general land office, |
o.delIver the scrip to the State and
axe q receipt therefor. On the same
lay, G. F. Lewis, of Cleveland, Ohio,
appeared at the land office with q power
4 attorney from Henry Page, State
reasurer of Arkansas, aud received
line hundred and thirty-seven certih-
ates of agricultural college scrip on be-
lalf Of that State. OF course no pro-
7isiOn was made for refunding the In
han trust fund bonds, and when the
aw by which congress supposed it had
ecured them went upon the statute
'ook, the security had, by the act OF AS
istant- Secretary Cowen, passed beyond
he control Of the United States authori-
les. Congress had placed the lock on
be barn-door, and delivered the key to
be President, but before he had time to
urn it the horse had been stolen, ard 1t
ad been led out and delivered up by the
cry man who ought to have stood jeal.
US guard over ii until the door YVES SO.
urely locked. The worthless Indian
rus. fund bonds are still in the posses
ION o! the interior department, and
here is no danger that the State of Ar.
ansas will now make any provision for
them. Would it not be proper
n congress to put General Cowen upon
le witness stand, and let him explain
hat induced him to issue his order Of
le twenty-third OF October, 1872?
We're the csnsideIa ions political, or of
different character?
oVernOr ChamberIain's Action Sus-
tanned.
CHARLESTON, December 2S. The |
rgest and most enthusiastic public
,coFiY-r hold {p rharIcatoT, fhn !