The New York herald., 1875-12-10
What "a Small Mind in This Small
Age" Is Equal To.
A LAND swINDL1NG CASE.
Church and State in Connection with the
indian Appointments.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.


THE OPENING sEssIoN-AN ENERGETIC Ex-
PLANTATION FROM MR.. WOOD.
The bunder OF the democratic leaders at the opening
of Congress on Monday is theme that does not die
OF public discusson fact the chance of another
mistake before this one shall have been forgotten
dreaded that the House will dodge holding any
session until line of policy shall have been laid
for the democratic majority and the committees
made up Hence 1t is understood that reassemblng
tomorrow an adjournment will be taken for another
three days, which will carry the recess Monday
II is said in xplanation Fernando Woods resolution
that he offered it at the suggestion Of tho Louisiana
delegation whose interests no felt himself bound to
champion as as he had been asked to be their
spokesman. The democratic leaders wish to dscour-
age the belief that they any portion of them had
decided, at preliminary conference upon the policy
of defending the McEnery claimant In
interview this evening with Mr.. Fernando
Wood he was asked If he had anything
to explain about his introduction OF the Louisiana
ter the opening OF the House the other day
He assumed the look OF a French general at court
martial and said that he did not know that he was
bound give of his his motives for
hem. He had done nothing that he was ashamed Of
He independent man. and under obligations
to any newspaper party
~ want the press and the public said he rising to
dramatic and imposing posture, ''to understand that
shall do as please, and make no explanations of my
conduct accountable only my constituents.
II they wish explanation I ready to give it.
The record of what have said speaks for
itself have nothing to add, nothing
10 retract assure you there nothing
IN this whole thing, so far as | know there was
nor is there, any intention or desire to reopen the
Louisiana question. Certainly not my part and
hat naith Mr. Cnv hada in
tcntion. My action solely my own, for which am
solely and entirely responsible. governed by no
party clique or caucus and OF all the 1856 men,
bcrs who voted and of my views, i don't
know that any Of them had any intention or wish to
touch Louisiana affairs. If the press wish TO make
sensation and say that the democrats wanted TO
have more blood and slaughter down there it is their
look out, not mine. am not responsible for what they
may say for the action OF designing who don't
care whether Kellogg or McEnery be Governor
SO long they accomplish their schemes.
These the men who make dupes of the reporters
and lead them to disseminate impressions which will
way further their designs | see reason for all
this cry the simple fact that made a motion for
inquiry to be made concerning the validity
Of Mr. Moroy's credentials Papers were presented
10 the Clerk, claiming to come from the Governor
of louisiana merely moved that they be examined
referred to the proper committee which would have
taken perhaps, days. If the committee had ques
toned the legality of Mr.. Keogg's official position as
Governor that would have been another thing but
that is a supposton. l repeat that had intention
10 reopen the Louisiana question, and there is no
foundation for this outcry. 1t only shows to what
depth Of imbeclity the common intelligence OF the
country can reach. This attack and my friends
is the smallest exhibition of small mind that this
small age produce 1t is too damned small to
laugh at"
THE QUESTION or CHURCH AND sTATE-wHo
APPOINTS THE INDIAN AGENTS?
The passage in the Message which demands the
tire separation Of Church and State unlikely
come up in the Senate in curious shape The Indian
agents, who selected under the Presidents
order by the heads of religious bodies are
nominated by the President and have to be
confirmed by the Senate When their names
up before the Committee on Indian Affairs and
inquiry is made abou> them Senators complain that
neither the Senate the Indian Bureau the In
Department knows anything Of them 1t is said
that some democratic Senators mean to inquire into
this matter, with view ascertaning how far the
churches arc really concerned in these appointments
and who are the persons to whom each denomination
delegates the nominating power.
THE ALLEGED LAND swINDLE OF THE UNION
CREATED OUT OF HIS PROPERTY.
The alleged land swindng operations of the Union
Pacific Railroad revealed the case OF Carroll against
Hodgeman and the company, a rehearing of which has
been ordered by Land Commissioner Burdctt is likely
te. be followed by further similar disclosures twelve
additional claims having been already fled
Tor adjudication. The facts in the Carroll
case expose scheme of rascality that
finds no palliaton. The allegations made before the
Land Commissioner are briefly as folows:-
Michael A. Carroll, in 1869, settled in good faith
under the preemption laws upon the land in dispute
amounting to about seventy three acres in Laramie
City tho plot being covered by property Of the
railroad, comprising hotel, depot roundhouse and
like buildings belonging TO a railway establish
ment In the year 1865 Hodgeman had settled
on an adjoining tract and ncd declaratory
statement with the Surveyor General, there
beng at the time local land Office open. This state
ment with description OF the land caused be put
on the county records in the year 1870 Meantime he
was in the service Of the company starting as brake
man and being promoted engineer and TO conductor.
The land thus described Is altogether separate from
Carrol's land as appears from the wording Of the de-
scrption Both tracts as yet unsurveyed. Mean
time the railroad company had taken posses
sion OF the scvcnty-threc acres, forming part
81 the section owned by Carroll Hodgeman, seeing
the bunder OF the company thought TO avail himself Of
it, Accordingly, when the approved government sur
veys were lcd the local land office at Cheyenne he
went there sixty miles distant with two witnesses,
proved up his claim to Carros land, paid the cash
entry the Homestead law and got his patent or
title TO the land from the United States He then made
issuc with the railroad company, who endcavorcd to
vate his claim the ground that his entry upon the
land made for speculation and not in good iath The
company were unaware OF tho fasiy Of his title After
some litigation ley bought hs claimed interest, and,
beng in turn proceeded against by Carroll who mean
time had discovered the trcspass Of the railroad on his
land but not until he had been furnished with the
Official survey, went to work to defend Hodgcman md
themselves. II should be mentioned here that the
10 officers at Cheyenne Jailed to forward Carroll's
po eg and other papers 70 Washington and The Land