The Van Buren press., 1876-03-28
Donated Lands.

Mr.. DusAAM: observe it tn fsst number
of the Argus An editorial deyotsd y the North
west Rsilroad, In which 1t ID saerted- that We
grant of forfeited lands to said road, BY the
legislature, was most lamentable tiunder." !"
Having been member Of the last legtsiaturs,
and having supported the measure BY vote
and voice and not believing the passage OF
the law blunder at all: ON the contrary mef-
itorious and praiseworthy, ask brief spase
In your columns for comment on the editorial
In question. L would remark. in the ousest,
that the act Of the general assembly douatss
the railroad company lands forfeited to the
State for the non- payment Of taxes. Ii docs
not undertake to donate lands other than such
as belong to the State. But then. Il 10 said.
many men hold tax-receipts, for taxes paid
on their lands, while the same lands appear
on the books at Little Rock as forfeited to the
State and again that these lands may be-
come subject to donation on the books ut Lit
tie Rock, while the taxes have been puncttl-
| ally paid. This can only be true to q limited
| extent. ] don't believe there are half q doz-
en- such cases In Crawford county. Ifa faith
less ccAc.1 f.l.av- returns lands as delin-
, rpent ON account Of the non-payment Of tax
es, and they are certified to re auditor ~
forfeited to the State In consequence, rr.sao'
itself without gross negligence on the part
}of the tax payer. cannot affect h1, right 10
the land thus falsely returned delinquent,
The reverse OF this proposition would be'ssm-
| ply .monstrouss True. If there be any such
eases as mentioned in the Argus, and tho par
ties neglect them for an indefinite length oi
they may become sufferers Ike NIL others
who neglect and slnmber upon their rights.
There ought to be no such cases. n those
spoken Of by the Argus, The collector re-
turns his delinquent list under oath. The de-
linquent lands are advertised and sold pub
licly, The clerk keeps record of the lands
sold, and 1t remains as q perpetual record III
the office of the clerk, for the inspection OF
all persons. The clerk then certihes to the
auditor the lands forfeited to the State. and
not until two years thereafter are the lands
offered for sale ifnot redeemed. In the mean
time these lands are no longer on the tax
books. One would think that = taxpayer.
wrongfully returned delinquent would wake
up from his slumbers, and look to his rights
If not. why then there Is always danger oil
complications. --s.s
As regards the merits Of the northwestern
railroad there ought to be no difference OF
opinion. II there Is one part Of Arkansas
mole than another that requires railroad. it
is the country north Of Boston Mountain.
The members of the legislature from WASH
ington, Benton and Madison counties, where
most OF the forfeited lands lie. were unani-
mously in favor of the donation ACT, and
while did not regard these forfeited lands
rs going far toward building the road. still l
was willing to contribute eYeI small
amount to aid in accomplishing great good.
have nothing to do with the motives which
may have prompted others to vote for or
against the bill In my support Of the meas,
nre. which was earnest and sincere. l was
governed by an anxious desire to encourage
an important public improvement, In which
all western and northwestern Arkrnsas was
deeply interested. If in the passage Of this
law the legislature and the governor who en-
dorsed 1t. committed "lamentublc blunder.. =
We were all truly uhfortunste; but ae differ
on this subject with the editor Of tie Argue,
and AS no person so far as / can learn. 10 In
injured or nkely to be Injured, by the action
of the legislature. must stand BY and vim
,dicate the law. Respectfully
..a.' ',r JESSE TURNER.