Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-08-09
COOLEY'S RECORD.
A Scorching Challenge to q Critical Elk
animation Of the Same.

CVVLE1>0 nECVAOs
A Searching Challenge to q Critical Ex-
animation of the Same.
The editor Of the Dubuque Times,
who, as many people are aware, holds
interchangeable opinions regarding Mr..
Cooley's integrity Of character and pur-
ity of record, one day this week, in an
excess of zeal, or, it may be, an impulse
of gratitude, undertook the herculean
task of smoothing out the crooked rec
ord Of the Ex-Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs. The effort, by reason of the
skill with which the black head-lands of
that record were circumnavigated and
the swampy spots skinned over, was
worthy of Macchiavelli. By the aid Of
Mr.. Cooley himself, and a lively mag
nation, the Times man constructed
theory as to the way Cooley acquired
his sudden wealth, that was quite plaus-
ible to those who had an interest in be-
lieving it, but which. nevertheless, was
full of weak spots This theory was, in
effect. that Mr.. Cooley was worth $780,
600 when he went into Office in 1864,
and that the balance Of his fortune OF a
quarter of million, or more, was de-
rived from the rise in value of some
thousands Of acres of wild lands in
Iowa, which before were unstable.
This is the outline of the effort to re.
lieve Mr.. Cooley's record, and the story,
told in a general way, without details or
explanations of some Inconsistencies
therein, was relied upon to satisfy the
public that Mr.. Cooley is pure-and
whole-souled, though much-persecuted
man, But there seems to be one man in
Dubuque who is not satisfied with the
ingenious and plausible explanation Of
Mr. Cooley'a wealth, and who insists in
puncturing the aimsy fabric erected at
the cost Of so much labor by the Times
editor. This man, who promises to make
good his somewhat pointed accusations,
if they are contradicted, sent letter to
the Herald, of yesterday, which we give
below. 1t contains some averments Of
fact that have not heretofore seen the
light in this canvass, and is on the whole
rather lively reading. We await with
some interest the response Of Mr..
Woodruff:
To the Editor of the Dubuque Herald:
For years past we have been told by
Mr.. Cooley that he acquired his great
and suddenly gained wealth by practic-
ing law in the court of claims. This has
been the one and only explanation he
has ever given since his return from
Washington. The faet that during the
past month an investigation Of this pre-
tended source of his wealth has been
made, showing his explanation to be
substantially groundless and wholly in.
adequate, he now, through the editor OF
the Times, changes his tactics, and says
he was worth thirty thousands dollars
when he went into public Office, and got
rich after he came out by selling his
wild lands. This story is little too
"fshy," Mr.. Woodruff. You have made
a great mistake; a great mistake in ma
king the statement, and still greater
one in making any statement at all: Ii
he was worth thirty thousand dollars
when he went into public office. why did
he not pay his honest debts? Why was
his dishonored paper hawked about the
streets Of Dubuque without finding
purchaser? And why was it picked up
by his agents after he got into the lndi-
an Commissioners Office, at ten cents on
the dollar? Do you. or does Mr.. Cooley
deny these facts and call for proof? If
you, OF. either of you do: we will give
you, in the next issue of the Herald,
enough names OF prominent citizens OF
Dubuque, as witnesses, to make you
sick. Worse than this, do You or does
Mr.. Cooley deny that while he was In
dian Commissioner, goods were purchas-
ed for the Indians, on account OF the
government, from parties in this city, at
their own figures, on condition that they
would surrender Mr.. Cooley's overdue
and dishonored paper without further
or other pay? If you do we invite you
to make a little inquiry. You will find
too many for Mr.. Cooleys COMPRESSION
al prospects, who knows it, and the evil
dence most too close at hand to be
agreeable.
Again, if Mr.. Cooley was worth so
much before he got into the Indian Of
fee, and afterwards got so rich by sell
ing wild lands, why has not this big
hearted either" and liberal gentleman"
made good to some of the poor people
their losses whom he compelled to settle
with him at ten cents on the dollar?
Not red cent has he ever made good.
We can give you the names of poor men
and of widows and orphan children in
this city who would be only TOO glad to
hear from Mr.. Cooley on this subject,
and who would warmly thank him for
manifestation of his liberality by paying
them what he Justly owes them
Now, Mr.. Woodruff, will you tell us
in what counties those lands were which
Mr.. Cooley owned and sold for so much?
We can find out all about it if you will
give US this little piece of additional in
formation. We venture the prediction
that if you give us the names of the
counties, an inquiry will result in show
ing that he did not own an acre Of land
at the time referred to, that was not
mortgaged or covered up" and that the
present pretense of his suddenly acquir-
ed wealth being derived from this
source, in whole or in part, is utterly
untrue, MORE ANON.
The colOred men in North Carolina voted sol
idly with the Republicans at the election Aug.
l, and: the Republicans carried a number of