The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-15
THE GREER COUNTY QUESTION.

L
paying and educational purposes, and
the present bill seeks to repeal this
law and to authorize the location of
veteran certificates on part OF the
land. The veteran provision of the
bill. now under consideration, pro-
vides that any original grantee, or his
heirs, who now owns or may still
have interest in or title to any of said
certificates, or any part thereof, au-
thoriZed to be issued by said act, ap-
proved March 10, 1881, may at once
upon the approval of this act, proceed
to locate and have surveyed said land
certificates upon the public domain
within said county of Greer. and shall
have twelve months from ap-
proval within which to perfect said
location and send up field notes Of the
same to the general land Office, which
shall be patented us in other cases
The majority OF the committee take 4
stand against the bill because, as they
allege, it may be that some sort of a
ring is organized to gobble up nearly
all the lands in the county on veteran
certificates. The bill proposes To open
locations only in favor of such certIti-
Gates as are still in the possession of
original grantees, or their heirs, while
it is we'll known that only IA few GER
| titicates now remain in the hands of
the original grantees. Col. SwiSher. ii
San Jacinto veteran, to whom
SO much is due for his research
in the direction of proof that the title
to Greer county is undoubtedly in the
state of Texas, and who laborS, Us the
agent of veterans, to secure these
landed rights for few, asserts that
the certificates now held for such To-
cation. if granted, will not exceed one
hundred and twenty-five thousand
acres. There are nearly two millions
of acres in Greer county and thus it
will be seen that very small proper
tion of the lands may be located for
the benefit of original grantees or
their heirs. \ minority report,
signed by three members of
the committee. recites that a
couple of years ago. perhaps little
longer, the right of Texas to Greer
county was. to say the least. appar-
emily of the weakest, so faras affirma-
tive proofs were concerned. The re-
port of the boundary commissioners,
the claims of the interior department
and land Office, the action of the gen.
eral government in incorporating it
in the Indian reservations, the very
action Of Texas herself, but implied
| assent to the validity of the adverse
claim, The Affirmative fact that one
of our senators more than once asked
permission of the general government
for C tizens to Craze their stock on
grass growing in Greer county. which
permits were refused, all show or tend
to show that Greer county
had been given up by Texas.
The minority report continues as
follows:
1t was ut time like this, when il
WAS nearly hopeless, it would appear,
to stem the current and break the
force OF the adverse claim, that the
veterans, few in number. old and
poor, commenced, through their
agents, Il system OF investigation
among the old records of both the
United States and Texas, to discover
and bring to light facts which, known
and appreciated, would establish the
title of Texas to Greer county, to the
full satisfaction of every reasoning
and candid mind. This was done at
cost to them individually, in the
shape of money advanced and liabili-
ties incurred. To the amount OF nC
less than ten thousand dollars. The
affirmative facts were brought to
light, and to-day the title of Texas To
Greer county cannot be successfully
assailed: ut least such is the opin-
ion of all those who have
studied and understand the facts.
Thus Il second time a remnant of the
veterans won Greer county, and by
the expenditure of money that they
could i'll afford to lose. They ask the
privilege, such of them as yet own
their certificates, of locating them in
this territory, which they have doubly
won, with the distinct understanding
that if when they take possession of
their lands the United States resorts
to legal measures, and not to military
force. to eject them, they will bear the
burden OF litigation, without aid or
help from Texas; and thus in this
move, third time win Greer county,
by valor, 10y expenditure of money to
gather scattered and dust-eoYered eV-
idence. and then through the right
and justice of their title, as the courts
will pronounce it. They ask but n
pittance, a grain of sand from the
seashore, q blade OF grass from the
prairie! What they ask can be given
them justly and lawfully, and, in our
opinion, 1t ought to be given promptly
and gratefully.
1t is, in truth, but q poor recogni-
ton of service that these old menmay
be allowed chance to help, at their
own risk, to assist in fixing the title
of Greer county in this state. The
fact about it is, the claims of these
old men will be listened to in Wash
ington when nothing else might have
effect. Their proprietary in
terest in these lands might
really secure the admission on
the part of the t deral government
that it has no right to Greer county.
1t is worth trying. The passage of
the bill would place few certificates
where they would be satisfied even at
a risk. We know that the claim of
Texas to this territory has not been
recognized by the federal govern
msnt, and it may be that it
never Sii be. 1t is said that
if the bill pass q delegation OF
veterans will go to Washington, ap-
pealing for settlement of the dispute.
and it is believed their appeal would
be listened to with favor. The trial
would at least be advisable. II guards
about the bill be necessary, then it
might be well to place limit on the
lands to be located in Greer county
for the benefit of veterans.
THE condition of the wires through
out the country make it impossible to
get satisfactory report. Great in