The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-09-25

election for county and precinct Off
GERS will be ordered by county Judges
as prescribed in article 1880, revised
statutes.
The Governor appointed w. A. Car
ter of iFrio county, district attorney OF
the Both district, in place of Morrison,
resigned.
The sheriff of Dodd City, Kansas,
was granted a requisition for 5. A.
Grothouse, now in jail at Galveston
on charge of forgery committed in
Dodd City.
The whole cause of the Greer coun-
ty correspondence arose from an order
from the adjutant general of the Unit
ed States to the department at Fort
81 !, to eject all white settlers from
Greer county. 1t may be stated also,
that prior to July 10, last. a very vol
luminous correspondence had been en-
tered into by Governor Ireland with
Secretary of the Interior Henry M.
Teller, with Secretary of War Robert
It. Lincoln, with Secretary Uf State
Frelinghuysen. The only reply so far
is from Secretary Frelinghuysen, who
said the matter would be Immediately
placed before the president. All OF
Governor Ireland's arguments and
letters were for revocation OF the
ejectment order.
ATTORNEY GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The comptroller received letter,
which he referred to the attorney
general, from party in Tyler, in
which the writer inquiries: "Is there
any law, custom or precedent in your
Office by which the state aids triplets
have been so informed by old
Texans, but the lawyers in Tyler can't
make anything of it; so L appeal to
you or the encouragement"
The attorney general replies: IL
don't think there is any precedent,
though 1 am informed that some
thirty years ago the legislature au-
thoriZed the issue of donation certi-
ficate for a league and labor of land to
the mother of five children at one
birth. But the number you advise is
so much larger, and the public lands
are now so much less, that hardly
regard the case of tripletsa precedent.
THE LAND FRAUD CASES.
Some of the parties, defendants in
suits suggested to the attorney-gene
raj by the land fraud board, do not as.
sent to the proposition that the Lind
sey case, which has been settled by the
surrender of the land to the state, is g
probably test case, so far as the other
suits are concerned. In the Lindsey
case it seems the land commissioner
had already protected the interests Of
the state, prior to the investigation by
the land frauds board, as far as it was
in his power to do so, by refusing tC
issue the certificates to Lindsey. In
this respect the other cases stand upon
an entirely different footing, from the
Lindsey case, and for that reason are
likely to be contested.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
Treasury receipts yesterday were
5000.
The appropriation of $4,000 fol
the payments of fees of sheriffs
clerks and attorneys in felony cases
was exhausted yesterday. The def.
cheney will probably be 100000.
THE GREER COUNTY MATTER.
The following letter of Gov. Ire
land, though not of recent date, has
not been published, and is of interest
touching the controversy about Greer
county:
JULY 18th, 1854.
Hon. Henry NJ. Teller, Secretary of the Inter.
SIR: Within the last ten days / have
had the honor of comm unicating with
the president and he secretary of war
on the subject of an order, recently
served on some of the settlers in Greer
county, Texas. With the idea OF
reaching results at the earliest day
possible, L now write. you, without
awaiting answer from the president.
You are doubtless fully appraised OF
the disputed claims of the United
States and Texas to the territory
known as Greer county, Texas. Your
late report to the president shows a
very thorough knowledge of the
whole question.
After the presidents message
to congress-, transmitting your re-
port, you must appreciate my surprise
at learning that the department com
!nander, Missouri department, had
issued orders to have persons found
in Greer county removed by military
force from that territory. Why this
should be done on the eve of an annie
able adjustment of the respective
claims l cannot understand. The
authority to use the military is found
in article 2147 revised statutes, as
quoted in the orders. This section is
copied from the act of 1884, and only
applies to persons who have haC
authority to, or are trading with tht
Indians in violation of a license OF
law-the agent then by your authority
may apply for military force to re
move them.
Now it is very clear that this terri
tory is no such Indian country or res
ervation as is contemplated in thu
law. There are no Indians there, anC
there are no persons there who are, OF
have been trading with the Indians
There is but one class of persons who
are required to obtain permission t.
go into any Indian reservation, to wit
foreigners, article 2134, revised stat
uteS. There is no law making it un
lawful for any one else to go there
This argument is on the basis of tina
territory being an Indian reservation
There is no complaint that thest
people have done anything
in violation of law, That they are il
any way interfering with the Indian:
or Indian agents, is not commended Of
complained of.
Referring to article 2,147 again, il
will be seen that only persons found
there contrary of law" can be remov
ed by force. Now the fact that for
eigners are not allowed to go there
without license, is proof conclusive
that congress did not intend to make
it unlawful for any citizen to go there
without a license. In any way the
matter can be viewed there does not
appear to be the slightest authority
for this order, and its execution now
will cause great loss and hardship to
these people. 1t appears to me an ar
bitrary order, having for its motive
some basis not visible. / take it, il
has been done without your authori
ty.
1 respectfully but earnestly request
revocation of the order, and, If it
must be done, that you transmit this
letter to the president, with your en-
dorsement thereon.
l am, very respectfully, ETC.,
JNo. IRELAND,
Governor of Texas.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
To all School Officers:
Some months ago / requested large
photographs of school buildings. Up
to this date, l have received very
few. They are designed for exhibit
ton at the Worlds Industrial and
Cotton Centennial exposition at New