The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-10
Says He Never Owned $4,000
Acres Nor 1000 Head
of Cattle.
Nor Attempted TO Steal Land
from the ZuniS of
New Mexico.
The Senate and House Killing
Time, and Sending Business
Over to December.

| L uCOb1 1llC NY l11Chllo
that 1 call attention to certain state
ments | find copied in the public press,
as well as in the Congressional Record
of the 9th of June. In the first 1 am
set down in the list Of what is termed
''land grabbers," as having, in some
mysterious way, accumulated vast
amount 10000 acres) of land.
This statement is utterly without
foundation. The New York Herald,
of the 10Th, adds thirty thousand head
of cattle. l wish this were true, but
there is no foundation for the state
ment. | would take no notice of this,
however, were it not for the charge
that follows in the second statement.
The person who made the statement,
after finding it untrue, instead of
doing justice to me, against whom he
might. by his erroneous statements,
have done an injury, proceeded to put
another false statement on record. as
follows:-that l might have said to
the deluded soldiers of this land-what
do you think Of great senator who
in his greed to absorb territory which
belongs to actual settlers, or land that
was made for Independent
free holders and small farmers :?
What you think of man who passes
for statesman and patriot, as a
| friend par excellence, OF the soldiers
and who under cover of his brother
in-law, went to New Mexico and
tried to preempt most valuable land
lying along her streams, and was only
stopped by public officer finding out
it belonged to a class for which he
processes the utmost friendship, and
who, from his manner and appear
ance, rumor says, their blood flows in
his Veins-tried to steal from his own
kith and kin 100000 acres Of land,
great laughter and applause on demo-
cratic side; taking from the unfortu-
nate savage who was unable to pro-
tect himself, until an honest secretary
! of the interior went there with the
surveyors and took back the land for
the Zunis renewed laughter and ap-
plausel Now, Mr.. President, this
Statement is, so far as L am concerned,
OF any one else of whom l have any
knowledge, maliciously false. Sir,
attack has been made? Captain Law
low. Major Tucker and Mr.. stuart
located claims at Nutria Springs,
on Hand adjacent in New Mexico;
ascertaining from the general land Of
ficer that the land twas subject to To-
cation, being outside the Indian res
ervation, being some five miles from
the Indian line and some twenty-five
or thirty miles from thetoWn of Zuni.
So it will be seen the hundred thou
sand acres of land this man says that
| was stealing from the Indians re-
solves itself into three homesteads, or
desert act claims located by two army
officers, and one citizen, on public
land, open to such entry, with which
location, however, l had nothing to
to do.
In order to prove the statements he
had made, he read number of letters.
The first was a letter from the COM
missioner general of the land office,
showing the land in question was
subject to location and entry; public
land at the time, and, if not of loca-
ton, would have been subject to can
collation.. The next letter was from
| Mayor Tucker to Secretary Teller,
giving the facts in connection with
the location of lands mentioned by
him and his associates, and protesting
against any change by resurvey OF
the Zuni reservation. He said the
charges against Logan in connection
with these lands are untrue. The
next letter, from Capt. Lawton to
Gen. Logan, refutes, at great length,
the charges against the latter, and
says: "There is not, nor has there
been, any company or organization
for the purpose of buying, or owning
land, raising stock or starting ranch
on the Nutria, IN which you or any
other person, is or was interested.
NV entry of land on the Nutria was
made in good faith for myself, and no
other person has any interest in the
locations. Any and all statements
that this is or has been a combination
to secure land, or start a ranch for
your benefit, or for the benefit OF any
person other turn those appearing on
the record of the land Office, is un-
ttrue."
| James Stevenson, of the United
States geological survey, bears the
following testimony in letter to
Senator Logan: "Having had my at
tention called to statements in the
Congressional Record, recently, 1ndl-
rectly charging you with a fraudulent
attempt to deprive theZuni Indians
of New Mexico of their lands, l beg
to say am familiar with the facts
and the circumstances, from a thor
ough investigation of the subject
made at the request of the secretary
of the interior, and take pleasure in
stating the allegations thus made are
grossly unjust to you. as well as MAJ
Tucker and his associates, and who'll
ly without foundation"
The last letter of the series is from
Secretary Teller to General Logan
t In it he says: There is not the
: slightest evidence that any wrong
was intended, or done, by the parties
to the entries or any law violated
2 The land was public land at the tlm'
these entries were made, and as sucf
3 was open to entry of the public. The
5 gentlemen who made the entries wer,
Qualified to enter such lands, and hat
a perfect right to do so, and they mel
Their violated the law nor the right
of any parties whatever. In so doing
| asked the executive order extending
;. the reservation without understand
J ing all the facts at the time. 1t give
e me pleasure to make this statement
d view of the allegations to the con-
l. trary which have been made:
e When Major Tucker and his asso
l. ciates were attacked through Tn
i newspapers, said Gen. Logan, an
d ClaTQ6Q Will 1uGCl1OlAAS WIN VII
:: rights of the Indians and doing
l. great wrong, 1 defended them in
If letter through the public press, an
l. otherwise, as having violated no LAY
@ and having committed no frauds o
IL the Indians. In that defense, l aske
r, the question if a soldier like Capital
re LaWton could not locate a homestea
s. or presumption, or whatever the loo;
d ton was, within the distance he ha
S. to the Indians reservation, and to tie
I'd me how many miles soldier woul
q. have to go away from reservation
ne order to comply with the law. This
of did in their behalf. l now stand
what l did then. If this be a Grim
F. or a fraud, my enemies can make Il
ne most of it. These men are all homo
Ii able men. Capt. Lawton was a ga
ne liant soldier, and served all thruug
N, the war with great credit and homo
of to his country. Major Tucker Ii n
of son-in-law. He is gentleman and
ee, man who would not wrong any on
or, / rresume the wrong in me is tn
ma Major Tucker is part of my famil
oil. and although he is innocent of al
ser wrong in the premises. a baseless e
cuse was made to aSsail me throul
G him. If their object WAS 30 drs
II. me into his defense, they nave 81
rn, ceeded, and when any inc think:
us, have not manhood elongh to open
mn raiafivQ friend Uh