The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-09-17

Ttt FrsHrhign faiff CHrirHrf huf
anls. shosn pp. nria no sfts' o.
uftsf rnitrta' opVefNnf lfes
lad VifHira et. Huu hia
fnsmiot rnuIf1i ifo.


News TeoeDt aItioie GA .Ao ri ist.r
communication, has boon sent TO us
, for publication. II isaddroBaed 10 that
, ournal;
AUSTIN, Sept. !, iss5.-When road
your,edstorial OF the ist Of September,
/ did not deem Il wor tn while TO reply,
but upon second reading | noticed
your PECULIAR sn0erlng, saroGstici and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS smother kind
of style, and nearly all OF 10 applying
o me, / have concluded TO ask space
TO say q few words In regard TO IL. 1t
Ia very peculiar document. Tor IN It's
whole leplth nnd breadth or noariy
column, IL does not make one truthful
point against tho land board, the Day
Land and Cattle company, or myseli,
against whom 10 tbuuders are huilou'
NON commence vOur editorial as loi-
love: "The State Land Board anu tho
Grstr County Lnnos. Nho candid
atat.menta az Colonel Swihheri re-
Gently made 20 the News N defense ~
the State land board, arc TO ba com
mended. II ali other curious lanG
transactions were as iuliy exposed ~
those referred to by Colonel SwisbeT,
the people might begin a. SEQ tho true
inwardness OF much that perplexrs
them now, Vhe unique nnivete l.
. reiresbing. For hall OF 100000 Hrlcs
COLONEL Swishsr and Others locatt q
certificates OF his !sllow-YeLerans.
This land is in Greer county, tho ter.
ritory In dispute between Texas and
the general government.
Colonel Swishor found the land,
which IL fertile, fair 10 sec.
session of iree-grass pre-Occupier,
and complains that this individual has
prayopted Tho salca OF hts locations.
After obtsiuing only 62 300 acres tor
locating 62,500 acres for his old COM
comraoes, no was unable 10 sell, and
IL appears all that WAS Left him was 10
lease. II the State should Ieass con-
tiguous landr, those located under
veteran certificates could DO leased,
and IL IN understood, have been leased.
The States interest and Colonel
SWisher's interest have been merged
into 81 common interest. No ono will
bearudge Colonel Swishor the advant-
age that results from trgnsactou
which IN equally beneficial to the
state. No one will sympathize with
the mislortunes OF the dnmineerinB
agent Of New York syndicate, who
would rule that country b the power
lie
dents proclamation, or in violation OF
the laws OF Texas. Bat what all that
has TO do with the questionable action
Of the State land board in violating
its own advertised rules and regula
tiops, does not appear. No one doubts
that Colonel Swisher did land-ofiice
business with the veterans. lie has
soft place in his heart Tor his ola COM
rades. He divides The land with them
A. ,tyi.n n in IL
liberality would even divide RESPONSE
biliiy with The lana board. In land
matters there YVES scarcely ever he
fore exhibited 20 much amiable regard
for tho Siate's interest"
Now, Mr.. Editor, you must be the
very kind %, person the pact had IN his
"minu's eye' when he wrote:
"Skilhd by touch to deepen SCANDALS
with nj the kind mendacity of hints;
While mingling Truth with ialsehood-
sneers with smiles,
thread of candor and web of wiles"
The first sentence OF the editorial is
literally true. But you evidently in.
tended an opposite meaning. THIS
comes under the head OF "Sneers and
Smiles,n Che second sentence may
he termed the "kind mendscity OF
hints,D From this sentence down to
the sentence where you say "Coionel
Sw;sher did land office business"
NAV be classed ga thread OF cardOr
and a web OF wilss." / see my name
mentioned in the above space, but L
care nothing for your praise or slam
der, ".or am armed so strong In hon
esty that they pass oy me like the idle
wind which l respect pof."
Ynu saw quo one doubts that Colonel |
Sw;sber did land-oilice business with |
the veterans" etc. II you intended to |
convey the IDEA thst md not contract !
to locate their certificates as cheap or |
cheaner than anv other person would |
have done, that l have robbed them n |
any way, then you come under the
head of
WrALsEHooD WITHOUT A MINGLING OF |
TRUTH"
have made iG my aim through life |
to try and do unto others as L would |
have them DO unto me. This Is a hard |
road co travel, but L have the salts
faction of knowing that up |
tn to-day, have never willfully |
wropged, cheated or deirauded any |
man, wOmsu or child, State or cor
poration. The veterans are the last |
persons in the world whom would |
think Of swindling, for L feel myself |
under the deepest obligations to them |
for giving me their certificates Tor ioca- |
ton, Hao they not done so ~ouiu |
not hay thought of investigating the
title of Texas TO Greer county, Tor l
would have had no incentive.
/ am sorry they have met the same |
fate 1 have, by our own Legislature
casting shadows on our titles ana pre-
venting sales.
/ stare it openly and above board,
cal in me, that but for my lndlvidusl
exertiops, Texas would by to-day have
given UP all
CLAIMS TO GREER COUNTY,
and the title would have been firmly
fixed ia the United States. This L can
prove beyond controversy. L can also
prove beyond controversy that before
and after I went to Washington, l OBJ
tanned such evidence as Will prove In
apy court of justice, or other honest
tribunal, that the United States does
moi possess the shadow OF claim to
Greer county. These proofs l have in
nv possession, and can exhibit them
when necessary. I, therefore, claim
that / individually have added to the
nnblic domain the territory embraced |
in Greer county, amounting TO l,e|0OoO
acres, without the aid OF any one
save the glorious old veterans ana
widows OF veterans VINO gays me
their certificates TO locate; kuoads
Fisher. at tbat time chief clerk in the |
general land office, for giving me the
fdea, and Colonel George W.. Brack-
enridge, of San Antonio, and Major
John r. Breckenridge, OF Austin, Tor
furnishing at all times all the money
/ needed. Having devoted 20 years OF
the primo OF my life to the service OF
the State, in various positions, princi-
pally financial, and having saved
thousands and thousands OF dollars
for the Statn, over and above my saia-
ries. it should not be considered won
derful that should come TO consider
myaelt kind Of guardian of the
States interest. You say, "The States
interest and Colonel Swisher's interest
have been merged into common in,
terest,D II this is true 1t does not
amount to much, for we have both