St. Landry democrat., 1885-03-21
OPELOUSAS, LA. SATURDAY, MARCH 2I, 1885.

inquired of each member of the Cabi
net whether it was thei
opinion that the patents should be is
sued. He received an affirmative re
| ply from each and every member of th'
Cabinet This ended my interview
| with the Commissioner of the Genera
Land, office. | left him, disspirited
aud almost hopeless. was distressed
beyond measure to find, after all my
efforts in behalf of the settlers, that
the Secretary of the Interior, in clear
disregard OF his personal assurances to
me and others, should, at the close of
his administration, have thwarted all
my efforts to do justice to my people.
son the night of the 5th of March /
received anOte from Senator Van Wyck,
requesting me to call upon him, for the
purpose of consulting with me in re-
gard to this matter. The result OF that
consultation was the introduction of
the resolution by Senator Van Wyck,
which has already been published by
the press of tie country. The Senator
assured me in that interview, that he
intended to continue the contest, and
that if possible to thoroughly ventilate
the facts connected with tnis unseemly
precipitation on the part of the Interior
Department in the issuance of these
patents. Subseqent to that time held
several consultations with Senator Eus-
It's, upon the subject. He asked me if
| would be kind enough to furnish him
with all the documents, and give him
all the information in my possession.
This did, and the result of this inter-
view with Senator Eustis, was the as
surance ou his part to me that he intend
ed to renew the contest, and exert
himself to the utmost to secure
THE RIGHTS OF THE SETTLERS
and Government in this land grant"
g. I left Washington feeling confident
that the Senator would do what he
could in the matter"
Reporter-General, what do you
think Senator Gibson will do in this
matter?
Gen. Lewis-T can only say what /
think-I think that Senator Gibson,
while he would not probably advocate
an unqualified forfeiture of the land
the bill reported by Senator Morgan,
or some similar measure by which the
settlers would be relieved from Oppres-
sion by the railroad corporations.
RepOrter-Then, General, you are of
the opinion, as far as your interviews
with Senator Gibson are concerned,
that he certainly does disapprove of the
indecent haste with which Secretary
Teller issued these patents at the clos
ing hours of the late Administration
Gen. Lewis: do think so, and for
the reason that he signed the protest
against the issuance of these patents.
Reporter: Did you have any CONVEX
satiOn with ex-senator Jonas on this
subject?
Gen. Lewis: I did.
Reporter: How do you understand
him to stand relative to this matter?
Gen. Lewis: Senator Jonas signed
the protest at my request, and lie stated
to me that in his Judgment Congress
alone should settle the matter, and not
the Interior Department.
Reporter: AS far as your knowledge
goes, how does the Democratic mem
bers of the late sHouse, of which you
were a member, regard this action of
MIR. Teller?
Gen. Lewis: had not the opportu-
nifty of conversing with all of them
upon the subject before my departure
from Washington. bat there was
FEELING OF INTENSE DISGUST
IN the part of all of them with whom
had cOnversed upon the subject.
Reporter: How about the Republi-
IAN members with whom you spoke 7
Gen. Lewis: 1 can recall but one,
and that was Hon. John A. Anderson, |
II Kansas. He signed the protest, and |
to me, If possible, more in
tense disgust at the action of the de-
0artment than almost any Democrat.
NICE GAME.
"On the evening of March 5th I had
1 conversation with two lawyers in the
,ity of Washington; they represented
The owner of 100000 of the Backbone
bonds. They claimed to me the credit
Of having secured the issuance of these
patents by Secretary Teller, and said,
that the only interest they had in the
matter was to secure the money for1
their client; that they would rather
ight the railroad than help it. and that
il the settlers in Louisiana would pay
10 their client. 500, 900, which they con-
sidered to be the value of the bonds
held by their client, they would guaHan-
tee to burst up the whole conceTB.. l
replied to them, " 1t would be nice
thing, ON the part of the settlers, to
pay You $4,000 upon your guarantee,
and you fail" One Of them replied.
. We don't ask anything more than that
you guarantee us that the amoant will
be paid, conditioned on our success
Reporter: Well, General, what do
you think about the CollectG5 ship OF
Gen. Lewis: can onlT expres9 my
preference. Ihave no d finite knowl-
edge upon the subject. IL opinion is
that the best interests of - Demo
cratic party in the State OF LEllslanaJ