Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-07-22

Major eelover Is one Of the 'l9ers,
and his "reminiscences Of California
include story about the great War
Secretary, Edwin NJ stanton. Mr.
Stanton had gone out 10 California
highly prejudiced against Senator
Broderick. He Was a the same h0-
tel with the Major, and while they
sat a. the table be attacked BrodeFiCk K
IN every conceivable way. FINALLY
I said 70 him, said the Major, that
il was q shame for him TO mold such
prejudices against q man whom he
had never seen, and asked him to do
me the single favor Of calling In
company with me on Mr. Broderiek.
After 3 great deal Of persuasion ] got
him over 70 Broderick's house. We
went there about 2 o'clock In the
evening Il was o'clock In the
morning before we left, and SO
strong was the impression that Brod.
erick made on Stanton that they
were ever afteFward good friends.
They were two men almost exactly
alike In their personal characteristics
and general traits. and they only
needed 70 be brought together 70
make them friends.
Taking Of stanton, = remark was
dropped by the Major TO the effect
that he had personal knowledge Of
the sterling integrity OF stanton. /
induced him. though he did It some-
what with reluctance, to tell me q
story Of an experience that be had
with SIantoa 10 President Buchanan's
administration. In the early days Of
California, q grant Of land had been
made which covered about tw0-thirds
OF the present site Of the city Of San
Francisco. Il was known al this
time as the Bolton & Barron OF San
tIllan grant Il had been owned bya
Mexican banking firm, 81 the head Of
which was Forbes & barron. Then
Il fell into the hands Of some bright
people in San Francisco, among
whom was the firm Of Palmer, Cook
& Co, bankers. They set up q claim
which passed favorabiy through the
commission appointed BY Congress
TO examine old Mexican land grants,
and was also confirmed by Judge
Hoffman. Of the United States Court
Appeal was taken 70 the Uniied
States Supreme Court When Il got
shis far along, the people who were
interested wanted the appeal din-
missed. 1T was an important thing
for Us, said Major Seloyer 10 telling
about Il. .sWe would have been
$500, 900 in hand today II We could
have had the appeal dismissed. and
been left where We stood at the time.
I vent 70 President Pierce Ia person
and asked him 70 have the appeal
dismissed. He was under great Obii-
cations 70 me, and / bad asked him
40 favors. He said be would have Il
done, but Caleb Gushing blocked the
Nay. They had . big tight over i
ii the Cabinet, and Pierce had 10
yield 10 bis Attorney General. Il vas
Ia Buchanan's time that ] went 70
Attorney General BLACK and asked
bin TO take up aud examine the case.
He replied be had no time 70 give Il
personal attention, and that The de-.
partment had no funds 70 pay an
other man TO make the examination.
I asked him Il there was no lawyer
IL whose opinion he had confidence,
Who could be set q work 10 examiue
the case, provided We furnished The
department the money for it lie
studied awhile and then said There
ls young iawyer 10 PliisbuFg named
Stanton, whom eau trust for 50 ex.
animation. Under this arrangement
the papers were taken 70 stanfOn.
The stock of our company at this
time In Philadeiphia was 5000 per
share. Il did not take Sianton long
TO fnd the weak point 10 our case,
and when some Of our people went
- him, Just before be was 60 report
70 Black, they found that be bad dis.
covered it Thinking that he might
be Influenced In Masking bis report
favorable 70 us, aremafk was dropped
In bis pFesence 70 about this ELECT:
III our application % dismiss Ibis
appeal should Be- SLOWED We want
yuunG lawyer 10 take up our business
10 San Francisco. Il vii Be worth
go. go 20 q good lawyer Tor 81 leasE
eight o. Sen years. You may kaow
Of some one who would like such
retainer. II you do, les ~ know.
Here was half = million dollars G1ng
At Stanton, bui if did not move him
any more tban II it vas cbaH We
would have paid 3 million dollars Tor
The dismissal Of the appeal. bni Il
was 81 ne nse. and the whole thing
weni By the board
- a.. 49, - .Aw.-.i,- mhf.sfa.