St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-02-13
had NOT b.1i1t their road upon the limo

stead built one hundred and fifty miles
distant from that line, where they had
no authority for building, and consc-
ouentlv could have no possible clam to
any portion of the grant. At the same
that he rendered this decision Secretary
Browning ordered the Land Commas
sioners to consider the lands in Cali
fornia claimed by the railroad company
opened for settlement, and to allow those
claiming them under the homestead
and pre-emption laws to prove up and
obtain their patents from the Govern
mcnt.
This decision was received by the
settlers at the Slough with glad and
grateful hearts 1t secured them in
their natural and acquired rights, and
was accepted as pr o. that the authorl-
ties at Washington were beyond the
power of the corrupt .Onlst5, and that
tie General Government would contln-
he to respect the rights of the humDicst
of her citizens equally with those OF the
wealthy and powerful
With their love ior and pride in their
country and its institutions strength
ened bv the Justice of this decision OF
one of its officials those who were III a
cond ton to do so at once prepared
their papers tor proving up. but before
they could secure their patent from the
Government word came that MI
Browning had withdrawn the lands
from market and that they would not
be permitted to receive their patent UNI
til further notice.
The cause OF this action on the part
: I,>f, tt,,,
/ receipt of a request from prominent
| politician, who was a Ma;Or-General IN
| the Union army. whom the ra'lroad
! company had induced to interce ie for
/ them, asking that further opportunity
of presenting evidence to show that
they were entitled to the land in ques-
| ton be given them. This was but
| trick of the conspirators to obtain time,
prevent the settlers from at once receiv-
| inc their deeds from the Government.
and give themselves opportunity TO
| learn where an influence could be found
or purchased sufficiently powerful to
secure permanent reversal OF the de-
cision of the Secretary. The Preslden-
tial campaign was coming on and they
hoped for a change Of some kind that
would enable them to accomplish their
dishonest purposes.
The settlers, although anxious and
uneasy in their minds, believed that the
Government would ultimately deal just
" with them, tended their orchards and
vineyards as usual, and added new fields
to the territory already irrigated.
The election came and passed. Gen.
eral Grant was elected President and
J. d. Cox, of Ohio, was made Secretary
of the Interior in place of MIR. Brown
ing.
10 Mr. Cox the officers of the railroad
company applied for a favorable decis-
ion upon their right to the lands in
question, bringing every influence pos
sible to induce him to do so, but with
out success Mr.. Cox decided as Mr..
Browning had done, that the company
had no right whatever to the land, and
ordered it again opened to pre- emptlon
and homestead, and this decision was
sustained by the Acknowledgement OF
the United States, Hon. Charles Dew
ans.
1t is probable that the leading con-
spirators and owners of the railroad
had anticipated the nature of the de-
cision and decided in advance upon
their course of action. By means which
may sometime, be better known to the
public than at present, they procured
. the introduction into the United State.
Senate OF a Joint resolution authorizing
the railroad company to build its road
las near as may be- on the line spcci.
fed in the charter from the State o.
California, and providing that when the
road should be built in compliance in
other respects with the law making tie
grant of lands, the Secretary of the Tx
terror should cause patents for the sam:
to be issued to the company, express
) " saving and reserving the rights q
actual Settlers
, This resolution was referred to the
Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads
whose chairman was friendly to tn
! road, and who Immediately wrote tt
! ! Secretary Cox, suggesting that h
withdraw his order permitting thu
settlers to prove up on their claims I'm
til the committee could report, ant
I the Senate and House act upon thu
resolution.
Mr.. Cox complied with the re
Y quest, again withdrew the lands from
e market and again the Mussle SlougI
t settlers were refused permission to pre-
o sent their proving-up papers and re
y ceve title to their homes.
No sooner was this accomplish
5 than the attorneys for the railroad com
o pany, in the Senate, in the House, an
in the lobby, began the work OF secul
0 ing enough votes to passthe resolution
g The SETTLERS protested and petitione
u against its passage, but little attentio
e was paid to their pleadings for justice
The member of Congress from the dl: