San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-10-04

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'the origin, nature, character and OK.
tent" OF these claims, and make full
report of his opinion thereon for the
final action OF congress. This armed
him with very large and responsible
powers, for no court in the Union
had any authority TO review his opin-
ions, which were final and absolute,
subject only to the ultimate supervis-
ion of congress. The matter to which
I wish to direct your special attention
is the action OF the government under
this legislation, and / shall speak
from personal and official knowledge.
BY far the greater part OF this action
occurred under republican rule,
and the aggregate of the public lands
lost to the government by its recog-
nition of fraudulent titles and un.
warranted surveys exceeds 10,0O0,0OO
acres. The encouragement were
the mere instruments of grant claim
ants, who had purchased their claims
at low rate for speculative purpo-
Sos; and having secured favorable re-
ports upon them and surveys enor-
mously stretched, they lobbied the Ca
SOS through congress, while they also
made the general land Office their
servant. Their influence over New
Mexico has boen absolutely disas-
trous, and believe it would be no
extravaganza to say that the evil they
have wrought in the territory could
scarcely have been exceeded by the
three-fold scourge Of war, pestilence
or famine.
DORSEY AS A REPUBLICAN LEADER.
Their most shocking performances
occurred under the administrations
of Grant aud Hayes; and, by way OF
example, I refer you to the case OF
the Una de Cato grant, which was
claimed by Stephen W. Dorsey. Its
area was 100000 acres, very largo
part of which is the finest land in
New Mexico. Under favorable
opinion of the surveyor general as to
it's validity it was reserved from set.
Element under the act of congress OF
1854, and remains so reserved to day.
In the year 1877 Investigations were
set on foot respecting the validity OF
this grant, which were exceedingly
offensive to Mr.. Dorsey, and resulted
in completely demonstrating its forg-
cry early in the year 1879. Hs there
fore determined to appropriate the
lands under the homestead and pre-
emption laws. But this he could not
legally do. One surveyor had de-
clared the grant valid, and another
had pronounced it forgery, while
congress alone could determine the
question, and the land was absolute
| ly reserved in the meantime, In this
dilemma the commissioner OF the
general land Office, who was touched
| by Mr.. Dorsey's misfortune, ordered
the land to be surveyed and opened
to settlement, although he knew he
had no power to do so. Mr.. Dorsey
who was already in possession ol
many thousands of acres of the choic
est lands of the tract, at once sent
out his squads Of henchmen, who, by
perjury and subornation OF perjury
availed themselves of the forms ol
pre-emption and homestead laws In
acquiring pretended titles, which were
conveyed to him in pursuance OF ar
rangements previously agreed upon
No record of this unauthorized actor
of the commissioner is now to be
found in the land Office. What wal
done was done sneakingly and in thu
dark, and nothing is known OF the
transaction but the fact Of its occur
renee, and the intimate relations ther
existing between Mr.. Dorsey and thu
commissioner and his chief OF sur
veys. OF course, he and his associ
ates in this business, have no title t(
the lands thus acquired, and their
entries should be cancelled, not only
because the land was reserved from
sale by act of congress, but because
the entries were fraudulently made
as has been already shown in many
cases by investigation not yet com
pleted.
These are remarkable facts, but
there is no mystery about them. MIR
Dorsey was then power in republi
can politics. He had neared the sum
NIT OF his remarkable ascendency. il
was the following year, 1880, tina
his genius, as secretary Of the repub
Ilican national committee, lighted the
way to national victory for his party
for which he was subsequently ban
uueted and lionized as "the Napoleon
who carried Indiana" When such
man wanted the republican official
of the land department to violate tn
law and their oath OF Office to enabl'
him to appropriate q large body o
public lands in furtherance OF his ra
pacity, they did not dare to say nc
and the robbery was accomplished
He we'll knew, and so did the com
, missioners of the general land Offic
and the secretary OF the interior, tha
p this action was totally unauthorized
and that the lands thus acquired b
p him and his allies, under an illegu
p order. rightfully belonged 10 tn
| United States. In these statement
: 1 am supported by the records {
the government and no lawyer Wi
I attempt to cOntrovert them.