The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-05

Illinois Senate at Springfield. but went righ1
np to Chicago The town had only about 800
pespe then. and its most prominent feature was
q fort 10 protect rhe citizens from the Indians.
On June l5 1885, began sale or public
lands. Except for one little strip of land along
the rapids Of the Illinois river, which sold at
from $40 to s12 an acre because 1t was expected
That the water power could be developed.
there was competition whatever All
abe rest of the land on which Chicago is now
situated sold at 81. % per acre. Nowadays the
roperty IN the center of the CITY is worth So 600
TO S4 600 per front foot. My district was a very
large one. and ia forty days my receipts aggre-
gated S493. coo, more than ever been sold at
any land Office in the United States, before or
since. in a whole year remember that car
ried the money through wilderness to Detroit,
in constant fear of being attacked By the In
disn MS"
Colonel Taylor's recollections of Andrew jack
son not sufficiently distinct to be OF value.
and was in Washington at both his Inaugural
lions He 10 particularly enthusiastic over
Jackson's Democracy, and believes that to the
SictorS belong the spoils HIS acquaintance
with President Lincoln was much more init
mate and he carries autograph letter from
Lincoln. in which he takes great pride. Not
snly does he value the autograph, but the letter
Is q certificate that he originated Rreenbacks In
shis country. Ii reads as follows:
Nv Dear Colonel Dick--I have long determined to
make public the origin Of the greenbaek and tell the
You had always been friendly to me. and when
troublous times fell on MS, and my shoulders though
by such circumstances and such people that knew
not whom trust then l said in my extremity. II
will send for Colonel Taylor; he will know what to
do" think it in January, 1862, on about
the 10Th that did So You came and said to you
what dot" Said you, ssWhy, Issue treasury
notes bearing interest printed the best banking
paper. Issue enough to pay off the army expenses,
and declare it legal tender" Chase thought it a
hazardous thing. but finally accomplished 1t, and
gave the people of this Republic the greatest bless
ing they ever had-their paper 10 pay their own
debts. It is due to you the father OF the present
greenback that the people should know it. and take
great pleasure in making IL known. How many times
have laughed at you telling plainly that was
too lazy to be anything but lawyer. Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
Another letter which Colonel Taylor carries
with him refers to the same subject and aids in
substantiatine his claim the originator of the
RreaRback. It Is written by General McCier-
nand, at Salt Lake City, an says:
shall never forget our frequent conferences at
Cairo in 1861, when / was in immediate command of
che post. That was gloomy period. The financial
credit of the Nation was strain ed to the utmost ten
sion The soldiers had not been paid for time
this exgeney you suggested and advocated the is
suing of treasury notes a circulating medium to
be legal tender in payment of all debts public
and private. You notonly advocated that
expedicnt. but principle and system. In the
same interview you informed me that you had unfold
ed the scheme to General Grant and that you would
Immediately proceed to Washington City to lay it be-
fore President Lincoln, which I convinced by
what followed you did. What further followed after
4he adoption of the scheme is historical
Yours truly. JOHN A. MCCLERNAED.