Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/549

 "or fraudulently obtained, which, if confirmed by surveys and patents, would soon have absorbed all the vacant lands of the Republic.'"

To those who were adventurous in crime and daring in its exploits, a rich and tempting held was opened in the wide extent of these fraudulent land certificates. Detection was dangerous; but the prize was great in proportion to the danger. It was natural to suppose, too, that detection might be baffled by the resources of a company extending to distant points, and enlisting in its enterprise of fraud men of capital, of position, and of comprehensive ingenuity; and men who, so long as they escaped the thirty-nine lashes, would not care for public reproaches; and, so long as they saved their backs from public stripes, would laugh to scorn that lash which public indignation may put "into the hand of every honest man to whip the rascals naked through the world."

John C. Watrous was appointed Federal Judge in Texas on the 29th of May, 1846, soon after the admission of the State into the American Union. Some time previous to January, 1847, we find a land company organized in the city of New York, the main object of which was to speculate in the fraudulent Texas land certificates, and to endeavor to have them validated through the machinery of the courts. This company was composed of Messrs. J. N. Reynolds, J. S. Lake, Judge Watrous, O. Klemm, McMillen, Williams, etc. The only citizen of Texas who appears to be in the company is John C. Watrous, United States district judge, with circuit court powers.

The object of introducing Judge Watrous into this banded association is not left to mere conjecture. I will presently show what facilities it was designed to give to the removal of suits from Texas and Texas juries, and it may be well understood how the high position of Judge Watrous might be lent to the advancement, in various respects, of the interests of the company, and how his court might be prostituted, if he, a willing tool for gain, submitted to the vile offices of fraud.

To accomplish these purposes there were also imported into Texas about the date of the formation of the company referred to, two attorneys in their service—Ovid F. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, and William G. Hale, of New Hampshire.

Thus we find the conspiracy armed for the prosecution of its designs, having an active promoter in a judicial officer high in position, and having for its confederates parties whose names and positions have not yet been fully disclosed.

It appears that nearly the entire interest was represented in the city of New York, the commercial metropolis of the country, famous, indeed, more for its enterprises of good than for those magnificent adventures of fraud that form startling episodes in the history of a great commercial city.

In a letter which I will here submit there are some names given of members of the conspiracy, including that of Judge Watrous: ", November 14, 1847.

":—This will introduce to you my friend O. F. Johnson, Esq., on his way to Texas, where, for the future, he intends to reside. Mr. J. was here, and being one ot us, was present in several conferences with Messrs. Lake, Judge Watrous, Klemm, McMillen, Williams, etc., in reference to our Texas enterprise. He can tell you all, and more than all of us could by letter. I expect to see you before the 1loth December.

"Yours truly, ", New Orleans, Louisiana."