The Evansville Daily Journal

The Georgia Yazoo Land Grant. As the validity of Legislative acts obtained by bribery and corruption is a question that is likely to arise in several of the States, the history of the old Yazoo land swindle and the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case, becomes interesting. Sixty years ago, the entire Legislature of Georgia was bribed to grant to a company of land speculators a good portion of what is now the State of Mississippi, for a mere nominal consideration: The members of the Legislature received a thousand acres of land scrip each, and a portion of stock in the company. The matter became known, and the people met at Milledgeville, the seat of Government, and burnt the journal and records of the Legislature on the public green. The act was repealed the following year, and the question arose before the Supreme Court of the United States, whether the purchases under the grant of the Legislature were valid. The Supreme Court decided, notwithstanding the bribery, the contracts were valid, and they were sustained. The people of this State will find that the bank charter will be fully sustained, and if the canal company can by the collusion with the members of the Legislature sell the canal to the State, the Courts will sustain the contract.