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And here comes a piece of history that is worthy to be written in letters of gold. Abiel Silver was then Commissioner of the State Land office. When the bill to locate the capitol had passed the House and was struggling through the Senate, the commissioner received repeated applications to purchase these lands. In view of modem political methods, the great wonder is that some confidential friend or kinsman of the commissioner had not at this crisis stepped in and bought the land. Never did mortal man have a finer opportunity to enrich himself by an abuse of official privilege than was then offered to Mr. Silver. But, rising above dishonor, he entitled himself to the gratitude of Michigan for all time to come, by withdrawing the land from market.
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