The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-01

~ ''ii'A''o "iiu S'ooPiiiS ~ 81 AioiA VI q
piece of rock, 1--WE had no arms, not even
a pen knife or walking stick, and of course
there was no show of defence in a Z" fist
fight" with one SO unequal to us as he in
point of great physical strength, we reel
ed and fell. Before we could recover
our feet, he was upon us with his ponder
Gus frame, beating and kicking us. We
have severe cut in the forehead, and one
on the right cheek, caused by stamps
with the heel of heavy boot. The
cut in the forehead severed vein, and
bled profusely for over an hour. We
probably owe our life to Col. Brock and
Mr.. Willes, who took Dodd of, about the
time hewas preparing to finish us. There
were other persons who witnessed the
transaction from beginning to end, but
had not the manliness to interfere. They
were all Dodd's personal and political
friends, save one, and he was not in a
state to render us any assistance. The
gentlemen who did interfere, were not
present when the assault was made
When asked by friend of ours after
wards, if it had taken him since Wednes-
day evening to get his feelings up to
fighting pitch, and why he did not attack
us when he met us previously, Dodd
replied he had not seen as before, ercem
when in company-meaning when among
our friends This remark proves the
damnable, black-hearted cowardice of the
whole transaction. A manor a thing,
in the shape of man-must choose a
place where he has plenty Of friends
standing by, to steal unawares upon one
at least two-thirds his inferior in physical
strength, and beat and mangle him in the
most brutal and inhuman manner.
Since the above paragraph was in type,
we have become acquainted with Mr..
Kendrick, of Long Prairie, who was pres
ent whenth the affray commenced. He says,
had he known who we were, he certainly
would have interfered.
We have thus given the people of St.
Paul, and the Territory at large, faith
full account of this dastardly attempt to
silence one Of their public journalists, by
brutal public blackguard, who has been
put forward, on all occasions, to express
the views and carry out the measures of
the Rice and Robertson /" organization"
That one respectable citizen, who unfor-
tunately belongs to that corrupt concern,
.iustities this assault, we do not believe.
But that the leaders are morally response
bic for Dodd's acts, we Go most positive
ly assert, and can prove. They have
made him what he is-have given him a
position in their party here,-have bla-
zoned his name on hand-bills through the
streets, and elevated him in their forum
as chief orator and expounder of their
views. But for this, he would never
have risen above that state of vulgar and
bestial insignfcence which he is so well
calculated by nature to adorn.
| This is but another act in the drama of
violence and law-breaking, set on foot
by the leaders Of the organization"
which commenced last winter. Then,
shortly afterwards, near the close Of the
Legislature, we had the hall of our repre-
sentatives violently taken possession of
by lawless mob; next a contemplated
"effigy burning" headed by a ''Native
American, - from Philadelphia class of
people skilled in mobs-and now we have
an editor assaulted for making assertions,
affecting the politics of the country, which
he has good authority to think true. OF
course, we were not at the Democratic"
caucuses week before last; but what we
published, we derived from persons who
were there, and are bound to believe
them in preference to counter statements,
made to forward the ends of political per-
fidy and corruption.
We now submit it to the people of
Minnesota, and to our law abiding fellow
citizens of St. Paul. more especially,
whether it is their determination to up
hold editors in the fearless and indepen-
dent discharge of their duties or not p
Are the columns of our papers to be made
to pander to the views of the most cor
rupt and venal herd of political gamblers
that ever cursed any land, or are we to
be sustained in the discharge of positive
and imperative pr bic duty? 1t is well
we know these things at once. Here are
the columns of their organ, teeming from
week to week with abuse and vulgarity,
that would disgrace the lowest fish mar
ket in the Universe, charging a high and
faithful public officer with theft, and all
other crimes in the alendar-intcr(erin
with the business relations of our citizens,
because they do not train in their political
ranks-and all is passed over by our peo-
pie in silence. But if an editor, opposed
to them, dares to speak the truth, boldly
and fearlcssly, off goes his ead-literally,
for we have no doubt it was Dodd's in
tention to kill us on Saturday, il he could.
We are no EXETER of mobs, and, as is well
known in this community, no fighting
bully, but if "club law" is TO be the
ruling feature in the enforcement of their
heresies, it is game that both sides can
Dlay at LET us understand matters at