The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-05-14
FACTS AND FANCIES.


influence over the Indians"
The above is from the Democrat of this week
Were it read only by those who have resided
here during the administration of Gov. Ramsey,
it might we'll be passed with the silent contempt
the unblushing falsehood it contains undoubt-
edly merits. But there are strangers among
US, and We must state one or two facts, proba-
bly, unknown to them: The man who framed
and published to the world this paragraph, has
never, since he occupied the position o: editor
in Minnesota, let an opportunity slip that he
did not lend his personal and editorial influence
to stir up discussions among the Indians, and
throw obstacles in the way of the proper Off
GERS, when in the execution of their several du-
ties and the mandates of the authorities at
Washington. He has colleagued with every
migrating lOafer and petty villain who has at
tempted to gain an influence with the Indians,
thwarted. He has beslabbered the most willy
and refractory of the Indian Chiefs with fulsome
laudations through his columns, taking care al
ways that his miserable stuff should come to
their attention, and be translated to them by
some Of his miniOns. These laudations have
generally been accompanied by instalments Of
the pestiferous offal, which have weekly flown
from his polluted pen, abusive of Gov. Ramsey.
This was also administered to the Indian
This has been done at times when there were
delicate matters of public business in process of
transaction with the Indians. In short, he has,
almost continually, been mover of sedition
among the red men, the consequences and re-
suit Of which would long since have been
general Indian war, and the indiscriminate
slaughter of the frontier settlers, had he pos
sessed any influence whatever in the quarter
where his energies were directed. All this is
part of his political tactics-a wicked and
high-handed determination to crush those
who oppose him, let the consequences be what
they may-let his way lay through public or
private suffering and ruin. Amid all this
stormy and villainous opposition, Gov. Ram
sey has managed the Indian affairs with entire
satisfaction to his superiors in office, to the
people at large, (honest, decent people, we
mean-not Indian whisky sellers and loafers)
and to the Indians themselves With two of
the most powerful and warlke tribes of the
continent on our borders, an unceasing heredi-
tary feud existing between them, and living
within striking distance of each other, there has
been comparatively very little bloodshed during
the past four years. The Governor has been I'M
firing in his efforts to check every aggression
of either tribe, and has been remarkably sue
cessful in every instance. No unpreiudiced
old citizen who has been an observer of Indian
matters, will fail to bear US out in what we
have here written in regard to the editor of
the Democrat, as well as in reference to the Off
cial acts of Gov. Ramsey.
MAILS on THE MIssIssIPPI.-A WASHINGTON
correspondent of the New York Tribune. saws
1t mas heretofore been the custom of the De-
Dartment to pay SIS for the delivery of each
way mail on the Mississippi; 1.-THE Lower Mis-
sissippi, we presumed If this rule were applied
to the Galena and st. Paul mail. the price to
the department. for the round trip would be
$ll5.-Gaiena .4dr.
Yes, butthe Lower Mississippi is not out in
the woods-away off, beyond the bounds of
civilization, where people are rude and igno-
rant, and don't need any mails. The facts in
relation to the mail contract between here and
Galena are not understood by the public. We
will state them: The late officers of the Post
ONCE Department advertised in the month of
February last, for proposals to carry mails six
times aweek between Galena and St. Paul. and
to serve the intermediate post offices along the
river-amounting to over twenty, if our memo
ry serves us-the bids to state the price per
round trip, DC. The Galena and Minnesota
Packet Company, the only persons having the
facilities at the time to execute the contract
promptly, made their bid at fifty dollars per
round trip-twenty-five dollars each way. ANY
one acquainted with the distance, and the num-
Der OF landings-many of which it would
be unnecessary to make scarcely once season
out Tor the mails-will be compelled to ac-
knowledge that the bid was meritoriously reas-
enable. None Of our packets can make land
ing, particularly on their downward trip at a
less actual expense than two or three dollars.
Yet the present Postmaster General Thought
the bid extravagant, and set it aside. 1t is evil
dent he knows nothing whatever about the
matter, or if he does, is not disposed to do JUS
tice to the region of country above Galena.-
The matter still hangs in just this way, the
boats carrying mails enthusiastically, Uithout
compensation, merely for the accommodation
of the public. We are not the especial apollo
gists or eulogisers of the Galena Packet Line.
no more than we are of any other boats or indi-
viduals; and the record will show that we
have cultivated no captious feelings or angry
manifestations toward this administration since
it came into power. Neither do we intend to,
feeling it public duty to give all its official
acts fair trial, and all its measures fair
chance of success. But no one can deny that
this mail business Of ours has been most bung-
lingly managed. We hear it rumored that q
company at Dubuque, Rock Island, Chicago, or
some where else, has procured the contract, but
we cannot trace the fact automatically. fso.
we are content. If the mails come regularly.
six times week, as advertised by the late
Postmaster General. the people of Minnesota