The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-27
I II E MINI ESQ TIAN
Saint paul, satarhau, ansast u, 1853.
An Old Acquaintance.

VIC zip Vic uDOhe HUN tIc L III
quirer Of Aug. IL. The Inquirer must have re-
ceived a file of the Minnesota Democrat pub
lished at st. Paul, Minnesota Territory, during
the last winter. about the same time the news
relative to the appointment of this especial
agent" reached Philadelphia. We will inform
the Inquirer that the d" enormous Indian frauds
committed - in Minnesota, may be traced to the
prolific imaginations of a few of that class OF
politicians which may be found in some commu-
mites, who are without integrity or common
honesty themselves, and therefore cannot real
ize the existence of such ingredients in the
composition of others, and who are at all times
prepared to attack the reputation OF their fel-
fow-citizens, if thereby their own personal in
terests can he advanced In Minnesota. the In
dians have received all the money that Govern
ment appropriated for them,-the debts OF the
Indians the payment OF which was provided for
by Government, have hceu paid pro rata to
every person entitled to payments under the
Treaty. and the funds designed for the Mixed
Bloods have been paid according to the wishes
of the Indians, the only party interested. We
cannot conceive how fraud can exist where
the funds are paid in accordance to treaty stip-
ulations, for the purposes contemplated by
Congress in making the appropriation, and ac-
cOrdiug to the wishes OF those Interested. The
Minnesota " Indian frauds" are very much like
the boy who sheared the pig, he had much NOISE
and little wOOl.-.tfinncs0ta Pioneer.
We have felt the while, since this whole mat
ter, upon the demand of those implicated, was
the subject of official investigation, that there
would be manifest improperly on our part in
again going over the ground, or even in max
ing any comments whatever touching the al
legged Indian frauds The public here at home
have long since, and on more than one occasion,
given verdict in our favor and were it not
for the fact that one so well acquainted with all
the circumstances as the editor of the Pioneer
now opens the question, We should remain 81
lent.
The Pioneer does well in thus stating the
facts Of this much misreprescnted case. 1t is
we'll known here in Minnesota, that the original
charges of fraud were got up without the slight
est foundation for the existence of any such
charges-that the whole plot and development
was merely scheme on the part of desperate
adventurers in politics, to break the influence
Of leading public men, and destroy confidence
in them at home and at Washington. 1t is
true, that other persons, nominally for other mo-
tives, were put forward to assist in making the
charges; but nevertheless, the prime motive of
the chief cOnspirators was to ride into political
power over the ruined reputation of the men
who have made Minnesota what she is. The
chief of the gang-the man who at the head of
an INSCRIPTIONS press. wagcd the unhOly war
of SANDER and defamation, was to receive the
Governorship of the Territory as a reward for
his services. The other Offices were to be par
cplad mt tba MI Al
were to go on swimmngly. But like many
other well laid schemes of mice and men, it
did not ,cork President Pierce found a screw
loose somewhere in the machinery and he
threw the whole aside among other old rubbish
near by. Not one cfMe tratlacers received an
office.
But this is not all. To show that the Pioneer
(the Oldest and looked upon as the most reliable
Democratic journal in the Territory truly re-
fleets in the above paragraph not only the senti-
ments and facts within the knowledge of a vast
majority of the peopIe of Minnesota, but also of a
most decided majority of is own party, we will
simply allude to one or two events which have
TRANSFERRED since the Territorial appointments
were made. The force of public op;nion-Dcm-
ocratlc public opinion-compelled the editor
who had led off in the work of falscbood and
SANDER to retire from his position soon after his
return from Washington. And although he left
hlspress in the hands ofone OF the original adcrs
and abettors in the charges-one who we fool
well assured has all the disposition. and no
ooubt at heart greatly desires. to continue the
war, there has not appeared, save in the first
TWO numbers after his entrance upon the cdito-
rial stage, any allusion whatever to the mucb
talked Of Sioux frauds The alIusion we here
fefer to was an attack upon Mr.. II. N, Rice
connecting him with what is termed the frauds,
80 potent was the power which made the CHARGES
that MIR. Rice, few days thereafter. received
'ne unanimous nomination of his party through
out the Territory, as its candidate for Con-
gress
we merely allude to these facts. not in order
10 accomplish any political object, or attempt
tne dlvertlng of public opinion into any part;c-
uiar channel with reference to the comino o,cc-
ton, but merely to show persons at distance
the light in which these charges of fraud are
regarded here at home where all the circum
stances are understood; and to let if he known
abroad In what estimation the men are held in
their own community who had the hardened TO-
merlty to attempt the overthrow Of men nos
sessed OF as high official and business INTEGRITY
anu as pure private character, as any ON earth.
tutors In the States, and their Washington
correspondents, have been entirely too careless
III searching for the facts connected with tho
consummation of the Sioux treaties, We are
aware there is such predomnating dspostion
~ 'ne mind of man to feed upon scandal. that it
Is very difficult for the best disposcd nersons -
speak we'll of their neighbors, when tbcro Is
material afoat through the press or anv otber
channel which affords opportunity for rcceivinv
and crediting evil report. But here is a, oo,;a
which has been before the country for six or
eight months last passed the charges have
been published and reiterated over and over
again, and so have the facts refuting them. We