The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-03-26

before the public and there can be no difficulty
in making up judgment upon the case.
1t seems that Mr.. Swcetser was the most ac-
tive in getting up the false affidavits, and was
quite willing to take the dispositions of the LIE
Blancs, :'drunk or SOBER But Swcetser was
by no means alone in this dark criminal trans
action. His worthy associate was Robertson,
of the Democrat; and he was the man, who we
feel authorized to state inveigled and cheated
Alexander r. Mcleod, while under excitement,
to perpetrate the affidavit which he first swore
to. Two, at least, of our mos: respectable cti
zcns, are among the witnesses to sustain the
allegation that Robertson participated in this
black business. These gentlemen have not ex-
prcssly permitted us to alludc to them but we
have taken that liberty, assured that they will
not hesitate to declare boldly what they know
on the subject One certain popularity of the
first affidavit of Mcleod cannot fail to strike the
most casual reader. We allude to the manner
in which it is commenced: Being duly sworn"
&c, without stating ,rho was duly sworn. This
fact simply shows that the draft of the affidavit
was originally prepared with a blank for the
name of any One-no matter whO-who could
be seduced into making oath to it. IfMcLeod
could not be uncOnsciOusly vctimised, then
some one else must be tried and in the hurry
OF Robertson and Swcetser to blacken the rec
ord at Washington with their foul crimes, they
forgot to fill the blank with the name of the
affant. Here is part of their black work I'M
done-a flaw in the " regular proceedings''-a
departure so wide from the usual form of draw
ing up testimony, that, without the accompany
ing flat contradiction of the witness himself
their case would be a hopeless one before any
court in the universe. Another evidence, this,
that
- SEOUL deeds tcH rise,
Though all the world confouni them meI's eyes,"
mus recOlls upon the heads of the plOtters
Robertson and his crew." the secret mischief
that they set abroach'' Thus are verified the
words of the old Arabian proverb. ':their curses
like chickens. have come home to roost." To take
a false Oath-tO call Gods most holy presence
to witness the truth of lie-is a crime of such
magnitude that it justly eNcitcs the horror of
angels and of men; and is visited with punish
ment most condgn throughout all Christendom
But how much worse-how infinitely higher in
the scale of crime, Or infinitely lower in the
scale of degradation. are those individuals
who, not content with SHINING on their own ac-
count, resort to fraud and deceit to entrap in
nocent men into slandering and abusing their
fellow-citzens; browning their iniquity by in
weighing these men, ignorantly or unconscious
ly. to swear before Almighty God to the truth
of flschood these vipers concoctcd and palmed
upon them!
1t is in this category of crime that Robertson,
Swcetser Co. are placed by the future well
considered and conscious affidavits of their VIC
tins, above published. The brand is indclibly
placed upon their brows, and our penal code
convicts them of one of the highest crimes
known to the law. And these murderers of
reputation and character can no more escape
from their doom, than Cain from the mark which
Deity set upon the first murderer of mankind
TO us, or to Gov. Ramsey, or Mr.. Siblcy, it
mattcrcd little that these last developments are
made; but to the public it does matter that the
observation-disclosures of the crew around public
newspaper office should be exposed in all its
venal nakedness and deformity.
1t is true, the former expose of the incipient
steps of Sweetser to rob the Indians and their
legitimate traders of that which was Justly
their due, has brought upon us the maledic-
lions and most unlicensed abuse of this pol
luted gang. 1t is true, that Robertson, to back
up Sweetser, and carry his point, has done his
utmost to "crush" us during the various sta
ges of the controversy. But for all this we do
not now adduce and sum up the last link of our
testimony, which consigns him and his abcttors.
beyond all cavil, to the ranks of the most de-
graded of the land. This is nothing new to us:
we knew and foretold it in the beginning. And
when some of our good but ovcranxious friends
cautioned us against the calling of hard names,
and the use of harsh epithcts, we simply replied
that the cnormity of the crime attempted iusti-
fed such course, and the sequel would SO
prove. We're we mistaken? No one will now
say we were.