The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-18
New Mode of Defence.

the l4th instant, upon the Mo" Nothing
course pursued by the organs of the Railroad
Swindlers, had the effect of eliciting from
the Democrat on the 18th, confession of
faith, and the programme Of their future
operations. We pass over the bulk of the
article, which treats of personalities, with
the remark, that any allusion which can be
construed into a reflection upon the new ed
itor of that paper was purely incidental, and
formed no part of it's burden or intent.
Were we disposed to engage in controver-
sizes of that character, there are materials
sufficient connected with the late change in
the management of the Democrat, to elabo-
rate into an interesting chapter on Mime
sofa politics. But the subject is quite too
inconsequential. On this and all other &C.
casions, when the Railroad Swindle, and it's
adjuncts may be made the subject of dis
c,ssion between US, though the title of that
paper may be used, we beg the gentleman
whose name appears as editor to believe,
that we shall intend no reference whatever
to him, either immediate or remote, but
only to the power behind the throne, stron-
ger than the throne ITSELF" wherein he sits.
With this explanation, there will probably
be no further occasion for diverting public
attention from questions of Importance, by
'mock heroics" upon the demoralizng ma
ture of newspaper personalities, or any other
ext"insic matter
We learn from the Democrat that HENRY
NJ. RICE is to be defended in his course up
on the Railroad Bill, with "aII the ability
which Con has given" that journal. The
mode of the defence which is therein re-
vealed, is original and unique. Letters have
been addressed to sundry Members of Con-
gress, the replies to which it is anticipated
will be favorable to Mr. RICE, and these
letters are to be spread before the public as
a complete vindication of his course in rela-
ton to the subject which now absorbs the
attention Of the people. 1t has been the
custom heretofore, when the acts and doiDgs
Of Members of Congress have been called
in question, to refer to the official reports of
the proceedings of that body, as the high
est authority existing, by which to deter
mine the truth or falsity of charges made.
In the official reports of the last session
of Congress we have found facts which con-
vict Mr.. RICE Of a most gross and criminal
dereliction of duty to the people of Mime
sofa and in the official report Of the tes-
timony given before the Investigating Com
mittee there is certain, palpable perjury
resting between our delegate and Mr..
WENTWORTH, Of Illinois, with the interest of
the former running directly in the track of
the perjury The fact of negligence We
have proved upon him by the official re-
cords the matter of perjury we have left
for the people, who know the man and his
surroundings, to settle to their own satisfac-
ton. Against these facts which are shown
by the official proceedings Of Congress, his
defenders propose to bring, not rebutting
testimony from the same unimpeachable
source, or of corresponding solemnity, but
irresponsible letters from the Hon. Mr..
SHOCKS, or Mr. Senator Toors, Or any other
man with Congressional prefix, who can
be got to say, generally Or specially, some
thing in favor of our Delegate. These epis-
ties, the offspring Of generosity, courtesy,
or friendship, are to be pitted in vindication
of Mr. RICE, against the solemn, sworn re-
cords of Congress and the people will be
asked to discredit the latter, while they
swallow, meekly, the former
1t has not escaped the attention of the
people that neither the MinnesOtian nor the
Democrat under its new control, have dared
to spread before their readers the testimony
given before the Investigating Committee of
the House of Representatives They dare
not do it. They know that from every
page, however carefully attempts were made
by witnesses to conceal it, enormous, pre-
meditated fraud is disclosed, and that the
men whom they endorse and propose to
vindicate, are tainted with it, beyond the
possibility of expurgation. 1t is by the
careful, continued suppression Of truth alone,
that they hope to succeed in their enter
prises with the people. In the place of the
solemnly attested facts, bearing upon the
conduct of HENRY NJ. RICE, the Democrat