The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-04

then know that such would be the eheC'i
nor do know that such explanation was
made bv any one. or that the committee so
understood the effect of the change.
Question. Have you any personal or
nccnniary interest in the grant, either pros
wctive or present, or in any railroad com
rany in Minnesota, directly Or remedial!
Answer. | have not. My remarks,
herewith attached, | make as part Of my
testimony. | observe in this printed report
of my remarks in the House, | am made to
say that Several senators stated that these
were mere verbal alterations, and might lie
made" | did not intend to say that any
senator's said that the alterations andc. eon-
smeration were mere verbal alterations
which might be made; but that mere clcr-
ical alterations might be, and frequently
WERE made
"Mr. Stevens. a charge has been made
against me, and it is for that reason that de-
sire to make the explanation. 1t has been
stated to me that my name has been connect
cd with the matter upon which special COM
mittce has been appointed this morning, in
reference to the alteration of the records of
the House.
~. as the member of the Committee on
Public Lands who reported the bill to the
House, feel myself called upon to make a
statement of such facts rs have come within
my knowledge, or so far us ! personally know
them, and do SO upon my honor, i'll reference
to these alterations.
After this bill had been sent to the COM
mittec of which am Il member, and after it
had been referred particularly to me by that
committee, gentlemen who were connected
al Al L. Hal ,.,f,, 1
that, before it was presented to the committee
for their report, certain alterations should be
made in the third section. They explained the
alterations which they desired made OF the
design and object of the alterations | WAS
then. and am even now, ignorant. One wa;
f. effect legislation in Minnesota in regard to
lands which might be granted By Congress TO
that Territory. 10 do SO, | myself struck out
the word future The other alteration was
in reference to the construction that might be
given to the word or as it then stood in the
bill. After hearing what was said on the sub
ject, | thought it proper to strike out the word,
and in its place to insert and
Il knew, Mr.. Chairman. that ] had stricken
out the word future and thought that had
substituted and for 'or.' presented the bill
to the committee. 1t was adopted. and | was
instructed to report it to the House did
So 1t passed this body, ard went to the Sch
ate. When in the other branch of Congress
my attention was again called to it; and II
was remarked that, as it was before the Senate
the bill did not contain the alteration which
supposed that had made. then conferred
with one or two members of the Senate on tho
subject. They rather spoke to me on the sab
jcct, and told them frankly that when | re
ported the bill from my committee had made
the alteration. When | asked for leave tC
report the bill to the House. | told thcn IN
addition. that had stated the substance of it
and. as thought, the alteration was made
and that. if it were possible, | should be glad
if the change indicated were made. This
was the last heard of it while it was in the
Senate. subsequently. one of the clerks Of
the Senate. General Patton. came to me i'll the
lobby just in front of the centre door, and
holding ont the bin to me, asked whether il
Wa, ri.t. o. look 'ny ut it. replied that
was of opinion it had passed this House differ
cnt from what it was then. | think that
said. General. you will fnl by looking at tn,
original draft, that the word and j., suhs!tl
tel for or.'' Asking me- to go to the clerk
room, went with him there, and to the dc>l
Of Mr.. Sproulc. The matter was talked over
and there made the statement that l la;
supposed that ] had altered the original dral
In the way indicated, and that. when | vote,
for it ON its passage, | WAS under the belief i
contained that very alteration. The qucstio
then arose. could the alteration be made ??
And might remark just here that scvcra
senators. whose names | shall not mention. sta
ted that these were mere verbal alteration:
and mi rht be made, as such alterations Wur
frequently mad.
MI. Hunt. Name them. 1t is your dut
to do SO as part of the truth.
Mr.. Stevens. | shall do what is honorable
ami shall do no more. The clerks rctcrrc
t. at once said that they did not know tina
they had the power to make the alteration
After further conversation the matter was at
journcd to Mr.. Forncys room. l went wit
General Patton and Mr.. Sproulc to Mr.. Fo
ney's room, and made statement similar t
to the one which have "lrcady given. Til
matter was discussed, and Mr.. Fcrncy askc
General Patton how it was about such thing
General Patton replied I'VE frequently ma!
such alterations Mr. FOrncy then said tn;
perhaps it had better be made, or somcth
like that. l then left the room. | presun
the alteration was made in consequence
what took place on that occasion.
al have stated this matter fairly and ca
tlidly. | wish to withhold nothing. | wi:
to state everything which took place, howcv
much may be implicated in the transactio
However much | may have erred as memb
of this House and Il gentleman, wish gent
men to know it. If have erred, the error
one of Judgment and not of the heart | i
tended to do nothing wrong. l am fully co
WINGED that Col Forney, in yielding his assc
to the alteration, supposed he was only doll
that which was right.
Il wish to say here that that was the fiji
and last interview had with Colonel Form
upon that subject, | never had talked to hi