Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-11-14
THE SWAPPING CASE.

Below we give the communication of &C Henne-
pin" over his own signature. We make it rule
never to publish the productions of correspond
ents until they have given us their names as a
guarantee of good faith, and when question of
veracity is called up, they are personally respon-
sible. When the editor of the Mnnesotian de-
MED the allegations Of I" Hennepin," we promis-
ed him the authors name. The author has come
forward and We now leave him to fight the battle,
not however without remarking that circumstan-
ces lead us to believe that he had some founda-
tions for making his charges.
HENNEPIN COUNTY, Nov. 7th, 1854.
Mr.. EDITOR In your issue of the I'd ult., you
say that if the Editor of the Minnesotian will
positively deny the matter set forth and the in
timations made by Hennepin, you will give him
the name Of the author.
The communications having been based upon
circumstances warranting and substantiating their
truth, propose to give them in as concise and
brief manner as possible, that all interested
may judge for themselves. l said certain
friends of j. P. Owens were doing what they
could to promote the election of Mr.. Hanson ra-
ther than Mr.. Bassett. My reason for so doing
was the direct conversation of one of those
friends, and his subsequent declaration, when
accused of so doing by Mr.. Bassett, Immediately
after the adjournment of the Democratic caucus
in Fletcher's Hall. Mr.. B. said, s'1 can sec
through it all. l have good reasons to believe
you have been at work for Mr.. Hanson from the
start" The reply to which was, ''Well, l know
have, but have been to wo"k for you too."-
Io:p III,
were doing their utmost for the success of Mr..
Mobiles, and having acknowledged their interest in
Mr.. Hanson, it was conclusive that their prefer
ence was Hanson and Mobiles, as but two candi-
dates could be elected.
As to the connection of the editor of the Min
nesotian in the matter, Isaid, he had been in Min
ncapols, and was closeted with certain leading
Wings, &c. BY this | mean, of course, that
they conversed as to the chances and probable re-
suit of the election.
The feelings as heretofore stated were immedi-
ately manifested, which, together with the ankle
ty felt for Mr.. Mobiles, warranted the friends of
Mr.. Bassctt in believing that he (Owens) was cog
n;zant of the arrangement, associated rs he was
the day previous with supposed friends Of Mr..
Bassett, who afterwards admitted they had been
to work for Mr.. Hanson.
In speaking of the publication of the Shakopee
convention, l should have said that it was
communicat; on, and not an editorial, that spoke
of the probability Of that body's passing resolu-
tions complimenting the course of the Hon. H. NJ.
Rice. Whether such resolutions were submitted
or their passage by that body contemplated, shall
not attempt to prove, unless denied by their au-
thor. In accordance with these circumstances,
and the feeling known to exist between the editor
of the Minnesotian and certain Wings in Mime
apolis, said they seemed willing to sacrifice
every other interest in order to elect those men,
who they had to believe, would sustain the action
of the last Legislature upon the {" Railroad char
ter" and use their best endeavors to grant sim
liar one if necessary. 1t is certain that the par
ties alluded to, have repeatedly expressed them
selves nfavor of the charter previously passed.
Consequently Mr.. Owens visit to Minneapolis at
that time together with the subsequent conversa-
tion and action Of his immediate friends, in rela-
ton to the election of Mobiles and Hanson, led
many of Mr.. BasSett's friends to believe, as they
now do, that the Importance of electing Mr.. Han
son, was, with them, paramount to the success of
the Whig ticket, and for the reasons previously
mentioned. II. S. PLUMER.