The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-05-17
From The Daily Minnesota Pioneer.
CAPT Estes CARD.

/ We invite attention to the card OF Capt. Es
rEs, the U. S Timber Agent for this section
Of country We have various occasions
and in the strongest terms, expressed our dis
appreciation of the policy of The government il
keeping from sale those lands, the timber o
which is absolutely necessary for the settlemen
and development Of the Northwest. We liv,
in hope that the government officials at Wash
| ingtnn may yet come to appreciate the hardship
resulting from their dog-in- -the-manger policy
and that, if they still decline offering the land
/ for sale, they may adopt some method by which
the timber suitable for building purposes, car
be purchased.
! But TO the Card Capt ESTES, as Agent o
the Interior Department., has been engaged il
performing the duties # his appointment. S.
far as we can learn, ne has in every instance
acted within the bounds Of duty, and in very
many cases, shown greater lbeiality than the
| spirit Of his instructions warranted. 1t is with
in our personal knowledge that Capt E. while
East last winter, used every argument and en-
deavor to have the policy of government
changed; and we have no doubt from our pre-.
vious knowledge of him as a man of strict hon.
or, and of generous impulses, that his action
since his return, has been in accordance with
what he protests in his communirati Until,
at least, the opposite be shown, have no
fears that his character as a or as an Off
Ger, can be at all injured by the gr ssy malig
nant and libellnus attacks which have been made
upon him by The papers Of this city and of othet
places.
CENTRAL House., st. Paul, May a., 1854.
Mr. EDIroR:-Snce my arrival here | find
that various rumors have been put ahoat,
through msapprehenson the part of the
press and individuals, which are calculated to
prejudice the public mind against me, as a t,m-
her aren't nj the yoverument WhiIe | cannot
descend SO far as to notice the vile slang which
has been employed by the .ninaesotiaa under
the apprehe nsion, presume, that such writing
was high toned, will yet state few facts,
and leave the public to judge Of the justice and
fairness of the attacks which have been made
upon my character
l was appointed agent for specific pur-
pose, and the instructions issued by the depart
ment clearly disclose for what purpose. have
never received dollar from any lumberman, at
any time, on account of trespasses committed
any lumber but what was admitted by the par.
ties interested to have been cut on government
land.
l regard the Office of timber agent honora BILE,
when compared with that of dastardly llbeller
who employs public newspaper for the de-
fama, ion of private character. This is Of course
a matter of taste. II any desire to know what |
design TO do they have but to peruse the in
structions issued, and then calculate that |
will execute the duties assigned to me SO far as
am able to, without regard to personal conse
quences | cannot stop to discuss the moral or
political questions involved in the unauthorized
removal of timber from lands of the United
States; but have no doubt but what the gov
eminent has right to protect its own property,
and consequently employ such means as an in
dividual would employ under similar cireum
stances
If have exceeded my instructions in any one
instance, let the fact be established. But until
that instance is pointed out, hope to enjoy the
common rights of citizen, with the presump-
ton in my favor until proved guilty
Yours &c JAMES B Estes.