The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-30
From the Democrat Of Tuesday.
Letter from Senator Jones = Iowa.
DrBtQUE. Iowa. !
Augusf 18Th, 1864. !


DrBtQuE. Iowa.
.fug4sf 18th, 1864.
GESTLtNEN II understand that scve .asthe
newspapers of Minnesota Territory Oon at
trlbuted to the Hon. ii. NJ Rice the u.-,-.,Or
rather the repeal of the late act OF Congress,
making grant of land to aid in the cOnstr9c-
ton Of Railroad, from Left band river near
the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior, by ST. Paul
to the nUthern boundary of Iowa. wish to
say TO you, and through you to the public,
you, being the friends of Mf. Rice, desire it.
that those who attribute to him any dereliction
of duty. as delegate to Congress. either in re-
spcct TO the Railroad bill in question or to
any other bill. or interest, affecting the welfare
OF Minnesota Territory. or eny Of her citizens.
do him very great injustice, and had constant,
ana the best opportunity for Judging.
hesitate not to say. that during the last
twenty years which have been at Washing
ton cily. as a delegate. Senator. aud visitor, j
have never known a delegate, or NC agbeF OF
Congress who has bccn ninre faithful. antiBing,
laboriOu', and Efficient. in serving his copstit-
ucnss generally than has Mr.. Rice. He has
succeeded in advocating the interests of the
Territory beyond my most saDguine expecta-
items. and those of his other friends Detwith-
standing we all had the utmost confidence in
his ability. zeal. tact. and industry betofe his
nomination for the Office which be holds;
/ His snccess in defiance OF the opposition OF
/ the Governor and Secretary of the Territory,
and Mr.. Siblcy. his predecessor in Congress, is
truly wonderful. Neither Gov. German, Me-.
Secretary Rosssr, Mr.. Sib!ey. nor Mr.. Van
| Ettcn ever approached me. as they din others.
to induce me to thwart Mr.. Rice. in his efforts
as delegate, to secure appointments to Office,
Railroad grants. &c. but have reason to be-
| lievc. and do not doubt. that the repeal of the
late act Of Congress, referred to above. was
the consequence of She opposition made to it
| by these gentlemen. aided as they we've, BY
Hon. l.. Il. WaSilfuruc of (ialena of the House
Of Representatives. who did not hesitate at the
beginning of the session. to declare to me, anos
to others, that he would oppose any such grant
Of land, unless the proposed Railroad was made
to run west Of Dubuque 50 ms to cross the Mis-
sissippi river ut etc de Mort and terminate at
Gacna and connect there. near that place,
with the Chicago and ST. Charles Air Line
Railroad.
Ibelicve lir. Washburne was, all the while,
opposed G. the grant Of land for shis and for
every other road i'll Iowa, unless it could be
made to conform i'll every particular, to his
wishes.
Although at lie time protesting to be friend
~ to the measure. Wasll,nrne procured the de-
feat OF the Senate bill. making grant of land
from near Lake Superior. hy ST. Paul, to the
North Western terminus uf the Illinois Ccntray
RAILROAD. lie wa subsequently inluced to ia
yor the hill originating IN the House of Rep
rrscndiycs. which passed Congress, and was
approved l,y the President. and shen after thas
bill had become law, hr. ct tsle instance OF
Kosscr and others. moved for The Investigating
Committee. Of ahich as a lnattcg Of course he
was made Chairman. hut from service upon
which he asked 10 be. and was, excused. The
na.uTc and character Ct that invest CATION, and
the results which have lown from it, are wel3
known to the public.
When u a-lbuFnc made the motion in the
House Of Representatives for the committee Of
investigation ITO ferret Osa the stupenauous
ffaud'' Gen. Stevens, of Michigan who had
the management OF the bin in fhe House Of
| Representatives, arose in his place and said
vita ut hesitation Gas became him) that he had
made he alteration fthc word ''or, to''anf,'F
between the WORDS constituted -'organiZ
ed " LecaTsc the committee had authorized him
to do So all inuGh he bad fopgetie3, OF omitted.
10 make the aitrt.'tiU;i bciorc me bin hati
passed tie lIousr lie az he saEsc time rdeclareG
that no fraud Whatever rad been peTpetSated-
or attempted. and the repol. OF tue Committee
bears lin D';t, =, .'ls'ainS i;!si III she dfcia
ration.
Minnesota anl lie Eori-Wcsi lave, :aere
fore. been deprived OF tn ma :snlceHt graz! 81
millions 81 acres Of !;..i!, through the inStru-'
mentality Of E;cn whose objects were. as be-
l.cvc TO Hi Ike Speculation for Themselves, by
dcpriving Il company which had been charter
ed by the Legislative assembly of your Terri
y.
them. alter (i.> We @Ve bound to suppUse) the
/ exercise OF due dr!.bgEttul and care.
! do not deem ii Necessary to say, in connec-
ton with the orogOng, that Mr.. Rice was en-
t!reiy generated from censurc. either because
ri the ali, ration of the bill. or its final repeal
! That Sucl was the case mast be evident from
the fact, ] do not believe that a single men,
/ Der oi either House Of Congress attributed any
blame TO him whatever. in relation to the mat
/ ter. All knew of the unwearic.i efforts which,
during III" whole session, he had made in be-
halt OF bills making grants of land to the Terri
/ tory and that b had. thereby. brought on q
severe attack OF h:rmOrrhage Of the lungs To
| have attempted speech at the last hour would
nave been entirely frutlcss. it, indeed, his
strength would have enabled him to make the
effort. which greatly doubt. In the Senate,
even after the strong appeals in behalf of the
meas urc. made by Senators Douglas and John
son. neither Gen. bod re nor myself said a word
for the bill, although, like Mr.. Rice we felt a
deep interest in favor of it, It's enemies sealed
It's fate by their netarious attacks upon it. at
the late day at which Washhurne ntroduc-
ed his resolution for a committee and
the late day at which the report of that COM
mittce was made.
Does any man suppose that Washburnc did
not Know that the alteration had been made in
the biii, before Rosscr brought his attention to
it? Surely not
kosser and others may, and prol ably will
say, that they appealed to Mr.. Douglas and
o'hrf members OF Congress. to save tie act
from repeal; but such appeal was irate. if
made at all after he and they had raised the
wind, a'd saw that they were about to reap
the whrlwind."
IN my opinion the entire blame for the repeal
Of the act lies at tie doors Of Governor Cor
man, Secretary Rosser, Mr.. Sibiey. and their
t0'uo'heis IN a schene TO kW eff The company
chartered 6g tie last Legislative .assen5fy, in
order to raise one for Themselves and their CON
tcdfrates.
Your obcdicnt servant
GEO. W. JONES.