The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-09-06

puolSl sucH POrlionS OF the evidence before the
Select Committee of The House OF Representa-
tives, for investigating the repu,ed fraud in tht
Minnesota Land Bill case. as implicatss the
Galena Representative. We commence b,
extracting article, appended to which, is the
evidence of Mr.. LAUDER of New York--frnm the
Dubuque Herald, which, according TO the theo
ry of the Advertiser may be at least considered
impartial, as it isan anti jones organ, the oppos
lite OF what the editor Is pleased L, cal LII =.
paper The EDITOR of the Herald it appears
careful perusal Of the evidence, has come to the
same conclusions respecting the conduct Of Mr.
Washburne, that have.
MINNESOTA LAND BILL.
Testimony Of Robert ". LOUDER, eliminating
MIR. Washburne, .hsmbsr of Congress from
| Gaicna.
We commence to day TO fulfil promise made
last week to lay before our rea srs such portions
Of the testimony taken before select committee
of the United States House of Represe ntstives,
| as appear relevant to the matters for which the
committee were raised to investigate Our
readers must be this time, be aware that bill
sident, by which large donation of land was
made TO the Territory Of Minnesota to aid in the
| construction Of Railroad from point on Lake
Superior to point on the South boundary of
| the Territory The act donating these lands
was presumed to be SO worded that q company
chartered by the Territorial Legislature OF
Minnesota, would be benefited by the grant
This construction Of the act was based upon
single word,a conjnnctive conjunction the word
and, which appears 10 have been substituted for
the word or, at some stage of the bills progress
through the forms at Legislation. Selling upon
this circumstance, which may or may not have
been fraud, and done with fraudulent intent,
interested parties called the attention of men,
bers of Congress to the alteration in the &C, -
An investigation into the matter was had; wit
nesses were called and examined before com
mittee OF Congress, and the testimony eliciied
was published. 1t is from this testimony that
We commence making extracts to day. Al
though not first in order, the testimony of Mr.
LOUDER, which We give 10 day. is first in impor.
tance, as it details the relations held by the
principal actors towards the Minnesota Land
Bill in is progress from the conception of its
authors to its perfection as an act of Congress.
1t will be seen by this testimony that the first
bill introduced for the purpose of donating lands
to Minnesota Territory wac defeated by " ad-
verse interests" represented in Congress by
MIR. Washburne, Of Illinois. In these .sadverse
interests" Mr.. Wa shburne himself was SO much
interested that, according 10 Mr.. Loubers tes-
timOny, the consideration for which Mr. WASH
burne stipulated as quid for his services, was
nothing less han that 5000 should be paid
over, ''party," as the witness swore, "to secure
the election OF Mr.. Washburne, and that s.a
majority ofthe capital stock of the Northwest
ern Railroad company should be allotted and
distributed 10 the member from illinois, wash
burne,) so as to give him control therof, and the
line OF the road so located as to run through his
lands in Minnesota These conditions being
Indignantly rejected, Mr. Washburne threw W the
weight of his personal and official influence
against the passage of the first Minnesota Bill
Now what must be thought Of member OF
Congress who, so subserve his own private in
terests, attempts 10 make a merchandise of his
influence and vote in Congress; and because
his overtures rejected, spitefully resis,s the
contamination of an act in which the people OF
the whole north west have a direct interest, and
by y hich millions of people would be benefit
ed. Yet, such man ii appears, ME- Washburne
is.
lfthe company chartered by the LIE egislature
of Minnesota to construct a Railroad in that
territory would have placed $4,000 at his DIS
posal TO secure his e-eecton in Congress and
have allotted and distributed to him the ina jori-
ty OF the capital stock of their company, they
could count upon his services a Congressman
to pr'cere the passage of an act donating lands
TO Minnesota; otherwise not. There Mr. WASH
burne stands in the face of the world, branded
with the damning stigma of offering to prostitute
his vote and influence as Congressman for a
pecuniary consideration What think his con-
stituenis of a Congressman who puts up his
vote and influence to public sale, conditioned
hat ~f H.. L..
to influence them 10 re-elect him, and the bal
ance to be allotted and distributed" to himself.
Is it for such purposes as these that Constitu-
encies aggregate their suffrages upon a fellow
citizen and send him forth to the Capitol? But
why reed we ask. The very stigma of such a
charge upon their Representative will cause an
honest constituency TO hang their head for
shame. 1t would be ungenerous in US to OBJ |
,rude upon them while indulging in such emo
tons as must be produced in the minds y: Mr.
Washburne's constituents when thev hear TO
what uses he devoted himself in the Repre- EN-
tative capacity in Congress.
Thus much for the present. We shall have
occasion TO recur to this matter again.
TESTIMONY OF Robert w. LoUBER IN THE
CASE OF THF ALLEGED FRAUD IN THE
MINNESOTA LAND BILL.
QUESTION. Are yon interested in any railroad
Company in Wisconsin Iowa, or Minnesota?
Ans. am interested in a projected railroad
in Minnesota
@ How are you Interested
A | am a stakeholder
@. Are you director Of thtt company
A. | am
q. When were you elected?
A. On the first of July instant.
G. What is the name Of tha, company
A. The Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad
Company.
q DO you know whether any inhuen ,e ori
agencies were used, proposed to be used, in
order to procure the passage OF a bill granting
lands 10 Minnesota Territory for railroad pur-
poses. in which it is alleged alterations were
made, and which bill passed Congress at its
present session.
A. l do.
@. State what you know of them.
A. In order TO answer the question | must be
allowed to make brief chronological ateIne nj
of my connexon with and knowledge of this
matter Early in The spring ofthe present year
was called upon and sh own a charter granted
by the legislature of Minnesota incorporated the
Minnesota aad Northwestern Railroad Company
and was Informed that bill then per ding
in Congress granting lands TO the Territory t0l
be applied specially in the construction OF this
road. think that he form of the bill was the n
submitted to my examination, and that 1t was
positive in It's terms, and granted the lands for
the sole purpose Of building this road. Being
satisfied, on an examna!i u ot the charter thai
the lands ii granted could n"t be diverted from
the purpose OF aiding in the construction oft .
road, | agreed 10 become one of the st"ckhnld
ers, and TO procure number OF influential par
ties to oin in the enterprise it being distinctly
understood, however, that no stuck snoud b.
subscribed for by myself aud associates unless
the coutempla ed grant was made Ey cng,ess.
was ini"r,nt s.bsequ n ly that Ibis bill was
put upon its passage, aud, owing to certain ad
verse influences vas lost THose adverse IN
tiurnces or Interests were repre- scented by a
menhrI in Cpngfrss from Galena, Illinois aud
l was to that, unless he could be induced ["
Withdraw his opposition, no bill could be passed
making sucl, grant would benefit the Min
nfsita aud Northwestern Railroad Company,
and carry OUT the intention "t the legi laure oi
MINES ia, as eAprsssed IN The charter OF l's
company.
| was subsequently in formed that bill had
been prepared b. certain parties in Minnesota
to- wit, MesSrs German, Siblcy, and others
and the me :nbsr from lilnuis--and presented
T., the Committee on PubItc Lands prauliup