The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-08-02
Letter from Hon. Alexander Wilkin.

We cheerfully give place, this morning
to the following direct and manly reply
of Hon. ALEX WILKIN, to the asper
sions of the Minnesotian 1t is a contro-
versy in which we have no disposition to in
terfere but we think Capt WILKIN may
safely rest his case on the following, espe-
cially in this community, where both par
ties are known:
EDITOR OF PIONEER: The lMnnesotian, Of this
morning, contains two articles in which my name is
brought before the public desire, through the med-
um of your paper, state the facts in reference to
the matters referred to.
1t is false that /, at any time, withheld from the
hnesotian any government funds in my hands, unless
under the instructions othe department to which was
responsible for my conduct Secretary of the Terri
tory but on the contrary, it is true, that advanced
over $4,000 before the appropriation made for the
printing OF the Revised Statutes and only by the
accident was saved from the loss of the money paid
The Committee Of Ways and Means, in Congress re-
ported against the appropriation, and it defeated
Mr. SIBLEY afterwards rallied his friends land brought
the subject up in the midst of severe storm, when
the attendance in the House was small. The Hon.
JAMES BROOKS, of the Committee of Ways and
Means, afterwards informed me, that, but for this cir
cu'nstance, the appropriation would not have been
made the Committee were decidedly adverse to the
appropriations Had it failed, should without doubt
have lost the amount paid. l was instructed by the
Comptroller of the Treasury not to pay the amount
oh, E. H., FL
ed, upon representations made personally, while at
Washington, to have the full amount allowed. In the
final settlement Of my accounts / was charged with
Sos overpad on account of the deficiency appro-
priation of 1850; having paid by that much more
than came into my hands under ore of the heads of
that bill In regard to checks upon BoRuP & OAKEs,
they were drawn against my individual funds in ad-
vance of the receipt Of money from the Treasurer,
the payment of which frequently delayed. When
payments to creditors of government refused
by me, they informed of the reasons, and were
generally shown the instructions of the department.
In regard TO my connection with the Times news
paper will briefly state the facts, which are, how
ever, generally known. 1t was proposed by several
practical printers during last WINTER to start daily
paper devoted to the interests of the Territory and
not to be party paper. These gentlemen desired to
form joint stock Company, under the provisions of
the Territorial statutes, in which some of the bust
ness men of this place should be Interested Several
persons were requested to take an interest and nv
self amongst the number After the ARRANGEMENTS
had been made learned that the Democrat and Pio-
ner intended to issue daily papers from their Offices
Had known their intention before, l should not
have embarked in the enterprise, believing that one
daily paper sufficient for the wants of the place
About that time started for the East and was in
hopes that the undertaking would be given up. |
did not return to this place until after the material
for the Times arrived, and knew nothing of the in
tenllon to direct it Qhe materially in my name. NV
interest in the establishment is so very small as to
be merely nominal; nor can | with truth be called
''thc bona tde, or even prominent, owner. have
not attempted to interfere with the directions of the
paper, believing the person selected by the Company
its editor to be qualified for the post. have not
made, or been instrumental in making, personal at
lacks upon individuals, through the medium of its
columns-pro errins to redress my grievances else
where. am merely private citizen, not proper
subject for newspaper attacks nor will | Kermit
them to be made with impunity.
ALEX. WILKIN.
ST. Paul, August l, 1854.