Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-05
MONDAY, SEPT. 4, 1854.
THE MINNEsorA LAND Bull FRAUD.


We continue the publication to day of the evil
dence in this case, but find only one or two points
worthy Of consideration.
Mark the seventh point.-Mr. Rice procured
copy of the bill which was delivered to Mr.. Ste
vens. Then the bill contained the words ssfuture''
and cor" just it left the hands of Mr.. Sibley.
when he, in connection with Gov. German, in
formed the gentlemen that without these words the
bill could not receive the cooperation of the peo-
pie of Minnesota. Mr.. Rice, Mr.. Billings, and Mr..
Stevens knew this; for if we are correctly inform
ed, they were the gentlemen addressed. They
agreed these words should remain in the bill and
to use their influence to get it through Con-
gress. Trusting in their integrity, Gov. German
and MIR. Sibley returned home, when Mr.. Stevens
went directly to the committee and caused the word
'future to be struck GU. of the bill before it was
brought before the House. Query. Did he do
it without the consent of Mr.. Rice2 MIR. Rice
eneU that the understanding was, that these words
should remain in the bill; Mr.. Stevens also knew
it, and yet he deliberately violated his word, his
honor, and his manhood by causing the erasure
to be made. Where was Mr.. Rice during this
| time? If proof is necessary to substantiate what
we here assert, the afidavts of both Gov. German,
Mr.. Sibley and others can be procured.
Mark the eighth point. Mr.. Patton states that
while the bill was pending before the Committee
on Public Lands, General Jones, of Iowa, called
on him and wished the alteration made. In Mr..
Jones' testimony he states that he knew the alter
alton acas made-that he had a conversation with
MIR. Billings, and to the question-Do you know
of any matter or thing further connected with the
| change or alteration of the bill spoken of ?-He
answered no.
| Now either Mr.. Jones or Mr.. Patton have COM
mitted purujry! They are condemned by their own
testimony. Why was it that General Jones ex-
hibited so much interest if the error was only a
clerical one and immaterial? Strange
Ninth-Mr. Stevens says that he made the
alteration Of the words future and ssor'' him
self, the very words he and his friends pledged
Gov. German and Mr.. Sibley should remain in
the bill, and on the strength of which the infu-
ence Of the friends of both these gentlemen was
brought to bear in procuring the passage of the
| bill, and without whose influence the bill never
would have passed. Where was Mr.. Rice?
Tenth.-Gen. Stevens becomes exceedingly anx-
ious to have the word ''or' altered, yet he says
it is immaterial. He goes to Mr.. Forney and ur-
ges him to see that the alteration is made. Mr..
Forney can't see any difference between &c con-
stituted or organized,' meaning one or the other,
and CONSTITUTED and organized meaning both.
Ridiculous omeful outrageous! Too bad
that so much ignorance should be permitted to
exist in our National Councils. MIR. Patton in
| forms Gen. Jones that the alteration is made He
says, every well, and yet Mr.. Billings was the
| only man with when he (Gen. Jones) had any
conversation on the subject! The devil some
times get man into difficulty and then leaves
him. He has done so in this case. Again, ''Gen.
Jones, think pointed out the error in the printed
bll.' In Gen. Jones' testimony, in answer to
the question, 600 you know by whom, and when
and where the alteration was made % answered
no. Again, 'sDO you know the change being
made? ?" He evaded direct reply by answering
81 don't know where, when, or by whom it was
made" and yet Mr.. Patton informed him imme-
dately after it soas made, and he replied, every
well.''
| Mr.. Billings testified as follows:
Nothing of moment occurred till after the pas
| sage Of the bill. went to the Senate and found
the bill lying the table, took it up and read it,
saw General jones' and called his attention to the
| error in the word sOr,'' and asked him whether
it could be corrected; he said certainly, that it
read very badly, anu that no would 60 and get it
corrected. | saw him, | think, in the afternoon,
| when he told me that the error was corrected.
We leave Gen. Jones to the fostering care of
his constituents.
Eleventh.-The testimony of John W. Forney
corroborates the testimony of MIR. Patton that Mr..
| Stevens was anxious to have the alteration made,
although he (Stevens) said it was immaterial. He
knew better, because he was informed by citizens
of Minnesota that the words we're material, and
that without them in the bill, the friends of Min
nesota would not vote for it. MIR Stevens we'll
knew that the word ''and'' threw the grant into
the hands of the Wall street Railroad Company
aud the word "or'' took it from them; and yet he
stands up and calls God to witness that he had
no motive in making the change. He has su-k
himself deep in the depths of infamy-there let
| him rest.
L