Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-05
Sf(inr'esota Timts,
FRIDAY, DECEMBER /, 1854.
THE RAILROAD DODGE.

The organs of the New York Railroad Swindlers
seem to be in fine spirits at the result of the
fraudulent suit brought by the agents of the gov
eminent against the Schuyler Company. The
Democrat, after copying the pleadngs in the case,
together with the decision of the Judge, says =
ssFrom the decision above quoted, it seems that
the right of the Minnesota and North Western
Railroad Company, to the lands granted by Con-
gress, perfect Such being the fact, the hazards
and delay of obtaining another grant are avoided,
and if the road shall be built, clearly that
the fortunes of the people will at once begin to
rise" ...t
Now this is decidedly cool. An action is
brought in the name of the United States, by the
instruction of the Attorney General, himself an
interested party, to enable that Company to get
fraudulent possession of lanis which they claim
in virtue of an act of forgery committed by them
selves. In the complaint, no mention is made of
the fraud for if it had been plead, the defendants
could not have demurred-thc fraud having been
proved, and could easily have been proved again
indeed we have never seen it denied. Now can
Company take advantage of fraud, committed
by themselves or their agents, to acquire title
to land. In short, no bill ever passed the House
of Representatives giving land to the Territory,
except the one expressly prohibiting the Company
from obtaining an interest therein, consequently
the bill which passed the Senate was not the Jill
which passed the House and the Company could
not have obtained the lands even if the law had
not been repealed, ana the L. S. had plead the
fraud.
But what does the organ mean by the following;
'.That the Company VII meet with an express
Al fhnIr fntt was
to the Legislature, we do not doubt.
And to that end we confidently rely upon orr
Executive; we rely also upon our Councillors AMI
Representatives and upon the leading men of all
parties, sect ;ons, and shades of parties. We ex-
pect to see all united uron this one great and
paramount object in comparison with which all
others affecting our material interests sink into
utter insigniicancc."
Now We can inform the grinder of the Rice
organ that the people have already given an ex-
preston Of their opinion upon this subject, and
have by their votes given verdict of equity of
fraud, perjury and forgery" against this swim
ding Company and if the Legislature reflects
the will Of its constituents. we doubt not it
will, that judgment will be confirmed, and the old
charter set aside. But the last paragraph quoted
is the browning glory of the article. For what
uOcS IL rely upon EAcCut.Nc! ~ thC
Company in their villainous robbery of the peO-
pie? If so, we have abiding confidence that
its hopes will never end in frution. Thong not
n political friend of the Executive, We know that
upon this matter he is right: he has taken a high
and honorable stand, and we do not he will
be bought off, nor yet driven from his position
though all the Wall street ours open upon his
track with their pitiful yepngs, and We look upon
this paragraph as an assassn-like attempt on the
part of the Democrat to wound him in the house
of his friends, but it will fail.
We are not opposed, nor do We suppose Gov.
German, or any other opponent of the fraud is
opposed to the Company building the road. All
we ask is that it be built under proper charter
by which we mean, one which will sufficiently
protect the interests, both of the Territory and
the people; and we believe that this is the only
way in which they or any other Company will be
allowed to build it.
The suit cannot fail to injure the interests of
the Company with the next Legislature, and unless
withdrawn, should be deemed sufficient grounds
to exclude them forever from any favOrs to be
granted either by Congress or the Territory.