Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-19
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.
Proceedings Of the Select Committee Of the House
Representatives..

HON. e. d. MASSACHUSETTS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Question. Have you any knowledge in regard
to any money arrangements made, or VIII ch were
to be made, through Mr.. Alvah HINT, or any
other person, touching this bill, Or having refer
ence to your own election this fall, or the cleo
correspondence, touching either of these points,
with Mr.. Hunt or with any other person?
Answer. No money arrangements, nor any
other arrangements, were ever made, nor were
they to be made, by or through Alvah Hunt, or
any other person, having any reference to my
election this fall or any other time, or any otner
election, or any action of his Of any other per-
son; and l have had no correspondence or con-
versation with Alvah Hunt, or any other person,
on that subject, or anything appertaining to tho
subject. 1t is matter that never was suggested,
or thought of, or spoken of, by me; it was never
suggested to me, either by hint or inuenoo, OF
otherwise. The suggestion is an infamous and
atrecous calumny. According t. the best OF my
recollection, Mr.. Hunt left for New York from
the 18th to the Doth Of April, before>Mr. Sibleys
bill was drawn up, and did not return here till
after the bill became law. did not see hum
during the time that he was absent. After the
bill passed wrote him letter advising him OF
the fact, and as near as can recollect, (for re-
tanned no copy,) l carried out the idea that the
whole thing, as regarded the grant, was left open
to all companies to compete and that hoped the
interest he represented would be on hand, so that
nv constituents could all have an equal chance.
do not pretend to give the language of such let
ter. but Mr.. Hunt can produce it, and it will show
what there is in it.
Question. Were you ever the attorney OF the
st. Charles Airline Railroad Company, or did
you ever tell Mr. Billings any other person that
you were such?
Answer. Inever was such attorney, and never
was employed in any way to advance the interests
of the said company. l never told Mr.. Billings
or anybody else that was such attorney
PAPERS REFERRED TO IN Mr.. wAsHBuRNE's TEsTs-
MoNY.
A.
Mr. Washburne. feel an exceedingly great
interest in the measure which the committee is now
considering. It is bill of vast Importance to
the section of country which have the honor to
represent ON this floor, and my constituents look
to its passage with very great solicitude'
There was one thing in the bill that has attract
ed my attention. refer to that provision wnlc9
refers to the privilege Of extending the road
through the State of Iowa to given point on the
Mississippi river. But understand from the
chairman of the Committee on Territories IN the
House, [Mr. Richardson,] whom know to be q
good LAWYER, and understood from the chairman
Of the Territorial Committee in the Senate, ME-:
Douglas.1 who is distinguished lawyer, and
indre. that this extension was not intended toy
and does not carry any land with it, but was only
inserted to show the direction that it was to take;
that it was not intended to grant any land what
ever outside of the territorial limits OF Minnesota
However, what may have been the true construc-
ton Of the language granting the privilege 70 e9
tend the road outside the boundary of the Terri
tory, the amendment just proposed by my col
league, the chairman Of the committee, MIR.
Rcbardson.1 settles the matter, if, indeed, there
had been any doubt on the subject before.
If the bill had provided expressly for grant OF
land in Iowa, should have desired TO oner an
hovn AOuo 81 without q
daprering the passage of the bill. But as any
amendment by a friend of the bill might tend to
embarrass it, and as it was the road wanted,
determined not to move any minor amendments,
even though l might consider such amendments
| important.
desired the amendment to which have aludedJ
if nv friend and colleague [Mr. Richardson had
not proposed the alteration of the bill, and if the
construction which l have just stated had
been offered as the true legal one.-
There are two great lines OF railroad
Chicago to Galena and the Mississippi river. If
road be built under this grant, it will be feeder
to one or bo.h of these roads. These two roads
run through my district; and my amendment,
had offered it, would have been to have changed
the bill that there should be two Terminus, one con-
Meeting with the Illinois Central at Dun'eith, ll
nois and the other at the mouth OF the valley of
Tete dc Mort, connecting with the Chicago and
st. Charles AIRLINE Railroad; thus giving two
outlets. doing Justice to all interests and nuring
none. But the amendment proposed by the chair
man, and even the bill without any amendment,
according to the construction given to 1t, makes
no grant of land to Iowa. The road will now ter
inmate at the southern boundary of Minnesota
Private enterprise will build roads to connect with
it.. and the company which first builds road to
that point will get the benefits which its enter
prise deserves.
Being. MIR. Chairman, in favor Of the principle
of these railroad grants, and particularly in the
application of the principle to the construction Of
this particular road, opening up an intercourse
with the enterprising and hardy pioneers of that
magnificent Territory, hope to see the bill report
ed to the House with a recommendation that it do
pass. We have had an able and temperate dis
cusson upon its merits, and l trust the committee
is satisfied Of the justice Of the measure.
b.
That there be, and hereby is, granted to tho
Territory of Minnesota, for the construction of .
railroad between St. Paul, in said Territory, to
the eastern line Of the said Territory, by the most
direct and practicable route in the direction OF
the western end of Lake Superior, and from st.
Paul to the southern line Of said Territory, at
point which would be on the most direct route
from st. Paul to the Mississippi river, in Jackson
| or Dubuque county, in the State OF Iowa, every
alternate section Of landthat is to say, those de-
| signated by odd numbers-for SIX sections IN
| width on each side of said road; but in case it
shall appear that the United States have, when
| the line or route OF
| G..
| OFFICE OF THE CHICAGO, ST. CHARLES AND
MISSISSIPPI AIRLINE RAILROAD COMPANY.
| NEW York, April "a, 1854.
| MY DEAR SIR: Yours Of the 23d just received.
The conclusion you have arrived at on that mat
ter meets the appreciation of all here-a singular
fact. We had private meeting yesterday, and
came to the same conclusions that you have and
| was to give you the result this morning. Your
letter saves me the tronble of giving our reasons
| in detail. A. HUNT.
| Hon. 4. B. WAsHBURNE.
The Committee addressed letter to Mr.. Alvah
Hunt, of New York, in which was long list Of
interrogatorics, relative to conversations concern-
| ing the St. Charles Airline Railroad Company,
also whether he knew anything concerning the al
teration Of the Minnesota Land bill. To these
questions Mr.. Hunt replies at length and to ef-
feet That he knew nothing about the alteration;
that he made no money by the passage OF the bill;
he never told any one that he ever wished money
in connection with its passage; orto influence the
election of Mr.. Washburne he had no converse
ton with Mr.. Washburne as to the terminus Of
the road, &c. wished the bill so amended that