Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-12
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRpD.
Proceedings of Select Committee Of Hous Of Repre-
sentatives. I-r- 1880
GEORGE w. BILL1Ncs.-CoNTIS

SUBJECT! ..s. Earnt
Answer. saw General Jones. for he space of
one minute. He called at my Office No. So Will
liam street, to say he was going to Ioston. lie
informed me that was summoned to 20 to wash
ington. ~
Question. Did he inform you fo' what pur-
pose You were summoned? tl
Answer. He informed me was summoned TO
60 to Washington to testify before committee,
and said, ssyOu probably know the purposes" 1
answered, eyes have seen it in tie papers +"
Question. You have spoken Of receiving tel
egraph dispatch; state from whom was receiV,
ed; and if you have the dispatch produce IL; anu
if not, state its contents.
Answer. did not receive dispatch myself
it was to Mr.. Stearns, who Informed me.
Question. Who is Mr.. Stearns?
Answer. OF the firm of Raymond Fullerton,
New York. E4r
Question. You have stated in YOUR examlna-
ton that you never saw the bill until it was print
ed and passed the House; how then do you know
the purport of the third section?
Answer. Governor German told me that the
Sd section was drawn so that it would prevent the
grant OF land being received by the present cor
poraton of the Minnesota and Northwestern Rail
road Company-that he paid particular attention
to the Sd section, and also that Mr.. Washburne
had with him.
Question. Do you wish the committee to under
derstand that you understood MIR. Washburne to
substituting the word ssand' for Cor" or that
you understood him generally to assent that the
new bill should conform with the old one?
Answer. So far as the language was concern
ed, | knew nothing of it, but that the new bill
was to conform the old bill.
Question. Do you know anything of the bill
for Incorporating the Minnesota and Northwes-
tern Railroad Company, marked B2
Answer. | know some of the cOrporators.
Ouoct;Op Has that connrany hapu Orpaniznd 1.
and if so, who are the officers of the company?
Answer. The company was organized on the
LIST of July. As regard to the officers, decline
to answer, do not think it pertains to the bust
ness Of the committee.
Question. Is any member of the Senate, Of
the House of Representatives, or of any of the
executive departments of the general government,
or Of any officer of either house of Congress,
either director or subscriber to stock in said
company /; or have you any knowledge of any in
terest direct or indirect of any such person in
said company :? If you have, give the names.
Answer. l do not; either directly or indi-
rectly.
Question. Do you know any of the friends of
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, who are directors,
stockholders, Or otherwise interested directly OR
indirectly in the said railroad company? If so,
name them.
Answer. l do not.
Question. Has this railroad company to your
knowledge ever recognized the arrangement of
which you spoke connected with Mr.. Hunt /; or
has the company to your knowledge ever paid
money in pursuance of that arrangement to get
the bill through Congress?
Answer. SO far as my knowledge extends |
do not know what has been done but something
has been done Oh that subject. Mr.. Hunt has
received money, as understood; but from whom
do not know.
Question. State the contents of the letter
which you received from Mr.. Washburne.
Answer. 1t was in regard to the prospects of
the bill referred to.
Question. Was it, or was it not, your under
standing that the bill, as it came from the Com
mittee on Public Lands to the House was as it is
now, In form of law; and when you speak of OBJ
serving the word ''or'' instead of sand" in the
printed bill in the Senate, was it, or was it not,
your intention to have an alteration made to de-
feat the will of Congress, did you suppose that
General Stevens was making correction Of a
clerical error?
Answer. When the bill came from the com
mittee to the House supposed it to be the same
tenor of the original bill, as had been assured so
by General Stevens. With reference to the word
''Or'' instead of''dnd," supposed it to be cler-
ical error, and that it made no difference, and do
not now, as to the legal effect of the bill. My at
tension called to it solely by the IRE. ularity
of expression.
July %, 1854.
The Hon. Mr.. Simmons, of New York, ap-
pointed a member of the committee in place of
Hon. Mr.. Washburne, excused from further SER
vice.
The Hon. Mr.. Cambcll appointed chairman of
the committee.
We pass over the testimony of Robert W. Low
Der, which in substance that he was int crested
in the Minnesota and North Western Railroad
Company-a director in that company. He was
asked to subscribe stock to said company he did
so on the grounds that the lands should inure to
the company. He was told that the loss of the
first grant was occasioned in consequence of
adverse influences from Galena, &c. He was
told that a new bill had been drawn which must
be submitted to some future legislature and the
lands were not to inure to any company consti-
tuted organized. He did not wish the bill to
pass unless the old company could get the land,
and he therefore sought an interview with Mr..
Hunt for the purpose of reconcling conflicting in
terests. He stated distinctly to him that he wish
ed the words ':future" :.and"or," struck out. MIR.
Hunt wished the road to benefit Galena. Mr..
Lowber partially assented to Hunts proposition,
when Hunt promised him the support of Mr..
Washbune, for whom, it appears he was acting.
The Cancellation not being brought about as was
expected, a sum of S., 900 was to be raised to
consummate the bargain. Subsequently Mr.Low-
Der was informed that Mr.. Washburne had given
his assent to the alteration. The money was to
be used for electioneering purposes. They did
not furnish the money. Did not esteem the al
teration of any Importance.
Question. Are the Illinois Central Railroad
Company in any way interested with or in your
company, or have the Schuylers any connexon
with or interest therein He answered-none in
the least and | know of no one connected with
that company who is directly or indirectly inter-
ested with us.
Gy Mark the above denial. We have docu-
mcnt in our possession with the signatures of
both Robert and George Schuyler as two of the
eorporators Of the Minnesota and North West
ern Railroad Company, accepting the charter pass
ed by our Legislature. Mr.. Lowber says that
the Schuylers had no interest in the Company
Awful p? To what baseness men will stoop?
MIR. Billings is recalled, who produces letter
from MIR. Washburne, announcing the receipt of
bis, the day previous is of no Importance.
FRANCIS l. GRUND, SWORN.
Question. Are you the clerk of the Commit
tee on Public Lands?
Answer. l am. erfy
Question. State to the committee ANYTHING
your journal, as clerk Of the Committee on Public
Lands, shows in regard to the action of that
committee upon tho Miuuesofa land Hi ,-L:ol