The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-10-04
Gov. GOrmanss Letter I'm Relation t6
the Minnesota Land Bill Fraud.
ST. PAUL, MIN. TER, Sept. %, 1854

the minnesota Land Bill Fraud. I
ST. PAUL, Mn TER, Sept. %, 1854.
SIR 1t is part Of the history of every
lew Territory that great national principles
IRE rarely the issue in political contests, but
personal considerations and pri
rate interests are too often the peculiar char
acteristics which control the action of men
and govern the politics of these new commune
ties. No man has ever filled the office OF Gov
ernor Of Territory that has escaped the
tongue of malice and defamation. 1t is there
fore not wonderful or unexpected that l, the
junior of nearly all former Territorial Cover
nors, should be the victim of like assaults
Every person appointed to this honorable posi-
ton, meets at the threshold the prejudiccs OF
many of the old settlers, and the ambitious
politicians. When first came to Minnesota,
/ felt that had all these obstacles to over
come, and knew full well should have great
difficulty in its accomplishment. A stranger
to their prejudices, education, habits and ante
ccdents, it would be remarkable if my acts
should please every one, until our traits OF
character and prejudices of education, could
have time to be recOnciled to each other.
Yet, amidst all these anticipated difficulties,
did not expect that honorable men, especial
ly one who had filled like position should
volunteer to assail me without offering the
least possible excuse, for the wantonncss Of the
attack The Hon. G. w. Jones, Senator from
tho Gt>te Of IV"a, lsto caused ~ bU l,uUiishc'l
in the papers of this Territory, Il letter in vim
dication of his friend in relation to charges
preferred against him by certain newspapers OF
this Territory, as being derelict in duty or
90 particepS criminis " in the alteration OF the
Railroad bill, granting by Congress lands to
this Territory for the construction OF a Rail-
road from the Iowa line to Lake Superior, by
way of st. Paul. Mr.. Jones says:
In my opinion the entire blame for the repeal Of the
lies the doors Of Governor German, Secretary Ro>
ser, Mr.. Sbley, and their coworkers in scheme to kill
the Company chartered by the last Legislative Assem-
bly, in order to raise for themselves and their concd
crates
This opinion of Senator Jones needs some
evidence to sustain it, or it will be set down as
simply ridiculous, and treated as malicious las
it will surely deserve to beg by all honorable
men in or out of the United States Senate.
1t has Been intimated i'll the Miners Er
press, which suppose to reflect the views O
Senator Jones, that have had some CORES
pondcncc in regard to this Railroad grant anc
its repeal with Mr.. Washburne, Of Illinois,
TO this l beg leave to say, it is unfounded il
substance and detail. l never wrote wore
nor spoke word to Mr.. Washburne on thu
subject Of this or any other land grant, o.
Railroad, or Railroad charter, in Congress o.
out of it, in Washington or in Illinois. In
deed, / never had any acquaintance with Mr.
W., except a merely formal introduction.
: never wrote to any member of Congress or an,
citizen or visitor in Washington. one wor,
about the alteration of the bill. The papers 0
, this Territory had published the bill, as
! +l, Of f,o,
that discovered, as did the press, varianc
ser to get correct copy of the bill and SEN
e it to me. This is the "head and front of my o.
/, Tending" and this any one in my position NIGH
, and would have done, without mourning Ger
sure even from those who were ANTICIPATING
: the realization of large fortunes out of cor
templated city on Lake Superior, to be bull
up by making the terminus of this Road at tina
3. point. But Of this | do not complain.
: But Senator Jones says my object togcthe
, with Mr.. Rosser and Mr.. SiLlcy was d" to XII
= off the Company chartered by the last Lcgi
lative Assembly an order to raise one for then
selves and their conlcGerates.''
This is the conclusion drawn by the Sen;
G tor from his assumed premises. | confess
requires much more patience than l claim
u possess. to have such unfounded and unwa
rantablc conclusions drawn by an honorabl
man, without the first iota of evidence to SUI
tain it. Senator Jones has been listening
councils that were poisoned with bitterne;
y against me, or he would feel a sense of degr:
S dation at uttering a charge against heret'
: fore personal and political friend, so who'll
unjust and absolutely wicked. l never owne
the value of one cent in any Railroad in Mil
nesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, or Illinois. nevt
thought Of raising Company for Railroa
purposes in this Territory or out of it. ne,
: err had one word of conversation with any ma
o. on earth, about forming Company for sue
, or any other Railroad purposes. Mr.. Rose
Mr.. Sibley and myself never talked of such
thing, never suggested such thing, to eac
| other, either separately or collectively, an
Senator Jones might with equal truth hay
It charged me with being the cause of the war
n Europe. In fact, have on the contrary sal,
publicly and privately, that was entirely wi
> ling that the men of the Company charterc
last winter should have the lands in preferenc
to any others, under another charter granite
b. by future Legislature. only desired to hay
a resulting interest to the Territory out of IL,
r grant to whatever Company might build tn
I Road. 1t was the extraordinary powers gran
ed by the old charter, that and two thirds
/, the people of the Territory objected to, an
R not to the men composing the Company; an
. in proof of this, most of the Wing and Dem,
. cratic papers of the Territory avowed this 6
s their only or main objection.
e The press of the Territory were not so sci
C sh as Senator Jones supposes. They contende
for substance, not shadows. They, and nearl
l. all the rest of our people, felt that as Illino
h had received per cent. upon the gross pr
= ceeds of the Illinois Central Railroad, in CO.
~ sideration of the lands given them, that Mimi
h sofa should at least have per cent. per a
d mum of the nett earnings of said Road, in CO.
sideration of the lands thus to be conveyed