Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-10-03
From the Pioneer of Thursday.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

OF. IAUL, M. L. Sept. u, 1854.
It was the fartherest thing from my mind when
left st. Paul, two months ago, that should be
called upon, on my return home, to defend myself
against unjustifable Misrepresentation and
groundless imputations in regard to any thing
might deem it my duty to do, to promote the in
terests of Minnesota, or prevent the accomplish
ment of fraudulent schemes detrimental to those
interests, yet it is so.
1t is well known that it was through my instru-
mentality that attention was first drawn to the
verbal alteration that had been made in the course
of its passage through the two houses of Congress-
of the Minnesota Railroad Bill which had been
passed, and was subsequently repealed and the
imputation has been cast upon me by MIR. Lowber,
one of the company into whose hands the altera-
ton was intrusted to place the lands given by
Congress, and u witness before the select commit
tee, and by the Dubuque Express, whose remarks
were re-publshed in the Minnesotian of the I'd
ultimo, that was actuated in the part took by
a selfish motive-that 6 l was a member of Sc
cret company which desired to obtain the control
of this grant," and whose interests were therefore
antagOnistic to those Of the company which was
chartered by the Minnesota Legislature last winter
This statement by MIR. LOwber (and its reiteratiOn
by the Dubuque Expressly is base fabrication,
destitute of the least shadow of truth-whOlly
and entirely false. l was neither directly in
directly, nearly nor remotely interested IN the
lands granted by Congress for the purpose, except
as citizen of the Territory, and in common with
every other citizen.
Being at Washington on business in no way con-
nected with the railroad, | received letter from
Gov. German, requesting me to examine the phra-
seology of the bill, since different versions or
copies of it had been sent here. | complied with
the request and at once discovered the alteration
that had been made and pointed it out. But, in
doing this, had neither the desire, intention
expectation that this would be the means of de-
feating the bill altogether; so far from it, used
every effort and exerted all my influence with
Messrs. Atchson, Hunter, Mason, Douglas, Bright,
Gov. Dodge, Gen. Dodge, and others of the Sen
ate, the Virginia Delegation, DIR. Olds. of Ohio,
and many other friends in the House, to procure
the passage of the bill it originally passed
| also appeared before the select committee for
the same purpose, and they offered the very bill
desired. had no other purpose than to secure
the benefit of the grant Of lands to the people of
Minnesota.
That Minnesota may yet obtain a grant of lands
from Congress, for the purpose of aiding her in
constructing railroads through the Territory,
most sincerely hope and have but little doubt ::
but this can only be looked fer when Congress
shall have been convinced that her people neither
sanctioned nor were disposed to profit by the
transaction which caused it with such haste and so
much indignant feeling to repeal the bill. Min
nesota must, in the most explicit manner, disown
all connection with the fraud, the odor Of which
is so offensive in the National Legislative Halls,
and must let it appear that the transaction is not
less offensive in her ight than it is in Washington.
Any attempt to arraign and censure those who ex-
posed the fraud-any complaint that it was not
concealed and the bill suffered to remain law
Notwithstanding, will assuredly leopard, if not
entirely defeat, any further application by the
Territory for these lands.
From such princely donation I thought, and
still think, the people Of this Territory and future
State, ought to have secured to them perpetual
Intnr hiatt ctO11 ho,,
the road, but large interest in it, which would
in all time to come, yield an annual revenue con-
sequently it should not be thrown away upon mere
spectators, much less that those spectators should
be permitted to get possession of it by means Of
fraud and forgery for look upon the secret and
fraudulent alteration of bill before Congress,
with view to throw millions of dollars into the
pockets Of few individuals, to be as much a
forgery rs the signing of another mans name to
a prOm:ssOry note.
| had up to the time discovered the alteration
made in the bill taken no part whaterer either in
favor of or against the company; nor had inter-
estcd myself in any way, in favor of or against
the passage of the bill before Congress. Ineithcr
wrote to any one at Washington, or received any
letter or letters or messages concerning it; nor
had my visit to Washington any connection with
it: and had not my attention been called to the
bill, in the manner before mentioned, (while in
Washington it was the only letter received from
should ever have examined it. But once having
discovered the fraud about to be pcrpetrated upon
the people of the Territory. no nduccment what
ever could prevent me from exposing it, as other
wise SHOULD have shared the guilt of those who
had pcrpetrated it. To suppos, that the people
of Minnesota would have preferred that the fraud
should have been concealed, that the road might
be constructed, even by a Company that had be
come thus surreptitiously possessed of the noble
donation Of lands granted for its construction, is
to suppose they would be willing to partake of the
fruits Of most base and dsgraceful transaction
to be partakers, indeed, of stolen goods sup
position wholly unwarranted by the character of
the inhabitants Of this Territory. TO them, there
fore, submit whether did right or wrong in ex-
posing the fraud had detected.
What motive could have actuated Mr.. Lowber
and others, to connect me with any secret cOmpa-
ny, &C., is beyond my comprehension, unless it
was desire to avert the public gaze from a
transaction which had already brought 0dium
upon its perpetrators, and fix it upon him by
whose agency it had been brought to light. But
it seems to be reversing the order Of things, and
the principles of criminal jurisprudence. when he
who detects crime and exposes its perpetrators,
is to be prosecuted and condemned, rather than
the criminals themselves.
Since writing the above statement, my at
tentiOn mas been attracted to q letter from Mr..
Senator Jones, of Iowa, published in the Mime
sofa DemOcat of the 10Th instant. In this letter
he states:
''AIr. Rice's success in defiance to the oppo-
sitiOn of the Governor and Secretary of the Ter
ritory, and Mr.. Sibley, his predecessor in Con-
gress, is truly wonderful
This statement Of the Honorable Senator char
ges me with opposition to the measure proposed
and urged before the National Legislature by Mr..
Rice. All have to say in reply to it is, that the
statement is simply and unqualifedly false. l
never did, either alone or in connection with
Messrs. German, Sibley and Van Etten, or in
connection with any other person, upon any occa-
sion, oppose any measure proposed or urged by
our Delegate.
Again the letter says
s'IIe (Washburne) was subsequently induced to
favor the bill originating in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and passed Congress, and was APP
proved by the President, and then, after that bill
had become law, he, at the instance Of Rosser
and Others, moved for the Investigating Com
mittee-o
This statement is upon equality with the
above one quoted, and. like it, is false in it's al
fusion to me. At the time, and for several DAYS
subsequent to the period of the appointment Of the
Committee Of which Mr.. Washburne was Chair
man, did not even know that gentleman, had
never been introduced to him, nor had ever spo-
ken to him.
The letter continues
''ROsser and others NAV and probably will saw
that they appealed to Mr.. Douglas and other
members of Congress to save the act from a re-
peal but such appeal was made, if made at all,
after he and thew had raisad tho Wind opd eoxu