The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-10-28

and miscellaneous items.
A Few Pertinent Suggestions and Que.
rtes to the Honorable Henry M. Rice,
Delegate to Congress from Minnesota.
We have waited with some degree of pa
thence for public refutation over the hand
OF Henry NJ. RICE, the Territorial Dele
gate to Congress, of the grave sins of omis-
sion and commission in connexon with the
Minnesota Land Bill, wherewith he has
been openly charged before his constituency,
the people of Minnesota. But, though he
has been at home several days, and enjoyed
ample time and opportunity to become &C.
quainted with the charges made against him,
though he has had full occasion to learn
the character of the late canvass, and to
ascertain the fact that the people of this
Territory have branded him by their votes
as participation in the enormous frand and
forgery, through which Minnesota was rob-
bed of her just dues from the general gov
eminent, yet he sustains an imperturbable
silence, which argues either contempt of
the public sentiment, or outlines which
permits no palliation. Both reasons are dis
creditable to him, and the latter, by refec-
ton, is disgraceful to his constituency. We
purpose to do our utmost to help our Dele
gate out of his unpleasant dilemma. Ap-
preciating, as we do, the great Importance
in furthering the interests of our Territory,
that its official representative should be free
from the stigma Of known crime, or the
faint Of suspected corruption, we shah in
form him Of some of the principal grounds
which have led the people to doubt his in
tegrity, that he may repeI with greater GER
tainty whatever there may be slanderous in
the imputations made against him.
As to the connexion Of the Hon. HENRY
M RICE with the Railroad Fraud, the pub
lie Judgment has been made up from the
testimony elected before the Investigating
Committee of the House of Representatives
and from cognate facts of common notorie-
ty. And of the whole mass of testimony
referred to, perhaps none has borne upon
him with such crushing force as that given
by his own lips The Honorable Delegate
may not have copy Of that evidence with
in his reach, and we cheerfully render him
the kindness Of printing it. His memory
viii thus be quickened as to the testimony
given under his solemn oath, should such a
reminder be necessary, and it will serve us
as the basis for our queries and suggestions,
shonld that not prove the case. Mr.. RICE
will recollect that the following is correctly
copied from the official report of the test.
mony taken before the Investigating Com
mittee, and comprises the whole given by
him
Hon. Henry NJ. Rice, s,corn.
Question. Are you delegate in Congress
from the Territory of Minnesota?
Answer. am.
:. Question. Will you examine House bill No,
342, and state when you first saw it?
Answer. cannot state the first time. 1t
was at the time it was before the Committee
on Public Lands, or previous, at the meeting,
before it was reported.
Question. Do you know anything in rela-
tion to the alteration Of the third section of the
bill?
Answer. understood that the bill, after
it had gone into the hands of the Committee
on PUBLIC Lands, had been altered or amend
ed. l asked by whom it was done, or for
what purpose. l was told that the word or
words altered were slight, and that Mr.. Wash
burne, of Illinois, had consented. l remarked
that he was friend of the bill, and it was all
right. Ny impression is that was told by
Mr.. Billings.
Question. Had you any idea of the amend
ments referred to?
Answer. had not.
Question. Do you know George w. Bill
ings!
Answer. have seen him.
Question Did You ever consult with him in
relation to this bill?
Answer. have not.
Question. Do you know for whom Mr.. Bill.
lings was operating?
Answer. do not.
Question. Do you know anything in relation
TO q charter granted for railroad by the Leg
islatnre OF Minnesota to company of which
Mr. Billings is one of the corporators?
: Answer. have seen the charter before, or
one of the same head.
Question. Did you have any conversation
with General Stevens, after the bill was en-
crossed, in relation to the alteration?
=, Answer. Never had until Saturday nisht.
Question. Can you state whether the Char
Ter was granted by your legislature with the
expectation of grant of land by Congress
Answer. I was told BY Mr.. Washburne, Of