The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-07
THE MINI ES0TI N
MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 1854
The secretary and his Defense.

"
very brisk editor ola Daily paper. However
competent, we'll qualified and accommodating
be may be in discharging the sole duties for
which be was sent to Minnesota,--payingo OIL the
members of the Legislature and their employ
ees, and keeping files of the public records--he
would not answer for the editor OF
weekley newspaper even, anywhere in the
Union out of his own State. There, perhaps,
thew would allow him to take bis time and if
he happened to be compelled to labor month
or six weeks in getting up "leadcr' upon
riven subject, it would be all right. But in
all probability, the Secretary does not aspire
TO seat in the chair editorial. We hope, at
least, he will never be driven to that extremi-
~.
Well, the Secretary defense '--such as it is
lis out at last, and was placed before the rea-
ders of the Minnesotian yesterday. 1t has
been about five weeks In preparation; or, per-
haps it would be more proper to remark that
it is about that time since We were asked to
publish it, and assured that it would be ready
for printing in day or two. Since then. we
terest, for we really were anxious that the Sec
retary-a man whom we admire an officer
and gentleman, but not as manager of our
political and local legislative affairs-should
place himself right before the people of Mime
sofa, If he could. We say we have kept steady
track of this defense - and ofcourse we were
all the while conversent with the progress it
was making toward an entree into the columns
of some newspaper. One day it was written
outin fierce, fiery tone, denOuncing all who
would not throw up their caps and huzza for
the Secretary's efforts at Washington in secur-
lug the repeal Of the Land Grant. After con-
sulting with some one,who opposed this course,
the "defense" was modified, and shaped to
phase by which the writer cut loose from Cor
man, Sibley, and every other person with
whom he was accused of having intimate asso-
Citations. Another adviser pronounced against
this; and consequently another tack must be
taken. And so the Secretary went on, writing
and advising, and remodclng, and interpolat-
Ing, and erasing, and substituting, until he
must have consulted at least onc-half ofhs ac
quaintances in st. Paul, and consumed a ream
of foolscap, and many anxious hours and sleep
less nights, before tho "defense" was gotten
exactly right.
And the defense" has come forth 1t makes
one point, or rather one assertion, at the out
set, which is fatal to the entire argument if the
lame and impotent reasoning of the Secretary
can be dignifled with the title of an argument.
This assertion is fatal. because it exhibits
singular degree of obliviousness on the part of
the Secretary's memory, and will enable his
more vindictive and malicious opponents to
charge him with making a statement devoid of
truth; and what will be worse for him. they
will be able to prore the fact from the record.
The Secretary says:
1t is well known that it was through my in
strumentality 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, repeal
ed and the imputation has been cast upon me
by Mr. Lowber, one of the company into whose
hands the alteration was intrusted to place the
lands given by Congress, and a witness before
the select committee, and by the Dubuque En-
press, whose remarks were republished in the
Minnesotian OF the I'd ultimo, that l was actu-
ated in the part l took by selfish motive
that 81 was member of secret company
which desired to obtain the control of this
grant, and whose interests were therefore an
tagonistic to those of the company which was
chartered by the Minnesota Legislature last
winter. This statement by Mr.. Lowbcr land
Its reiteratiOn by the Dubuque Expressly is a
base fabrication, destitute ofthe least shado,c
cffruth-,choUy and entirely false. I ,cas
neither directly nor indirectly, nearly nor re-
motely interested in the lands grantedby Con-
gress for the purpose Of constructing a rail
road in Minnesota, or that may hereafter be
granted for that purpose, ercept as a citizen of
the Territory, and in common tcikh epery other
citizen.
The italics in the concluding portion of the
extract are our own. We call particular at
tention to this point in the Secrctary's CON-
munication, because fthe fact, as We have al
ready intimated, that the Secretary has forgot
ten that what Mr.. Lowber stated in his testi-
mony is true in every particular. The Secre-
tary was interested in another railroad Compa-
ny, and rival Company, ,chich had bill be-
fore Congress for a grant of lands at the time
our grant uas repealed! This may truble
some people, and even disturb the usual quiet
Of the Secretary himself; but we state the
fact knowingly, and after an examination of
the record which bears US out fully in making
the charge. Mr.. Lowber is a quiet, unobtru-
sive business mana gentleman of known in
tegrity among leading business men in Europe
and American and when he testified that Mr..
Rosser was connected with another, and ri
val Railroad Company of the Minnesota and
North Western, he testified to what be knee to
be true.
This point disposed Of there is not much left
Tor the Secretary to 60 upon. He admits that
he was made the instrument of German in STIR
ring up the disturbance among the old original
enemies of the bill, which gave them an ex-
cuse to urge its repeal he admits that be con-
suited with the Virginia delegation; and, in
substance, he admits all that has been charged
upon him by the Dubuque Express and the
Railroad men of Minnesota, with the exception
ofthe charge that he is interested in another