The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-23
Fur the Minnesotian.


angry storm of words, falsely called arguments,
that has been swelling and raging over us for
some months past, about railroad companies.
railroad grants, frauds. corruption, monopolies,
and all the direful evils that ever settled upon
a country and people, say after all, still find
ing ourselves alive, and neither hurt nor scared
badly, though We have had to digest terrible
dose Of Bllingsgate,--we may now venture a
few words of the real facts.
First-I take it for granted there is not q
man in Minnesota except. of course, such as are
deranged by frenzied passion Of personal ha-
tired toward few who are likely to hold more
political consequence than themselves.-but
is anxious to favor the speedy construction of
a railway by all the legitimate means in his
power.
Second,-It was commended last winter by a
majority, that the passage of a railroad charter
would be gain of time secure to the Terrific
~ in Congress the aid of the contemplated
Company, thus not only multiplying our
chances in obtaining the grant. but the Com
pany being already formed. the work. in the
event Of the grant being made, might progress
at once.
This was the doctrine held last winter. The
Pioneer urged it upon us on all occasions. 1t
was popular. and so strongly pressed as to
override and bear down all opposition.
| Third,-COngress was petitioned for grant
Of land. and under peculiar circumstances the
grant was made. Congress, as a body, looked
kindly upon the Territory; wished to serve her
for a good purpose but these efforts were full
gers Of political assa.s.ns in our own midst
who make it a point to hover about Washing
ton, and unless they can absorb every thing in
their own ravenous NAV that is appropriated
to the Territory, set up the terrible screams Of
hungry vultures.
Fonrth,-The grant Of alternate sections was
fairly made. The law remained law from the
time Of its passage on the 29th of June, till its
repeal on the 4th OF August. In the meantime
the corporators, as directed by the instructions
or charter given them by our Territorial Lcgis
aturc of last winter, met organized the stock
subscribed, instruments paid, leaving nothing
undone. required Of them by the people of Min
nesota.
So far nothing had been done contrary to the
expressed wishes of the majority of this Terri
tory. The majority granted charter the ma
jority expressed in that charter what they de-
sired to have done: the Company did as re-
questcd. Up to this moment then, there could
by no possibility. be any grounds of dssatis-
faction or prejudice against the Company. On
the other hand had they tr;flcd with their char
ter and failed to comply with its requirements
we could have had just and ample cause of COM
plant.
Fitth,-Congrcss subsequently repealed the
law granting the Territory railroad lands
This was done inconsidcratcly in whirlpool
of passion. which in the judgment of courts is
held to be illegal. Yet this discovery of lille
gality was not made by the Territory. The
Territory elcpt n, it while the most i'm
portant interests it ever did or could possess.
were sliding away. uncarcdfor and unlocked
after. 1t was this very "odious,'' "fraudu-
lent. corrupt" Company who said to the
Territory - loIr lands are not lost. The law
will yet secure you good and perfect title in
which event you are certain of road We at
least are willing to spend our money in deter
mining the fact" To this course what cyccp.
tons can We make with any show of decency :?
We ourselves brought this very Company into
existence; we voluntarily offered them all
lands Congress might donate. Now what sLa-
dow ofsclfrespcct do we maintain. in yclping
and bowling against our own Company, who
have done just what their charter REQUIRE. and
nothing more nor less. say our Own Com
pany for we it was who created this very Com
pany, by and through our legislative enact
mcntS.
| Sixth.-But then the Pioneer and Times are
spiritually exercised. and are at present strug-
! Cling with an awful paroxysm of pious morali.
ty. terrible phantom pursucs these right
coas editors, forcing their imagnations to
clothc every man who wishes to see this grant
of land secured to the Territory. with .FRArD. ,
1t is nothing to tn" point that the Committee
of Congress said there was no fraud that no
proofs sustain the charge of fraud these truly
good editors say there was fraud, and Mcssrs.
Warren and Br;shn are corrupt-n fortiori. it
must be so. Oh yc scribcs. pharsecs, and n.y.
pocritcs, let mo warn you from the wrath to
come! You know. ana the public sec plainly,
that all your canting and harping about fraud.
is but garb to cover your political intrgues.
The Railroad Company did not take care of
one or two of your friends, and they arc now
determined to destroy that Company to throw
our lands back to the United States or meet a
political death in the attempt
The Company dared to attend to their own
affairs without permitting Willis A. German
to confuse and dcrangc their plans. He found
to his great chagrin that Suckers flourish no
better in New York than in Minnesota; at
which this truly great and powerful man is
highly indignant. The affairs of this Company,
thank God! arc beyond his control, otherwise
we should soon find them on par with his IT,.
dian matters.
This communication is too lonr o,rc,dy liant