The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-30
From the Pioneer Of Thursday.
To the Citizen of Minnesota.
ST P,rr MT Snpt ~ I


left ST. Paul. two months ago. that | should
be called upon, on my return home, to defend
myself against unjustifaGlc Misrepresentation
and groundless imputatiOns in regard to any
thing | might deem it my duty > DO to pro
mote the interests of Minnesota. or prevent the
accomplishment OF fraudulent schemes detri-
mental to those interests Yet it is SO.
1t is well known that It was throu III nv in
strumentalhy that attention was first drawn to
the verbal alteration that had been made in the
course OF lis passage through the two hou>r, OF
Congress. OF the Minnesota Railroad Bill which
had been passed, and was subsequently, repeal
ed and the imputation has been cast upon me
hy Mr.. Lowbcr. one of the company into whose
bands the alteration was intrusted to place the
lands given by Congress, and witness before
the select committee. and by the Dubuque EX-
press whose remarks were rcpublishcd in the
llinncsotian Of the I'd ultimo, that | was actu-
atcd in the part | took by u selfish motive
that II was L member OF secret company
which desired to obtain the control OF this
grant, and whose interests were therefore an
tagon!stic TO those Of the company which was
chartered by the Minnesota Legislature last
winter. This statement by Mr.. Lowber (and
its reiteration by the Dubuque Express is Il
base fabrication, destitute Of the least shadow
of truth-wholly and entirely false. was nei-
ther directly nor Indirectly, nearly nor re-
motely interested in the lands granted by Con-
gress for the purpose of constructing II railroad
in Minnesota. Or that may hereafter be granted
for that purpose, except as Il citizen Of the Ter
ritory. and in common with every other citizen.
Being at Washington ON business in no way
connected with the railroad, | received let
ter from Gov. German, requesting me to exam
Inc the phrasco!o.y Of the bill since different
versions or copies of it had been sent here. |
complied with the request and at once discov-
cred the alteration that had been made and
pointed it out. But, in doing this had nei-
thcr the desire. intention or expectation that
this would be the means Of defeating the bill
altogether; so far from it. | used every effort
and eXcrtcd all my influence with Mcssrs. Atchi-
son, Hunter. Mason, Douglas, Bright. Gov
Dodge, Gen Dodge. and others Of the Senate
the Virginia Delegation. DR.. OldS. of Ohio and
many other friends in the House. to procure
the passage of the bill as it was originally pass
ed. also appeared before the select commit
tee for the same purpose, and they offered the
very bill l 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 Ter
ritory, most sincerely hope and have but lit
tie doubt; but this can only be looked for when
Congress shall have been convinced that her
people neither sanctioned nor were disposed to
pTOui DN tip tTallS;CliOu WHICH caused IL with
such haste and 50 much indignant feeling to re-
peal the bill. Minnesota must in the most cy-
picit manner disown all connection with the
fraud. the odor of which is offensive in the
National Legislative Halls. and must let it aD-
pear that the transaction is rot less offensive
in her sight than it is at Washington Anv at
tempt TO arrag IN and cenSurc those who expos
ed the iraud-any complaint that it was not
concealed and the bill suffered to remain law
la,
entirely defeat. any further application by the
Territory for these lands
From such princely donation. l thought
and still think. the people ofthis Territory and
future State. ought to have secured to them a
perpetual resulting interest: that they should
not only have the road. but large interest in
it. which would i'll all time to come. Weld an
annual revenue. consequently it should not be
thrown away upon mere spectators. much less
that those spectators should be permitted to
get possession Of it 10y means o. fraud and torg-
cry for look upon the secret and traudulen:
alteration .! Il bill before Congress- with a view
To throw millions Of dollars into the pockets of
a few individuals. to be as much forgery as
the signing Of another man name to Il promis-
sorry note.
l had up to the time l discovered the altcra-
t on made in the bill. taken no part Wdatcrer
either in favor of or against the company nor
had interested ,aysclf in any way in favor of
or against the passage of the bill before Con-
gre-s. | neith": wrote 10 any one at Washing
ton. or received any letter or letters or mcSsa-
gCs concerning it nor had my visit to Wash
+ington any connection with it !: and had not nv
attention been called to the bill. in the manner
before mentioned. (whiIc in Washington it was
the only letter received from any one respect
ing the hll.Cit is not probable | should ever
have examined it. But once having dis
covered the lraud about to be pcrp"tratcd upon
the peOhlc of the Territory, no Involvement what
ever could prevent me from exposing it. as 9TH
crwisc | should have shared the guilt of those
who had perpetrated tito suppose that the
people of Minnesota would have preferred that
the fraud should have been concealed that the
road might be constructed, even by Il Company
that had become thus s,Irrcptitiously possessed
of the noble donation of lands granted for its
construction. is to suppose they would be will
ling to partake of the fruits of a most base and
disgraceful transaction--to be partakers indeed.
/ of stolen goods a supposition wholly unwar-
ranted by the character Of the inhabitants of
( this Territory. TO Them therefore. | submit
whether | did right or wrong in exposing the
fraud had detected.
I What motive could have actuatcd Mr.. Low
Der and others, to connect me with any secret
company, &c, is beyond my comprehension,
unless it was desire to avert the public gaze
from Il transaction which had already brought
odium upon its perpetrators, and fix it upon
him by whose agency it had been brought to
/ light. But it seems to he reversing the order
of things. and the principles of criminal juris-
prudence, when he who detects crime aud eX-
poses its perpetrators. is to be prosecuted and
condemned, rather than the criminals them
selves.
Since writing the above statement, my at
/ tention has been attracted to a letter from Mr..
Senator Jones of Iowa, published in the Min
nesota Democrat OF the 18th instant. In this
. letter he states:
His (Rce'S in defiance Of the opposition of
the and Secretary OF the Territory and Mr. Sib
Icy, his predecessor in Congress- is truly wandcriui
This statement of the Honorable Senator
charges me with opposition to the measure pro-
posed and urged before the National Lcgisa
turc by Mr.. Rice. All have to say in reply
TO it is. that the statement IS simply and I'M
qualiledly false. never did, either alone or
in connection with Messrs German, Sitley and
Van Etien, or in connection with any other