The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-05
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.

Proceedings OF q Select Com m fttee of the
House of Representatives of the United
States, under a Resolution in relation
to a change Of a word i'm the bill No.
342 after its EngrOssmcnt.
July %, 1854.
The Committee met Present: Messrs.
Washburne, Breckenridge, Campbell, Bar
ry, and Davis.
Testimony and Documentary ErMenee taken
before the Select Committee of the House
of Representatives., umdcr the follo,cing
resolution of the House:
Resolred, That a special committee of
five he appointed for the purpose of inquir-
ing whether the text of House bill 342, to
aid the construction of railroad in the
Territory of Minnesota, was altered, or in
way changed in its language, subsequent to
its engrossment or passage by this House;
without the authority of the House, and if
so, by whom, and under what circumstan-
ces, such change was made; and also in re-
gard to all other cases of Interpolation of
bills or joint resolutions of the House dur
ing the present session; and that said COM
mittee be empowered to send for persons
and papers, and to examine witnesses on
oath in the premises.
J. Tfaris Rosscr, sacorm
Question. Where is your residence, and
what is your occupation?
Answer ST. Paul, Minnesota, and I am
Secretary Of the Territory.
Question. Have you any knowledge of
House bill No. 342, here presented?
Answer l saw the bill since my arrival
in this city, the latter part of last week. l
received letters from ST. Paul stating that
there were two versions of the bill-one ex-
Guiding the company, and the other version
donating the lands to it.
Question. Do you know facts having a
bearing upon an alleged alteration of the
engrOsSed bill No. 342, granting lands to
the Territory of Minnesota for railroad
purposes, or Of the influences or agencies
which procured such alterations? If you
do, please state them; state all youknow in
relation to the matter.
A few days after my arrival in this city,
about the 18th of tais month, l received a
letter from the governor of Minnesota, de-
string me to ascertain whether Congress
had given the lands to the Territory or to
the railroad company chartered last winter,
as different versions Of the bill had been
sent to the Territory. Being aware that
the company had organized, and that
Messrs. E. Rice, Ex-Governor Ramsey, and
- Dayton had been elected directors
for Minnesota-M Il. Rice also elected
attorney for the railroad company con-
'cluded that Congress had given the lands
to the company; but, upon examination Of
the printed bill of the Senate, | found that
the company was expressly excluded. l
therefore desired Mr.. Sproule, the engross-
ing clerk of the House, to show me the
original and engrossed bills and | found
that the word cor" had been altered into
"and' in both bills between the words
CONSTITUTED" and "organizcd." | then
stated to Mr.. Sproule that the bill had been
altered, and asked him at what time and
under what circumstances the alteration
had been made, as it rendered the bill so
entirely different from the printed one Of
the Senate. He replied, that after the bill
had passed the House, Gen. Stevens of
Michigan, came into his Office, and said
that as the bill had passed the House with
the word "and" and not cor" between the
words "coDstituted' and "organizcd," he de-
sired him to make the alteration in the ORR
ginal and engrossed bills; which Mr.. S.
said he declined doing, until he was over
ruled 10y Mr.. Forney
1t is proper for me to state, that Mr.
Sproule has subsequently said to me that
he was mistaken in being Overruled about
the alteration of the Minnesota railroad
bill, he having, at the time, COMPOUNDED it
with another bill, in which he and Mr.. For
ney declined making any alteration.
A few minutes after discovering this pal
pable violation Of the record of the House,
| sent for Gen. Stevens, and introduced
myself to him in the lobby Of the House,
telling him was requested to learn the eX-
act phraseology Of the bills; that found a
fatal variance between the printed bill of
the Senate and the original and enyrossed
bills of the House; that the engrOsSed bill
of the House gave millions of dollars to a
railroad company, and the printed one Of
the Senate made the donation to the Terri
tory; that l had discovered the original and
engrossed bills had been altered in the
word '0r'' for "and," without informing
him at whose solicitation it had been done {;
that as the people of Minnesota felt deep
interest in this grant of lands, and as he
had offered the bill, l would be happy to
he informed whether it was the intention Of
the committee and of Congress to give
those lands to the company; and whether
the alteration had been made by the sane
ton of the committee and of Congress, CIV
ing him, at the same time the printed BILL