The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-30
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY,

"DEAR Dir IL nave receive u ictteI' EiS"eo
by you and others, saying that certain news
papers of YOUR territory have charged your |
delegate. Hon. II. NJ. Rice. with altering the |
Minnesota land bill after its passage through |
the House or procuring. or connivinS at. the !
alteration and also with asserting to the re- F,
neal of the act, in not announcing the altera
ton and protesting against the repeal. Dc.
have not tile pleasure ola p rscnal acfuain-
lance with any of sou. but Ms the matters
charged touch the character OF ii gentleman,
with whom have served. and for whom have
a high rcsrect YOU shall have briefly such at
answer as | can give.
have not seen any Minnesota newspapers,
but charges of the character YOU mention. GER
taiulv cannot be founded upoh the reports OF
the investigating committee. nor upon the ties
timonv submitted To thc House; aud ! am
sure that such imputations would he heard with
treat surprise by all Who have served in Con-
rress with your delegate.
The Committc of Investigation (of which !
was mcmber) examined the subject pretty
thoroughly, and took good deal OF testimony,
which shows, clearly, the circumstances CON
nccted with the change, and the parties by
whom it was made
The parties who made the change. them
selves testified befprc the Committee, and gave.
as VIC supposed. AL the facts connected with 1t.
On the spot, and whilst the Investigation WAS
going on, no witness referred to Mr.. Rice rs
being. in any way. connected with the altcra-
tion nor, so far as know, or believe, was spch
a charge advanced from any quarter. ifre-
/ sumo it is hardly necessary 10 say moe on tins
point. These imputations were not made where
J the occurrence took place. cannof, OF course
know under what circumstances they appear al
point so remote from the scene OF action but,
Judging by the best lights before us at Wash
ington, they seem to be cruelty UNJUST TO a very
. ip1nf, 10 n1ln ta!iyc
The alteration of the bill, consisting III the
change Of a word in the Bird section. was sup
posed to have some effect upon the rights Oh Il
company Incorporated in anticipation OF Il
grant, by the last Legislature vi MINNESOTA
There was some evidence before the Commit
tee, OF controversies in the territory. touching
the disposition OF the grant, and some tcst!mo-
ny was given by gentlemen from the territory,
to the point that strong opposition existed
there, to the action of the last Legislature. ana
an unwi!linSncss on the part OF the people, that
any company chartered by that Legislature,
should take The lands and make your ROAD
n letter was sent from New ork,to the ,onl-
mlttee, (but not MED since the writer was not
before us as wItness.) written by some gen
tlcman, whose name forget. but who stated
that he was one Of the Editors 0! the ST. Antho-
ny Express in which ii was said that the pco-
pie of Minnesota would prefer a repeal of the
grant. to its taking effect under the action OF
you last Legislature. This did not affect the
opinions of the Committee. in any way. moi
did they Recommend the repeal of the grant.
| think some impression was made that the
. Legislature scarcely represented the wishes O.
the people. and that there was some unf,irncss
in the passage of the charter. but to what ex
. tent this NAV have influenced the result, | an
not pre- pared to saw. Perhaps. as the matter
was brought before the House. a majority act
cd OH the idea that it was due to the body
thus to show its disapprohation of anv change
in bill, subsequent to the vote in that body
1t is propcr TO state. in this connection. tina
r the Committee were unanimous in the opinion
/ that there was no criminal or improper purpos,
on the part any member or officer of cithc
9 House, in connection with the change be
: licvc the rcports and testimony taken hay,
been printed and. it may be. Already fol
, distribution and to them YOU are respcctflll,
, referred.
, In regard to The ALLEGED apathy of your del
, egatc touching the rCncal | s;,nnose this To h,
5 a great mistake. for remember his apocalinc
, to me. and to other gentlemen in nv presence
t to try and save th grant. without regard t,
t any disputes or conflicting interests. in Mime
r sofa. lie had been very active and efficient
among the mcmbersi in pressing the genera
y, 'a", ~ an' anu ~ Ill
his WILLINGNESS to allow if Ia take rtrrct un,c
the action of your last Legislature. or to let il
go 10 a lulure Legislature II that would con
mani nat ,yonId ,,ro t,o Iand 80 ,h '" a,I. :.
Minnesota.
Ofany controversies in the Territory, con
i, VIA TIC su'ycct nave no kho"icnSc'
sorry Won hnvr los, vonr ,rr.,nt r. .oro n 'a,
pleasure to vote for it, and against the repeal
l suppose that no one, who observed th'
hoS;to,o - o ,n,. ,,, d. i;n't's.'" Wi,
10 prevent thr rrsu,,
In answer 10 that portion Of your letter
"hich relates TO inc general cour e Of Mr. Rice
~ cav, 49, ",,. 'nI len nave
Committee. before which matters Of intcrcs