Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-16
TO THE PUBLIC.
u I I IOHUe
j. II. DAY.
For the Times.

The editor of the ''St. Croix Union," in his
paper of the 26 ultimo, stated that che had been
credibly informed that the twenty thousand dol
lars last appropriated for the continuance of the
road from Point Douglass to the st. Louis river,
had long since been drawn from the Treasury,
and instead Of being expended on said road
where it is much needed and properly belongs,
was now in the hands of st. Paul Brokers, (Sharp-
ers) where it is being loaned out at the rate of
from three to five per cent per month";" On the
Both of the same month, addressed him through
is an extract. SIN order therefore that the edit
or of the Union may be more explicit upon the
subject and the public be more fully Informed of
the facts charged, would request of him that the
credible person from whom he says he has re-
ceived his information, come out over his own
signature and state all nc knows about the mat
ter or, in default of this that he, the editor, give
his informant's name and state all that he has or
can obtain from him in regard to the accusation
which he has made" l also stated that so soon
as he had done his duty in the premises, l would
not be backward in following it up with state
ment which felt assured, would meet with appro-
baton from the public. 1t now appears from
his paper of the 9th inst, that he declines going
into any further particulars and refuses the name
of the author of the libel. His language is, sswe
asserted upon reliable authority that twenty
thousand dollars last appropriated by Congress.
has been long since drawn from tbs treasury.
The gentleman in his card to the Pioneer man
does not even deny that such is the fact. When
the gentleman shows to us that we have been
wrongly informed, then we are ready to call the
veracitv of our =. Jrmant into account, and are
then ready to make the correction. But us VIC
are unable to discover that we have published an
untruth, we are unwilling to wave the response
bilities of making so grave a charge"
According to this doctrine an editor is at lib
erty to make any charge against the moral char
acter of any man in the community, and forsooth
the public is bound to believe it, and the credible
authority from whom he has, as he says, obtained
his information, is to be kept concealed until the
person lbelled chooses to come ont and deny the
charge! Ihave always thought we were living
under laws, as well as q public sentiment, which
required every man in arraigning his fellow man
before the public, to confront in propna persona
the accused, in order that truth might be elected
and justice be meeted out to all parties. The
editor of the st. Croix Union, however, thinks
differently, and he is entitled to all the benefits
which his discoveries in legal ethics may bring
him. He will not find me disturbing him in the
enjoyment Of them.
So far as he or his informant is concerned, l
would here let the matter rest. But out of re-
spect to those whose good opinion value, and
who from want of knowledge of the parties
might be disposed to give credit to the aspersious
which have been cast upon me, will here state