Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-03-20
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1855.
GOV. GORMAN AND THE TIMES-A FEW
FACTS TO BE READ AND DIGESTED.

GOV. eORMAN AND THE TIMEs-A FEW
FACTS TO BE READ AND DIGEsTED.
For some time past we have quietly submitted
to the falsehoods of two of our city cotempora-
ries concerning the TINES and Gov. GoRMAN, but
we now propose to give these gentlemen an oppor-
tunity to prore their charges or ever after hold
their peace. To enable the reader to fully COM
prehend our true position it is necessary that we
should 60 back brief period in the history OF
the past, and it is our intention to state nothing
but what we can fully substantiate, and what our
readers already know.
Very we'll then; soon after the establishment
of the TINES, in the early part of last summer,
We had occasion to censnre Gov. GORMAN for par
doning a negro who had been convicted of as
sault and battery with intent to kill. The facts
as we learned them, and as they really existed,
we gave to the public, and commented upon the
conduct of the Governor in free yet respectful
manner. We blamed him for pardoning the GRIM
inal, because We believed it would subvert the
ends of Justice, and be the means of opening the
door through which others could pass. we told
him plainly that the facts did not justify his act
that he had too hastily submitted to outside
influences, and that this community would not
uphold him in a repetition of what we deemed a
bold assumption of power. This article called
oat Messrs. Rosser and Odds, attorneys for the
negro, who sought to defend the Governor in his
position, and who, in their article gave, what
they termed, a true version Of the affair. This
opened the way for a discussion, and the attor-
neys on the other side, Mr.. Cooley, and his asso-
ciatc, appeared in an article over their own sig
natures, differing somewhat from their opponents.
During this discussion used no personalities
did not call Gov. German or Secretary Rosscr
fools or knaves, as has been the custom with the
Minnesotian ever since we placed our feet upon the
soil of Minnesota, but we discussed principle,
the success of which we believed to be Of vital i'm
portance to the interests of the people. Nor did
we oppose Gov German because he was politi-
cal opponent, for VIC studously avoided to intro
duce politics into the discussion; but we consd-
cred the vindication Of the law paramount to ev-
ery other consideration, and in this case it was
our conviction then, and is now, that it was base
" prostituted. No paper dared to come to our
rescue till after the jury published card in which
they set forth the facts and justified us in our
coursc.-Then, the Minnesotian came crawling
and whining along, fearful that the TINES might
possibly grow into public favor. Well, what
followed? The publication of n letter in the
Pioneer, in which Messrs. Rosser & Olds sought to
make it appear, that we had been actuated by po-
litical motives in animadverting on the conduct
of the Governor. We at once pronounced this false
and ungenerous, and added, that he who would
make such a charge, with full knowledge of the
facts in the case, unworthy the name Of gen
tleman. This expression offended the persons for
whom it was intended, so much so, that they
would no even speak to U.S. nor did either of them
speak to us until long after we had exposed the
railroad fraud, and had placed Mr.. Rosser in what
we considered fair and honorable light before
the public. From that day to this we have never
had one word with Mr.. Rosser on political mat
tiers, nor has that gentleman erer entered our
room to consult us any subject rhaierer. As
4 matter of course, Governor German became
cold and distant ; we had no intercourse with
him, but pursued the 8: even tenor of our way,'
believing that we had done nothing but our duty.
And here we wish to make point for the benefit
Of our friend Of the st. Anti ony Republican,
and for all others, and that is, that there hare
been some things in the life of Governor German
which the TINES has not justified, and pro-
coed with our narrative we will show that this is
not the only case in which have incurred the
ill-wll of the Executive for our opposition to
him.
The above discussion ceased, and soon after, if
we remember correctly, the news came Of the
passage of Bill through the United States
House of Representatives, (thc old Bill having
been kiled,) granting to Minnesota certain
number of acres of land to aid in the construc
tion of railroad. We hailed this news with
pleasure, and congratulated our readers upon the
result. Not many weeks followed when the news
came that the Senate had passed the same Bill,
and so rejoced were We, that we went so far as to
issue an extra on the occasion and proclaimed the
glad tidings with considerable enthusiasm. In
our issue of the next morning, we stated that the
new Bill would be submitted to our next Legis-
lature for their action, and all the discordant ee-
ments which grew out of the passage of the char
ter by the Legislature of the previous year, would
be thus harmonizcd and in the meantime
should take occasion to call the attention Of our
readers to the provisions of the Bill. The Min
nesotan, the day following, stated that We were
mstaken-that the Bill did not provide for future
SeiutioH, uoI uiu ~ CACiuuc tuc Oouipuuy tIidt
had accepted the charter of the last Legislature,
from full benefit of the lands. We replied that
there must be something wrong, as We, in COM
mon with great majority of the people, were
led to believe that the Bill was of the character
we had stated. Upon this point discus
sion, which is not material to our present pur-
pose, further than to show that up to and subse-
quent to this period, not one rord had ever been
said to us relating TO the merits Of this question:
either by GorernOr German or Secretary Rosser.
simply, because those gentlemen were offended at
us for the position we had taken against them, in
the case of the pardonng of the negro. In the in
cipiency of our discussion, We learned that Gov
ernor Germans attention had been called to the
alteration in the Bill, and that he, in connection
with Mr.. Rosser, had or were to send to Washing
ton to ascertain the truth in the matter. Not UNI
til the Minnesotian began to bubble on three
questions which we put it, and which it said be-
longed to the courts to answer and were not prop
or themes for newspaper discussion, were We full
ly confirmed in our belief that fraud had been
committed, and which subsequent events proved
such was the fact. Learning that Governor Cor
man was in Washington at the time the Bill was
drawn up, and meeting him in the street in front
of our Office, for the first time in weeks, we ad-