The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-14
The North.west Route and MIR. Rice.

The NOrth.west Route and MIR. Rice.
HENRY M. RICE processes to be great
friend to Railroads in this Territory. How
came it then that Governor STEVENS who
surveyed the great Northern Route, a work
in which Minnesota is deeply interested, has
complained of a lack of support in Wash
iugton to aid him? Why, when he had
pointed out the golden ROAD did not Min
nesota strengthen him with all her might
and power, and throw her influence at
Washington in the scale in its behalf 81
Why, was the great opportunity periled,
for lack of energy or through actual laz
ness? Why, when all in authority in WASH
ington are favorable to Minnesota, was not
direct and advantageous blow struck in
behalf of the great enterprise as might have
been done9 Was there no one there to
protect aud urge Minnesota's interests in the
matter? 1t would seem from all the record
that Minnesota was then, at least, without
the aid, in Washington, of the one in whom
she placed her trust, and that it would have
been better for her had he not been there,
and that man was her delegate, HENRY
NJ. RICE. To him it was ewing that Gov
Stevens great Northern Route was STAYED,
and his own endeavors in its behalf un-
heard. 1t is to him the Territory owes an
entire neglect Of one of her most darling
projects, which it was eminently his bust
ness to protect, and that consequent upon
that neglect, the authorities ut Washington
had their attention drawn another way, by
interested parties, with whom he affiliated
for more than one reason. ar
Mr.. RICE never opened his lips Or did
any action in or out of Congress in favor of
the North West route; aud from the fact
that it was-what with him is the very best
reason in the wOrld--against his interest to
do So What were the fair, broad fields of
Minnesota to him, so long as he had
town in Wisconsin of his omn, which he de-
sired to make the terminus of another route |
Where was the shame. in his eyes, of work
ing as he didin opposition to the interests he
was sent to protect and promote, so long as
the certainty of making money was before
his eyes. The golden varnish glozes over
everything, he must think, and must have
taken pleasure in counting his coin i'll his
strong-box last winter, while the storm OF
an indignant and outraged community was
HURTING upon him.
No man, at all conversant with the state
of affairs as Washington but honestly be
lieves that had Mr. RICE labored with half
the energy for the Northwestern route that
he did for the other-in which his own
personal interests were concerned-he might |
have obtained vast benefits for the Terri
tory in this regard, instead OF bringing dis
grace and defeat upon the whole subject of
Railroad grants to the Territory, of caus
ing large amounts of capital to be with
held, ana delaying The progress or the Ter
ritory intellectually.
This is the man wi hypOcrilically pro-
fesses to be friend Of railroads in the Ter
rtory. Who, last winter, because il suited
his purpose, went heart and soul for an op-
position enterprise-hut who mou would
like to bury his Wisconsin and some other
measures for while, in order to be able to
get back to Congress in order to cary out
the plans which last year were foiled An
intelligent people will permit him to digest
his plan, and to intrigue and cabal at home,
where he will not be dangerous to the gen
eral prosperity. .f