The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-26

Mr.. Browne would have it appear were intimi-
dated by the said twenty-three purchasers
the combinatons
The Register and Receiver having been in
struc,ed to report all the facts, did report that
7" the utmost harmony prevailed during the
sale" In regard to the land itself have to
state that there is not single quarter section
that was not cultivated prior to the sale, nor a.
quarter section that was not otherwise improv-
ed, some Of which imp ovenlents, upon SIM
gle eighty-acre tract, cost over $4,000. -~z'--
1t is true, as Mr.. Browne alleges that some
of these lands had been cultivated and occu-
pied for several years past )" and it is also
true, that the land is now very valuable! But
who made it so? The settlers themselves, by
the introduction OF industry, capital and civil
ization into that new and distant region. Sew
en- years ago St. Paul and st. Anthony did
not exist aud but little more than six years
since the sites upon which they are erected
W re entered at 1925 per acre much of which
is at the present time worth from $4,000 t.
$4,000 per acre therefore, according to the
reasoning of this special agent, the government,
has been defrauded in these purchases, of al.
enormous sum of money! and it cannot bo
perceived why he did not also ask to have
those entries cancelled. He does not believe
that Gland spectators throughout Minnesota
were prevented from bidding by motives OF
pc sonal friendship for the claimants holding
possession of the land" Neither do l. But
a sense Of honor prevented any but the right
full claimants from bidding. There is bond
men respect the rights of their nci hbors, and
spected throughout Minnesota.
V,,,r 70 Of nd
agreement, &C., given him by Lyman G. Day.
agreed to sell said Dayton forty-seven acres OF
said land for 81 1927, which the said Rice
bought for about $50. 1t is to be regretted
that Mr.. Browne, while examining into the
private affairs of the citizens of Minnesota,
did not ascertain what the Improvements on
this land cost Mr. Rice. 1t is we'll known to
every man the least conversant with the west,
that CLAIMS are sold every day and that i'm
proyements are constantly changing hands
upon both the surveyed and unsurveyed lands
and are regarded as property by the local laws
Nor do know of any law, human or divine
that binds men in Kansas or Minnesota, to
keep possession of their claims and improve
ments any longer than it may suit their inter.
est or convenience so to do; neither can ] see
how mans land, reg Iarly purchased, can be
taken from him, because his improvements and
those of his neighbOrs have made it worth
more than he paid for it. And as to the i'm
proyements on the claim of Charles r. Rice
to my own knowledge they cost him over $4,000
prior to the sale.
! Again, Mr.. Brown says, d." there appears tC
be strong prejudice in the new Territory, in
favor Of original settlers and claimants" T.,is
is true; ard am glad he made the discovery
for it is an important fact going to show that
western men are possessed Of a high sense O
justice and honor, and will protect their neigh
bors' rights as readily as their own. Again
by reference to Mr.. Brownies report, it ap
pears that he took general look into the bu
siness affairs Of the citizens of st. Paul ex
amined old advertisements in the newspapers
{ ascertained the residences, occupations and in
tentions of the people, and ''speculated' large
ly upon the bearing their private acts would
have upon national affairs.
And Mr.. j. Ross Browe tells you he know;
of his own knowledge by personal observation
that combination existed" he saw "notice;
stuck upon trees, and in public places'-ht
saw men determined to protect themselves ant
he knows that "most of the spectators ars
connected either by political or pecuniary in
terest, with these claim associations" / hope
this part of his report will not be held sui
fcient to make out case Of high treas0,
against any OF our citizens!
Mr.. Charles L. Emerson admitted to thi
special agent that the bidders had clubs!
He might have admitted also, and with equa
force upon his introduction to Mr.. Browne
that the minds Of certain persons were strange
ly affected by certain phases of the moon.
d" Two wagon loads of clubs were found un
, on the ground" Perhaps they were cut upol
government land! If so he ought to have re
, ported this fact to the timber agent. 1t seem
to have been unfortunate that those settlers
, did not invite Messrs. Dayton & Packard t
) pay into the United States treasury $40 pc
acre for the lands. Sl,25 being for the LAM
. and the balance for the hard labor and right
: eous earnings bestowed upon it by the enter
!, prise, and industry of American citizens.
E Mr.. rowue further says that "Wm. r
r Marshall the principal purchaser is a mer
. chant and SPECTATOR"
e Now, Mr.. Marshall is simply merchan,
: aud bis character and integrity will compar
tavorably with that Of any man, either east o
west. He is universally respected and 70
that reason, poor men solicited him to 90 an
!. bid of the lands upon which they had settled
:. to save them from the expense of attendin
I the sale. Not one foot of land was purchase
= for himself, but he attended the sale and bi
2 it off for the sole purpose of accommodating
: the poor. And had Mr.. Browne examine
Z the records, with the same care he seems t
have bestowed upon advertisements in new!
q papers, and notices stuck upon trees, Tor wit
n the willingness he gave ear to the idle person
. he would have found that Mr.. Marshall hat
n true to bis trust, conveyed to each individu.
n settler, the lands he had improved. Nor di
d he even charge the settlers one farthing ft
d the services he rendered them.
J. Alpheus G. Fuller is not nor has he bee
Re engaged in the Indian trade for several year
G he is one Of the oldest residents of the TIE
" ritory and instead of being q speculator is