Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-01

Mnnesotian, containing the business notices Q
most of the speculators therein named.
The principal purchaser, William R. Marshall
is merchant and speculator. Alpheus G. Fulle
is an Indian Trader and speculator. George 1
Becker is a member of the firm of Rice, Hollins
head Becker, dealers in exchange and real es
tate. Henry NJ. Rice is the Delegate to Congress
from Minnesota. Charles L. Emerson who obtain
FIVE acres of the land purchased by C. L. Rice, i
editor of the Democrat, known as the eRice Or
GAM and member Of the firm of Emerson Case
land agents and spectators. George w. Biddl
is Il Dentist ahd specu.ator. w. S. Combs is
Bookseller and land speculator. All these gen
t!emen are residents of St. Paul, and none o
them now occupy, or ever actually occupied O
lived upon these lands.
| In letter to the editor of the Democrat, en-
closing copy of the letter of the Commissions
of the General Land Office, of February Cd, OF
the subject of this sale, Mr.. II. NJ. Rice. the Dele
gate from Minnesota states that 'sthe sale is vir
tuallv confirmed" and ''congratulates the hard,
pioneers of Minnesota" upon the result.
take it for granted that the spectators whose
names appear in the above list, are the pioneers
to whom he refers. Permit me to state that there
exists to my personal knowledge, associations OF
persons throughout Minnesota interested in the
purchase of government lands at the minimum
price, and bound by solemn compact to carry
into effect the will of the members. That mos,
of the spectators are connected either by polti-
cal or pecunary interest with these claim associa-
tiOnS; that SAW the advertisements of such as
sociat:ons on the trees and public places, calling
meetings at stated times and places, and became
cognizant of their principal objects by conversa-
ton with the members and that one of these is
to to such claim ints 10y mutual pledges and
by force of arms if Necessary all the rights re-
coynizcd by the association whether in violation
of law or otherwise.
There are other and more explicit reasons which
govern me in the conclusion, that combination
did exist a, the sale, ana that an attempt has been
made to defraud the government of the enhanced
valu, of the lands; arising not from cutivatio !
actual settlement on the same, Tut from the
proximity Of certain towns which have sprung up
in the natural course Of trade.
MIR. Charles l.. Emerson, one of the parties
personally and pccuniarily interested, as appears
bv the contract between Messrs Rice and DAYTON.
sdmittcd to me that there was combination to
prevent bidding; that the bidders had clubs on
the ground to use force if necessary, and were
prepared with boat to carry Oft any person who
might bid more than the minimum; that he pre-
sumcl nobody would deny this fact, but that he
considered them perfectly justified in protecting
their claims. and contended that the government
had no right, in justice Or equity, to more than
the minimum price for any of her public lands
This is the popular doctrine in Minnesota: ard is
the doctrine advocated in the Democrat and o.hcr
newspapers in ST. Paul.
Mr.. f. w. Packard, agent AMI partner Of Ly-
man &. Dayton, stated to me that the reason why
they (the tirn) did not compete for lan1s offered
at the sale was, that they were we'll aware such
competition would subject them to person /, u.s.
s1ult, if not more serious consequence that thcy
would have willingly have 6 wen forty dollars an
acre for several specified lots, no. the most val
ua lie; and that the existence OF q combination
was notorious it would have been follv to at
tempt to contend against it.
During my stay in Minnesota, ] converscd
freely with many persons on this sub ect, who az
tended AMI were interested in the sale, and did
not hear single individual deny th,t there was
such a combination, but on the contrary was in
formed by several that they two wagon loads
of clubs on the ground, and that they knew very
well that force intended, should it become
necessary to prevent competition in bidding
1t is quite probable, stated in the letter of
the Register AMI Receiver, that the utmost har-
mony prevailed during the salc.'' The means
adopted bv the purchasers were such as to insure
g the utmost harmony.'' There was but little en-
cOuragement for a breach of the peace where the
claimants and their aders and abettorS were SD
well furnished with weapons for the prompt pun
:shment of any offender. Had there been no con-
bination, and no means of Intimidation used,
there would doubtless have been less harmonv.-
Where the conflicting interests involved were so
important and speculation was at its height, it
would not have been singular had there been sew
eral breaches of the peace, under system of free
competition.
The pretension that the settlement of the coun-
try is advanced by unfair management of this
kind, is entirely unwarrantcj by facts. All rea-
Sonablc cncoura cement should he gwen to actual
settlers who reside upon and cultivate the lands
but if the laws governing prescriptions and pab-
lie sales to be set aside, and government re-
serves held open to spectators, then the fact
should becom: generally known under official in
structon, So that all spectators can enjoy an
equal chance of securing claims upOn the Indian
AMI other reserves yet unoccnped by Whit set
tiers. The constant reference made IN Conries>
and elsewhere to the hirdv pioneers of the West,
is, in tn: in which it becomes practically ap-
plic,b.e, calculated to mis!e,d the public mind.
fha advantages rived by the class referred to,
from the enhanced value of the public lands in
the new Territories, reSu ting from the inaux of
population are comparatively small. 1t is the
INSCRIPTIONS spectators, who never reside uron
or cultivate the !ands-thc non productive mem
bers of the community derive the advantage,
because they have the capital and means of com
bnation and WELD the political power which ena-
beS them to represent their interests in Congress
and to legalize by special enactmcnts all VIOLA
tions Of law in which they have pecuniary in
terest For practical examples, respectfully re-
fer you to an Act passed on the 2nd of March
last, and to the Act of 1852, upon which it is
based, recognizing certain pre-emption claims in
the Fort Smelling Reservation originally made in
violation of existing laws, by which the town Of
Mendoza is secured to the propretos. Mr.. Sib-
ley, late Delegate in Congress, is the principal
owner of this town, and there are others, promi-
nent as spectators and politicians, whose names
are not material. also refer you to all the cir
cumstances stated in this communication and to
the list of names of the parties interested in that
part OF the Reservation lying the east side oil
the Mississippi, among which will be found tina,
of II. NJ. Rice, the present Delegate from Mime.
sofa.
In view of these considerations, cannot but
believe that it is due to the public and to the
preservation of the integrity of national legsla.
ton, that investigation of all the facts and
circumstances connected with the settlement and
sale of lands within the Fort Smelling Reserve
should be instituted: and that all patents fo,
these lands now pending in the General Lane
Office, should be suspended until an official re-
port can be made upon the subject, accompanied
by the necessary testimony.
/ have the honor to be. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
[Signed.l j. ROSS BROWNE.
G. George II. Oakes, ESQ.,, from Sauk Rap
ids was in our Office yesterday. He informs u
that every thing in that vicinity is in fourishin.
condition. The Frontiersman will appear in {
short time.