Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-08-21
THE EMINENT SERVICES OF II. M. RICE
DULY CONSIDERED.

THE EMINENT SERVICES OF II. M. RICE
DULY CONSIDERED.
The utter recklessness exhibited by the Rice
papers of this Territory in their reiterated as
sertions that our late Delegate has been instru-
mental in procuring appropriations amounting
to nearly ONE MILLION OF DOLLARS! for the
benefit of Minnesota, is perfectly astounding.
Like falsehood well adhered to, it has almost
become as potent as Truth, and the story has
been told so often by the whippers-in of the
Honorable gentleman, that they really and
sincerely believe that Mr.. Rice has been of
eminent service to Minnesota. What falla-
cious idea, and how ridiculous the conclusion
To the older portion Of the community, who
know the man and the appliances brought into
requsition to secure his election, these stories
have but little effect but to strangers, who are
dependent in great measure on the public
prints for correct information in regard to these
matters, the case is entirely different, and de-
mands that the Truth should be made public at
any cost. What then has H. NJ Rice done
for this Territory, which should entite him to
so much laudation?
In the first place his energies were early en-
listed in securing grant of lands for Railroad
purposes from the Iowa line to Lake SUPERIOR
What induced him to take hold of this project {?
Was it to advance the interests of Minnesota,
or to advance his own interest Most assured
ly TIE latter, and whys Because he was
promised an interest in the present city of Su-
perior provided his influence could be obtained
In the consummation of the great and allah
sorbing object Railroad bubble! Did he
conceive the idea of this Railroad? No. To
whom then belongs the credit? To no other
than WILLIAM r. MARSHALL, the present Re-
publican candidate. WE'LL the bill was brought
before Congress-N1r. Rice and the friends Of
Minnesota advocated its passage; but the fact
leaking out that the whole scheme was specu.
lation, in which MIR. Rice was largely interest
ed, the members of Congress at once turned
their backs upon our Delegate, and the Bill was
lost If any one is anxious to investigate the
record, let them turn to the Congressional
Globe, we think of 1853 or A, and they will there
read the question put to Mr.. Rice by Mr. Letch-
er, whether he was not Interested with others at
Lake Superior and if the bill was not intended
to benefit them and not the people of Minnesota {?
So fully convinced were they of the game
intended to be played upon them, that all fur
Their confidence in H. NJ. Rice was removed,
and like log that had broken away from the
boom, he drilted along shore solitary and
alone.
The true and earnest friends Of Minnesota,
who had watched the fate of the first bill with
sorrow, and who knew the cause of its defeat,
Immediately rallied and drafted new bill, in
hopes that the members of Congress would be
induced to vote for it, and thereby save the peo-
pie Of Minnesota from the loss of the lands and
from the odium which then attached to the Del
egatc. Men of all parties became enlisted in
the entcrprize--party and personal feelings were
laid aside, and the great aim sought was the
passage of bill giving to Minnesota grant
of lands for Railroad purposes. Messrs. Ram
scy, German, Sibley, Dodd, and others became
the earnest advocates Of the measure, and
Messrs. German and Sibley superintendent the
drafting Of the new bill, which was so worded
as to exclude the men who were obnoxious to
Congress, and throw the lands into the hands
of the Territory. In this bill the clause was
expressly put in " that the lands shall not inure
to any company now constituted or organized"
the object being to exclude the company which
had been constituted by the passage Of a
miserable, rickety charter through our Legis-
lature, and thereby defeat the ends of MI.
Rice and his co-laborers in the great specuIa-
ton scheme. In order to make the bill still
stronger and to remove any ambiguity which
might exist as to the intentions of the dralters,
another clause was inserted that it should
be Submitted to some future legislature
thereof" The bill as drawn up was submitted
TO Mr.. Richie understood the matter fully,
and by his request it was placed in the hands
Previous, however, to this being done, Mr. Rice
was handed the bill and requested to get the
pledge of members Of Congress to its support.
He sought to do so, but in vain. The members
spurned him and he returned to Messrs. Cor
man and Sibley, remarking that his influence
was gone-he could do nothing for the Bill
The Minnesotians then in Washington set
themselves at work, and through their influence
(not the influence of H. M. Rice, the men,
bers agreed to vote for it on the ground that
the lands should come to the Territory and
should not fall into the hands of the company
for whom Mr.. Rice was working. Believing
that every thing was safe, the Minnesotians
returned home, hut judge of their surprise
when the news came that the word " future"
and the word or" had been expunged from
the Bill and the company were exulting over
the fact, that they had cheated Congress and
had succeeded in getting the lands. A cry Of
fraud was raised by that staunch friend Of Min
nesota, Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, commit
tee was appointed by Congress to investigate
the matter-the fraud was substantiated-the
Bill was summarily repealed by both Houses of
Congress- nv large maiorities, and Minnesota