Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-09-11

x1IKu~UuBCOluK
spcct." Our soiomn- pledge-violsting candidate
Of the rowdy Court House mob Of July 25th, in an
egotistical letter to the Democrat of Wednesday,
would havo it appear that he was consistent in mr.
ging the sale OF thepublic lands last spring, and
Is now consistent in urging their withdrawal. He
is decidedly precise about the matter; ana wall
not admit, that, having once created the mischief
there is any who can stop it's progress or con-
summation, or has any right to claim influence
in having the sales postponed, save he. We are
now prepared to see Mr.. Rice attempt to prove
that he was consistent in telling the settlers upon
the Half Breed tract that his bungling enactment
in regard to their titles all they needed bywhich
to hold their lands securely, and consistent, also,
in informing the Half Breeds themselves that the
act was intended for solely their bcneht. Mr..
Rice is certainly very consistent T" man!
MIR. Rice says that when he recommended the
land sales, he thought the people were in favor of
them. So, We suppose also, he thought the people
of Minnesota were in favor of extending Slavery
into Free Territory, at tho point of the bowie
knife and tho muzzlc of the revolver, when he
made his midnight speech to Dave AtchisOn's
brawlers in the streets of Washington, congratu-
lating them and the country upon the Missouri
Compounds. lie has likewise found out his mis-
take in this matter also. Why don't he also turn
on this question and be ss consistent ?'-Dfinne-
sOtidn.
CO The letter of the Honorable gentleman
was so weak, and exhibited his inconsistent posi-
ton so clearly, that we deemed notice of it
scarcely worth our space and time.
Gle thought the people were in favor of tho
land sales 70 Bah! Now it is somewhat singular
that while the friends of Mr.. Rice are continually
preaching that no man knows better the wants of
the settlers of this Territory than their candidate,
yet at the same time Mr.. Rice himself says that
che thought the people were in favor of the
sales He either was ignorant of tho wants of
the people of this Territory, or his friends have
given him greater credit than he is entitled to.
The gentleman says, "when the proclamation of
the President appeared. was surprised at the
enormous quantity of lands offered. did not
suppose that returns of surveys Of one half of
that quantity had been made"
Ah!-then Mr.. Rice was in favor of the lands
coming into market, but finding that the popular
current was setting the other way, he wheels
'sright- about-face" and claims common interest
with the "dear people," The fact is, it was the
desire of Mr.. Rice that certain surveyed lands
should be sold--this he admts-but his particular
friends, the Spectators doubtless urged that
larger tracks should be brought into market, and
the Department, acting upon their knowledge of
the wants of the people (they are very wise men,
these spcculators,) recommended what was neces
sary to the President, and he, poor soul, having
no mind of his own, issued the Proclamation
Mr.. Rice's got his foot in-what's to be done p
The Indignation of the people is pouring in up
on the authors of the measure, and the all-sided
candidate, trimming his sails, sets Gut in hopes
to catch the popular breeze and ride triumphant
ly into the White House, but learning that Gov
ernor German had recently gone to Washington
to procure letter written by Mr.. Rice, urg-
ing the sales, he takes another tack, and seeks to
justify his conduct by his ignorance of tho wants
of the people. To sum up the matter in a nut
she'll, Mr.. Rice has been playing the same game
with the land sales that he has been playing with
every thing else, concerning the interest and pros
perity of the Territory. When in company with
those who desires the lands to come into market,
he is in favor of the sales-whcn in compa-
ny with those who do not W sh the lands to come
into market, he is opposed to the sales, and thus
from one thing to another, he hops as nimbly as
the squirrel jumps from limb to limb. When ,ril
the people learn the true character of Henry Nj.
Rice?