Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-26
ost ~ For the Times.
TERRITORIAL. M MAI"rI;ltS. q
MoWey- Getting Nth Wasfrafion-- Unrighfeeu
. s.t.r s.it.f f- ssf, q FTransdcfi0n. ts vgNe

-@a-@ For the Times.
TERRITORIAL. MAI"rI:ltS. ! 80
Money Getting, Nth IN Wu.raaon---An UnrgAiesss
astr se.t. n ssfs Transaction. laB senaa
Mr.. EprroR,-,A transaction has just occurred
in our midst which serves to illustrate the hagt-
o4s length to which the prevailing passion for
money getting may be clrried under the cover OF
law. Mr.. ----i and wife, an aged couple, who
enjoy the universal respect and confidence OF our
community, one year ago bought piece OF land
one mile from the Suspension Bridge, for which
they paid $1,000, receiving a bond for deed of
MIR. -, who held the property by bond from
Mr.. -, tho pre- emptor. The sum paid was at
that time regarded a very good price for the
place. Since the purchase, however, real estate
has risen to such an extent, that the place IS now
considered worth from three to four thousand
dollars. At the time of the conveyance by Mr..
--- to Mr.. ----, the claim was held by dupli-s
cate title. The patent has since issued to Mr..
-, and Mr.. -, dcsirous of perfectng his til
tie, applied to Messrs. - for a good and snfi
cent warrantee. After some delay on the part
of these worthies, Mr. ------ waited on Mr.. -
and very cody informed hn that the deed
would be forthcoming whenever he should paw
over the additional sum of $500, that being
about half of the increased value Of the prop
crty since it left the hands of MIR. -, and
as large draft on his moral honesty as
Mr.. - ought to demand ;--and he insisted
on this infamous eXtortion SO far as to take
$500 from the old gentleman. MIR. -, !
believe, is protesting christian What has re-
ligion teaches him cannot say but mine very
pointedly teaches Inc that Hell is pepped bp Just
such Christians. Thou shalt not steal, - is the
moral law on this point, and the Divine author
of this code has sad that he who ofends against
one OF its injunctions, ofends against sail. But
charity might lead us TO excuse Mr.. on the
assumption that mental obtuseness prevented his
seeing the distinction between moral and legal
right. Not SO, however, with his colleague, in
this piratcal adventure. This gentleman occ,,-
pied Il post of great dignity under the p esent
Territorial administration. Such an appoint
ment furnishes grounds for at least pres,,mp-
ton that he has the capacity to discern the right
anu yet, with the full knowledge Of all the cir
cunstances, and having it in his power to pre-
vent this act OF robbery upon i respectable and
industrious citizen, venerable alike for his age
and strict religion, fe he did not hesitate to be-
come n party to it. All the circumstances seem
indeed to pon: to him as the prime pal in the act,
and no one doubts that be received u lou's share
Of the plunder. m -fft r,...t satf...,.li,es ..cs
Now, Mr.. Editor, let US analyze this matter and
see what it amounts to. 4 Bond is a legal prom-
Use to perform certain things therein named! Just
as u mans word is his moral obligation to per-
form what it pr Jmi5cs. 1t is used when there is
I'm impediment to Il dee'l--it serves the threefoId
purpose OF assisting the memory Of parties in
regard To the pledges comprised in it, affordng
the legal evidence of contract against fraud on
either side. The man who breaks the bond, breaks
his veracty, ignores moral honesty, aud ev;,des
the obligations of the civil law. The penal sum
named IN Il Bond is never to be regarded, unless
BY express understanding, as presenting an alter
native tits placed there simply secure the per-
formance Of the stipulated act, Or acts, and is
therefore Usually nude large that it may afford
no induca.nent IL HIM who executes 1t to refuse
compliance with the stipulations of the Bond.
In this view how are we To describe the villainy
OF this ACT Of the parties nam.d? !? Let me SLY,
that in my humble judgment, it belongs to tllt
same category that of the higbwayman who
presents Il pistol to the travellers head and threat
ems To blow his brains out if he does not deliver
up his money. The motive is tue samo- the ef-
feet is the same. CovetousnesS is the motive
Money Is the elfect-and the trIhing distinction
between the alternatives offered in the eases.
loss Of life and loss vi property, Is only the diff
ference of opportunity, or perhaps of manly
courage to face the hazards which in the Que
case would be incurred by the lawlessness of the
act. Morally considered, the cases analogous,
and equally deserving of excc:ation, save that
the highwayman eXcitcs our admiration bv his
heroic defiance of danger, while the subjects vi
this narration move contempt for hiding their
villainy under the cloak of the law.
Mr.. Editor, have been inpellei to send YOU
this statement through strong conviction that
its publication would subserve the public good.
If we value the restraints of law and morality
should We not be eager to awaken the virtu0uS in
di.nation of the we'll disposed against those who
in the most dagrant manner violate them? Is i,
not the duty Of every one and particularly Of
thOso who occupy the position OF teachers among
us, ministers, editors, &C., to speak trumpet
a I'll.
thirst for gain? Ministers and editors can speak
glibly and sharply against the distant evil of Sa
very-can exhaust the vocabulary of, abuse in
condemnation of those who sell liquor, but never
a word do we hear against the root Of all evil,
IS the of all vllainleS," !" as some ardent ones
are pleased to denominatc Slavery. This covet-
BUSINESS is the most gigantic sin of the world od
especially of own nation, aud it should enlist
the fearless. and self denying zeal of all who
really desire to see any great permanent improve
ment in the morals and manners of our people,
The case have mentioned is not, an isolated
onc--a thousand of similar character, though
not perhaps aggravated in all their crcuIn
stances, might be pointed to in our own com
munity. Now, Mr.. E.iitor, will you not lead of
in crusade against this, the most htgrant, grind
Ing, ptiless. goddess sin that ever shocked heaven
or employed the pen OF the Recording angel? II
YOU will, and will call on the pupit.and the press
to Cooperate with YOU in II continued determined
effort to exterminate the evil YOU will earn for
yourself an enviable rank in the list Of reform
ers. t-. s..- .ts..rsrs j. NJ. S. e
MINNEAPOLIS, July IL, 1856.
Ey We need no co,nlnenditon of 81. NJ. s."
for publishing the above, for it is but 4 duty we
owe the community. and that duty shall be full
filed. ln this Territory there Is too much over
reacbing-too intense desire TO accumulate
wealth at the sacrifice of principle--too iuor-
dnate, insatiate love for god--too little respect
paid for word of honor, and even for written
agreements. man nlay be ever so sincere to-
day, but circumstances Tomorrow change him
entirely, and if the lar is on his side and equity
against him, he will grasp the former and repu-
date the latter. This is all wrong, and if it con-
tinue to grow upon our people, it will swamp Us
in the mire OF selhshness, and make odious in
the eyes of the world. We ask our readers to
peruse the above, and then consult their own
hearts and see if they too. are not disposed some
times to take advantage of their ueighbors.-ED.
The sp,ri, Abroad.
The following extract from a letter from Au-
burn, N. Y, to the Milwaukee Sentinel, we Judge,
gives good idea of the true spirit Of Northern
Freemen at the present time a h5 af
sour people are aroused and saDgaine in this
State. Old Pennsylvania is stirring to the Bugle
blast, and from present Indications will be
swept from under the Ostend Buchaneers The
heart Of New England throbs almost to fierce
ness. Thousands If men who have heretofore
been a'oof from political struggles, are harnessed
for the work and are pushing on with zeal and
determination. In truth. the wafchfres Of Free
dom never b.azed brighter than now. Hearts
have kindlcd in response, and the ocean of popu-
lar sentiment already heases angrily under the
storm. The God of Freedom aud Justice BE-
thanked the deeply injured North awakens from