Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-02-28

Removal of the Capital Charges of bribery, &c.
la.o Sr. PAUL, Feb. 10th, 1857.
To the Editor of the Timss,--Sir,- ~
As the removal of the Capital has brought
down on the heads of the majority of the House
of Representatives, anathemas and charges of
corruption and bribery from the Press of this city
especially the Minnesotian, feel called upon as
.one voting in the affirmative, to make public de-
fence and solicit the use of your columns to be
heard. s. -aG
The Editor of the Minnesotian is unscrupulous-
ly severe upon members who favored the removal
Of the Capital, and makes sweeping, rancorous
charges against them, which, if true, would not
only dsqualify them as sitting members of the
Legislature, but would reduce them to the condi-
ton Of cuprits and render their disfranchisement
certain. First,-We are all charged with moral
perjury, with violating our Official oaths and act
ing antagonistic to the Organic Act Of our Ter
ritory. Second-We are set down and published
to his numerous readers, as being bought by St.
Peter stock-as having gwen our votes for con-
sideration of dollars and cents, or OF town lots.
All have to say to the charge of perjury is,
that if those favoring the removal of the Capital
are equity, then are all the memberaequaly guilty,
for in the Committee of tho whole House, the ST..
Paul friends amended the bill by striking out St..
Peter and inserting s' Shakopee," and, afterward
voted to adopt the amendment !! Hence the charge
of perjury in the article in the Miunesotian of the
10Th is hushed, and the Editor relieves himself of
h;c h,p dor ,1o
the friends be loved 80 dearly (for specific pur-
pose) at the commencement of the session. Ia
Why is he SO severe on members who deemed
it expedient to remove the Capitalp Aye, the
"Idol of bis heart''-the Idol he loved above
every consideration of public good, and which be
worshipped so devoutly, has been taken away
In his dreams of future glory and wealth, and
political power, he seemed to say in his heart,
"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor
q law. .giver from between bis feet" Alas for
him! The sceptre has departed. The diadem
soon will fall, and the bereaved, disconsolate
Editor of the Minnesotian will be left-where ?
Upon the east bank of the Mississippi, where
hope he will find friends to soothe and comfort.
Of the sweeping charge of bribery he has made
upon members of the Legislature, it is only nee.
essary to say, that if he has not wounded the
feelings of any member, he certainly has wound.
ed the integrity of his party, the integrity, the
virtue and dignity of the people Of this Territory
If they have sent such culpabe, reckless, vulner-
able men to represent them, they ought to bury
their faces in the dust and weep. But sir, he has
deeply wounded the feelings, grieysd the sensi-
bilities of honest, upright members of the Leg
islature; men in whose hearts live warm desires
for our country's welfare, its prosperity and the
triumph Of truth and enlightened, yrsuous legis-
lation, and who regret to BE- thus publicly scan-
daalised. And We are forced 20 ask the question,
ls IT from weakness or frenzy, the editor Of the
Minnesotian so bountifully heaps upon us his cal
umny9 So far as these charges are applicable
to myself, can assure you, the Editor and read
ers OF the Minnesotian, and my constituents, tina,
the charges and insiAuations are unouali6edly
false; that the St. Peter Company have neye,
made any offers, nor even indicated their willing.
ness to do so. nor do believe they have attempt.
ed to bribe or buy any member. The interests q,
their constituents and Of the Territory at large
have offered sufficient inducements to promp,
them to remove the Capital to more centra
point, and in so doing, are willing to rest the
verdict with the people. If the Editor of the
Minnesotian wishes the matter investigated. we
hope he will induce his friends in the House "a
proceed ut once to the trial.
Very Truly Yours, W. J. II.