The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-02

criticism TO which this work has been sub
jectsd since it's appearance, may be summed
IN thus Il is a work OF decided merit
indeed, a valuable work at bottom but 1t
has certain glazing defects which "a they
have been exposed at different times by dit.
ferent parties, who ought to know, may be
thus enumerated
/. Ia the authors eulogy OF JAS. NJ.
GoopuuE-oi his talents and general char
ac,er he forgcs to say explicitly that the
deceased gentleman was saint, or TO sng'
gcst any measures Tor his immediate canon''
zation. The discovery Of this a,rocious
biographical dereliction, which had escaped
the general observation, was due to near
relative. through marriage, Of the injured
dead, who Immediately proceeded To deluge
the local papers with bis Indignation ut this
dastardly, undcrhanded moDstrous and dia'
bolical assault upon the memory Of a man
powerlcss 10 defend himself
2. In the authors notice Of the men
who more than any other have been iden
tilted with the public interests Of Mime
sofa" he omitted 10 mention the name Of
Momros s. WuKissos. This bIunder was
duly exposed by that gentleman himself some
months ago at dinner party where he be-
came afflicted with sudden concern for the
political reputation Of the Hon. DAVID
OLmsrgAD, and showed 10 the entire salts
faction Of his audience that nothing but the
most gnoble motives nothing, in fact, but
the knowledge that Mr.. OLssrrAD was
then lying sick and helpless at Winona,
could have induced Mr. MILL to suppress
tho TACT that Mr.. MoRros y. WILLIAMSON
was one Of the most prominent office seekers
Of the Territory, besides being considerable
Of u stump orator, with Congressional aspi
rations none the less noble because uDsnc-
c1siul, and not bad On after dinner speeches
g. Moreover, while GooDmug's editorial
talents arc landed 10 the skies no tribute
whatever in paid to the genius OF his news
paper cotemporaries--wh certainly bad a
RICH, to look for some office among the re-
markablc persons Of the day, The public
dissatisfaction with this inyidlous distinction
found no opportunity Tor its expression. I'LL
Mr. Jous l.. OWES became reins'a,ed in
hie prof, isi0nal avocation as associate edl-
tor Of the Times. Mr.. OwEss gives vent to
his views of the critical merits Of Mr.
MILLS History in the Times OF yesterday --
when be takes occasion TO refer the author
to an old lady somewhere down on the Ohio
river, for proof that riKE, whose narrative
forms portion of the history Of Minnesota
really entertained views upon certain his
torical matters quite different from these
which he has put upon record, for which
caprice OF pixs (which by thc-byc requires
proof) aud its couccalmcnt in the bosoms Of
old women aud back settlers down IN Ohio
Mr.. NEui. ia justly held rcspousblc. Some
people might suppose that the tales told on
hearsay by old soldiers, who aro not remark
able for their severe analysis Of evidence
would hardly afford the most reliable mate
rails in the world for history, and would
scarcely reward trip 10 Ohio, even If the
existence Of these contemporary sources
had been known TO the historian aud in
this connection il will occur TO tie reader.
that II Mr.. OwEss is in possession OF any
information which he considers vital 90 u
complete history Of Minnesota, he perhaps
deserves very much more ccnsure tor neglect
ing to put II upon rccord IN some shape nc
ccssblc TO the historian, than the latter
could possibly merit for not have recourse
to "cotcmporary sources. OF whose Nlstence
he could have known nothing.
4. The budget Of critical notices which have
appeared, adverse to Mr.. MILLS history.
was completed day or two ago by the
animadycrsions which appeared IN the Iimcs
over the name Of : T. RiuGA This gcn
tlcman who has been for u long period mis-.
sionary among the Dakotas aud Who has
made valuable use OF his secluslou at Lac
quiparlc, by the preparation of u Dakota
grammar and dictionary, thinks that Mr.
Nails history is very good and very
readable book. " but 1t might have bcen a
good deal better While every one will coin.
eide in the justice of thus observation. i, is
curious 10 note in what respects Mr.. NsuI
might have done better, in the estimation OF
Mr.. X eos.
In the first place, he devo,cs a column Of
what nigh, be regarded by mast naders US
rather elaborate hype criticism, to the adj
jus,ment Of Mr. MILLS Dakota alphabet
and or,hography, which be complains does
not conform TO the notation fixed by RIcas