Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-22
objection. To var. Rice Being Sworn I'm!

Objections To 1r. sice Being sworn in!
In giving the proceedings of the United
States Senate of the 10Th inst, on which day
the Minnesota Senators were sworn in and
took their seats in that body, We cannot but
express our feelings OF modification, that at
the very outset of our STATE career one OF our
Senator. Mr.. RICE. was objected to as un-
worthy to take his seat in that august body,
in consequence of being guilty of public cor
rurtion which untitled him to associate with
hi> f,llow-members
We should have preferred it, on the score
of SIT, pride" if Senator HARLAN had de-
Crrcd presenting his charges from " his con-
s'i,uents "a portion of the people OF Ior0,
tr,t # Minnesota as the Geographic despatch
enormously staicd)-until the ceremony Of
the inauguration of our Senators upon the
Senate floor. had first been entirely gone
through with
The explanation Of these unprecedented
charscs-unpreceden as to time and occa-
sirn-we suppose is, that the petitions allu-
Gci 10 by the Senator from Iowa came from
he vicinity Of the Fort Crawford Reserve
opposite Prairie du Chen, for which it Is
well known that Mr.. RICE was recently Sale
Commissioner; and in that capacity, it is said,
compelled the pre-emptors thereon to pay
HIM 81 80 per acre, while, it is alleged, the
record only shows S1,2j per acre as the price
received by government
The circumstance of the presentation of
thesc corruption charges at the time they
We're Should, We respectfully observe, be a
lesson to the people of MinneSo ta to take
care in the future to send as their represen-
tatves to Washington men whose public
morals are not tainted with corruption from
time immemorial-men who hav, some high
or principle of action than mere success for
thc hour-men who do not think the WELD
ny of official patron" &c the sole AIN and end
Of craftsmanship, nor continually act upon
tAc adaSc, that every man has his price
Including himSelf-men who do not invaria-
Blk scott at public virtue nor look upon the
public treasury as fair game to be gambled
C5r or filched from on every suitable or con-
Tcnient occasion.
Had we sent as our representatives to the
United States Senate men who were-both
Of them-of high character for integrity and
,rincple. we should not have thus encountered
insult on the very threshold of our admls-
Al.
the floor Of that grave body, the United
States Senate, by such q dash of cold water
= our faces, as most certainly was this oblec-
1itn to one { our Senators taking his seat
on the ground Of bis co. ruption and unwor-
times,
And does not the fact, that a respecta-
bl, Senator of the United States from an
obi inin- State hestatcs not to thus pub
lclv and boldly to interpose such an obJec-
ton as an obstacle his being sworn in.
indicate how low in public estimation HEN
~ VI. RICE has sunk IN character and influ
cnce at Washington city? man whose
general repute was good would not have
been thus treated, though a thousand charges
Of like nature md been received against him.
lis previous good character would have en-
sured him at least q courteous entrance into
the body without dissenting voice on the
score of personal worthiness, even if investi-
cation followed and his election occurred
Immediately afterwards !
But, Mr. RTcE's completely in the Fort
melting fraud Is but too recently established
ID, open sale of himself to BUCHANAN and
deliberate sacrifice OF his friend DOUGLAS,
q, the control of the Official patronage OF
lie demonstration in Minnesota, is a bargain
vlt fresh in recolicction-while his well known
various specuations in public affairs-that
Cd clerical error in the original Mime
%. land grant which was repealed by Con.
-To ss-his Bayfield, city and Railroad specu
,,tion-thc numerous fishy Indian claims
which it is alleged he has frequently crowd
"a through tie Indian Departmental sur
founded his character with sulphureous
=9rt Of halo, and all contributed to make
nator HARLAN not very delicate about
charging home upon him his corruption at
tae very first opportunity that presented
itself
We regret the objection however, as i'll
timed. 1t rubs TOO roughly the young bloom
of the maiden cheek of Minnesota Just on
her admission into the Ssterhcod of the
Uni n! Something was due also to tue
feelings Of the people Of Minnesota, if net to
Mr. RICE. The State should have been
spared. if not the individual.
We hope the investigation which has
hccn ordered into these present charges
AGAINST Mr. RICE will result in his acquittal--
rot meiey his withdrawing but in his
thorough cxhoneration from even the sus-
I.c;on of having made huge profit for him
III off the poor farmers and settlers of the
Fort Crawford Reserve. He has sins enough
10 account for without having this one added
- the budget on his back. Besides, we are
sensitive for the reputation of our State !;
and take no pleasure either, in the moral
depreciation of any Of those who are its
representatives before the nation, for the time
being.
WinOna, Minnesota cast Isl votes for the loan
project lately adopted IN that Territory and only
Il =.