The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-10

man necessity of daily br ead,' as a Railroad
official will not excuse him for perpetrating
And that is all we have to say ut present
to the immortal Author of the Poll Book
rival of Capt. JOHN A. WAKEFIELD "authol
Of the Black Hawk War, and an unpublished
novel of thrilling interest" Co.,, III q, ~
The Old Minnesota and h-Westerp
Railroad Project The Men who ruin
ed it. i i5.fE .....a. .A.D..
IT is not Improbable, occasionally, to recall
the past, and, with view of calculating the
probabilities Of the future, to compare it with
the present. This ssrves also TO keep Us f.
miliarised with The history sfAitss gone BY
and enables us to render duly unto Caesar
the things which are Caesars.
Four years ago. the people of Minnesota
were gratifed by the assurance, authoritat-
lively given, by those who had foisted them
selves into the management of the project
that Railroad communication was to be
speedily opened with the East, both by way
OF Lake superior and Iowa.
To aid in this enterprise, bill was intro
duced into the Congress of the United States,
making to Minnesota grant of lands to ena-
BILE her to prosecute successfully that pro-
ject
Aware, however, that such bill was to be
introduced, and was likely to become.a law,
few designing and corrupt men induced
the Territorial Legislature to make, in ad-
vance, a grant of the lands to the "JMinnesotd
and North Western Railroad Company" Of
which Mr.. EDMUND RICE, the present Presd-
dent of the Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Company" was the head and front.
But Congress was not willing to confirm
the act of the Minnesota Legislature, grant
ing its lands, in advance, to the IN. f. ".
". Railroad Company y and therefore, so
framed the granting act, as to authorize fil-
ture Legislature of the Territory to dispose
of them.
This act was obnoxious to the gentry OF
the IN. E. ". ". Railroad Compamy" and
knowing that they could not get bill
through the House of Representatives in the
shape they desired it, the bill as introduced
passed that branch of Congress. But, after
it had been passed by the House, and while
in transitu to the Senate, a forgery was COM
mitted upon the bill. and it reached the Sen
ate in very different form from that in which
it passed the House.
The forgery was not detected, and the bill
passed the Senate as it had been altered by
the criminal wretches, who expected to fat
ten and grow rich out of the NJ E N. ".
Railroad Compamy."
A few days later, however, the forgery was
discovered; but, anticipating trouble, the
company advised by telegraph of the pas
sage of the act,-had organized and entered
into certain contracts on the meet morning
after its passage, in order that, should any
difficulty occur, they could claim to have
uested rights in the lands, under the grant,
which Congress could not disturb.
But whether any rights had vested or not,
Congress, indignant and outraged at the
commission of the forgery Of bill as it passed
between the two Houses-without mo-
ments hesitation, repealed the granting act!
Still, anxious for the advancement of the
interests OF Minnesota, and believing the
lands granted amply sufficient to build the
contemplated road-many of our most wor-
thy citizens, while they condemned the ras-
cality and criminality of the Railroad agents
-exerted their whole influence in an attempt
to retrieve what had been imminently jeop-
ardized, if not wholly lost, by the crime of
those who had, uninvited, assumed the man
agement of our Railroad interests.
While they were conscious of the crime
which had been perpetrated, and eschewed
all intercourse with those who perpetrated
and advised it, still they felt that the Ter
ritory ought not to suffer for the crimes of
any man or association of men, whether
strangers or unworthy citizens of our own
soil!
But all efforts have proved futile and
nearly three millions of acres of land and a
railroad communication with the North and
East, has been the penalty paid by the peo-
pie of Minnesota for entrusting their inter-
ests in the hands of corrupt and unscrupu-
lous men
One might have supposed that experience
such as this would have taught US to be eau
tious--to be wise has it done so !? Fellow
citizens, ask yourself this question The
result of the election on the 18th inst. will
tell how you have answered it
Few we'll informed men will doubt, that if
the forgery, the history Of which we have
thus briefly given, had not been committed,
we would to day have the cars running in
and out of St. Paul-both East and North!
What, and who have caused this delay
this absolute loss to Minnesota and her COM
mercial centre Ask yourselves this ques-
ton
This matter, to certain extent at least,
was in the same hands that now control our
Railroad interests. The commission of
great crime was the immediate cause of our
great loss. That crime was not committed
hastily and without mature reflection and
advisement. The proof show that the pro-
posed change was the subject of consulta-
tion-inquiry! General STEVENS, Of Michi-
gan, then member of Congress and an inti-
mate friend of some of our own people, then
and now occupying places of trust and hon
or, and who were connected with the old M
e. ". W. X. r. Co."-either made the al
teration" himself, or ordered the Engrossing
Clerk to do it.
He swears he did it dnnocently; but intend
ed it to give the lands to that Company, as
such had been the instructions of the Com.