The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-17

We find in The Maakato Independent, the
following letter from Senator RIcs, called
forth BY the publication in that Journal Of .
communication signed Administration
Democrat" in which certain charges we're
preferred against the Senator. The letter
Of Mr.. RICE fully demonstrates their utter
falsity:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 1858.
GENrLExBH Il am this morning in re-
ceipt OF the Independent Of the Sd inst, con.
tanning An article headed What caused
the defeat Of the Democracy" ] an not in
the habit Of answering charges made under
such circumstances, but as the article was
marked so as to call my attention to the
same, AID as it contains some errsrs so II sss,
deem it due to the new settlers in your re-
gion, as we'll as to myself, to state some
facts, and then leave the Administration
Democrat " to say whether he was prompt
ell to write the article by any malignant or
unkind feelings" or not
LIST. l do not, nor never did | own an
acre Of land upon or within fifty miles Of
the North Shore within the Territory or
State Of Minnesota, and regret to say that
l do not own in Minnesota, or elsewhere,
one half the amount of property Of all kinds
that did when FIRST elected to Congress.
ID. The memorial asking appropriations
for improving the river were presented TO
Congress, and the House did adopt al
amendment to the Bill making sppropria.
tions for river and harbOr improvement,
carrying out the request Of the memorialists
but with the failure OF the bill, the
amendment was lost. ,
Sd. In June, 1853, the then Delegate
Hon. II II. Sibley, procured an appropria.
tion of FIVE thousand dolla-s sas sssyay and
laying out military road from Mendoza to
the mouth of the Big Sioux river, which
road ran through Mankato; and to Mr..
Sibley belongs the credit Of starting this, as
well as most Of the other important military
roads in the State. On the 9Th OF August,
1854, procured for the Mendoza and Big
Sioux road an appropriation Of 5000 I;
on the Sd OF March. 1855, / obtained for
the same road $27,455 68; making S52, :
375 GO.
The last appropriation was TO complete
the road in accordance with the estimate OF
the Engineer then in charge. Now add to
the above the $4,000 obtained by Mr.. Bib
ley, and you have for the road passing
through Msnkato, $57,475 6s, being more
money than was ever appropriated for roads
in the Territories of Wisconsin and Iowa.
Can the people of the Valley complain for
want Of appropriations upon this road?
4th. The charge about the location OF
the Winnebagoes has been so often refuted
that it requires no notice from me at this
time. As to the wrongs sustained by set.
tiers upon said reservation, | have done all
! could for their relief, and | shall continue
so to do, and trust the day is not far distant
when Justice will be done them.
9th. As for my being, even 10 thought,
connected with any one, or being myself,
directly or indirectly, connected with or ex-
pecting to be connected with any specula-
tion in any manner or shape whatever, with
any OF the lands in or near the reservation
the charge is false, and has not even .
coloring OF truth.
9th. have never recommended that the
lands be sold at publc or private sale--to
an inhabtant or company--snd | do not
know that any one ever made recommen.
dation of the kind.
9TH. Although heartily ceneurriDg in the
appointment Of Mr. Mix, did not recon-
mend him for that place, and the only con-
versation | have ever had with him upon
the subject, was TO represent the injustice
that had been done the settlers upon
the reservation, and the p ople OF the town
Of Mankato, and begged him to see that JUS
tice was done them.
In conclusion, permit me to say that |
hope AN Administration Democrat" was
not actuated by any improper motive, but
that he was acting under q misconcep.isp
of the facts, and that if Democrats refused
10 vote at the last election on account OF
my conduct, that their Democracy cannot
be Of that stamp which ever prevented the
defeat of the party.
Very Respectfully.