Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-16
Mr.. sibley CoSyardly..-NIr. Dunbar too
Brave,

We call attention to the shutting evasions
resorted to by Mr.. SIBLEY and Mr.. DUNBAR,
comprising the Banking Department Of the
State, when waited upon yesterday by the
Committee of the Business Men of St. Paul, to
ask that no more currency should be issued
on the deposit of Railroad State Bonds, which
events had already prosed inadequate to Sc,
cure the Bank issues from loss in the hands
of the people.
So far as Mr.. SIBLEY's position about the
"rigid requirements oflaw compelling him to
issue the Bonds to the Railroad Companies
"wben the conditions had been absolutely
fulfilled" required by the Constitutional
Amendment he is probably eorreet-tIe
pointSbeing as to his construction of what CON-
stitutes "fulfllment of the conditions p
In the case of the Cedar Valley Road, of
which Mr.. SIBLEY is Vice President and Di-
rector, it is said he was very lenient as to the
conditions" upon which it received its
Bonds! But after all Mr.. SIBLEY is right
The Loan Amendment has tied the State up
bound her officials hand and foot not to inter-
fere, if they desired, to save her from the grasp
of the Railroad spectators. Thus far, the
People themselves are to blame.
But it is on the Currency Question that Mr..
SHELLEY tries shutting and evasion. Like in
the case of the PEAsE Arrangement, the rough
draft of which he made in his own hand-wri-
ting, and afterwards through his organ, the
| Pioneer, tried to shuttle all the responsibility
for making upon Mr.. j. w. NORTH, he now
| endeayors to put off on the State Auditor the
entire burden Of this Yretched currency bust
ness, and of issuing Bank Notes to the Peo-
pie which at the time Of issue they both knew
were inadequately secured to preserve the
community from loss.
So far from his duty being only advisory
and that he could give no "opinion" except
when asked by the Auditor, the Banking Law
expressly shows, that his Jurisdiction is con-
current and equal with that of the Auditor!
The latter, we know, performs the mere ex-
ecutive duties of the Banking Department,
but the following proviso Of the Law shows,
that in the matter of determining upon the
sufficiency of the securities, it is obligatory
upon the Governor and Auditor both to pass
their opinions. Read the proviso:
Prorided, That if in the opinion of the Auditor
! and Governor, any stocks offered shall be deemed
insecure that they shall not be received as such Sc
| curities nnder the provisions of this act''
1t is clear from this extract from the Bank
| ing Law, that Mr.. SIBLEY is at his old coward
ly game of Sinking responsibility. And it is
the more disgraceful in this instance, as the
Auditor is well known by all having business
with the Office in regard to currency mat
tiers to take no step without Mr.. SIBLEYs ad
vice and concurrence. To such an extraor-
binary extent is this obsequiosness carri-
| ed even in small details, that the remark has
been common around the streets, that "Mr.
SIBLEY was really the Acting Auditor of the
State as well as the Acting Governor" But
alas such is the gratitude and moral coward.
ice legitimateiy induced from the life of the
old Indian trade in which Mr.. SIBLEY spent
over twenty years of his career!
AS to Mr.. DUNBAR, his equivocations arc
distressing. To say that he, as guardian of
the peoples safety, must take the custom.
house affidavit of any nan who chooses to de-
clare that somebody had givon 90 cents for
the Bonds, which be and Mr.. Sibley both
knew, from the New York experience of the
latter, would not command 80 cents in cash,
is simply ridiculous, and adds insult to injury
What does Mr.. DUNBAR call "cash ?" Is it
Railroad CURRENCY 1t really does look as if
Mr.. DUNBAR was owned body and soul by
the Railroad companies; and that so thor
oughly is he sold that he hesitates not to fib
even for their benefit
Who will believe him in the bold assertion,
that he "had personal knowledge Of sales at
95 cents for cash!'' 1t is absurd. 1t is
worse. 1t is a deliberate falsehood, or dis
honest evasion. Verify, we have prettyset
of State officials. SlBLEY seeks to shirk out of
his. proper and legitimate responsibility as
an officer of the Bank Department-DuSsAE