Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-09-10

the Secretary. The word "entire" is stricken
out, and word correct inserted in its place.
The difference is palpable. We desired q T
correct" copy of the vote for Governor, but b
we did not desire an CENTRE" copy of the Q
election returns of 1857, which as have be- Q
fore shown, if my estimate is correct, would
contain about 1000 FoL1opAGEs OF MANU- I
SCRIPT. q
10th, however, to believe Mr.. Baasen guilty
Of altering an official letter, am led to think
that he is not the real author of the letter in
the Pioneer and Democrat, and that it was {
prepared by other hands, he having signed it
without first carefully reading it, depending
upon its author for accuracy, at least, in quot
ing official documents. If am right in this
conjecture, as hope am, Mr.. Baasen will
at once Of course, clear himself of the charge
Of tampering with official documents, by plac-
ing the responsibility where it belongs-on the
real author of the letter to the Pioneer and
Democrat. -.-r -.
After the receipt of Mr.. Baasen's letter of
June %, 1858, on the 9TH of July, 1858,
again wrote him, stating still more ex-
plicitly what we desired, and that it was a
full, true and entire copy Of the cote for Gou-
ernor.
Some where about the Goth of July, Mr..
a H. A. Setter called upon me at my Office and
delivered to me note from Mr.. Baasen, which |
e stated that he had received my letter of the
9Th inst, "demanding a certified co1'v Of the
r election rsturns," &c., and that he had ap-
i pointed Mr.. Setter to prepare the same, with
v whom might settle the fees.
= Now, the truth is, never made "demand
o for certified copy of the election returns"
t, and he well knew the fact, when he indited
If that letter.
;; The whole statement in reference to con-
n versation between Mr.. Setter and myself, re-
ID speeding the probable expense Of furnishing
the data we desired, and that Mr.. Setter
lie stated the probable cost at from $75 to 500,
a. is without the slightest foundation. No such
y, conversation ever occurred, and I doubt if
" Mr.. Setter, whom believe to be gentleman
of veracity, ever made any such statement to
er Mr.. Baasep or any one else.
"a The facts are these At the time Mr.. Set
re. zer brought me the last letter from Mr.. Baa-
lis sen, that of July 14th, 1858, he informed me,
l." that he had been appointed by that gentle
De- man to prepare, what be was informed by Mr.
,g, Baasen, was the information desired; that
er= he had gone to work at it, and had been SC
employed for, ! think be stated, three or fou1
lpt days; that while engaged in making copies
so; of the returns, in the manner directed by Mr.
'ut Baasen, he had come across and read the cor
ly, respondence between him and myself; tina
en- he sqs0 at o4ce tsat hs instrueti0ns s0srs en-
tiryly different from spAqt bad demanded
ere and desired, and that he at onee suspended
out the work, believing that | would not receiv
by or pay for the copies no was instructed t
At maks.
hat After stating to him what wished, which
en- was acc;.-a"" To NV written demands, upo
ken the Secretary, 1 asked him, if he could ne
nd 90 on and furnish the work in the name
and l desired. He replied that he could not
for that his instructions were specific, and tina
''sh he must either 60 on and complete the 10
as he had commenced it, or abandon it entire
lav- ly.
the For reasons, that Mr.. Setter will understan
OF and appreciate, and which are unnecessary
teo, be stated here, was extremely anxious ths
the he should make the desired abstracts for U
re- and so informed him at the time, if he fe
foi at liberty to make them. He stated that
did not when told him to 60 no furth'
was with the work he had commenced, until he sa
anne or heard from me, after I could see and al
ior wise with Gov. Ramsey and that if it WI
possible for us to arrange the matter, wou
only be clad that he should furnish US with Il
ZACH desired information,
In Mr.. Setter said, if the copies he had bet
the making. were satisfactory, he would be gls
n'cn to have some of the fees paid at once,
convenient.
ue then promised him, that would call
"''' the Secretary's Office, examine what he hi
JUL done, and see if we could not, keeping with
ines Mr.. Baasen's instructions to him, adopt pl'
"'.' that would be satisfactory. This promise
. 4" was unable to keep, in consequence Of an g
tack of illness; but, as soon as l was able
~, wrote Mr.. Setter on the subject, asking hi
III .n' what the probable expense Of furnishing t
w. election returns would be, in the manner pr
po', posed by the Hon. Secretary, to which lett
nish =.
probable amount of fees was ever referred
in my intercourse with Mr.. Setter. Fro
what Mr.. Setter had stated, however, up
( consultation with Gov. Ramsey, we felt pr
suaded that no good could result from purs
I'd by ing the matter any further, as it was evide
IT, s,ni IN that it was the purpose Of the officers of
nptly government to embarrass us in every mann'
NJ y, 1t was therefore abandoned; the obstac
EN- and impediments thrown in the way of p1
n, ,ne" curing the necessary data from the Secre
rvs Office, being the principal reason for {
/ an. ing so. There were others, however, wi
with which this letter has nothing to do.
As to fees, not only were We willing to p
IN. them for what we wanted, but to pay them
= adoance; but we were not willing to p
~: thousands of dollars for what we did I
N. want, and had no possible use for.
Under the instructions of the Secretary
had. Mr.. Setter, as explained by the latter to n
the fees to which the former would have be
entitled, for official certificates alone, to s
.:m nothing Of those for copying, would hs
' 'M amounted to at least 81 900.
NV Thus the fee, charged for an official cert
=. ~ cate under the great seal, is, ! am inform
a''u $3.50. There being some 700 precincts, W
IL
'wev- =. A.. .a M.