The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-15

HOW FRIDLEY WAS BOUGHT, WHO BOUGHT
HIM, AND WHAT WAS PAID.
Indian superintendent Cullen wanted
before the C0vOde Committee.

HIM, AND What WAS PAID.
Indian Superintendent Cullen wanted
before the Cov0de Committee.
BELLE PLANE, ScorT Co., MIMI,
June 4, 1860.
| To the Editors Of the Pioneer and Democrat:
| During my recent sojourn in Minnesota,
my attention has been frequently called 10
the action of three of your delegates to the
Charleston Convention. Among those three
Mr.. A. NJ. FRIDLEY stands prominent. AS
l am stranger in this State, l cannot un-
derstand the motives governing the actions
of your leading politicians with the accuracy
of an "old settler" but must confess that
l was surprised to learn that in Minnesota,
where the Illinois Statesman is so univer-
sally popular, three prominent politicians
could be found to misrepresent the State in
so palpable manner in the late Democratic
Convention.
l am not practical logician, or deeply
versed in the abstract questions of cause
and effect" but l frequently stumble upon
facts which, though trivial in themselves,
assume an Importance in my own mind,
when viewed in connection with other
matters.
On my way up the Minnesota Valley last
week, stopped day at Belle PLANE, and
while there heard part of trial before W.
WnKIN, Esq, of Saint Paul, referee, in
suit between JOSEPH MOODY, plaintiff,
against GEORGE w. RATHBUN, defendant.
Messrs. CHArFIELD & BUEL for the plaintiff,
and GEO. BRADLEY, Esq, for the defendant.
There are several features about the case
decidedly rich, and one point in particular,
involving question of morality, in which
think the public are somewhat interested.
The suit is for partition of the Grst
Mill property here, and the accounting for
the use and profits of the mi II was the
prominent subject before the referee while l
was present.
The defendant cOntended that he was un>
lawfully ousted from possession, at time
when the parties had an important contract
with the government to fulfill, thus forming
claim for damages against the plaintiff.
The contract in question seems to have been
negotiated with the government agents,
through one FRIDLEY. 1t was to supply
the agency with flour. The defendant being
on the stand as witness, the following
letter from MoULToN, an agent of the plain
tiff, was proved and read:
''Sr. ANTHONY, January 3, 1860.
Geo. w. Rathbun, Esq :.--Doubtless you
have been expecting me up for some time, but
| circumstance have transpired that rendered it
| impossible to come. l have been to St. Paul
every day for two weeks on that contract.
FRIDLEY intends to leave for Washington every
| day, and he is the only one that can figure the
thing through for US. He has got the thing as
near as it can be now, and it has been mighty
hard affair you may depend. 1 expect there
will be about 5000 barrels, (perhaps not over
10000 at not less than $500 per barrel; not bad
is it, all things considered? If the papers are
executed tomorrow, shall come up next day,
but not until they are done, for it will not do to
leave it now..-( Concluding paragraph about a
stave machine.) Yours truly,
T. MOULTON."
The defendant fur ther testified in explana
tion of the contents of the letter, that MoUL-
TON was for some time previous to its date,
negotiating with some of the government
agents for contract to supply the forts and
Indians with -four. That one FRIDLEy, a
friend of Major CULLEN, was employed as
the negotiator between the parties, MoULroN
informing him (the deft.) that FREDLEY had
great influence with those agents. and that
Major CULLEN had intimated to him (MoUL-
TOM that be desired him to negotiate the
matter through FR1DLEY. That MouLroN
| further informed the defendant that FRIDLEY
was to receive $1,000 for securing the con-
tract; and further, there was to be liberal
understanding in regard to the inspection
only that portion of the -four intended for
the officers and agents being required to pass
inspection, the rest could be of an inferior
quality, such as middlings or -four made from
middlings. That MoULroN afterwards in
formed the defendant that he had closed the
contract on the terms specified in the letter
The defendant also testified that the contract
was worth, after deducting the 81, 600 to
FR1DLEy, a net profit o; from eight to ten
thousand dollars.
On hearing this testimony, the question
presenting itself most iorcibly to my mind,
was, who is this Mr.. FRIDLEY who seems to
be SO we'll versed in Figuring through" fat
contracts with the government? Is he the
A. NJ. FRIDLEY of the Charleston Conven>
ton notoriety And has the administration
at Washington as much influence over him,
as he has with their agents here p? Ii SO,
that "Gccounts for the milk IN the cocoa NUT
The CoyoDE committee might find rich
field tor labor in this vicinity. STRANGER.
SHIPMENT OF MINNESOTA FLOUR TO
MAlNE.-A gentleman living at Elk river
has just shipped to Portland, Maine, via
| ho ri,,or l,koo on1 nd V,rupLr Railroad