The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-10-26

AeSAN w A0iCC AAhO AohtO , shSy u0tC 0Olu
their cattle, horses, and wagons; even
household goods have been sacrificed, and in
some cases long cherished mementoes, family
relics, and articles of jewelry have been dis
posed of to secure triaing sum of money.
1t is needless to say that all this loss
would have been obviated, had the settlers
been aware of the recent decision of Secre-
tary THOMPSON, which in effect gives them
an additional year in which to make pay.
ment for their claims.
In an article published in the PIONEER
AND DEMOCRAT, of September Is, we placed
the responsibility for the land sale upon the
Senator of the State, and the members of
Congress, who had not uttered one word of
protest against it. We then said:
THE REPUBLICAN-BUCHANAN COALITION.
1t will be recollected that last year, when
the President issued his proclamation ordering
the lands in Minnesota into market, Hon, Hen.
ry II. Sibley, at that time Governor of the State
proceeded to Washington, and used his per-
sonal and political influence to secure their
withdrawal. At Washington, Governor Sibley
was aided by the Minnesota delegation in Con.
gress, who seconded HIM in strong representa-.
tons to the Interior Department. As the re-
suit of these eXerti0ns the sale was postponed.
This year the case is different. Senator Rice
and the Black Republicans have coalesced to
deprive Douglas of the electoral vote of Min.
nes0ta. Consequently another land sale has
been ordered, and it will be permitted to 60 on
withnuf q nrOfoCt from Of MT
tives or Senators in Congress.
We are informed that up to the present time,
no memorial or remonstrance, asking a post
ponement of the land sales. has been laid be.
fore the Interior Department, signed by either
Governor Ramsey, Senators Rice or Wilkinson,
or Representatives Aldrich and Window.
The three Republican members desire the
sale to 60 on. They are now making capital
out Of it on the stump. They did not raise their
hands or open their mouths to prevent the
sales, as they should have done, at Washing
ton, but have come home in terribly low spirits
at the sufferings the settlers must endure, all
through the rascality of that terrible Douglas
mot Buchanan) in ordering the lands into mar.
ket.
As for Senator Rice-passing by, for the
present, the statement that he is interested in
extensive land warrant operations-we believe
he is induced to favor the sale, in order to fur
nish bread and butter to the Breckenridge party
in this State one half of that select organization
being composed of q. 8. land officers. Every
entry Of government land made, nets to the
land officer four or five dollars; and the coming
sales will make rich men out of some of the
Federal officers in Minnesota. We hear that
the land officers of the State--the Settlers, the
BOWS, Moore. and others-have informed the
Senator that there must be no postponement
Of the land sales their pockets are empty and
must be filled. If not, it is threatened the
Breckenridge organization will be disbanded.
If Gov. Ramsey, Wilkinson, Rice, Window
and Aldrich had desired postponement of the
land sales, they could have secured it. They
did not desire it-they did not inform the dc.
partment of the distress it wo'd occasion among
the settlers on the public lands-they did not
protest against it--and hence, the people of the
State should hold them equally responsible
with Buchanan, for all the suffering and loss the
sales may occasion.
This article had one effect. 1t induced
Governor RAMSEY to attempt to procure q
postponement of the land sale. On the 24th
of September, six days after the appearance
of the article in the PIONEER AND Demo-
Graf, Governor RAMSEY addressed letter
to the President urging the postponement.
Under date of October 4th, the Secretary
Of the Interior replied to the Governor, and
in his letter, called attention to the saving
clauses in the law and the decisions of the
Department, which virtually gave the set
tiers one years extension of time, in which
to pay for their claims.
Is it not clear, then, that if Governor
RAMSEY had performed his duty to the
people of the State, as promptly as Gov
ernor SHELLEY did one year ago, there would
have been no sacrifices on the part Of the
settlers. They would have retained their
claims, their household goods, cattle,
horses, etc.
Not one of the Republican Congressman
from this State, ventured upon word Of
protest against the land sale. They desired
it to come off. Have they not used the land
sale on every stump in the State, as an
argument to persuade the settlers to vote
against DOUGLAS
Senator RICE, we find, did request post
ponement of the sale, prior to the appear
ance of the article in this paper, above
quoted, on the 18th of September; but he
was unsupported in his praiseworthy efforts
to relieve the settlers, by either RAMSEY,
the Governor of the State; WILKINSON, the
U. S. Senator; or ALDRIcH and WINDOW,
Representatives. The official documents
which we have already published, show that
we did injustice to Senator RICE, in this
regard. His conduct stands out in marked
and manly contrast with that of our Repub-
lican Governor, Representatives and Sen
ator in Congress.
The sacrifices and losses of the settlers,
in their hurried efforts to raise money to
pay for their claims, is the natural result Of
the non action of the Republican Governor
and congressman. They desired the land
sale to come of. They served party inter-
ests rather than the welfare of the people.