St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-06-09
THE PRESS'IN>A sNARL.

in its way, has wound itself in a net of
falsehoods and absurdities in which it
struggles and blows in vain attempts to
free itself from the meshes.
It was the sad misfortune of lion
1gnatfss Donuelly to address the letter
to Hon. Thaddeus Stevens concerning
the Chippewa Estimates, published in
the DEMOCRAT some weeks since, with
out first consulting the wishes of The
Thunderer," and the result was that
Gghtninss of wrath we're darted at his !
head with fearfulncss that would have !
terrified most men. Strange to say.
Mr.. Donnelly was no further affected
than to make reply in which he fiat
tens the Press out most completely.
In the opening he says:
You do not seem to be aware that an ex
press law Of Congress was passed subsc-
quent tc the making Of the treaty in ques-
ton, expressly STIMULATING that the expend-
lures under it should not exceed ST, 800.
This was done to limit expenditure snd
prevent fraud. The appropriation asked
Tor by Agent Morrill, OF Sl5O,33O is aver
and above and beyond the amount f1&ed by
statute; it is not only without justification
in law, but it is claimed as a. gratulty IN
the face Of dir:ct statutory prohibition
The P.ess attempts to evade this
orusher by saying that what Mr..
Donnelly "mistakenly calls law is on
~ a "Scnate amendment" People Of
Minnesota will request the privilege to
believe that Mr. Donnel|y, fro,a his po-
sition, knows what is Law fully as we'll
as does the editor Of th.. Press, and
when the general Information IT the
gentlemen is taken into account, their:
belief becomes con>!cti..n
The Press, in the bliss Of iyno.
rance" further seeks to- justify itself in
this statement by quoting from the let
ter Of the Secretary of the Interior ac-
companying the Estimates, when Mr..
Donnelly informs it that, 1.-THE Secre-
'tary Of the Interior upon the receipt Of
copy Of that 9evter withdrew his COM
munication to the Committee of Ways
and Means, and personally thanked nc
Tor the services had rendered the De-
partment."
In his circular, Mr.. Donnelly protest
ed against the payment Of $4,000 for
the transportation Of two thousand In
dams one hundred and fifty miles, say
ing that tfey usually travelled with
ponies. The Press replied that they
do not possess ponies and that "they
live in country Of wools and swamps
aud lakes, where it is impossible to ride
Eve miles in any direction without com
ing to au impossible bog or lake. They
travel altogether in canoes 81 VI foot -
Here Mr.. d. rather gets the editor
ION the hip"
Surely it is not more expensive to travel
in canoe than with pony. Surely nc
sensible man would suppose that to trans
port 1900 men, women and children, one
hundred and fifty miles, in canoes and on
foot, would cost the Government 10000;
when by your own showing it is impossi-
bile to transport them TN wagons, aud they
have to move Themselves. 1t is little too
much Of good thing to require on In.
dian to walk and paddle one hundred aud
fifty miles through the wilderness, and
then charge the Government $40 for trans
porting him.
Perhaps the Press, as it thinks that
the Indians must be transported, will
insist that. white men walk through
these swamps and carry the Indians on
their backs. We would suggest to the
.: editor that he apply without delay fol
place in this corps.
q The entire appropriation asked for is
1857 $50, aud Mr.. nonnelly states that
he has letter from responsible gen.
tleman, a resident Of this State, offer.
q. ing to do the work for half this amount
" His name will be forthcoming if neces.
! sary. 7@
IA Mr.. Donnelly has saved tho people
over $4,000, and for this he deserve.
and has their thanks, and the renem'
brance Of this service will be carried
into practical effect. A public repre-
sentative cannot be cut down because
he has been too honest to suit the pur:
poses Of designing men. .,... @
In the concluding paragraph he
ssys:
thank you for the closing lines Of your
sr,icle, You >ssk me to perssvsre in up