The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-17
The -Anti-MonopoliSt.

though the form Of issuing was differ
ent. the companies giving their most
solemn guarantee that the state should
never have to pay them.
A portion Of the bonds were Selah
Chamberlain's, who, in common with
others, sclemnly promised that the state
should never have to pay them; that he
would stand between the state and all
harm-that the people should never be
taxed.
The newspapers that were the organs
of the companies, also the stump orators
that were hired and sent out all over the
country, all proclaimed to the people
that if they approved the amendment
sanctioning the issue OF the bonds, they
would be completely exonerated; that
the bonds were not estate bonds" in the
sense in which other bonds were SO con-
sidered; that the fear of ever having
either interest or principle to pay on
them was the merest chimera. These
were the conditions on which an atfir1na
tive vote was obtained.
There were some persons then who
had been in the territory (for it was not
state when the vote was taken)a good
~ number of years, who had come to
make their homes, and had come to stay.
They were not the spectators in town
sites, corner lots, wild lands or rail
road stocks.
They had something tangible to be
taxed for then, and they earnestly pro-
tested but in vain. They gathered in
their thinly settled precincts, guided by
prescience, and a true sense OF self.pres-
ervation, and voted no! The election
was carried by false and wicked misrep-
reese ntations. and by fraud, carried ON by
the aid OF what little money there was
left in the country, the owners OF it sup
DC sing that that was the most profitable
way to invest it.
The City of St. Paul cast many more
votes than there were males in the city
over 81 years OF age. So Of st. Antho
my. No one was arrested on that day
Tor fraudulent voting. Some men voted
u times, while others were prevented
from voting at all, who were opposed to
the measure. Many of the voters were
transient persons who were in the coun-
try prospecting, and who never came to
settle; some were merely travellers,
whose names were only registered at the
hotels. Some were Indians. who after
wards murdered innocent women and
children on the then frontier, and are
now howi,Dg, almost breechless, around
the Black Hills. The little handful OF
honest yeomanry that had come to stay
were overborne. 1t was with sorrow
that they learned the result of the pre-
tended election. They felt in their con-
Hk~..t< hn ms n
fault and 90 back on their promises, and
claim pay from the state tor bonds they
had promised to pay themselves. The
new governor had witnessed the farce
with sorrow, and refused to issue the
bonds.
The INSCRIPTIONS concoctors OF the
scheme were desperate, and procuring a
writ OF mandamus, compelled him,
against his will, to issue them. An at.
tempt was made to get up market val
ne. One bond was bought by New
York City man at 80 l-2 cents, with
money furnished him by party owning
the bond but repeat again, they never
were fairly on the money ma-ket-never
had a market value. All parties had
notice that they were considered fraudu-
lent. They were traf6cked off at II
to % cents on the dollar.
MIR. Chamberlain could not sell his te
advantage, and so he kept them. 1t is
said by competent engineers that the
work for which ne took them was moi
worth over % or 80 cents on the dollar
As sensible people supposed, the COM
) panies deiauited.
Gov. Ramsey went through the iarce
of selling the roads, lands and franchis
es of the defaulting companies, includ
! ing Selah Chsmberlain's, but it was inn
mediately given back, and in many in
stances to the same parties. MIR. Cham.
berlain got his back. One day he con
r siders the bonds his own issue, ant
promises the people that they shall
never be required TO pay them-the state
! was only endorsing his paper. which he
had agreed to meet-but on another day
, with all the lands and franchises re
leased from obligations as security to thu
people. turns around and demands pay
> ard calls them the bonds ot the state o
| Minnesota. Now ii Mr.. Chamberlain
will give back the original security
road. lands and franchises. then recon-
menu tllsaI tie STATE ti4utAatc AiS UoHOS
!. II respectable mans note had been oh
tanned BY such means and representa-
ltions as those bonds were obtained, ev
= cry good man would advise him not t
pay. By so refusing he would not tor
\ ieit his standing in his church. Il
: defending the state from unjust exac,
: ions do not advocate injustice to 9th
r ers.
a There We're few persons, it is ru
0 mored. duped into buying few bond
y at over fifty cents on dollar. Commor
charity should induce US TO pity them
: Those who innocently paid IL to25 cent
+ lon the dollar. on discrediied bonds
i should have IS much as they paid, wit
+ such interest as may seem equitable be
: tween those who pay and those VIII
g receive. There are certain lands, Q
| avaiis of such, that have once bee
j. offered to bcndholders. but not accepse
/ by them. Those lands or avails sti
c remain the property of the state. no;