The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], September 26, 1862, Image 4

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

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
4
PimttrifcSflMarat
SAINT PAUL.
Saint Pan I, Friday, September 86, 186 a.
Am Energetic, Thorough Campaign.
We are gratified w itb the assurance that
Major General Pope’s campaign against the
Sioux, is to be a most thorough and ener
getic one; and that he is massing a force
together which will annihilate these savages
before the Ist of December, or drive them
beyond the Missouri. In obedience to his
orders, Col. Sibley, on the 18th inst, took
up bis line of march for the Upper Agency,
and in pursuit of Little Crow’s force, wher
ever it may be found. A force from lowa,
of one and a half regiments, is on its march
in detachments, along the frontier of that
State and our own. This force will join
the expedition under Col. Sibley, or be
posted at exposed points, as necessity may
hereafter indicate. The destination of the
25th Wisconsin has already been desig»
nated in the general order which has been
pub'ished.
We have no question but that the Sioux
will soon be put beyond the reach of our
frontier, and beyond the possibility of doiDg
our people further injiry. We apprehend
no additional outrages from them, except
such as may be committed by straggling
parties ; and from these only till such time
as the dispositions of troops already ordered
shall have been made.
While, however, our knowledge of the
plans of General Pope, convinces us of the
absolute security of the frontier, so soon as
these can be put in operation, the interests
of our State demand that this feeling of se
curity shall be universal—and not merely a
sense of safety, in fact, but clearly and cer
tainly so, upon the very surface. This can
only be attained by the permanent location
of troops in large numbers on our frontier;
and this w'll only be done by the permanent
establishment of the Military Department
already created. It should, therefore, be
the effort, as it is for the interest, of every
citizen of Minnesota, to secure the attain
ment of this important object.
Ciov. Ramsey's Senatorial Scheme a Full
lure.
Both Houses of the Legislature have put
a quietus upon Gov. Ramsey’s scheme to
secure an election to the United States Sen*
ate at the present extra session. The
scheme was an infamous one, and Senators
and Representatives have done themselves
honor in their refusal to become the Go
verno/s aiders and abetters in its consume
mation. It was squelched in the Senate a
week ago, and in the House on Friday; and
in both branches by more than a two-thirds
vote. It can hardly be resurrected ; for
the Governor had used all the appliances
at his command, in the promise of military
and other appointments, before the fatal ex
pressions, in condemnation of the villainous
project, were given by the House and Se
nate.
This extra session was called together for
the two specific objects of securing to our
patriotic volunteers the right to participate
in our elections, and to enact such laws as
had become necessary on accoont of our
frontier disturbances. Both objects were
commendable, and the session was called
for by the general desire of the people. It
had no sooner been determined on, however,
than Governor Ramsey sent bis emissaries
over the State, to debauch Members into
the scheme of electing him to the Senate ;
defrauding, by this means, the people of the
State of all voice in the matter. It
is greatly to the credit of the press,
that this conspiracy against the rights
of the people, has met almost univer
sal condemnation. The attempt to gratify
personal ambition by the prostitution of the
Executive patronage, at a time when the
State and Nation are on the brink of ruin,
has met with a failure, which is as deserved
as it must prove humiliating to the chief
conspirator, and United States Senator,
in posse !
Indian Cruelties.
In Sunday’s Press, there is a letter from
Rev. Dr. Williamson, excusing and palli
ating the Indian atrocities.
A correspondent suggests, as the Doctor
is so sensitive in regard to the cruel manner
in which the poor Sioux Indians have been
treated, that he be furnished with a suffi
cient quantity of hospital stores and sent
immediately to Little Crow’s encampment,
for it is very probable that some of the poor
Sioux Indians may be suffering from wounds
received at the massacres of New Ulm and
Birch Coolie, which little indiscretions were
merely in retaliation for the many inhuman
atrocities perpetrated on them by the whites.
As be feels so very sad in regard to the
treatment the Indians have received from
the whites, we think it proper, as an act of
justice, that he should be appointed a com
mittee of one to try and alleviate their suf
fering condition, and extend to them our
apologies and regrets.
Of Masculine Women, and Feminine
There are two classes of persons whom
we heartily pity—masculine women and
feminine men; the former from a want,
and the latter from an excess, of sensibility.
The especial organs of Governor Donnelly
seem disposed to force him upon the atten
tion of the public, as belonging to the latter
class. A witty writer concocted an imag
inary campaign—-made Gov. Donnelly
General-in-Chief—and presented a history
of events, absurdly ludicrous, it is true, but
so spiced throughout with a broad, laughiog
humor, as rendered it irresistibly amusing.
We published it as a rare and successful
specimen of wit—at which everybody had
a right to laugh, and over which no one
ought to have enjoyed himself more highly
than its hero, Gov. Donnelly. We are
surprised, however, to find that Gov. Don
nelly’s friends belong to that class who
can’t take a joke—the pious priests who
edit his Hastings and St; Paul organs re
garding it as undignified, if not positively
sinful, to laugh at a man who is at once a
Lieutenant Governor and a Congressional
Candidate. We are not merely surprised,
but chagrined, to learn that Gov. Donnelly
sympathizes in this view; and thinks it very
outrageous that he should thus have been
exposed to the grins of the public.
Now, we regret all this very sincerely.
It disturbs our confidence in Gov. Don
nelly. It forces us to doubt bis entire
fitness for a congressional position. For,
it may always be relied on as a truth, that
the man who lacks an appreciation of hu
mor, lacks an element which is necessary to
the making up of a complete character;
and all will admit that, in these times, we
need a whole and perfect man as our con
gressional representative. If any trifling
thing could bring us to retract our advocacy
of his election, the weakness exhibited on
this point, by himself and his friends, would
certainly be a sufficient inducement.
But these are times when trifles cannot
be considered ; and we shall not allow his
squeamishness, or that of his friends, to pre
vent our hearty support of his election.
We care nothing about him, personally ;
bat we do care greatly concerning the plat
form which he represents before our peo
ple. It is a loyal one, deserving the sup
port of every loyal citizen; and the plat
form cannot be sustained without sustain
ing Gov. Donnelly. This makes it a
patriotic necessity for everybody to vote
for him. But, in spite of the duty involv
ed, we now regret, and we always shall,
that Gov. Donnelly and his priestly ad
vocates can’t take a joke.
The Chippewa Warriors.
We noticed the arrival Tuesday of a
party of forty or fifty Chippewa braves,
who came down upon the invitation of the
Governor, with the understanding that their
services would be accepted against the
Sioux. We learn that General Pope re
fused to accept of their aid, upon grounds
of public policy, or to give them a Council.
At noon, yesterday, the Chippewas ap
peared in front of the Capitol, for the pur
pose of having a Council with the Governor.
They sat down io a circle, and after plant"
ing the American flag in the centre of the
circle, they lighted their pipes, and awaited
the arrival of the Governor, who soon ap
peared, and, through an interpreter, told
them that the “ great war chief,” sent on by
the Great Father at Washington, was so
busily engaged in fitting out war parties of
the whites against the Sioux, that he was
uDable to attend to the Chippewas now, and
could not spare time to give them a Coun
cil ; but if their services were hereafter re
quired, be would lose no time in giving them
information of the fact. He complimented
them for their general good conduct,
alluded to the indiscretions of their
youDg men, aid said that the hands of
the Chippewas bad never been reddened
with white blood—and much more of the
same sort, which was well received, judg
ing from the many “ ough! ough 1 ough’s!”
of the party. He also told them that they
should start for home the next morning,
and would be carried a portion of the way
in the fire-.wagon (the cars), and in the
mean time they most get their bellies full.
The last proposition was greeted with a
general •* ough ” all round the circle.
Several of the principal chiefs then arose,
and stepping forward, shook bands with
the Governor, each making a few remarks,
showing their approval of his “good words,”
and their desire to fight the Sioux, mingled
with polite hints that they wanted their
annuities promptly because their women
and children often suffered hunger by the
usual delays; The Council then broke up,
and the Chippewas returned to their camp.
They appear to be very friendly to the
whites and not at all displeased because
their services against the Sioux are not re
quired.
A letter received from Maj. Bracket of
the Cnrtis’ Horse Guard states that the
injuries he received a month ago from being
thrown from bis horse, have proved of such
a nature, that he fears he will be forced to
resign his command;
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT]
Col. Robertson's Letter on Got. Ram
sey, and the Slonx Payment Investi
gation.
To break the force of the damaging facts
proven before the Commissioners charged
with the investigation of Governor Ram
sey’s conduct, in the Uioux payments of
1852, which we reproduced some days since,
the Press published the whitewashing report
of the Senate Committee on Indian affairs,
and alleged that Col. Robertson, over his
own signature, and in his own journal, en
dorsed that report.
We find in the Press, of yesterday morn
ing, a letter from Col. Robertson, which
we republish to-day, giving a flat denial to
this statement, and to which we call the at
tention of our readers. The letter is a plain,
straightforward narrative of facts, highly
creditable to the author, whose integrity
and candor no man in this community will
doubt.
Were the information contained in the
report of the Sioux investigation, placed
before the people of this State, they would
never trust Governor Ramsey with any of
ficial position, whatever; unless they
brought themselves to disregard all obliga*
tions of official integrity, and every senti
ment of honor and self respect.
Communications of the French Govern
ment to Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet.
Verbal communications are said to have
been made by Mr. Mercier, the French Min
ister, to Mr. Seward, concerning the views
entertained by the French Cabinet upon
American affairs. According to certain
persons who are posted upon diplomatic se
crets, it would seem that some time ago the
French legation received a confidential let
ter, statiDg id the clearest possible manner
that the opinion of the French Cabinet was
that the American civil war was intermina
ble; that every event which has happened
since the beginning of the war tended to
show that the North was unable to bring
back the South to submission ; and that,
such being the case, there was but one
course for Mr. Lincoln to adopt, and that
was to enter into an arrangement with the
Confederates. The letter further added
that the Foreign Cabinets were tired of the
representations made by Mr, Lincoln’s Ad
ministration to European interests, and that
they could not tolerate it much longer. Mr.
Mercier having communicated confidentially
the contents of that letter to Mr. Seward,
our Minister is said to have written a letter
to Mr. Dayton, answering all the points
contained in that note, with the order to
make it known to the French Government.
More Indian Depredations.
ATTACK ON PAYNESVILLE.
We learn from L. Gorton, who arrived
from St. Cloud last Saturday, that depreda
tions are still being perpetrated on the white
settlers in the Sauk Valley. He informs
us that, on last Tusday night, an attack was
made upon the town of Paynesville, in
Stearns county, about twentyffive miles dis
tant from St. Cloud. In one dwelling there
were ten men lodging, who had been engaged
during the day in threshing grain. The
house was fired about twelve o’clock, end
in trying to escape one man, named Boy
den, was shot through the thigh, but escaped
to the bushes, and was rescued the next day
by a party from the town of Richmond, who
returned to the scene. Five shots were
fired, but only one took effect. The Indians
secured ten horses and twelve head of
cattle.
From Red River.
Pierre Bottinecu, late Guide to Captain
Fiske’s Overland Expedition, arrived yes
terday from Fort Abercrombie. He re
ports that Burbank’s steamboat was still
safe and that matters were very quiet at
Fort Abercrombie, the Indians having
cleared out. He came throagh to Saint
Cloud without seeing an Indian. * All the
personal property at Georgetown was
shipped iD barges and carried to Fort Garry.
Victory in Mississippi.
On Friday, GeD. Rosecrans attacked
Gen. Price a short distance below luka,
Mississippi, and completely defeated him,
with a loss of between four and five hundred
men, and a heavy loss in tents, arms, am
munition, &c. It is probable that our Min
nesota troops participated in the action.
Seventeen Prisoners Rscaped fom the
Indians.
United States Deputy Marshal Cleve
land arrived yesterday from the Minnesota
River. At Traverse, he learned from Mr.
George McLeod, who bad just got in
from the Fort, that seventeen whites had
arrived at the Fort on Wednesday morning,
having escaped from the Indians by the ass
sistance of peaceable Indians. Among the
escaped persons were the family of Mr. De
Camp, who was killed at Birch Coolie.
—lt is understood that T. W. Parke
Esq*, of San Francisco, a staunch Repub
lican, and a gentleman of fine abilities,*will
be chosen by the legislature of California
to the Senate of the United States, in place
of Hon. Milton S. Latham, whose term ex
pires on the 4th of March next.
Indian Attack in Stearns Co-
RICHMOND ATTACKED*
FOUR PERSONS KILLED.
RUMOR OF THE TOWN BEING
BURNED.
We .'earn from Bnrbank & Co.’s express
messenger, who arrived last night from St.
Cloud, that a band of Sioux Indians at
tacked the town of Richmond, about twenty
five miles from St. Cloud, on Monday morn
ing, and kiiled two men and two children.
A messenger from Richmond arrived at
St. Cloud before our informant left, who
stated that the citizens of Richmond and
viciDity were fleeing to Sauk Centre and
St. Cloud. Captain McKay’s company
stationed at St. Cloud, and a number of
citizens of St. Cloud, who could procure
horses and arms started in the afternoon of
Monday to the scene of action. The last
report from Richmond was that the In
dians had possession of the town and were
burning it.
Richmond is about twenty miles irom St.
Cloud, and the same distance from Forest
City.
The Indians who have made this attack
are supposed to have been the same who
were besieging Fort Abercrombie, and who
are reported to have left that Fort.
The Fourth Regiment in
Action.
It seems from the following dispatch, that
the Fourth Minnesota Regiment was in the
action near luka, Mississippi, an account
oi which we bad by telegraph yesterday
Col. Sanborn being in charge ol the brig
ade, and there being no Lieut. CoioLel or
Major, the command devolved upon Capt
Ltgro, the senior Captain of the Regiment.
Headquarters Minnesota Volunteers, )
In Camp near Jacinto, 21st inst., v
via Corinth 21st, via Cairo 23d j
To Governor Ramsey, St. Paul:
Casualties of the Fourth Regiment Min
nesota Volunteers, at the battle of luka, on
the 19th inst., are as follows : Killed Com
pany C, Benjamin Poole and James Casey ;
Company F, Thomas timith and Ira O.
Russell. Forty men were wounded, most
of them slightly. Lieut. Goodwin was se
verely wounded—thigh broken. He is the
only commissioned officer iriured. The
regiment acted with great coolness, obeying
every order and holding every position as
signed them. The wounded were promptly
attended to, and are in comfortable quarters
doing well. Col. Sanborn commanded the
brigade. (Signed) E. Legro,
Captain Commanding Regiment.
Masonic— Templar Meeting.
The Grand Encampment of Knights
Templar of the United States meets once in
three years. Id 1859 the meeting was held
in Chicago, und Memphis was designated
as the place of meeting for 1862 ; but ow
ing to the interruption of travel to Memphis,
a special meeting was held in New York,
and the city of New York fixed upon as
the place of meeting for the triennial con
clave of 1862.
Twelve Northern and four Southern
States were represented. Amcmg the del
egates we notice the names of Sir A. T. C.
Pierson and Sir George L. Becker, of Min
nesota.
All the books, papers, and the Seal,
which were in the custody of the late Grand
Recorder, at New Orleans, were forwarded
to the Grand Treasurer, at New York, by
the Grand Master, at Louisiana, an evi
dence that however much, as men. they may
differ, as Masons, their duties are not for
gotten nor neglected.
The question of Templars’ Costume,
which has been agitated for severai sessions,
was settled by the adoption of Balk Frock
Coat,White Ba die, edged with black velvet
aud gold lace ; Shoulder-straps ; Chapeau,
with one white and two black feathers ;
Red Belt aDd Sword.
Sir B. B. French, of D. C., Grand Master.
Sir D. S. Goodloe, of Ky., Deputy Grand
Master.
Sir Z. C. Priest, of N. Y., Grand General
issimo.
Sir A. T. C. Pierson, of Minnesota, Grand
Captain General.
Sir W. E. Sanford, of Conn., Grand Seni
or Warden.
Sir S. D. Baylis, of Ind., Grand Junior
Warden;
Sir J. W. Simons, of N. Y., Grand Treas
urer.
Sir J. D. Caldwell, of Ohio, Grand Recor
der.
Sir J. Q. A. Fellows, of La., Grand Stand
ard Bearer.
Sir James Stirrett, of Md., Grand Sword
Bearer.
Sir J. L. Hutchinson, of Pa., Grand War
den.
The next meeting will be beld in Colum
bus, Ohio, in September, 1865.
Lieutenant Sheehan’s Report.
Our readers will find Lieutenant Shee
han’s official report of the siege of Fort
Ridgley, on the sixth page.
The Chippewa Difficulties.
PETITION OF THE SUFFERERS BY IN
DIAN DEPREDATIONS.
We are indebted to Mr. Wycoff, of the
Indian office for the following letter addressed
to the Superintendent, and the petition of
the sufferers by the late outrages of the
Chippewa Indians:
St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept, 20,18G2.
C. W. Thompson, Supt. Ind. Aff. St. Paul, Min.:
Sir:—Enclosed, please find petition ad
dressed to General Dole, Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C., by the
parties lately robbed by the Chippewa In
dians, asking that the losses sustained by
them be paid this fall.
Will you please forward the same to the
Commissioner and oblige
Very respectfnlly;
Your obedient servant,
GEO. VAN VALKE.YBURGH.
Gen. Dole, Commissioner of Indian Affair
Washington, D. C.—
Sir : We, the undersigned, licensed
traders, government employees and settlers,
formerly residing at Otter Tail Lake, suf
ferers by the late outbreak and robberies cf
the Chippewa Indians, would respectfully
represent to you the great injustice lhat
would be done to us if the promises made
to these Indians by Governor Ramsey be
carried out by the Department of Indian
Affairs.
The Indians were told by Governor Ram
sey that they should have their money and
goods this fall, the same as usual. This
promise was made to the Indians, unasked
for by them, for before the arrival of the
Governor they hud started for their homes,
after haying promised that the depreda
tion claims against them should be paid thb
fall ; and as a proof of this we will mention
that nearly all the horses they had stolen
were returned by them to their Agent.
We were unofficially given to understand
by you that our losses should be paid to us
this fall, if our claims eouid be adjusetd in
lime. As it is, some of us, a 3 you know,
are completely ruined by this Indian raid,
driven from our homesr,obbed of everything
we had in the world, ourselves and families
left with scarcely the clothes upon our
backs, and in our poverty and affliction we
trust that you will not allow this great
wroDg to be done to us. We look to you
for justice, and we feel confident that we
shall not look to you in vain.
SIGNED
John H Fairbanks, Lewis Vanoa3,
Charles E Garden, G F Hildreth,
James Whitehead, Edward Oliver,
T A Warren, D C Williams,
D S Mooers, William S Thompson,
Geo Van Vaikenburg, Geerge Fairbanks,
R N Lafferty, McDonald,
E B Lunde, George Donnell,
A Aspinwall, Francis Punz,
Arthur Garden. Matilda Thompson,
Robert Fairbanks, James McDongall,
John Bishop, Joseph Doucette,
Duncan McDongall,
his
Frank X Thibault,
mark,
his
M X Vanoh, , Witness,
mark, f
his r
Albert Saatua, 1C E Gordon
mark. J
From the Siint Paul Press.
Letter from Col D. A Robertson.
To the Editor of the Press : My at
tention has been called to the Report ol
the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in
the case of Alexander Ramsey, published in
the Press of this morniDg, in connection
with an editorial iu your paper of Tuesday
last. The publication of this document,
wnich I had not before seen, and of the ed
itorial referred to, seem to demand of me a
public notice.
You represent that the editor of the
Democrat, at the time of the transactions
under the Sioux treaties, “instigated calum
nies” in relation to those transactions
against Governor Ramsey, which as a “gen
tleman and a man ol honor he afterwards
publicly retracted.’’
You say also that he “endorsed the ver
dict of the Senate Committee,” which was
“that the conduct of Govei'nor Ramsey was
not only free from blame but highly commen
dable and meritorious.” And that this en
dorsement “was over his own signature,”
“in his own journal.”
As I am the person referred to as “the
editor of the Democrat,” and as the above
statements misrepresent my action, I re
spectfully ask, in justice to mysell, that you
will admit a denial of these statements in
the same columns in which they appeared.
I never in aDy form, in the Democrat or
any other journal, orally or in writing, com
mended Governor Ramsey’s transactions
under the Sioux treaties; nor have I ever
“retracted” the charges I made against
Gov. Ramsey of unjust and unlawful con
duct, while in an official capacity in the
discharge of bis duties under the Sioux
treaties; but on the contrary have always
considered bis conduct in those transactions,
whatever may have been bis motives, as
violations of law, treaties and sound policy;
and as frought with evil influences and dan
gerous consequences.
The Sioux treaties were made in July,
1851; the appropriations of $593,050 for
the payments under them, in Augnst, 1852
It was at the conclusion of these payments
that, upoD information which I believed to
be correct, I made iD the Democrat certain
charges which led to an investigation, which
I affirm sostained them, and acquitted me
of every imputation of calumny, or of in
stigating calumnies against Gov. Ramsey.
Long after makiog these charges, aDd
after having retired from all connection with
the Democrat, in January, 1854, I was in
WashiDgtoa, laboring with other citizens
of Minnesota to obtain a grant of land for
the Territory for railroads. Gov. Ramsey
was there giving his influence for that ob
ject, and also attending to his case before
the Senate Committee; and to procure a
settlement for bis accounts of disbursements
under the Sioux treaties, success in which
depended upon his acquittal by the Senate,
without which he might have been financi
ally rained.
I was told by the Governor’s friends, and
by the Governor himself, that my charges
against him, and editorial strictures on his
conduct, had led to the impression that I
had alleged as the motive which influenced
his acts, a corrupt and fraudulent intent,
based on a corrupt or pecuniary considera
tion received by him.
I felt no personai enmity towards Gov.
Ramsey; had no desire to pursue him, or
to see him ruined pecuniarily by a disal
lowance ol his accounts at the Department.
I also learned from Governor It. that he
would be very much gratified and relieved,
by a letter from me expressing the belief
that he had not sacrificed his personal in
tegrity, nor had been the recipient of a cor
rupt consideration. I had not directly made
such a charge, nor was there such testimony
against his character, so far as I knew.
I, therefore, gave him a private letter to
that tflect, (which I find from the Report,
was sent by him to the Senate committee
to aid in his acquittal. “The verdict’’ of
the committee soon alter followed,) stating
that if in the opinion of any, my publica
tions ascribed to him a criminal intent or
base motive that he had been unjustly in
jured; at the same time disclaiming even
having made any charges of criminal intent
or corrupt consideration.
I bad, as I believed merely charged acts,
without ascribing the motives which indu*
ced them; acts w ich his newspaper organ
of that day denied; and the truth of which
the testim uy of his own friends afterwards
proved.
I did not suppose that a letter intended
only to relieve his character trom the stain
of corrupt consideration and criminal intent,
would ever be claimed as a “ retraction ” of
facts found to be true bv the Commis
sioners.
It is proper, id this connection, to state
that I was übsent from Minnesota daring
ueuriy the whole time ui the investigation
before the Commissioners, and had nothing
to do with it.
The testimony was not published at the
time, in tfie newspapers or otherwise, cor
until it appeared in the Senate Report.
My letter to the Governor was written
while under the influence of impressions ex
plaining and paliiatiDg his conduct, from
statements of tacts and testimony, made by
others, which, it wa3 assumed, acquitted
him of all intention or desire to violate law
or do injustice.
In fact, I did Dot see a copy of the Sen
ate document, containing the report of the
investigation until several years alter writ
ing the letter referred to, and have never ex
amined its contents carefully until within
the past year. Had I done so before the
time of writing that letter, I can safely say
it would never have been written.
After saying this much, it is but justice to
Gov. Ramsey to add, that I have not dis
covered either in that document, or other
wise, any proof of his having received a
corrupt consideration from the traders or
others, for his conduct in the Sioux busi
ness; but the investigaiion, the official pa
pers, and bis own defence show, in my opin
ion, such palpable violation of law, and
such courage and resolute purpose id the ex
ecutiou of his policy, that the only apology
or palliation for his cooduct is, in my judg
ment, the presumption that he was not act
ing in an official capacity, under the
solemn obligations of ud official oath ; or
that lie was totally ignorant of the provis
ions of the appropriation law, under which
his duty it was, as Superintendent of Indian
affairs, to di burse the Sioux payments.
The report of the Senate Committee,
which you say I endorsed in the Democrat
(this report is in direct opposition to that
of the commissioners, and wholly ignores
the facts they establish), was made long af
ter I retired from that journal. Before cow
1 have never written a line or word about
the report. I saw it for the first time in
the Press of this morning—and certainly
have never “endorsed its “verdict”—“ that
the conduct of Governor Ramsey icas not on
ly free from blame but high 7 y commendable
and meritorious
Whether or not I have instigated or re
tracted “calumnies” in regard to Governor
Ramsey, I am willing shall be determined
by aDy impartial person of inieiligence, who
may choose to examine the subject, and re
corded testimony of the Governor’s most
intimate friends, contained in the report of
the Commissioners.
In writing this I have no desire to reopen
the old Sioux controversy, but simply to
vindicate my own reputation from the im
putations contained in the editorial referred
to ; and to avoid all future notice of the
subject, I request space in your columns for
the publication of this letter.
Respectfully,
D. A. Robertson.
St. Paul, Sept. 19, 1862.
—A few days ago the Press charged Hon.
Cyrus Aldrich, our member of Congress,
with being an exposed and convicted de
faulter to the United States Government in
the eum of five thousand dollars. As a mat
ter of justice to Colonel Aldrich, we pub
lish the following from the Minneapolis
Atlas :
Treasury Department, )
Comptroller’s Office, May 20th, 1853. J
Sib : Your accounts as Receiver of Public
Moneys under your bonds of the 29th of Octo
ber, 1850, for the first quarter of 1853, have
been adjusted at the Treasury, and balanced as
stated by you. I am, respectfully, yours, &c.,
E. C. BEAMAN,
Acting Comptroller.
Cyrus Aldrich, Esq., late Receiver of Public
Moneys, Dix County, Illinois.
The report referred to was the last made
by Colonel Aldrich to the Government, he
having been removed from office by Presi
dent Pierce on the last of March preceding.
The letter of the Acting Comptroller is, as
will be noticed, addressed to “ Cyras Al
drich, late Receiver,” 4c.