Saint Croix Union

Letter from H. M. Rice.
St. Paul, Sept. 4th 1855.
To the Editor of the St. Paul Democrat.
Sir:--I have received recently, numerous letters from my friends residing upon the lands west of the Mississippi river, in this territory, stating that my opponents were industriously charging me there, with having recommended, and urged, the land sales advertised in the proclamation of the President dated 20th July last, and requesting me to make a public denial of these charges.
As a large number of the citizens of the territory are interested in the subject, and it has, moreover, entered, to a greater or less extent, into the political canvass now in progress, I resort to the instrumentality of your journal, as the most effectual method of responding to the letters referred to, and of explaining the position which I have occupied, and which I now occupy, in relation to these lands.
During last winter and spring, application was repeatedly made to me, by my constituents, to procure an immediate sale of the surveyed lands, and several articles were published in the newspapers urging the propriety and expediency of the sale. Not a communication to the contrary was ever made to me, nor do I remember that any adverse publication was made by any portion of the territorial press.
Many reasons why the sales should be made, were presented by those who addressed me, and the public, in favor of them. One was that a number of settlers upon the lands had availed themselves of the right of pre-emption in the States, and could not therefore, obtain titles to their farms here, until the lands were placed in market.
Another suggestion made was, that settlers had acquired by pre-emption, land upon which there was not any, or an insufficient quantity of timber, and it was essential to their prosperity that an opportunity to acquire timber land, should be afforded them, so that they might have enough of building and fencing material, and fuel. Others alleged that one hundred and sixty acres of land was not enough for a farm, and I now remember that many complaints were made of the trouble, uncertainty and delay and expense of making the proofs required by the pre-emption laws, especially the proof of citizenship, a formality which has caused infinite difficulty and embarrassment to the pre-emptor.
Besides, there were many, and, doubtless, now are many more, who are averse to acquiring title by pre-emption, encumbered as it is by the provisions, and pre-requisites of the act of Congress.
In addition, it was asserted that the sales could not work injury to the pre-emptor, as no instance had been known of lands, settled upon occupied, and improved, being sold away from the occupant, who could, immediately after the sale, file his papers, and thus obtain a year in which to pay for his land
There being such entire unanimity in favor of the sales among the people who urged it, I, obedient to their wishes so far as they were made known to me, recommended that the sales should be made.
Soon after my return home, however, I ascertained that in consequence of the scarcity of water in the rivers, the lumbermen had been unable to get down their logs, thus depriving our people of a most important source of income, and that from other causes money was difficult of procurement. I found that even those who had solicited the sales were to a great extent disappointed and unprepared to pay for their lands. After conversing freely with the parties interested, I became satisfied that an early sale of the lands recently surveyed would result injuriously to the people: and therefore, on the 19th of June, last, I wrote to the department asking that the sales might not be ordered giving at the same time, the reasons which had induced a change of my recommendation.
On the 25th of the same month I wrote again, requesting in the strongest manner that I could, that the sales might be delayed.
I also addressed many influential gentlemen abroad, asking them to aid me in procuring a postponement, and used every means within my command to secure the desired end.
When the Proclamation of the President appeared, I was surprised at the enormous quantity of lands offered.
I did not suppose that returns of surveys of one half of that quantity had been made. At once I prepared a petition which I caused to be printed, and distributed over the Territory for signatures, requesting a postponement of the sales, and my efforts to obtain the same end, by letters and personal solicitation, have been constant, and as well directed as was within my power. I hope and believe that they will be successful. Recent information assures me that the sales will be postponed.
My connection with the matter is abundantly excused by the fact that, even now, there is a difference of opinion among the people upon the subject, and many in some parts of the Territory, are anxious to have the sales take place. A portion of the press are advocating, whilst, on the other hand, another portion is opposing the postponement. There is a difference of opinion prevalent even among those most immediately interested, growing, probably, out of the various circumstances in which they are placed. Those who are upon lands which have been surveyed for a long time, are not subjected to the same necessities as they who have recently settled upon lands, surveyed only last season.
I have no interest whatever in the matter, apart from a sincere desire to promote the common good. For this I have striven, and for this I will continue to strive.
Having thus given an account of my action, and of the reasons and motives which led to it, I leave the subject.
Respectfully Yours,
HENRY M. RICE.
LETTER FROM H. M. RICE.

We call attention to the letter from Mr. Rice, which we publish to-day, upon the subject of the Land Sales. It is a manly, straightforward history of his whole course relative thereto. How, after perusing it, any fair-minded man can censure him for his action in the matter, we cannot comprehend. Yet, there are those who will swear he is guilty of double-dealing and duplicity. Such men would do anything for political effect.