The Weekly Minnesotian. [volume], February 14, 1857, Image 1

About The Weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

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

                
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THE WEEKEY I MINNESOTIAN.
.-nit'- 1 pi ■• h iii
YOLUIE fe
THE WEEKLY MISNKSftHAff
~i**k*.***• + m«» 7
iTwawa—is
And Mlwr ma \ aßw.
rm a Eire And » *“*«.
for we owe no man a dollar!
3FSSS&SSS&
»«iii iiwfat<Ktw# » i } . .
Uvikit«w iw toMtwtMiwt «p.
Thoosti yfia trkd year Bert t* «****lß
-1 knew ttotthw e—tr—t«—dpi p»fcw»,
But knowing now that onrscamjrtwtt
Had freed my neck from the collar,
You'll join my laugh and help me shout,
That we ewe no man a dollar !
This neighbor whose show has dazzled your eyes,
In fact Is a wretched debtor;
I pity him oft from my very heart,
And I wish that his lot were better.
Wbr, the niau is the veriest slave alive,
Fnr his dashing wife and daughter
Will live in style though ruin should come—
So he goes to the lamb to the slaughter,
But he feels it the tighter every day,
That terrible debtor's collar!
Oh, what would he give could he say with us,
That he owed no man a dollarJ
You seemed amazad, but I’ll tell you more;
Within two hours I met him
Sneaking away with a frightened air,
As if a fiend had beset him;
Yet he fled from a very worthy man,
Whom I met with the greatest pleasure—-
Whom ( called by name and forced to stop,
Though lie said be was not at leisure.
He held my last note! bo I held him fast,
Till he freed my ne«k from the collar,
Then I shook his hand as ) proudly said,
“Now. I owe no man a dollar !’•
Ah ! now you smile, for you feel the force
Of the truths l have been repeating;
I knew that a downright honest heart
In that gentle breast was beating!
To-uiorrow I’ll rise, with a giant's strengih.
To foilow my daily labor;
But, ere we sleep, let us humbly prav
For our wretched next door neighbor t
And we’ll pray for the time wljen all shall be free
From the weight of the debtor's collar—
When the poorest will lift up his voice and cry
“ Now, I owe no man a dollar !’*
I
C *
% 9
t >
1
Nr. Thompson’s Census Bill.
The friends of this measure, now in the
hands of a Committee of the House of Rep
resentatives, are so extremely sensitive about
it, that an editor scarcely dare raise his pen
to denounce its unjust and anti-Republican
features without being accused of perpetrat
ing a “ personal attack ” upon the worthy
gentleman who introduced it, and those who
support it. Disclaiming any such motive, or
any hostility to the interests of any part
of Minnesota, or any man in it, we will pro
ceed to say more about this bill than has here
tofore been convenient.
We have been frequently called upon to
state our objections to this bill at length.
We will name a few of them at this time, and
leave others to be considered hereafter :
Ist: Mr. Thompson proposes to take the
census by the Sheriffs, and their deputies, of
the several counties, which enumeration is to
be returned to the Governor and Secretary
of the Territory, who are to be the sole, judges
of the validity of the returns. We do not
object to this feature because Willis A.
Gorman and J. Travis Rosser are Governor
and Secretary. In fact, it is almost certain
that the first named gentleman will not be
Governor at the time; and it may be, we
shall fall into worse hands. But this tribu
nal of Governor and Secretary, whoever
they may be, are to decide upon all technic
alities of the several Sheriffs 5 returns, and have
power to reject such as they may deem not
to be in proper form. The poor Sheriffs, pro
vided this tribunal of Governor and Secrerary
decide that their returns are not properly
made, will not only have to see their counties
parfially disfranchised in the Convention,
but they must suffer certain pains and penab
ties for failing to please President Buchan
an’s Governor and Secretary.
2d. We olyect to Mr. Thompson’s bill on
the ground that it proposes to introduce the
old rotten borough system of G eat
Britain into Minnesota. The feature of the
bill which allows a person who has resided
only ten days in a county or district to be
eligible to a seat in the Convention, is radi
cally wrong. We cannot see why Mr.
Thompson should wish any of the political
adventurers of Ramsey county to be allowed
to make a ten day’s bogus residence in his
county of Houston in order that they may
secure, to the detriment of better men, 6cats
in the Convention, or why we of Ramsey
county should suffer a like inflictioq from the
cast-off political loaferage of his county, if
there be any such.
3d. The bill under consideration will in
volve the Territorial Treasury to the amount
of at least SBO,OOO, merely, we judge, in or
der that the people of Minnesota may have
the opportunity of fixing tip 'this State mat
ter “in their own way.” We can’t help
thinking that a certain Councillor, who fights
with bull-dog tenacity every appropriation
from the Territorial treasury, however small
or jqst, but who now goes for making this
extensive plunge to find the bottom of the
public chest, and even break through it, is in
the predicament of the boy who was “ only
waiting till dad got a dollar ahead; he didn’t
want to hook only two shillings.”
We should consider the while that this
expenditure will all be saved to the people
of Minnesota, provided we are brought into
the Union as a State in accordance with the
wishes of Congress.
We have only space this morning to set
forth the above, which are a very few of the
main objections to Mr. Thompson’s bill. It
might be further stated that its provision
giving the Qovernor the power of appointing
persons to take the census in the unorgan
ised counties is a very decided objection In
itothgbUi The whole machinery,
kti»*fe # mkwilited to facilitate the
!-
our mures
packmg: wt HriyrapmH eonTsnUsn, «nd
thus pfeTMt a flflr refrarentation of the Will
aud se)htto|ei»tt oT the Iftnle people, in this
*odf whioh to Amine the organic tar of &
V KM.«N^llpOI > IS lluOl*
tiosM to romma/Hm,'** lie very
ttktlj wffi be, oar ReptiWHcnn friends
osn seetltabe will appoint bitfgofe in those,
twenty or thirty nnorgsmsed counties; have
the setsis hikes to writ Mbs, sad hitmen
elected to the convention In spite of nil oppo
sition, We have never seen a nicer execu
tive tl«p set to catch nasuspeotipg greeo
boras then this; ast hoar any Republican
member of Ihe LegHAstare can walk straight
into it, we do not see.
We Witt close by making one or two allu
sions to the unfair arguments adduced in fa
vor of this bill by a writer in the Minseso
tian on Friday morning, or at least refer to
his misstatement of the principles embodied
in the bill reported by Mr. Grow in Con
gress, and endorsed unanimously by the Rt
puMican committee on Territories of the
House, composed—aside from the able
chairman —of such men as Joshua R. Gid
dings, Israel Washburn, Sherman, of Ohio,
Howard, of Michigan, &c.
The writer lays great stress upon the as
sumed fact that the election of delegates to
the Convention, according to the Congres
sional bill, would be based upon the present
apportionment. Wo are certain that the
sensible and proper construction of the law
would be to hold the election upon whatever
apportionment act was in force at the time of
flection. If the old apportionment law has
become, in course of time, unjust in its ope
ration, why not pass a new one before the
Legislature adjourns ? There is ample time
left.
The writer further assails the Grow bill
because it—he says—gives to Pembina, with
scarcely no population, twice the represen
tation it does to Olmsted county w th seven
or eight thousand. Now this writer in ques
tion is an older citizen of Minnesota than
we, and one as well, if not better, acquainted
with her geography. He knows, and must
have known when he was making this charge,
that Pembina is not included at all within
the limits of the proposed State of Minne
sota, as defined in the Congressional bill.—
Ihit in the Thompsqn bill, his darling pet
child, Pembina is allowed a representation in
the convention without making any census
return whatever! How very consistent, in
do«<l!
The flings and inuendoes contained in the
communication against the people of St. Paul
aud Stillwater, and their representatives of
the Legislature and the press, we deem it in
consistent with dignity and self-respect to
notice. Those who deal in such clap-trap
and bitter hatred are daily finding out that
while playing the viper, and trying to bite
somebody, they are only gnawing a file.—
They can wail and gnash theii teeth at St.
Paul’s prosperity to their hearts content. The
motive is properly understood and apprecia
ted here ; and however malic'ous may be the
design, the result will certainly be harmless
to all concerned except themselves.
Kemoval of the Capitol.
Under the head of “ Legislative Pleasant
rics,” our neighbor of tho Financial Adver
tiser hits somebody as follows :
“ A very amusing proposition is before the
grave body now in session at the Capitol.
It is no more nor less than the immediate
removal of the Capitol from St. Paul to St.
Peter! So many practical jokes have been
perpetrated by this comical body at the ex
pense of the people, that this extravagant
project for the amusement of their constitu
ents, has failed to excite the laughter which
is due to the intrinsic ridiculousness of the
burlesque. The author of this broad farce
has a keen appreciation of the ludicrous. A
mere man of talent might have suggested the
repeal of the Organic Act, aud the annexa
tion of the United States as a necessary
preliminary to that removal. Nothing but
genius could have concentrated all these ideas
in one stupendous extravaganza like this.
Another delicate stroke of wit which, we
believe, is meditated by the jolly fellows at
the Capitol, i 3 the simultaneous dislocation
of the Penitentiary and Territorial Universi
ty, the former to be removed to Pembina and
the latter to Bancroft.”
We might add iu connection with this,
that one of our noted architects and builders
informs us that he has taken the contract
to remove the Capitol, and is now getting
his wheels and other necessary machinery
ready to commence operations “in a few
days.”
Western Rivers.
t Mr. Benjamin has reported a bill in the
Senate, making appropriation for the improve
ment, by contract, of the Mississippi, Mis
souri, Ohio and Arkansas rivers.
The bill proposed to have the Western
rivers divided into convenient sections, and
then advertise by contract, for the removal
of all obstructions to the navigation of each
section, whether from stumps, snags, sunken
wrecks, rocks, logs, or of whatever nature,
either in the main channel of the river or in
the channel leading to the various ports and
landings. It provides that no money shall
be paid on any contract until the entire work
undertaken shall be completed and inspected
by suitable officers oi the topographical corps
of engineers. The bill includes various ap
propriations which do not exoeed $150,000
per annum, for five years. For that sum the
committee have ascertained that contracts
could certainly he made by which all these
Western rivers could be kept entirely clear
of the obstructions at present so destrustive
to life and property. At the end of five
years, when these rivers are to be delivered
up to the government entirely free from ob
structions, a continuous appropriation of one
third of that sum will keep them dear.
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA TERRITORY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1857.
«l ofiuifrtii Coantjr.
I We regret that the citizens of Hennepin
| have become involved in financial difficulties,
Mwh as are represented by the expose which
we to-day copy from the Republican. Our
neighbom are passing “throng the mill” of
official raseality, the sttpje a* was the fate of
Ramsey in Jmr earii er days. But a stiff rein
' Mfl »U the hands of honest men in office,
•fid her gnat resources will bring her aU
straight in a year or two. Let oqr neighbors
take courage, and resolve as one man hence
forward to keep all public money grabbers
out of office.
From the Miimeeotlan Republican.
Hh 4ffUr» •rUMiserti
The publishing of an AfimtaT Financial
StaMtent' of the affair* of each county is
provided for by law ; end it is wise and well
that it should so be. It lias never been
pißcticed in this county heretofore; but
the Commissioner* of fhij year resolypd to
try, in this as in other respects, how it wouid
operate to comply w ith the requirements of
the States. It is right that the people
should know what has become of their money,
tho state of the public accounts, and how
their sjtfairs hayc beeq managed by their ser
vants. Among the most valuable sugges
tions of Gov. Gorman’s late excellent mes
sage is this: that public prosjierity r> quires
that the people should carefully look after
the details of their local, precinct and county
affairs, and to see to it that there is a faith
ful administration of the laws in small mat
ters.
The statement of the commissioners has
given rise to a great deal of talk; but f r
months there has been a wide-spread con
viction that the affairs < f our county were
getting into a bad shape. Yet the worst of
it does not appear in the statement, as wp
shall show.
Among the assets of the county —tie
goods subject to the payment of debts—”
the statement places “uncollected tax, esti- 1
mated, $16,000.” The “estimate 55 agrees'
vqry nearly with the boohs, but hard facts 1
are against it. Thp yvholp amount of un ;
c ollected tax on the first of January was
about $25,093,12. If every cent of it- were
available, the school fund would claim 25 per
cent, of it, and the Territorial Treasury 10
per cent, more—in all $8,792,59 leaving sl7-
300,53 to be classed as assetts, or means !
which can be appled to the payment of debts, j
But the plague of it is, the tax is but lit
tle more than half collected ; the tax list is j
said to be full of errors, and nearly half— ;
Sheriff Baker says more than half—of the j
land in the county is taxed to “unknown. 55 j
Ihe sale of land" for delinquent taxes is a I
poor way to raise money, “tas titles 55 not
being the kind to sqit men who would make
investments. We believe, the amount of
cash received from the delinquent sale last
year was but $lO. The county bids in the j
land; and the owners redeem it at their j
leisure. So that, for the purpose ol meeting !
tlllUtlltirS) Itln i* a »*vnt oil f))nno
than SIO,OOO of the tax uncollected on the Ist j
of January. Ex-Sheriff Baker hasjust paid j
over to Treasurer Tenney $4,647,75 in county
orders, and $2,648.75 in gold. The gold all j
goes to school fund, along- with ether money :
paid over by the Ex-Treasurcr.
The returns of the orders cancels so much J
of the county debt. But the whole sum,
together with all that Mr. Baker Had pre
viously collected and paid in, only amounts
to about SIB,OOO, whereas the whole tax of
1856 was $34,593,12.
The other item of assets is $2,000 in !
county bonds, issued on account of the court \
house. Here again the statement, while j
agreeing with the other present facts to
which the commissioners could with pro
priety refer, gives a too favorable view; as
there is no probability that the bonds can
now be disposed of at their face.
So much for the ‘assetts.” Let us turn
to the county’s liabilities. Under the head
of “Present Indebtedness, 55 the Statement
gives only the amount of debts falling due
this year. But any one who examines the
part of the statement which relates to coun
ty bonds, will discover that there is in prin
cipal and interest, an additional debt of §34-
160, payable at various intervals, ending in
1866, which added to the previous sqm makes :
the county’s total outstanding liabilities a-!
mount to $68,308 most of which is on ac-!
count of the Court House, which, so far as j
is now known , will cost the county in the ag- |
gregate and in the end, over $54,000.
As to the Court House, it is a noble edi- j
fice, finely situated, and well adapted for its
intended use; and we doubt not the contrac- <
tor has faithfully performed his part. But j
thousands of the people of the county can 1
never look upon it with a feeling of satisfac- j
tion. The law required that the county '
should erect that building upon land to which j
it had an “unencumbered title. 55 But the ;
commissioners accepted from Dr. Ames
deed, conditioned that whenever the county
should cease to use it as the location of its
Court House, it should revert to him. And
so, after the location of the Court House had
been fixed, against the will of many of the
people, the matter is so adjusted that under
no circumstances can a removal be effected
without a forfeiture both of the land and of
the costly building which is placed upon it.
Whether this conditional title is an “unin
cumbered title 55 or not. the lawyers differ
Those who are not lawyers will probably
agree.
In respect to the amount stipulated in the i
contract, and the steps subsequently taken,,
it is doubtful whether a wise or legal course
has been pursued. The Legislature of last!
winter authorized the Commissioners of the j
ceunty to issue bonds to the amount of S2O, j
000, to enable them to borrow money and j
build a Court House. It also authorized
them to provide by taxation for the interest j
on that amount. It did not authorize taxa-.
tion except for said interest; and it did not ’
authorize the borrowing of money beyond
what the bonds might enable them to do.
Hence by implication, it shut up the Com
missioners to the necessity of building a
Court House which, exclusive of interest
should not cost over $20,000. They let the
contract at $34,000, and afterward added
extra work costing $1,400 more. They then
permitted the bonds to be negotiated on such
terms that the county is likely to realize not
much over SIB,OOO for them. Their subse
quent arrangements for paying Mr. Clark
abound in informalities, and their action in
respect to the whole matter is seldom a mat
ter of record. Indeed the Commissioners’
Records do not folly show that they were
ever issued, although we know that it has
been done. Indeed there has been so much
* ;
'i-- t. -
of this iiHonual and irruflpar procee !ing as
to raise % doyhfc whether the whole affair
oould not be “ ripped up llf and nullified in
the Courts. -m
■ Here is the diffiouly; Iratvy debts are fall
h* duej <mA the «P«w m has no present
means whatever to meetlhem; for by the
term** of the Vlw itW «>tful whether any
of th« uncollected tax ctfe he applied to the
Conrt House contract, raid eveiwf it could
be so applmd, themd* prospect of reeoiv
ing iu money much taoffi than the School
fond and Territorial so heavy is the
j amount of ordera naw in rirenlation.
There is a possibility tMt the county, ta
; king a technical legal adjutage of some of
j the informalities and irregularities -above
j mentioned and. plantingAltself solely upon
j Uommissionem 5 Heaardwuid ryidirte the
I whole or a part of those iletjts arising from
f the Court House eonirgr-Vand from the issue i
! of the Bonds. But risMNhiug of repudiation j
j is absolutely too bad to be seriously thought
| of.. It is unworthy of the richest county iu j
| Minnesota to attempt to dodge the payment i
of its debts, simply because the errors of 1
1 some of ita officers wlil permit it to do so, We ;
I presume nobody questions that the contract'
with Mr. Clark the Issue of the Bonds, and
the subsequent negotiations, were all made!
and meant in good faith by the Commis-:
sioncra, and by the jtarties with whom they i
liayp deajt; and (.hap if fljerp hayp been
wrong step* taken, they have originated not
iu evil inteutiop, but in misconception of the'
law. Under these clreumstanoea, to fail of |
making preuipt payment is to inflict gross 1
wrong upon innocent parties, and to injure ;
very deeply the county’s credit. Who here
atter will trust us, if we are only willinp; to j
make pay men £ wtion forged to d'6 so |jylaw I!
But lue hands of the Commissioners are i
tied by law. They can neither borrow more t
money nor raise it by tax. The only reme- j
dy is, an act of the Legislature, relieving'
both the county and its creditors from this
awkward position. There is, or ought to bo,
no reas< n to doubt that the Legislature will
cheerfully pass such a bill, if requested to do
so; and we do especially urge the necessity
of prompt attention to the matfer upon sba j
members from IJennepjn county. Give the i
Commissioners power to pay what the coun- j
ty justly owe 3, so that we may bp saved from I
discredit, saved from litigatiqn, ijqfj saypd j
from losjng has already been expended.)
Over $60,000 in debt! 11 looks large to !
be sure; but Hennepin county is good for it. j
The property in the county was valued last i
summer at nearly three and a half millions; j
and if it is not nearly double that j.t next j
assessment, our real estate dealers must be !
rather a wild set of fellows. One pull ‘ lopg,-
strong, anil all together 55 —-and the county |
will again be free from debt, and the people
will rejoice in light taxes.
Mr. Sumner’s Letter of Acceptance.
In the Massachusetts House of Represen
tatives, on last, a communication was
received from Ifon. Charles Sumner, accept
ing the office of United States Senator, to
elected. He does
not indicate in the letter when he shall pro
ceed to occupy his seat. In accepting his
election, he says:
“ The duties of a public servant are not
i always conspicuous. Much of his time is
absorbed in cares which, if not obscure, are
little calculated to attract public attention.
Massachusetts justly enjoins that no such
interest shall be neglected, but by a solemn
resolution of her legislature, by the votes of
j her people and the voice of her history, Mas
; sachusetts especially enjoins upon her repre
| sentative to see that at all hazards, and
1 whatever else may suffer, Freedom shall pre
vail. Let me not neglect this injunction.
Alike by sympathy with the slave, and by a
determination to free ourselves from the
wretched thraldom, we are also summoned
to the effort now organized for the emancipa
tion of the National Government from the
degrading infinencc.
Of course, no person, who is not ready to
say in his heart that there is no God, can
donbt the result; but this result, like every
great good, can be accomplished only by weil
directed effort. I know something of the
labor and trial which such service imposes;
I also know something of the satisfaction
i which it affords, giving to ail who truly es
! pouse it a serener joy than am thing in office
!or honor. In the weary prostration of
; months, from which I have so happily risen,
; my sharpest pang came out of my enforced
j separation from the cause which is so dear to
i me; and now my chief joy is in the assurance
: that to this service I may dedicate the vig
! orous health which, through medical care and
j the kindly ministration of nature, I ani per
mitted to expect. 55
Prosperity of Canada.
A correspondent of the New York Tribune
gives tho following flattering account of Can
adian affairs:
There is no prominent subject of legisla
tion before the country, at present, awaiting
the decision of Parliament. Within the last
few years all the accumulated arrears of leg
islation have been carried. We have altered
our representative system and increased the
number of members in the Lower House from
84 to 130. We have applied the principle of
ejection to the second chamber. We have
abolished the feudal tenure of land holding,
which the Lower Canada French inherited
from their ancestors, *nd which they retain
ed fifty years after it bad been swept away
in France. We have secularized three mil
lions of acres of church lands. We have
remodelled our judicial system. We have
assisted to build great railroads. We have
completed our oanal system. We have ob
tained reciprocity with the United States.—
In short, we have done so much in a few
years that we have nothing of pressing im
portance left to do.
A Heroic Woman.— A correspondent fur
nishes the Boston Transcript with a fact m
regard to the noble conduct of a woman,
that deserves honorable mention. The clip
per ship Neptune’s Car, Captain Jacob Pat
ten, sa led from New York for San Fraucis
co about the 29th of July last. The cap
tain, on the passage,. was attached with
brain fever and subsequent blindness ; the
chief mate having been deposed from duty
previous to the captain’s illness, and the
second mate being incompetent to navigate
the vessel, the captain’s wife, who happened
providentially to be aboard, and who
had been taught navigation by her husband,
took charge of the ship add brought it safely
into port.
legislative assembly.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 6.
Council.— The Council met at ten o’clock.
Mr. Dooley presented the petition of citi
zens of Le Sueur and Scott counties for a
Territorial road. Referred to committee on
Territorial roads,
Mr- Setzer presented the petition of John
»v. Folwell and 83 others praying that they
be not included in the limits of any of the
new counties. Referred to committee on
County boundaries.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. Stone, a bill for an act to incocpo
rate the town of Watertown.
By Mr. Bassett, a bill for an act to. incor
porate the town of Westoq,
Mr. Stoqp, from tUe committee to whom
was referaed the bill dividing a portion of
! Minnesota Territory into counties, reported
the same back with the recommendation that
;it pass Ks amended. Referred to the com
mittee on County boundaries.
A message was received from the House
announci- £ that thp Sueakcp ft f {hat body
had ijglip.d the following mils, memorials and
joint resolutions:
A memorial to Congress for a Light House
at the mouth of Two Island River;
Also, a memorial to Congress for a mail
route;
Also, a joint resolution for the relief of
Cumbs Si Rio.;
Also, a joint resolution for the relief of
Win. Colville, Jr.,
And a bill granting to Thos. Mcßoberts
the right to keep a Ferrv across the Missis
sippi River.
Mr. Thompson froip thp pqifriqittee qn En
gposspd Rills reported a number of bills as
correctly engrossed.
A number ot House bills were then read a
first and second time,
Housp bijlfj providing ibr the organization
oi the counties of Isainti and Pine were re
ferred to the oomrnittee on co. boundaries.
A joint resolution, originating in the
House, requesting the Governor to forward
to W ashington all memorials, as they
are passed, was postponed.
Mr.. Storie, leave being granted, presented
the petitian of a number of persona for the
organization of the county of Anoka.
B 4 L LS READ A THIRD TIME AND PASSED.
A bill for an act to incorporate the Tra
verse des Sioux Hotel Company.
A bill to incorporate the Nininger and St.
Peter Western Railroad Company.
A bill to incorporate the
Bridge Company.
A bill to incorporate the St. Paul and
Falls City Bridge Company.
A memorial to the President of the United
States in relation the sale of public lands.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE,
A bill grantiug to Amos Clark the right to
keep a ferry across the Mississippi river.
Qrdw<l to be engrossed for a third
readir g,
A bill to establish a ferry across the Min
nesota river at B!:>oinington. Ordered to
be engrossed for a third reading.
A bill granting to David C. Murray the
right to keep a ferry across the Mississippi
cd for a third reading.
A House bill for an act to repeal a ferry
charter granted to James M. Goodhue and
Isaac N. Goodhue, and a bill to amend the
same ferry charter, was ordered to a third
reading.
A bill to incorporate the city of Red Wing,
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
A House bill to incorporate the town of
Clearwater. Ordered to a third reading.
A House bill to incorporate the Hobart
University at Spring Valley, in Fillmore
county. Referred to the committee on in
corporations.
The committee of the whole then rose.
Mr. Ludden then introduced the following
resolution which was adopted;
Resolved , That the messenger be required
to distribute equally among the members
and officers of the Council, the Governor’s
message printed for the use of th« Council,
and delivered to-day.
Mr. Freeborn introduced a bill to incor
porate the town of Fast Red Wing. Laid on
the table to be printed.
Mr. Ludden, from the committee on incor
porat ions reported back the bill to incorpor
ate the city of Red Wing, with an amend
ment, and with the recommendation that it
)>ass.
Mr. Lowry introduced a bill to provide for
laying out a road from St. Peter to Eureka;
Also, a I ill for the removal of the seat of
government of Minnesota Territory.
Mr. Thompson introduced a bill granting
to John M. Thompson and C. G. Wikoff the
right to keep a Ferry across the Mississippi
River,
Also, a bill to incorporate the La Crescent
Gravel and Plank Road Company.
Mr. Freeborn introduced a bill-to incorpo
rate the Emigrant Aid Association.
Mr. Setzer gave notice of a bill to repeal
so much of the Organic Act as to enable His
Excellency, Gov. Gorman to locate the seat
of government at St. Peter.
Council adjourned.
House of Representatives —Met and
was called to order by the Speaker.
The roll being called, a quorum answered
to their names.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
The reading of the journal was dispensed
with.
In the report of Thursday’* proceedings,
a bill introduced by Mr. Costello was acci
dentally omitted; the bill provides for the
apportionment of members of the Leg : slative
Assembly.
PETITIONS.
Mr. Grant, a resolution that the officers
in charge of government be requested to
construct a road from Crow Wing to Pem
bina. Adopted.
By J. H. Brown, a resolution requesting
the Secretary to furnish to the House a copy
of the committee report in regard to the ap
portionment in this Territory. Adopted.
NOTICES OF BILLS.
By Mr. Baasen, a bill incorporating the
New dm Land Association.
A bill incorporating the Minnesota Land
Company. *
A bill to incorporate the Missouri Railroad
Company.
By Mr. Brown, a bill to incorporate the
Lake Superior Ship Canal Company.
By Mr. Thompson, a bill to incorporate
the Root River ail road Company.
By Mr. Troll, a bill to amend the Revised
Statutes and Session Laws of 1856.
By Mr. Smith, a memorial to establish an
Industrial College.
A bill for a bridge across the Mississippi
above the Falls of St. Anthony.
By Mr. Adams, a bill to prohibit the run
ning at large of cattle and sheep in the coun
ty of Dakota.
By Mr. Costello, a bill to locate certain
Territorial mads in the counties of Wash
ington an«l Chisago.
By Mr. Furber, a bill to incorporate the
St. Paul and Point Douglas Railroad Com
pany.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. Keitji, a bill incorporating the Col
lege of Excelsior.
By Mr. Thompson, a bill to amend the act
allowing a change of venue in divorce cases.
By Mr. Thomas, a bill to incorporate the
Owatoffia Literary Association...
' r * Chamblin, a bill to incorporate the
German Agri ultural Society of St. Paul; .
A bill to amend chapter 86 of the Reviaed
Statutes. '
. . fi y M.i\ Murray, a memorial for the estab
lishment of certain mail routes therein nam
ed. ■ Rules suspended, read a third time by
ftsi title, passed, and title agreed to.
rbia memorial provides for an extension
of mail service from New Ulm to Sioux
Falls City;
Uj'om Maukato to. New Ulm, and from
New Ulm to the t.wn of Jackson.
By Mr. Hetobman a bill incorporating the
town of Albioq,
By J. R. brown a joint resolution relative
to the employment of additional clerk ser
vice. Rules suspended and memorial amend
ed, read a third time, passed, and its title
agreed to. .
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES,
Mr. King from committee to whom was
referred the bill incorporating the city of
Winona, reported it back with amendments.
Concurred iu,
Mr, Revry, frem committee to whom wa6
referred No. 53, authorizing the construction,
ol Mill dams in Freeborn county, reported it
back with amendments. Concurred in.
Mr. Ramsey, from the commit toe to whom
was referred No, 20, a hiU to establish the
county of Gorman, reported the same back
with amendments. Laid on the table.
Mr. Greeley, from the committee on En
grossed Bl’la reported Nos. 6 and 93 as cor
reotly engrossed.
BILLS ON THEIR THIRD READING.
A memorial for aid in the construction of
the St. Paul and Kettle River road. Passed
and title agreed to.
No. 98, a bill Incorporating the North
western Pioneer Insurance Company of St.
Paul, Minnesota, passed and tho title
agreed to.
Mr. Murray moved that bills in which
Committee ot the Whole has made progress
be placed in the general file of bills.
Adopted.
M r * L. M. Brown moved to refer the bill
organizing the county of Jefferson to a com
mittee consisting of the members from dis
tricts to be affected by the proposed organ
ization.
Mr. Whitlock moved to amend by insert
ing to a committee of three disinterested
persons. Adopted—and Messrs. Stannard,
Murray and Gere appointed said ‘ommittee.
Noe. 152,188 mm lgs am referred to
on iiwniwiMlinnl
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
No 41, a bill to establish and define the
boundaries of Green county. Laid aside.
A bill organizing Mix co'nnty,and a bill au
thorizing the construction of mill dams in
Freeborn county, were both reported back
with recommendations that they pass.
No. 70, a bill incorporating the St. John’s
Seminary,
Mr. Howell moved to amend by allowing
all students to attend this institution with
out having any religious tests or restrictions
imposed upon them.
This amendment was discussed by Messrs.
Howell and Noble in tho affirmative, and
Messrs, Raasen, McVay and Whitlock in the
negative—the latter stating at considerable
length, his religious convictions, construct
ions of the constitution, and the opinion of
Chancellor Kent.
A vote being bad on the amen dement of
Mr. Howell, it was adopted.
The committee of the whole rose and re
ported the bill back with the recommenda
tion that it pass.
On motion, the House adjourned until
2 o’clock, p. m. on Monday.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7.
Counail met at ten o’clock, a. m.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. Stone, a bill to incorporate Un
ion City.
By Mr. Freeborn, • bill to incorporate the
Cannon Falls Lyceum.
Mr. Setzer, from the committee to .whom
was referred House bills organizing the
counties of Pine and Isainti, reported the
same back with the recommendation they
be read a third time.
A House bill for an act to amend an act
granting a ferry charter to James M. Good
hue and Isaac N. Goodhue, and a bill to
amend the same ferry charter was read a
third time by its title and passed.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
A joint resolution for the employment o
additional clerks to facilitate the business of
two houses. Ordered to a third reading.
A memorial to Congress for the construc
tion of a road from Pigeon river on Lake to
Fond du Lac in Wisconsin. Recommenda
tion that it pass.
A memorial to Congress for the establish
ment of a Military post at St. Joseph on the
Red River of the North. No order made.
A memorial for the establishment of a mail
route from Elliots to Austin, by the way of
I*e Roy. Ordered to a third reading.
A memorial for the establishment of cer
tain mail routes in this Territory. Ordered
to a third reading.
A bill authorizing school trustees in this
Territory to collect school taxes by civil ac
t;on. Ordered to a third reading.
A bill to legalize and confirm the election
and acts of the county commissioners of
Morrison county. And the vote being taken
the third reading of this bill was denied.
A bill to establish the county of Pine.
Ordered to a third reading.
A bill to organize the county of Isanti.—
Ordered to a third reading.
A bill granting to J. M. Thompson and C.
G. Wikoff the right to keep a ferry across
the Mississippi river. Oniered to be en
grossed for a third reading.
A bill to legalize the organization of the
St. Anthony Falls Water Power company.
Ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
A bill to incorporate the town if Kansas
Laid on the table.
A bill to incorporate the Red Wing and
Owatonna Railroad Company. Referred to
the committee on Incorporations.
A bill to incorporate the town of Han-
on"i irevfeO'n.iaw liutanj'} ; ; «•»
■*l') -- A
IJUtUMHF
NUMBER 22.
•tkHU. R ® reri^'fo wroiiitte® on lacorpor
.,^ iU ■'■*•***• to Free Schools in St. An-
Schwig. Itefelred t 0 the committee on
"TSji to incorporate the Cheek, company.
Referred to committee on Incorporations? 7
A biU fitting to Jas. fl. liug*ni£*Wra.
ferry ad the
A bill to incorporate the town of Western.
A bilT to incorporate the town of Water
town aud for other purposes. Referred to
fk® c omnuttee on Incorporations.
A bill to incorporate the Emirtant Aid
Association of the North westTtitferred to
committee on Internal Impforemaabk V
The committee o f the wliSe then rose.
'”*«***& a hill to incorpor
ate the Minnesota, lowa, and Wisconsin Tel
egraph Company.
adjourned till 10 o’clock, on Mon-
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1857.
CocNdL— Met at 10 o’clock, a. .
Mr, JPS’t“ r presented the petition of citi
zens of Rice county, for the relief of. sand rv
settlers on University lands. Referred to
committee on schools.
BILLS introduced.
By Mr. Thompson— A bill to amend in
act for the incorporation of tbi Root River
' a Uey and Southern Minnesota Railroad
company.
By Mr. Setzcr—A bill to incorporate the
German Land Association, of Minnesota.
Bajcombe—A bid to incorponte
the ot. Paul Mercantile Association.
By Mr. Stone—A bill to incorporate the
town of Olencarrie.
Mr. Setzer, from the committee to whom
was referred the bill organizing the county of
Waseca, reported the same back with tbe
recommendation that it be indefinitely post
ponea.
-Mr. Ludden, from tbe committee to whom
was referred tbe bill incorporating the Saint
Paul and faylor’s Falls Railroad company,
reported the same back with a recommenda
tion that it pass. Ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading.
The report of tbe committee to indefinite
ly postpone tbe House bill organizing the
county of Waseca, was then taken up, and
on it a very animated discussion took place,
in which Messrs. Ralcmube, Setzerand Hum
phrey participated. On the vote being ta
ken the Council refused to adopt the report
of the committee.
A House bill to incorporate the town of
Clearwater was then read a third time,
passed and its title agreed to.
A House bill to organize the county of
Isanti was passed and its title agreod to.
A Joint Resolution for the employment of
additional clerk service was then passed and
its title agreed to.
A House bill to organize tbe county of Pine.
Passed and ita title agreed to.
A bill to authonae Mm *-rrtrti at School
District, to coU*t two. by*? SS.
Passed and iU title ap»ad to.
lion of a military toad from Pigeon rivnrte
Fon du Lac and Fort Ripley.
Passed and title agreed to.
A memorial to Congress for the establish
ment of a military post on the Red River of
the North. Passed and its title agreed to.
A memorial to Congress for the establish
ment of a mail route from Elliota to Austin.
Passed and title agreed to.
A memorial for the establishment of cer
tain mail routes. Passed and its title
agreed to.
A bill to incorporate the Rector, Wardens,
and estrymen of the Church of Gethsemane
passed and title agreed to.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
A bill for the removal of the seat of gov
ernment of Minnesota Territory, Mr. Humph
rey in the chair.
Mr. Dooley moved to strike out the words
“St. Peter,” and inse/t “Belle Plaine City, 5 ’
as the seat of government. Lost.
Mr. Wales moved to strike out in line 3,
sec. 1, the words “St. Peter,” and substitute
“Monticello.” Lost.
Mr. Brisbin moved an amendment to Sec
tion 17, so as to make it read as follows:
Sec. 18. All sets and parts of acts of the
Congress of the United States, inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed.”
At the suggestion of Mr. Setzer, this
amendment was withdrawn, in order that it
could be made at a future stage of the pro
ceedings, so as to appear upon the journal of
tbe Council.
Ihe Committee of the Whole then rose
and reported the bill back.
Mr. Setzer offered the following as an ad
ditional section to the bill, and moved its
adoption.
Sec. 18. If any further powers or privile
ges ere required for the benefit of the Saint
Peters company, such powers and privileges
are hereby vested in the hands of his Excel
lency, Willis A. Gorman.
And the vote being taken it was lost.
Mr. Setzer then renewed the amendment
offered by Mr. Brisbin in Committee of the
H hole, which amendment was lost.
[At this stage of the proceedings, the Pres
ident of the Council, Mr. Brisbin, having
called a councillor to the Chair, proceeded to
dissect the legal enormities involved in the
proposed measure in a manner which showed
it up in all its deformities and abortions.
We had expected to present a full abstract
of bis able and convicting remarks in
place, but at a late hour last night, our re
porter was unable to furnish the copy. We
hope to give Mr. Brisbin’* speech in full
hereafter. —Eds.]
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading by the following vote:
Y eas—Messrs. Balcombe, Bassett, Humph
rey, L«wry, Thompson, Tillotson and
Wales-—7.
Nvys—Messrs. Dooley, Freeborn, Lodden,
Setzer, Stone and Mr. President—6.
Council adjourned.
House of Representatives —Met and
was called to order by the Speaker.
The roll being called, a quorum answered
to their names.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
The reading of the Journal was diapanaod
with.
The report of the Surveyor General of
the second district was read. Laid on the
table, and ordered printed.
Mr. Smith was excused for four days.
PETITIONS, ETC.
Mr. Howell presented a petition from dti-
ti ,a<->zu
V '