The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-07-11
Pasiis rut,dings in Minncso,a.

termining the question of the Location,
Of the seat of government, We never
wrote or printed any thing about it
during the agitation Of that subject last
winter. 1t was our belief that the law
of Congress aPPrcpriating SO, 900 fol-
public buildings here. very Improperly
required the permanent seat Of govern.
ment in Minnesota, TO be located b,
popular vote, before We could have the
benefit Of that appropriation. We know
that the same opinion was entertained
BY others-that Councillor Norris wa.
Of that opinion, and repeatedly said
that he would 60 at once for the expen
+ diture Of the money where the tempo.
rary seat OF government now is, if the
Law authorized it-that so well satisfied
was a majority of the legislature, not
only OF the convenience, but Of the i'm
peratIve necessity to have provision
made at once for the meeting of the legis.
lature, for the expenditure of the $50,
900, of which we were losing the inter
est, while we were destitute of any pub.
81 lie building larger than school-house
in all Minnesota, for the legislature &c
meet in, that but for that construction Of
the law, the bill providing Commissioners
to expend the money here would have
passed, and by the meeting Of the legis-
Iature, a part Of the Capitol building
would have been ready for use Acting
with knowledge of these facts, and with
reference to the wants and convenience
of Minnesota at large, without reference
70 the building up of this or that village,
ihe bill has now passed Congress, au-
<horizing the legislature to expend this
money at the temporary seat of govern
men!. The views that governed Con-
gress, seem to be those expressed in
che following language of Mr.. Under
wood in the U. ). Senate
.0 "This provision for popular vote
in the bill establishing the Minnesota
Territory, Is the first of the kind be-
iieye. The Legislatures have hereto
fore had the decision of the matter with
respect to the manner of appropriating
tho money which Congress has appro-
priated for public buildings. The
Legislature has failed to have any pop
alar vote taken at present, and do not
think they ought to take any popular
vote for many years, on account of the
territory and the sparseness Of the pop
ulation, which is dispersed at few
points. Any determination that might
be arrived at now might be extremely
averse to the interests Of the mass of
the people when they have spread over
the whole country They have there
fore refused to execute that part of the
law. Under all these circumstances
was induced to admit that it might be
better for the Legislature to have the
disposition of the question at their own
discretion"
Believing that the true interests Of the
Territory and the will Of the Legisla-
ture, if untramelled, will at once COIN
eide in an immediate purpose to expend
the money and make a building for the
Legislature, at the temporary seat of
government, which is Saint Paul, (the
only place where this law authorizes the
Legislature to build it, we did say that
we considered the vexed question set
tied (; so far as the State House is con-
cerned, it IS settled-that the Legisla-
sure can build it here, or that we must
do without a State House for wears.
until popular vote can be taken to
locate it; but SO far as the penitentiary
is concerned, the Legislature may place
It at Saint Paul, or any where else; this
will be for the Legislature to determine
On the score Of convenience, and not of
deserts, or some other place might be
dangerous competitor for that high dis
fiact;on. e-, ssgre eli So t-qm
The few remarks we before made on
this subject, ELECTED the following letter
from a gentleman for whom we enter
tain very high regard; l
a'ls Sr. ANTHONY, July 3, 1850.
Messrs. EDIToRs My own surprise
at the leading editorial in the last num-
Der Of The Pioneer would not have oc-
casioned me to notice it in this manner.
but from the general enquiry which
hear made in regard to the subject mat
ter Of your article, and the .misappre-
tensions which are likely to arise from
i. deem it due to the public that
some light should be thrown upon the
subject. You say that '.the bill has
passed both houses Of Congress appro-
priating $40, 900 for the erection Of pub
lie buildings, and $40, 900 more, for The
erection Of penitentiary al he place in