The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-04-01
rHE MINNESOTIAN
Ar. PAUL. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1854.
what Did II I?

fnpton for the present. There is no use fretting
or grieving over the matter the fact stares US
in the face, and we must reconcile it to our
feelings the best way we can. The final catas-
trophe- occurred in the House on the 10th ult.
We copy in another column o condensed re-
port of the proceedings upon the bill during
two days-the 9th and 10th. Our Delegate,
however, even under i'll health and all this dis
couragement. writes to his friends that it is not
dead but only sleepeth, and that he, with the
aid Of its good friends, will have it on its legs
again in sixty days from the time of its late
disaster. We glory in his determined spirit /;
and in the name Of all Minnesota we bid him
God speed. The correspondent of the Demo-
crat also writes, under date of the 18th, as fol-
lows:
"Another bill is now in preparation-a reac-
zion must take place, and this bill, which above
oil others has less constitutional objections,
must eventually pass. 1t will be seen by the
proceedings, that had the amendment, which
was carried by one vote been rejected, the bill
would have passed in a few moments. The de-
feat of this bill has caused good deal Of ey-
element among members-sOme say, and very
justly too, that if the soaih and east are deter
mined to oppose measure like this, which is
clearly constitutional, and to which no serious
objection can be brought, that they Will vote
against them on other questions Of Importance
to the south and east"
We think by the determination with which
the West, irrespective Of party, went into the
business of securing to US this grant of lands,
that the threat against the East and South
in he Lnr oil l,o ;oI ,,,f
The West has often threatened, but as often
failed to perform. But there is spirit Of fri,
resolve pervading the remarks Of Western
members, in which We place much reliance
For instance Col. Richardson, of Illinois, the
chairman ofthe committee on Territories, says to
the South as she votes almost in solid pilalanx
against our bill, go on in this course, gentle
men, but remember to look elsewhere than to
the West for your votes to carry the Nebraska
bill" The whole West, with one or two ex-
ceptions, was unit on cur railroad question
Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan. Missouri
Indiana and Ohio, stood UP for Us manfu!ly
We give sample of the Western spirit in the
speech OF Mr.. Campbell, leading Wing mem
Der from Ohio. which we cory On our outside
to-day. Other members, OF all parties, were
not less jealous in their determination and &C
ton on the occasion. With all this in our ia.
vor, we have still strong faith, with the add.
tional influences which will be immediately
brought to bear, that the bill will be rcsurrect
ed, or q new one of similar character intro
duced, which will spass before Tie session
closes
But to solve our query, what did it," The
point is very easily arrived at by any enc who
will carefully read the debates. We do moi
intend to indulge in any elimination of an,
man or men touching this matter we only in
tend to state the facts as they stand upon tho
record, for the information of our readers. ",
oil know that on the morning of the 7th O
March, our bill stood in high fuyor--was re
garded as certain to pass by its friends. AM
even by its enemies: and that on the cvcnin,
OF the 10th, it was on the table by considcra
Die majority. 1t is a part of the history of on
Territory-and if this be The end of the mat
ter, sad page in our history-how this chang
IN the minds OF members was brought about
and we will endeavor to give a correct ye-sio,
Of the affair.
A member from indiana, Hon. James II. Lane
II appears is opposed to these railroad grants
That is, he says so in his place on the floor o
the House, but prominent Democrat in Min
nesota informs us that he has recently writer
ana published letters to his constituents in In
diana, taking the opposite ground. Somebod,
informed Mr.. Lane that this bill was INTENDED
TO promote the ends of private speculation
among = few individuals. who had made claim:
at the Lake Superior terminus of our proposed
railroad. So Mr.. Lane gets up in the House
on the 9TH, And throws out sundry dark inuen
does about the matter, but refuses to come M
10 direct answer as to where he got his in
formation He made one Of those dark thrust.
TO Kill the bill, which we all know are NOR,
potent on such occasions than direct and oner
assault. This was the first wound received
and although the underhanded blows were man
fui'y parted by Mr.. Rice and by Bissen Of Il
ilnols, Richardson, of the same State, HEM. @
Iowa, Taylor, of Ohio, and others and ALTHOUGH
the effect was to drive their assailant to tn,
~-N~ NoahpSi MN W out from hi
statement the next day, yet severe stab wa
innicted, and the wound was deep. Then come
along Mr.. Kerr, Of North Carolina, with hi
amendment to divide the proceeds arising frou
the sale of the reserved sections among certai,
States, and in slim House it was adopted
This was clincher. Tie Democratic friend
1.-THE bill, long opposed to the doctrine of dis
tribution, could not, as matter of course, yot,
Tor it with this amendment: and so they had
no other recourse than to let it 90 on The
table.
These are the facts in brief which have caused
the failure, for the present, of that great mca-
sure which during the past three months, Min
nesota has looked forward to with such high
snticipations. We blame no man for what has
happened. The disaster has grown out of cir
cumstances beyond the control Of friends. and
all we can now do is to correct mistakes and
60 ahead again-unitedly. This we fee, suro
our citizens ,ciU do with all the energies they