The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-22
THE MINNESO IA N
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY Is, 1854.
The law and the Charter.

In darkness in regard to the purpose for WHICH
Congress, by a recent act, gave to Aihneso'a
certain lands. We had regarded the matter
,ett,ed without need of further facts being pre-
sented /: however, since men rM run tneir
heads against wall in order to butt their
brains out, it is we'll enough to have that same
vail braced sufficiently to allow the thickest of
their skulls fair chance of an efectual "bat- !
ter" We are pleased to give our concise and
accurate correspondent place:
To the Editors of the .Minnesotian:
GENTLEMEN A controversy through the
newspapers of the Territory respecting the
rights of the Minnesota and Northwestern rail
road company, and growing out Of an imper-
feet knowledge of the facts, now occupies the
attention of our citizens. Those who desire
the advancement Of Minnesota, and the COM
mencement and completion of channels of COM
munication for the development of her resour
ces, and the convenience and comfort of her
people, should do all in their power to encour-
age the application of means for the attainment
of such ends.
They ought to solicit and court the aid of
enterprising men, instead of discouraging them
by the exhibition of a narrow, parsimonlous
and jealous spirit. They ought to offer such
temptations to the Investment Of capital as will
attract it from the Golfers of Eastern cities. in
stead of casting suspicion, however slight, upon
our securities thus awakening distrust which
may lead those who control the money Of the
country to withhold it from us.
The great boon recently conferred upon our
Territory by the national government, should
have been received with thankfulness and joy.
and not with chickering's and discomfort. What
matters it to us whether the company chartered
by the last, or q company to be chartered by
some future legislative assembly, construct the
railroad from our southern boundary to Lake
Superior, so that ace get the road in the shortest
possible time? That is what We want. 1t is q
railroad not money, or land, that we need.
We asked for land as means of encouraging
capitalists to build railroad for us, and not as
fund wherewith to speculate. Shall we there
fore hoard the land, or quarrel about the dispo-
sition of it, and thus lose precious months and
years, and it may be defeat this great measure
Why what a suicidal policy is this Instead of
illumination, and rejoicing at this dawn of our
hopes, at this twilight of our prosperity, we see
and hear naugbt but disputings, and quibblings
as to whether this company or that company
shall construct our railroad-whether this man
or that man shall profit by the enterprise.
1t would seem that under the circumstances,
the natural, proper and only inquiry would be,
how the land bestowed upon us, can be applied
so as to secure the most speedy completion of
the railroad. But we find intelligent, and
doubtless, well-meaning citizens engaged in
the inquiry rather as to how We can made the
most money out Of the land.
Indeed, one of our journals has suggested
that our Territorial government should enter
the market of Wall and State streets, and hold
up its powers and privileges for sale to the
highest bidder, and has intimated that three
millions of dollars could be obtained as the
purchase money for charter What shameful
legislation would this be! How disgraceful is
proposition so unstatesmanlike and ignoble
Not one syllable has been uttered against the
company chartered by the last legislative as
sembly, or the men composing it. No objec-
tion has been made to the manner or character
of its organization. All admit that the gentle
men selected in this Territory to aid in its d.
rection, are entirely competent and worthy.
No irregularity or improperly in the charter
of the company has been pointed out. And
yet, now that the company is about to send its
engineers and surveyors upon the route, there
il clamor-a clamor, not founded upon an in
telligent view of the facts, but senseless noise
without any reasonable neutrality-suspicious.,
aimless, and silly.
Now let us look calmly at the facts as they
exist upon the records of our national and ter
ritorial government, and see whether there is
any question in the matter after ALL
By an act approved on the 4th day of March,
1854. the governor and legislative assembly of
this territory Incorporated the Minnesota and
North = Western Railroad Company, which act
provides as follows:
The said corporation shall have the right Of
way upon, and may appropriate to its sole use
and control, for the purposes Contemplated
herein, land not exceeding two hundred feet
in width, through its entire length may enter
upon, and take possession of, and use all and
singular, any lands, streams, minerals and ma
terials Of every kind, for the location of depots
and stopping stations, for the purpose of CON
structng bridges, dams, embankments excava-
tions, station grounds, spoil-banks, turn-outs,
engine houses, shops and other buildings nee
essary for the construction, completing, alter
ing, maintaining, preserving and complete op-
Grafton of said road
"All such lands, waters, minerals, materials.
and privileges belonging, or which may here
after belong to the territory or future State, of
Minnesota, are hereby granted to said corpora
uon for said purposes; and for the purpose of
alaing the said company in the construction of
ana maintaining the said railroad, it is further
enacted that any lands that may be granted to
.ne sala territory to aid in the construction of
sne SAID railroad, shall be and the same are
ne.eDy granted in fee simple, absolute, with
ern0r Of this Territory, or the future state
al S;. Minnesota, is hereby authorized and
a at In the name and on behalf of said ter
a say or state, after the said grant of land
shall have been made by the IIn;ted Stotos "t ~