The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-03-04
THE MINI ESQ TIA N
ST. PAUL, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1854.
The Railroad Bill.


ing the important bill to incorporate the Min
nesota Northwestern Railroad Company.
Since our last, opposition to the measured in
huential quarters bas materially diminished,
and there appears to he very generally SIN
cere desire to sec the bill pass III form that
will make it practicable and acceptable to oil
parties interested. Most of our citizens aud le-
gis!ators who at first opposed It, are beginning
TO understand its merits more thoroughly. and
TO feel deep anxiety for its passage. 1t will
in all probability 80 through the Council this
(Thursdsy) morning, thus leaving the greater
part Of the yet remaining three days Of the scs-
sion for its passage through the House.
The great difficulty has been that sufficient
time was not allowed, owing to the late period
in the session at which the measure was brought
forward, to compare views and thoroughly de-
liberate, by candid interchange Of sentiEeat,
upon the necessary practical details Of a mea-
surc of ouch magnitude. The result has conse-
quently been, tat wrong ideas and wrong con-
clusions deducel from these wrong ideas, have
made mel fee! acrimonious ioNsrd each otaer;
and bitter worls aud bitter feelings have to
some extent. tended 10 ro,grd the oijec: we all
appear to be aiming to accomplish.
What vii! be its fate in the House We cannot
at this moment with certainty predict but we
have strong hopes that it win pass. Ike most
exciting interest is felt fer :,s success ay those
members Of the House who favcr it. aud We
think they comprise majority. As al instance
Of their deep feeling. we will name the fact that
Mr.. Mobiles, who was ready, and considered il
requisite, to depart for Washington week ago
upon the important. mission entrusted TO him by
the people of Minaesota-!he procurement OF
An emigrsnt route hence to the Pacitc-has
consented to remain until the fate Of this i'm
portant measure is determined.
We do no. believe there is q man in Mime
Gotta who does not feel the necessity of having
railroad over the contemplated route at as ear
~ q day as practicable. Nur can We believe
there is any valid objection TO its being built
and controlled by the combination Of capital
lists whose names appear in tits charter. They
represent companies east and south OF us, that
control at leas: one-half of the railroad stock
III TIC Culttu WY III
ploved in the roads between the Mississippi and
the Atlantic. \ mutual interest thus arises
between them and our people to have this great
central line through Minnesota completed at an
early day, and renders i. entirely certain that
they will 60 farther and do more to accomplish
this important end than any other combination
Of railroad men that can be formed in the bread
universe. Even the editor Of The Democrat
who We conceive, from the way he writes, still
retains in bis composition little of the old i'm
practicable lcaven of the doctrines held BY bis
party some years since, bat long ago abandon
ed in Illinois, Michigan, and other strongly
Democratic States-takcs one Of the railroad
companies with which some Of these gentlemen
are connected (the Illinois CENTRALLY as sample
and says 1.-THE line of road already con-
structcd by them is unsurpassed. 1t isjuss such
a accompany as this that we want to build on,
railroad, aud we confess to a partially for The
Illinois Central" We are pleased to have this
admission from this quarter: and feel well as
sured that if our neighbor will, during the COM
ing summer, take trip down AMONG the Ilii-
ootS ICuoIi0Ns .ScISuit Win WV. nIttt>tN
Gen. Shields, and other Democratic statesmon
there. who have favored this company with
their influence from the start and learn how
many thousand fold the construction of tina!
great work has enhanced the value Of property
in the State. he will dispense with any imprac
t;cable crotchets Of past day, and become a
convert to our side Of the question.
But be this IS il may. We want it Understood
abroad, that the great mass Of Cur people are
sound upon this question. II is not their senti
ment that they do not want railroads because
foreign capital mus. he called in for the purpose
Of building them: and the politician who
breaches this absurd doctrine before them will
meet the fate he deserves. If the great rlca
sure now before our Legislature should fail lie,
its friends in Washington and elsewhere net re
gard the act as the final Judgment of Minnesota
And in case the proposed grant Of lands suc,
coed the present session Of Congress, we have
no moro doubt that at The next session Of oul
Legislature. the present proposition failing
At this, will then be practically and satsf,c
torily coDsummated,th than we have that the tine
will ro.! round when i: must again be hrousl
forward. Minnesota does not by any means
let this present Legislature do what it may. in
tend to & i've the cold shoulder to The proposed
connection with the Illinois Central, ali,
also to secure that connection through the aid
financial standing and capital Of men connected
Herewith, and with the leading roads east o
Chicago. This is greatly fayorite measur,
with our people. and the final result we hay,
regarded as fixed fact for many months
The question then merely resolves itself int,
one of time-(which is everything to Ninnesot;
just na~)-1prooided we can secure the gran
Of lands in giving these views we knov w,
are rejecting the sentiments entertained b,
every man Of influence and practical sense il
Minnesota, who has at al; examined the subject
We hope our remarks will be TO regarded an,
acted upon by those abroad feeling an interes
in the subject.