Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-19
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER Is, 1854.
A RAILROAD CONVENTION.

The Democrat, OF Wednesday evening, is out
in favor of Railroad Convention, for the pur-
nose of drafting n g bill making the necessary
grant in the proper form, to be presented 10 '"h-
crass carlv Mt its next session." We do not know
that we have any particular objections to submit
ting the matter to the people, but it seems TO us
that far better way would be TO pass the matter
over into the hands of the Legislature. for the
mere drafting of n bill by the people without an
expression of condemnation of the fraud, and a
repudation OF the parties implicated therein, Will
avail us nothing. Ne mast rash oar hands ~
anu participation whGteref in The striaG!f, if we
ever expect TO Get another grant Of land OF Con-
cress and decidedly the best way to do this, Will
he to elect m;n to our Legislature who, having
discussed the subject thoroughly and weighed all
the points fully. will then, In the name OF the
people. address Congress in such way and IN
such terms rs 10 convince the members that we
had nothing TO do with the alteration Of the Bill,
and further. that we do net approve of the acts,
neither will we uphold or countenance in any man.
mcr those who were instrumental in causing the
repeal of the Bill and consequently the loss OF the
land 1t seems to us that there is necessity for
acting hastily in the premises,-thc people fully
understand the matter, and we have no doubt they
would prefer to express their sentim Hnts at the
Ballot box than in convention, that would necas-
sarilv be composed Of two parties or combna-
ton of elements which would prevent harmonious
action;- fer Should resolution be introduced,
as one undoubtedly would be, condcmninS the
fraud and casting odium on our Delegate for
neglect of duty, examinations and determinations
would follow until the object of the meeting would
be lost in a general hub-bub.
There is another reason why think it would
be preferable to leave the matter to ourlegslature
1t is one in which Minnesota has deep interest,
and needs due consideration and forethought.-
The great difficulty with the charter last year was
its premature passage; and If we rush headionS
into the same extreme again this year, results
equally as injurious will follow. In a Convention
of the people for one day only, the subject could
not receive that attention it would in the Lcgi>la-
tu-e. where the members could discus, the matter
it might be, if necessary, for 4 week Here Is the
legitimate source to which the subject should be
referred and from which all action should ema-
nate There is no question but the people are III
favor of grant Of land for railroad purposes
We think they have expressed themselves fully
and cmphatically on this point. The most impor-
tant question now is, show shall that grant be
obtained:'' Under the circumstances, the mere
expression of public opinion that we want the
land, won't get it. We must do more than that,
we must repudiate the fraud and those who
committed it; and in our opinion the proper, the
best. the legitimate course to pursue, is to elect
to our legislature only such men as will pledge
themselves to vote for memorial to Congress
asking for grant Of land, at the same time eX-
onerating the people of Minnesota from any par
ticipation in the fraud, and casting ccnsure upon
those who committed it. Then. ''thc former
friends and true friends Of Minnesota now" can
have no excuse for opposing our request, and with
their cooperation, there is but little doubt but
we shall succeed in efforts. On the other
hand, il we do not make some such demonstration,
the friends Of territory Will say that by our
silence we have made ourselves Il party to the
fraud and consequently they are under no obliSa-
tions to stand by us or defend us. We do not OBJ
iect to leaving the matter with the public, but we
do think that the ballot box will give better OK
preston Of public feeling than Convention Of
the People, because in the one case, it can be
done quietly, while in the other it must produce
IA spirit of discord.