Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-15
THE FRAUD.

The following remarks of Mr.. Washburne, Of
Illinois, show very plainly what was the under
standing at Washington relative to the Minnesota
Land Bill. 1t was the same understanding we
have always contended for, and the alterations
were made antagonistic to the sentiments of the
members. If such frauds are permitted to be
perpetrated with impunity, nobody is safe and the
machinery of our Gov. will soon become creased
with corruption. We do most sincerely hope that
the Committee will perform their duties faithfully
and that the guilty will receive their just deserts
Mr.. Washburne said: "A.
rise to question of privilege, a question af-
fecting the records of this House. charge that
an alteration of an important bill of this House
has been made since its engrossment. l wish to
call attention of the House to it, that it may take
such action as they think proper in the premi-
ses. The bill of this House, No. 346 ssto aid the
Territory of Minnesota in the construction of
Railroad,' which passed this House on the Goth
of June last, charge has been altered in an i'm
portant particular since its engrossment and,
Mr.. Speaker, with the permission of the House,
will state briefly some of the circumstances as
they appear on the records before me-the origi-
nal bill, the printed BILL and the engrossed bill.
The bill as introduced here from the Committee
ON Public Lands, was drawn up by a gentleman
from Minnesota, with whom am well acquainted.
He consulted with me very frequently in regard
to the provisions which Icharge have been attemp-
ted to be altered. The Territory of Minnesota
had chartered a Company with most extraordinary
powers. The grant from that Territory gave it
all the lands which had been or should hereafter
be granted by Congress to aid that Territory in
the construction of a Railroad. The charter of
itself was somewhat extraordinary one. 1t car
ried with it all the lands which Congress might
hereafter grant to the Territory of Minnesota for
ttn of =
supposed by myself and others favorable to this
road, and who desired to see grant of land for
that purpose, that Congress would inure to
Railroad Company directly instead Of to the Ter
ritory. ], as we'll as the gentleman who had the
matter in charge, thought it could never pass the
House without provision guarding against such
charter. Hence provision was inserted into
the bill, as follows:
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That the
said lands hereby granted to the said Territory
shall be subject to the disposal of any future
Legislature thereof, for the purpose aforesaid,
and no other; nor shall they inure to the benefit
of any company heretofore constituted or organ
ized.''
In that way the original bill was framed, and
for the purpose and with the intention of prevent
ing this Company from receiving the benefit of
this land.
Well, sir, the first alteration-and it was made,
believe, by the Committee-was to strike out the
word 6. .)lttue." The next alteration, and, on the
first glance, it may be thought mmatcrial-though
it is far from being so, is the substitution of the
conjunction I" and'' for cor" 1t is believed by
many to be vital alteration, and one that charge
has been made since the cngrossment of the bill.
This Company at the passage Of the bill, not be-
ing constituted and organized, they expect by
this alteration to hold the land under it. Hence,
the object, as | charge of the alteration. AS al
tered, the section reads as follows:
And be IL further enacted, That the said lands
hereby granted to said Territory shall be subject
to the disposal of any Legislature for the purpose
aforesaid, and no other.
Between the word 'any'' and &c Lcgislature'
the word s' future'' was stricken out by the Com
mittcc, as understand.
Nor shall they nurc to the benefit of any
Company heretofore constituted and organized
The word " or'' is stricken out, and the word
''and' written over where it was, in different
handwriting. The bill as introduced, and print
cd, and passed here, reads: 6 Nor shall they in
ure to the benefit of any Company heretofore con-
stituted or organized.'' have the engrossed bill
before me, and any gentleman by looking at it
that the substitution of 6 and' for or''
has been made since the bill has been engrossed.
| am told by gentleman and member of this
House, who has examined the bill on parchment
in the Office Of the Secretary of State, that the
same erasuro and change is made there.
Now this is a matter vitality affecting the char
acter of our proceedings. If our records are to
be changed, altered, and mutlated in this way, if
the object Of our Legislation is to be perverted as
here is the case, there is no safety for any man,
any bill, or any Legislation.
am asked if it makes any difference. 1t is
contcnded by the parties who hold this charter,
that it does, and that it gives them the benefit Of
this grant, but it is my own opinion that it does
not. That that was the object in view, have no
doubt. 1t is an alteration and mutiation of a
record of this House, and call upon the House
to pass the following resolution:
Resolved, That a special Committee of - be
appointed for the purpose of inquiring whether
the text Of House Bill 352 {: to aid the construc-
ton of Railroad in the Territory of Minnesota
was altered, in any way changed in its language
subsequent to its engrossmcnt, or passage in this
House, without the authority of the House, and if
so, by whom ana under what circumstances such
change was made; and that said Committee be
empowered to send for persons and papers, and to
examine witnesses on oath in the premises.