The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-15
Our Land Bill in the senate.

The following are all the proceedings which
occurred in the Senate upon the bill granting
lands to Minnesota for Railroad purposes
Short business was made Of a great and prac-
teal work which the House had hard and pro
tracted time of accomplishing. We quote from
the full report in the Washington Globe. The
proceedings took place on the 2Sth ult.:
Mr.. STUART. l move to dispense with the
prior orders. in order to take up the bill from
the House of Representatives ito aid the Ter
rltory OF Minnesota in the construction of a
railroad therein" The Delegate from that Ter
rtory is exceedingly anxious that the bill should
be disposed of, in order that the interests OF
that Territory may not suffer.
Mr.. JONES. of Tennessee. The Senator from
Kentucky (Mr. DiXon) had the floor yesterday
upon another subject and he came here then
prepared to speak, bat. in Difference to what
seemed to be the wish Of a majority of the Sem
ate, he generously yielded the floor | submit
! to the honorable Senator from Michigan now
that it would be unjust to impose on that Sem
ator another postponement to-day. | think
courtesy to him. as well as the usual form Of
transacting the business of the Senate requires
that we should take up the unfinished business
and hear him on that subject. / hope. there
fore. the Senate will not take up this bill
Mr.. CLAYTON. desire to offer resolution
which can but take moment. and l ask the
consent of the Senator from Michigan to allow
me to submit it.
Mr.. JONES. of Iowa. The consideration of
this bill will not take as much time as the read
ing of that resolution, l care not what it is
This BILL or one similar to it, passed the SEN
ate some time ago, and was sent to the House
The House has passed the same bill with
slight amendment, as House bill. and sent it
n II will fiyo dc lace
there be objection to it. and do not think there
can be objection, because we have passed TWEEN
ty bills OF the same character at this session. |
hope the Senate will take up and pass the bill.
Mr.. CLAYTON. During the morning business.
resolutions are in order. and. therefore sub
nit that the resolution which l wish to offer
ought to have priority. l have no objection a
ali to taking up the Senator's bill.
Mr.. STUART II the Senator will allow TIE
bill to be taken up, | will consent, with great
pleasure, that his resolution shall then he dis
posed Of.
The motion of Mr. STUART was agreed to
and the Senate, as in Committee Of the Whole
proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr.. GEYEE. think it is unnecessary to con-
sumo the time Of the Senate in reading the bill
for it is in the usual form.
Mr.. STUART. 1t is i'm the usual form of all the
railroad bills which have been passed at this
session.
Mr. BAYAEp. prefer to have the bill read
1t certainly is not in the same form as the other
bills which the Senate have passed. These on
ly allowed lands nine miles back from the line
OF the road to he taken. but this l understand
allows selection at any distance.
Mr.. JONES, of Iowa. No, sir, only fifteen
miles back.
The Secretary proceeded to read the bill.
Its object is to aid in the construction Of a
railroad from the southern line cfthe Territory
Of Minnesota. commencing at a point between
township ranges nine and seventeen. by way of
St. Paul. to the eastern line of the Territory.
in the direction of Lake Superior. For this
purpose it proposes TO grant to the Territory
every alternate section of public land. dc,ig-
mated by odd numbers. for six sections in width
on each side of the road. II. when the route is
definitely fixed. it shall appear that the United
States have sold any section, or part of a see
ton thus granted. or that the right of pre-emp-
ton has attached to it, the proper territorial
authorities may select, in alternate sections,
nearest to the tier of sections granted but with
in fifteen miles from the road line. lands equal
to those Sold and to which pre-emption rights
have attached. The lends granted are to be