The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-23


ON the Joint Resolutions OF the HI.
OF r., annulling the Charter of the
M. 4 N. w. aud Transit II. II. Com
panies.
Since the commencement OF the Railroad
Controversy in Minnesota, we have kept
our readers advised of every step taken by
the friends and opponents of the Minneso-
ta and Northwestern Railroad Company,
in order that they might have before them
the data from which to form an intelligent
Judgment On The merits Of the question. In
consonance with that course we this morning
print the report of the Territorial Commit
tee of the Senate of the United States to
whom was referred the Joint resolutions oil
the House Of Representatives disafirlnins
the Charter of the Minnesota and North
western and Transit Railroad Companies
enacted hy the Legislative Assembly OF
Minnesota at the session of 1854, aud ap-
proved by the Governor.
Of the merits Of this report, and of the
correctness of the positions assumed, we
shall leave our readers to form their own
opinion. As we have viewed the question,
It is now beyond the purview Of newspaper
discussion, so far as attempts to compass
any practical results are conci rned. We
have argued throughout, and have sustained
the position by fair and necessary construc-
tons of the Organic Act, and by consider
ing the neculiar character of the legislation
involved, that in case the charter Of the NJ
& NV. Company passed the ordeal of one
session after its official receipt by Congress,
it was thereafter placed beyond the annul-
ling power Of that body. The fact that the
action of Congress has not been in accord
ance with our expressed desires, does not
impair our faith in the correctness of our
position, nor deter us from its reiteration
So far, then, as political or legislative action
is concerned, the existence and interests
the Minnesota and Northwestern Company
are beyond the reach of any influence with
in Minnesota or out of it. The Company
has interests, however, still pending before
the Supreme Court of the United States
a body of sufficient intelligence to discover
where justice lies, and of sufficient integrity
to administer it.
In the event of prosecution of the work
contemplated by the charter, and as a recip.
lent Of its bene6ts,we have hereafter to deal
with this Company only as trustee of the
funds of the Territory and we shall be
governed therein by the quality of faith,
good or bad, which the Company may exhibit.
The report reads :----
That. in March, 1853, when there was
no prospect of obtaining grant of lands
from the general government to aid in the
construction of railroad, the territorial
legislature passed acts of the following ii.
ties, to wit: Gan act to INCORPORATE the
Minnesota Western Railroad Company"
approved March 3, 1858; IAN act 10 in
corporate the Louisiana and Minnesota
Railroad Company" IAN act to incorpo-
rate the Mississippi and Lake Superior
Railroad Company" and, AN act to in
corporate the Lake Superior Puge,'s
Sound, and Pacific RAILROAD Company"
approved March S, 1853; authorizing the
construction of various railroads in said
Territory, some of which were to run SUBJ
stantial'y over the same route indicated
BY the act of Congress of juno %, 1854,
and containing provisions, granting to the
companies which should be organ zed M.
der them all lands which should be subse-
quenly granted by Congress in aid of the
the construction Of said roads. That at
the past session of the present Congress,
a bill, making grant of lands to Mime.
sofa to aid in the construction of a rail.
road therein, was introduced in this bodv.
and passed by it; and, while pending in
the House of Representatives, the act in.
cooperating the Minnesota and North.
western Railroad Company" which it is
now proposed to disapprove, was passed
by the Legislature Of the Territory of Min
nesota. in immediate anticipation Of said
grant by Congress.
That the object of said act of incorpo.
ration was to ensure the construction of a
's@oad' y accordance with the provisions