Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-16
For the Times.
RAILROADS AGAIN. ~

RAILROADS AGAIN.
Mr.. Editor:-I observe in the Democrat O.
January 9th, an article headed, GA Poor Princi
ple;" intended as reply to an article, by me il
the Times of the 9th inst. -a hsA .9s1oa'f'
The Democrat mistakes my views am fol
free trade in Railroads, and free discussion OF
all subjects, for by interchange of thought, minds
| are enlightened. -" t'2dH .-m -
Merchant in fitting ship for a foreign port
counts the cost of cargo and outfit, depending
upon the profit sales, but should the port char.
ges exceed the profit on sales, the voyagei dis.
astrous one, owing to an ignorance of the Com
mercial relations between the two countries Sc
with all commercial transactions before enter.
ing upon any enterprise the costs and charges
should be we'll estimated. '-- So satigl7s
Now rich Company, welding an immense
political influence, accept Charter to construct
a Railroad from St. Paul to Lake Superior, the
road to be completed within ten years, with an ex-
press condition that the work shall commence al
the Lake. fe. el-
Let US look for one moment, into the object OF
the above plan, without detracting from the Com
pany, for they have only shown unexampled COM
mercial skill and tact. This Company have se-
cured town site for the terminus of said Road.
at nominal cost, knowing that as soon as the
road progresses, the town will be worth millions
of dollars, by the continued application of their
superior skill. .-el5 ,... l..
No one disputes the immense undeveloped re-
sources of the northern portion of Minnesota.
And before the present Railroad has progressed
one hundred miles, this Company will show, (by
political inauence) the necessity of branch to
extend over the northern section of the Territory
This effected, the road can progress to a termin-
alton, at the end of ten years.
What will be the effect upon the general inter-
ests of the Territory during this process? St.
Paul is left without Railroad; the emigration
now focking into st. Paul, and Southern Minneso-
ta in anticipation of its natural advantages, will
be checked and the attention of emigrants di-
rected to the immediate developement of the
north /; which will hasten the completion of the
Company's plans. That completed, the next step
would be to construct a road from the Minnesota
Valley to Dubuque.
With an outlet in the Northeast and Southwest.
without first securing the Southern and Eastern
thoroughfares by Railroad to St. Paul, she must
become secondary town, and be tributary to
Superior City. ..........
The question may be suggested, why developc
the South before the North2 In reply, would
say, first that the South already contains large
population, amounting to majority of the whole
Territory, who have invested their all in antici-
patton of enjoying all their natural and political
rights, while the north only boasts of anticipated
population. ....E ...-..:l. .,.....
Second, that by the Superior City plan, we
build up by our commerce, two large cities be-
yond our borders, and the revenue arising from
the amount of capital there invested would go
into the Territory of our neighboring States.
By concentrating all our energies upon one
point in our midst, wa secure to the Territory
one grand emporium-and to the present settlers
their anticipated prosperity. This accomplished,
Railroads will diverge from this point to every
important point in our Territory, and to Lake
Superior. Let US not be hasty-let us take one
sure step, and trust to our future strength for
further development. P.
st. Paul, Jan. 10, 1855.
MINNESOTA RAILROAD BILLFORGERY
AGAIN. 20 .-i II
From the following, it appears that this mat
ter is not yet settled has been supposed by the
wise ones of our city. From the recent action
of Congress, an account of which we find in the
Galena Advertiser, there is reason to believe
that the Charter passed by our Legislature will
be annuled, and that an end will be put to this
perplexed question. We await with considerable
anxiety further news. The Advertiser says -
We think from what We see of the proceedings
at Washington, that the attempt of the Wall
street railroad company (for whose benefit the
Minnesota Railroad bill was forged,) to hold the
grant of land by the last Congress, in defiance
of the repeating act, is creating some stir. Mr..
Letcher has very properly made move in the
House of Representatives, looking to the annul-
ment of the charter Of the above company by
Congress, in accordance with the provision of
the organic act of the Territory of Minnesota.
Mr.. May, of Maryland, member of the Judicial
ry Committee of the House, has called for in
formation from the President in regard to suit
of the United States against the Minnesota and
Northwestern Railroad Company, which seems to
have found its WV into the Supreme Court of the
United States at Washington. 1t is charged
that the case is there fraudulently and surrepti-
tiously, not by the act of the United States, but
by the defendants.
We heard report, that the United States took
a writ of error on the very day that the decision
of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Min
nesota was made-the 9th of last month, and
that the Company, not the United States, sent an
express messenger with the record to be fled ir
the Supreme Court at Washington. The fact Of
the company, who are the defendants and appel.
lees, taking charge of both sides of the case, has
probably awakened suspicion at head quarters
We await further Developments in regard to these
most extraordinary proceedings. 01
Minnesota Railroad Bill Forgery.
In the House of Representatives, on the 26ti
ult., Mr.. Letcher, of Virginia, offered the fol.
lowing resolution, which was unanimously a.
dopted: .y 8 r.ftsasl.
Mr.. Letcher, by unanimous consent, introduced
the following resolution, which was read, consid.
cred, and agreed to: ,eE ~, b. .4-:.-a7 !.
s Whereas, the law authorizing the Territory of
Minnesota, in the last clause of section six in tht
following terms, viz u: g All laws passed by thu
Legislative Assembly and Governor, shall be sub.
mitted to the Congress of the United States, and
if disapproved of shall be null and of no effect,
reserved to Congress the right of revising ant
disaproving all laws passed by said Territoria
Legislature: Therefore, ty; 4,,.e,-s.e
Resolved, That the acts of said Territorial
Legislature, as certified to this body, be referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary. and that sale