The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-29

House. .As.l,r>z- ss
The ye2s aud nays were called for by Mr..
Rolctte, and resulted as follows: o., !. l,,,,t
d Yeas.-Andros, Beatty, Brawley, Cave,
Davis. Fridley, Haus, Hanson, Sibley,
Thompson, Willim, Mr.. Speaker, ~ III
Nays-Dixon, Grant, Rolette, Stinch-
field. '"' e.. b. '-.t -. .-.-.- s-,-..,-e a-s.,.is
The motion having prevailed, the House
adjourned until Monday Morning at 10
O'Clock. .--. -..... -, $3.50.
Report Of the Judiciary Committee Of
We publish this morning the report of the
majority Of the Judiciary Committee on
that part of the Governors message relating
to the Minnesota and Northwestern Rail
road Company. The report, so far as it
goes, is an admirable document strong
and pointed in argument, terse and grace
full in style-presenting the facts bearing
upon the questions considered in calm, but
forcible manner. The majority report was
presented by Mr.. SIBLEY and is concurred in
by Mr.. WILLIM.
The minority report was presented by
Mr.. FRIDLEY. 1t is of an exceedingly spe-
cious character, and will receive our notice
as to one of the points made-the propriety
and right of Congress to annul the Compa-
ny's charter -..-.. ..l.
The minority report argues that the dis
approval of the charter by Congress, would
be an act of bad faith on the part of the
Government, and the asking therefor an act
of bad faith on the part Of the Territory
We state the fact as undeniable, that all
parties, everywhere, entering into contracts,
whether of public or private nature, do so
in reference to the laws actually existing at
the date of such contract. At the time this
charter was granted, law Of higher sane
ton than any Territorial law, because lying
at the very foundation of the law-making
authority of the Territory the organic act
under which Minnesota was created-pro-
.vides that all laws enacted by the legisla-
tive assembly of the Territory, and approx
ed by the Governor, shall be subject to the
revision of, and annulment by, Congress-
The Company were, in law, bound to know,
and take cognizance of, this reserved power
of Congress. 1t formed, in law and justice,
a constituent part of the contract itself, and
it the fault Of the Company, and not of the
Territory or Congress, if the operations of
the Company have not been guided and con-
trolled by this fact. And the contract was
iinchoate until Congress should have
had opportunity to manifest its approval
thereof by silence, Or its disapproval by ex-
press negation. There then can be no
doubt as to the question Of right.
Now, as to the matter Of propriety. Un-
der this head, the minority report presents
a list Of charters granted by former legisla-
lures of Minnesota, such as those creating
The St. Croix Boom Company, The Missis-
sppi Boom Company, The Minneapolis and
St. Anthony Bridge Company, The ST.
Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company,
Ferry Charters, &C., &c. The minority re-
port, however, fails to point out very OBJ
viohs difference between all these and the
Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad
Company. Under the former, the capital
essential to carry out their operations is fur
nished entirely by the stockholders them
selves, and there would be manifest impro-
priety in the general government meddling
with private enterprises in which it can have
no possible concern or interest. But in the
case of the Railroad Company, the govern
ment is a party most largely interested-it
furnishes the capital, in lands, to build the
road-the charter is created and accepted
with direct reference to the grant of lands
for such purpose-and the idea that Con-
gress, after furnishing the capital, cannot
with propriety direct into what channels that
capital shall flow, or by whom it shall be
expended, is proposition so monstrousiy
absurd, that its bare statement carries with
it sufficient refutatiOn.
MORE INDIAN OUrRAGEs.-A considera-
BILE number of Sioux Indians arrived in this
city on Saturday last, from a hunting ex-
cursion, bringing with them the scalp of
Chippewa. A skirmish took place some
dayS since near Rice Lake hatwoon on ont