The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-12-08

Tre.passers Upon the .stheel 1.anas.

/ TUESDAY MORNING, DEeRMpHR /. ls6s. !
80 Trespassefs Upon the sehsel Lands.
We regret to learn, that many Of the late
immigrants into Minnesta, failing to procure
Government lands in jnst the locations that
happened to please them, hare entered upot
and are occupying sections sixteen and
twenty-six-donated by beuifcent Con-
gress in every township to the sacred ends
Of common education. es5 -
We presume that in most instances these
trespasses are the result Of sthoughtlessness
or ignorance of that sure uncertainty of tile
which must follow all such attempts at
snaking elsims.n The School Lands wers
not given for tie benefit of the first settlers
of Minnesota, but for the benefit of. their
children, and their childrcn's children to the
remotest future generation. Government, in
opening all other than School Lands to pres
ent and future settlement, thinks she has
done her full duty and has wisely entrusted
only to the future S.ase Of Minnesota the
disposition of the School Lands. If the
authorities of that State do their duty, these
School Lands can never pass into the hands
Of either settlers or SPECTATORS at, price.
nearly as low as the minimum price of Goy-
efnment lands. ini9gs1 Is sx sF,oe~ iz,rsa
We think II, then, the duty of every man
who expects to rear family in Minnesota
and even those who have no such expecta-
tion, but are good citisens--to set their, faces
against oil settlements soand trespasscs upon
sections sixteen and thirty-six in every
township in the Territory. The cause of
common education prompts us all to, this
duty and the utter Insecurity Of title, which |
must attend all such adventurers, should
prompt se!intersa to take part on the same
side. You do. not wish heavy burthens of
taxation to hang over your property for
Common School purposes in your after years.
Then see that the School Lands are now
preserved from violation. The masses must
be educated; and if the lands devoted to
that purpose are wasted-their natural re-
sources Of timber and soil destroyed before
we become a State, the tax for that purpose
must come out of the pockets of the people.
But this'is clear question, and admits of
no argument. In a country where there is
SO much good land not yet taken up, we can
scarcely imagine how any one can be guilty
of entering upon School Lands with the
vague hope Of holding title to them in con-
of laws National and Territorial, |
which it is the dusy Of every tax payer
present and prospective--to see enforced.
For general information, we annex the Ter
ritorial Law, now in force, in regard to tres
passes upon School Lands. 1t is Chap. of
the Collated Statutes, pages 18 and lS,:.
AN ACT TO PUNISH TREspAssERs ON SCHOOL
LANDS IN MINNESOTA TERRITORY. /
"Be ii Enacted by the Legislative assembly Of
the Territory of Minnesota: That any person
who shall wilfully cut any standing or other
timber, on any lands set apart as School
Lands for the use either of Common Schools |
or the University of Minnesota, not having
acquired title to such lands, every such |
person so offending, shall be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor, and upon conviction there
of, shall be imprisoned in the County Jail
for period not less than three days, nor
more than six months, or shall forfeit and
pay fine of not less than twenty-five nor
more than five hundred dollars one-half of
said fine to 60 to the party complainant, and
the other half to the Common School fund
and in case of the neglect or refusal of the
person so convicted, to pay the fine above
specified, he shall be, in addition to the i'm
prisonment above imposed, confined in the
County Jail or Territorial Prison, one day
for every dollar thereof, until said fine shall
be discharged.
"SEc. 2. In all cases of conviction under
this act, if there be no Jail within the County
where the offence was committed, (or to
which it may be attached for judicial purpo-
ses, it shall be competent for the Court
before which such conviction was had, to
commit the offender to the nearest Jail in
any other county and it is hereby made the
duty of the keeper of such Jail, to receive
the prisoner so committed and in all respects
to proceed with him as if he had been COM
mitted by the proper authorities of the
county in which such Jail is situated: Pro
uio1ed, That the county in which the offence
was committed shall pay the costs of his
confinement.
"SEc. 3. 1t shall be the duty Of all
Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, County Com
missioners, Constables, and all School Trus
tees, to use all necessary means to obtain
information of trespassers on said School
Lands, and to give such information to the
proper authorities.
"SEc. A. The several District Courts and
Justices of the Peace shall have concurrent
jurisdiction in all cases arising Under this
Act.
"SEc. s. This Act shall take effect from
and after it's passage. a1.......-..
Approved March, 6, 1852" ....,1,--
SAD Acc1DENT.-On Sunday afternoon,
Mr.. Charles Ross, gentleman who had fol-
lowed his business of house and ornamental
painter in St. Paul during the past year with