The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-08-07
The Ssass Quesstou.
10 he xAsms Of tn. pioss-1 and D.noer.,.

The ssass 0sesston,
To The kiisms Of tbs Piosssr end democrat
1t Is universally conceded, thss really sKxE
rasssL -oae which opens in columns alike To
Trend and foe. and enters with zeal into the dis
cuasIoo ofevery question having direct besr-
ing upon the public veal, ia one Of the great
est blessings to which any community can lay
claim. II is surely one d the most efficient
engines Of the peopIe-either 10 protecting
their interests from false legislation, or in 80
curing To the public those inestimable advan-
tAges. from which prejudice or ignorance might
debsr them.
There Is nov pending before tho people Of
this Territory . question Of incalculable i'm
port, which must BE- answered soon. Shall
Minnesota beeems state
The ah Of the Press OF this city and Of tho
Territory Is invoked to grspple with this quss
tioa and to solve il. As . citizen, writing in
behalf Of one hundred and fifty thousand, SINH
larry situated and equally interested. may not,
without any sacrifice Of motlssty or psopristy,
call upon every editor and every man Of thought
and influence in the Territory. to do his duty
at this crisis?
fit ID for the general interest Of the majority
that Q state government should bc formed. it ID
quite clear that we should set about the work
OF once. But ieouid such course add mate
rally to the public welfare, Let no one pre-
sumo to answer question Of this magnitude
in haste. Let both sides be carefully scruti-
nized before a decision Is made. Ask your.
self ichai there Is 10 lose aud balance against it
oil there rs TO gam, and then say like man,
whether you will vote for Territory or for a
State.
The writer Of this article. has reflected upon
this subject In oil its bearings. lie can arrive
at but one conclusion and ii Is this:
There is no interest or business In this Ter
ritory that would be injured (save that Of loan.
Ing money at enormous rstes) while on the
contrary, there is no commercial or mechasical
interest, that would not be greatly improved,
as well as secured from the danger Of reaction
and over trade, by our soon becoming u
State.
This however is but ON isolated opinion. II
Is sincere one nevertheless, with no selfish aim
or private consideration for its bsse. let 9th.
ers resolve the matter as calmly in their own
minds, and perhaps, instead Of coinciding with
me. they may induce me to believe that my
own reasonings and conclusions, are altogether
wrong.
II would not be wise to postpone the agta-
ton Of this subject any longer. 1t mas, be
presented sometime; s0hy not noD1 Can any
reason be assigned why We should defer a
subject Of such immediate import None Of
any weight can he assigned.
The Legislature Of last winter, it will he re-
passed a resolution recommending
the holding Of Territorial Convention in June
1857. to propose State Constitution Tor Min
nesota. We are to decide at the ballot-box
this iall whether such convention shall be
held or not. What adequate motive could in
lluce man deliberately to vote dgana the
unless acting under the hmsy pre-
iud~s that we are receiving great benefits from
the national government that we should lose
BY becoming STATED it is difficult to conceive
We should he obliged to support state gov
eminent. il il true--that Is, we should be forced
to employ the services Of q few competent citi.
zens, to aid US in the grand enterprise Of go,-
srn,ng ouseirs The expense Of this politi-
cal machinery would fall much more lightly
than is generally supposed. Our Taxes would
not he as onerous a. they are at present. The
taxes OF the Nais Of Nsr York are by no means
rs heavy as the Territorial iares Of Minnesota
But suppose our taxes tsre triae greater
The additional value given to property and
the renewed impetus impaired to business Of
every kind would enable US TO pay much heav
Ter taxes without one hall the cause for COM
plant which at present exists.
The people Of Minnesota are strong armed
- strong minde,l-bold, and resolute people.
let US think for moment whether it COMFORTS
with the dignity Of such people numbering
one hadvei and ttiy thousand and represent
ing 40 many millions Of property-to refuse to
take care Of themselves. and Ia prefer the in
iantile dependence OF Territory, to the noble
and manly independence Of State
Is it not time that We should cease to sub
sist on crumbs; is il not time that we should
begin to make bread yor ouairss, Depend
upon il. we should gain more in wealth and
population 10 one your Is State. than We
should in three yedrs ss . Territory. Why
then should We refuse to act Who Is to gain
anything BY wearing swaddling clothes any
longer. What becomes OF the Wanted sppro- |
priatious that are 30 much talked about. HasI
any body seen any particular benefit from them
very little indeed, compared with the cost.
Oue hundred dollars in the hands Of State,
win do ~ much in the way Of improvement, as
one thousand dollars appropriated by the Ma
lional Government, which goes can tell
wbere. II certainly disappears very last; and
those who arr 50 fortunate as to get the money.
rry out Justify about the benefits Of rsmaining |
\ Territory. At first glance. it seems TO
'ome persons that il woah be hest for US to
hold on to the co~,-tAils Of Cncle sam a.
oog ~ be will allow Us 10 do 81. Bot those |
T. Al Al -