Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-02-09


lowing resolutions, whish were passed by the
Council yesterday. ~. .I.,-..at,.,
ITh. resolutions We have published.l 40
1t would seem that my explanations TO the mem
bers Of your body have not been satisfaetory, in
relation to the funds for dsfraying tho expenses
thereof. .s
1t Is always pleasure to mo to make any ex-
plantations about my official business to those who
have right to enquire, and know its condition,
and even to crafty those whose curiosity may
prompt interrogations in matters OF any kind.
beg leave, therefore, to say, that in the beginning
Of the fall Of 1854, forwarded to the proper
officer of the Treasury Department Of the U. s.,
estimates for the current expenses of the Mime
sofa Legislature, amounting to $4,000. This
estimate of course, even il approved BY the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, could not have been act
ed on by Congress. until the last session. find
by the general appropriation Bill which passed,
and was approved bv the President, on the I'D OF
March, lS55-that the sum of 100000 only was
appropriated for s'compensaton and mileage OF
the members of the Legislature Assembly, ohcers,
clerks, and contingent expenses" It's thus mani
tested to al! who desire to examine the facts be-
fore they arraign, try and condemn a public off,
Ger, that when the last appropriation was made,
Congress could not have anticipated the increase
of the number of members of the Minnesota Le-
gislature, as the act Of your body did not pass
until the I'd day of March, 1855, just one day be-
fore the act of Congress was passed, making the
appropriation for the fiscal year, ending the 3Oth
of June, 1856. How did Congress or any body
else know that your body would pass an act in
creasing the number of members from q to % ?
If your honorable bcdy has concluded that
Am gifted with the power of fore-knowledse, so
very extraordinary as to foretell precisely what
acts the Minnesota Legislature will or will not
pass, AMI to make estimates on the basis of such
gifts, they are doomed to disappointment, as l
have failed to be medium of tn, spirits,-it is
questionable whether they could tell, and there is
no earthly chance for your honorable body to ar
raicn, try and condemn me, for s'grOss violation of
duty in regard to the amount appropriated, m
less you insist on my possessing this wonderful
capacity.
In my estimates last fall, of course, made pro-
vision for the increased expenditures, and no
doubt a special appropriation to meet said in
crease, would have been made before this. but for
the failure of the House of Representatives to
organize Mt the usual time.
Your honorable body are not ignorant Of the
fact, that appropriations are IN .de by Congress
for the civil administration of the government,
always one year in advance, and had last session
been the long one, the law increasing the menu
bers of the Legislature of Minnesota could have
been laid before Congress and provisions made
for this emergency, but rs it adjourned on the 18th
of last March, as dill your body, it was utterly
out of the question, for any appropriation to DC
made as the exisency required.
may here say that have reserved out of the
present appropriation, more than enough to pay |
the mileage and per dcim of the m,mb ,rs and |
officers of the present Legislature, and for which,
as stated hereafter, have already drawn. am
surely not dealing with children, that it would
make it necessary to give more than this bare
statement of facts. Ii has not escaped my o5'er-
yaton, that your honorable body have appoint
ed committee Tin parcnthess, it may be prop
er for me to say that two of tn committee have
informed me that they would not on such
a committee, and tho chairman has neither written
or spoken to me on the subject,) to wait upon me
and .'cn1uirc the c,u<e of tn, delay in the re
ceipt of the funds approp iatel to defray the cx-
penses of this session, AMI to report NIX answer to
the Council.
My answer is, that nothing but mscarras"
of my requistion, which was forwarded in due
season. AS soon | learned Of the proper officer,
that the same had not been received, forward
cd another, the answer to which is not yet re-
ceived but is daily expected With the funds. Ii
the Hon. chairman of your committee de-
wise any means to facilitate the arrival of the
funds, he will obligc me less than himself.
But as your honorable body have seen cause to
pronounce upon me in your resolution, before
YOU have heard me, and without the least par
ticc of evid ,ncc, trust they will give me the
evidence upon which such unwarrantable judy
ment is predcatci.
A. you have said that I alone am responsible
for the delay in the receipt of the funds, and
that by a violation of official duty, now DE-
mand the proof-if not given, will be compelled |
to lay under an I'M ust and false accusation,
merely to crafty the within or caprice of some
member of your body. If you shall fail to show |
that alone am responsible, or to amend the in
jury attempted to be done me, the judgment of
the country is invoked upon such wanton attacks
upon private and public character.
am, Sir, Very Respectfully,
Your Obedcnt Servant.
j. TRAVIS ROSSER,
Sec. Min. Ter.
Several ferry charters were introduced.
NJ. Ludden introduced Joint Resolution to |
pay Marcus w, McCracken, the sum of $3.50. out
of the Territorial Treasurer, for per diem, while |
contcsting the scat of \. X. Ludden.
Mr.. Balcombc offered an amendment, for the |