Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-01-12

muske.s and u hsss;!Eiy &C s;sceeuszemens.. by
the first boats Z jhe spring.
During the ea yesra ale Of the public
lands has taken place st he seteral land Offices
in the Territory, and IN mot instances they
have been Purchased by actnal settlers. yet in
some cases large Quantities have gone into
the hands Of men Of heavy means to be held
BILE, in my judgment, 10 have the lands offered
for sale in small quantities, and not until the
assaal settler has had ample opportunity to pre-
empt his home. If your honorable body should
concur in this view, you may no doubt be able
TO prepare such q memorial 10 the President Of
the United States as will induce him to have
the sales conform TO the wishes Of the people
OF the Territory. You are presumed to know
their wants and interests, and should not fail to
express your views on this subject.
1t is a source of much satisfaction to observe
the laudable efforts being made by our people
in the cause Of Literature and Science, and
particularly in the reorganization Of the Min
nesota Historical Society, under circumstances
that give the fullest assurance that no effort will
be spared to place it upon basis Of the most
honorable distinction. 1t will be matter of
much interest to the coming generation to have
perpetuated the monuments of our early histo-
~, not only in this Territory, but for the whole
Northwest; and no institution at present prom
Uses to accomplish so much as this Society. Il
is recommended that small appropriation be
made for the purpose of aiding in the advance
ment of these objects.
One of the most important means to prevent
fraud and imposition upon the law-making pow
er, and indeed upon the country, is. to have but
one subject matter in each bill, and that clearly
indicated in the title; otherwise many very OBJ
jectionable laws may be enacted, entirely esca-
ping the attention Of the most watchful MEM
bers. 1t is earnestly hoped that this matter
will receive your attention. In many instances
your body may fully concur in every section of
bill, although matters are therein contained,
utterly dissimIlar in every respect, and the Ex-
ecutive disposed to concur in part most cheer.
fully, yet be opposed to others. /: is therefore
forcing that officer to approve what 10 him may
be Objectionable, or defeat part Of a bill high
ly important to the country. This notice would
not have been taken of the matter had not pre-
vious Legislation abounded in such evils. In
some ofthe States. this subject has been deemed
OF sufficient importance to have place in their
Constitution, to the effect that no bill shall con.
tain more than one subject matter, and that
clearly expressed in the title.
The policy of procuring an act of Congress
granting homestead to settlers in this Terrific.
ry, Of one hundred and sixty acres of land,
upon condition of actual settlement and cultiva.
ton for limited period, and without cost, has
been heretofore brought TO the attention of the
Legislature, and the reason and necessity Of
such law is yet Of paramount importance to
the speedy settlement Of the Northwestern
country. Nearly all the organized Territories
have received large donations to settlers, and
it is believed that no satisfactory reasons exist
why Minnesota should be made an exception.
The increase of facilities for procuring free
homes to settlers, rises above every other con-
sideration to Minnesota. There is not mem.
Der of the present Legislature but could induce
from ten to twenty families from the States to
make this their permanent home. if they could
write, or tell them, that here they could have
one hundred and sixty acres of land free of
cost; upon the condition alone of settlement and
cultivation; and vigorous population OF pro-
ducers from Europe would crowd here in such
numbers, as never before has been known
Nothing so eminently contributes to the COM
merce of the world as the products Of Agricul-
ture and nothing could be done by you to ex.
pedite the building of Railroads, or opening
and improving the various channels Of commu-
nicatlon, so much as your success in procuring
free homes for the people. Nor can you ever
expect to confer more permanent blessing
than this upon our citizens.
But it is sometimes said we cannot succeed
in getting homestead. This is certainly true,
if you despond before you try. Such a prize
is worthy Of your most vigorous efforts Others
occasionally say, if we get the homestead for
settlers, we cannot get grant for railroads
To this, would say, homes for the people first,
and railroads alterward.
The people of Minnesota must, at no very
distant day, expect to be admitted into the
Union as State; and it behooves US, as sen.
tinels on the watch-tower Of National patIiot-
ism. to cling to those cherished principles of
the equality and rights of the States under the
Constitution. Is.
No portion Of the habitable globe has ever
before formed Government where SO much
power has been left to the people, nor where SO
much freedom has been secured to the citizens;
none where mankind has enjoyed so emf
nently civil and religious liberty; none that has
ever inspired SO much patriotism; and none,
perhaps, that requires the exercise Of so much
federation and forbearance toward our fellow
man.
The excitement on the subject of slavery,is
perhaps the most dangerous Of all others. Its
tendency to array political parties by geogra-
phical lines, was seen, felt and feared by
Washington and Jefferson in the earlier days
of the Republic, and is yet exercising the
minds Of our wisest and best men.
The annexation Of new Territory to the
United States, has given rise 10 new sources of
agitation and alarm. The Act Of Congress,
passed the sixth Of March, 1920, fixing the
parallel Of SO deg. 30 min. North latitude as
boundary line to govern this vexed question.
was regarded by the most eminent states
men Of his age, Mr.. Jefferson, as "a barrel
thrown out to the whale by the federal party"
to ultimate in the dissolution of our Union, and
it would seem that this language, uttered some-
what IN the spirit Of prophecy, is to become the
truth Ct history, unless the prudent and con.
sentative counsels Of statesmen of enlarged and
national views shall soon prevail. ID 7s'
If the experiment Of mans capacity 10 gov
ern himself, as inaugurated by Jefferson, shall
be permitted to succeed, all limits Of latitude
restricting the people to fixed line on any
particular subject, must be abolished and never
again established, until the world acknowledges
the experiment in America a. failure. The
organization Of Teyvitor;.1 ~cv>,c,r.cs. So