The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-01

he following report in the House on Tues
lay: .
The undersigned, one of the Committee to
whom was referred bill l97, bill for an act
to divide portion of the Territory of Min
nesota into Counties, and to define their
boundaries, beg leave to submit the follow
ing minority reports =
Your Committee cannot but regre. that
in this instance he is compelled to dissent
from the views entertained by the honorable
gentlemen associated with him Oh this Com
mittee. The majority Of this Committee
have already made a report recommending
the passage of the bill with certain amend
ments. Your Committee of the minority is
Of the opinion that the amendments pro-
posed are good so far as they 60, .. e., to the
effect of obviating certain conflicting propOs-
itions in the said bill.
Your Committee thinks, nay, is certain,
that the main objects Of the bill were over
looked by the majority, and inasmuch as
these objects in themselves, so worthy of
our admiration, are likely to be ultimately
defeated by the general provisions of the
bill itself. The minority cannot resist the
conclusion that the majority for some cause
uHAHO"A W uiui, SIOPPCu oAoA ia CAiSAA IA
vestigation ere they had arrived at the grand
feature of the BILL 1t is to this particularly
grand feature of the bill that your Com
mittee would now call your most careful and
candid consideration.
First, let me premise: That inasmuch as
your Committee can see no beneficial results
to be obtained by this Legislature thus de-
filming certain imaginary lines of imaginary
Counties all over country as yet unmarked
by the axe of the suryeyor-and inasmuch
as he cannot see that by these lines the
worthy Spectator is aided at ali in his re-
search after County Seats, and county center
lines which afford him neither mark nor
bound by which he can stick his stake with
any assurance Of his geographical where
abouts; therefore, your Committee must
come to the conclusion that other and hotter
objects were intended to be developed in this
BILL 49,.
One of these objects, and most certainly
not the least manifest apparently on the face
of the bill, is that very natural and noble
ambition inherent il tie berast of every as
piring mind, to perpetuate the memory of
our public acts to all coming time-to hand
down the high distinction we have attained
to-the wide spread fame we have SO honor
ably won during eight short weeks, to our
posterity-and here your Committee thinks
is the great mistake of the majority. This
ultimatum of the whole bill was sadly ne
elected by this Committee. Now, the bill
proposes to erect certain monuments to our
individual form, or to effect the same it pro-
poses to affix our names to these paper
counties as an indellible insignia of our lofty
position. Although of many of these coun-
ties no man knoweth, and no man guesseth
their whereabouts, and none but the red
man can tell whether they be lake, river,
mountain or morass. take it that this pre-
posed measure is entirely inadequate to the
perpetuity of our honor, nor is it common
surate to the service we have rendered
Why name, without corresponding noto-
riety, has no lasting qualities in it, neither
from Its obscurity is it suggestive of any
marked political character to ensure of its
continuity. a..
Now, in all humility, I submit whether it
is safe in us to risk SO much as our honor to
a monument erected to our memory-biilt
these. "What's in ,iame2" is an old and
trite saying. "What's in name?" is per-
tinent question for us to ask in the present
d
inhabitants of Ide county will sing to tht
tune of &c wonder, wonder what lie ever
did to indemnity himself with this county
and entail upon us that uneuphonious appel
lation, significant and suggestive Of nothing
historically, geographically, geologically, phi
lologically OF theologically -as found within
the boundaries of this county, either above
or below the ground?" And l reckon that
in more cases than mine, the same tune will
be played to the dance of many feet over the
graves of our buried honors. Then, who
will he found to tell who we once were?-
None. Forgotten! Oh, what word !
Not known even in the annals of the past!-
sweetly slumbering in deep and silent for
getfulness.
Now, to prevent a catastrophe so much tC
be dreaded. Your committee would recon-
mend an amendment to the bill, as follows
Instead of affixing our names to an element
so uncertain as a tract of land OH paper, and
so liable to fall into the hands, hereafter, Of
people supremely selfish and ignorant, who
can know nothing of our great worth and
importance-toc change entirely the character
of these mementocs. Your committee would
recommend as a substitute for those in the
bill the immediate erection of large monu-
ment Of dough. Such material, he thinks
would be Enthusiastically suggestive and high
ly ornamental. This monument shall be
composed of parts in form of tiles, one fol
each member-on which we can have a cast
of our countenances in basso relieve; and in.
asmuch as it is necessary that the cheek Of
this bass relief should be hard, in order te
withstand the storm of contempt from with.
out, your committee would propose that the
cheek should be overland or surmcunted with
brass:-=which material, he thinks, would al
so be very ornamental if kept clean, and
eminently suggestive of the fine sentiments
of the founders of this design. Your com.
mittee would suggest that this monument
should not be fully completed this year, on
account of the large amount of incomplete
matter in our hands; and it may be desira-
BILE that some historic devices should be
wrought upon the panels of this monument
He would therefore recommend that the tor
should be left unfinished till the Territory OF
future State of Minnesota can manufacture
another Legislative body sufficiently hard in
the cheek to form the cap and climax of this
superb structure of monumental fame.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
j. G. IDE.
The London Shipping Gazette reports the
arrival at Exmouth, on 18th of Dec, of the
ship "No One" Cantell, from Jersey
Whether or not tho ,-oSco1 UaS pamod in q