The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-05-16

CongressionalL Land Grants.
zoae Editors efths Ainnssosian.
The bills now being introduced in our
Legislature for giving to the various compa-
mics the lands on the different lines of road
which Congress has granted, in many in
stances, contain q condition that such COM
panies shall subscribe in proportion to the
quantity of land they respectively receive,
towards building road along the valley of
the Mississippi river. This scheme, if adj
hered to, must assuredly be detrimental, if
not disastrous, to the best interests of the
Territory for if the lands which By lap can
directly or indirectly be applied to no other
purpose than aiding to build the lines on
which they are found respectively, are thus
perverted to other objects, or if by any con-
tingency the avails can be used for other
purposes, they will no longer form a basis of
security for money necessary to build the
roads for which Congress has given them.
Eastern capitalists, just in proportion as this
sentiment prevails, are Withdrawing and de-
cling any connection with lines of road sub
.iected to the proposed condition.
The development of the Territory must
inevitably be set back year or two till the
error can be corrected, if indeed Congress
should not repeal the whole grant by reason
of the perversion of the trust.
Or, if the grant is not repealed by Con-
gress, how could the Secretary of the Int
rior grant patents for lands applied or used in
any other way or manner than that preserib-
ed By Congress, as the sole condition of the
trust; or how can the Governor sanction q
legislative act for the execution of these
trusts, SO palpably conflicting with the pow
ers granted to the trustees of the general
government, and the best interests of the
Territory?
Congress looks to this Legislature, if it
accepts the trust, to carry it out in the spir-
it and the letter Of the law.
1t is a magnificent grant, which, if car
ried out honestly and faithfully, will enable
the various companies to form their connec-
tons with Eastern and Southern Railroad
Companies, of such strength and responsible
lily as will slowly but pretty surely build
the roads, but any other policy will bring
such odium and discredit upon the whole
subject as entirely to destroy the availability
of the grant to the objects contemplated by
Congress.
Let not the charges made at Washington
of corruption and fraud in regard to Mime
sofa land grants, which have so much re-
tarded the contamination of the grants and
prosperity of the Territory, be applied to
the legislation here, lest more disastrous con-
sequences still shall follow.
The opinions of men in power at Wash
ington in regard to these land grants are
such, that any departure from an honest and
faithful discharge of the duties of the trust
would be made valid and sufficient reason
for withholding the patents for the lands, i
not for a repeal of the grants. 3
For the reputation, therefore, of Minneso
ia; for the credit of those gentlemen whit
have pledged to members of Congress thei
assurance that these grants would be faith
fully applied by our Legislature according tt
the terms and conditions of the trust, lei
the grave and sacred duties of the trust bt
discharged with honesty and fidelity.
The Committee on Public Lands express
ly refused, when the Land Grant Bill wat
framed, to grant aid to river road, on the
ground that the motive and reason by which
alone the government could aid the interior
remote from the river by her lands, had nc
application when applied to a road along 9
navigable river.
Will or can the Minnesota Legislature
now compel Congress to do what it had de.
termined it could and it would not do? Time
will determine. . -.