New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-01
MINNESOTA.
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL, &c.

Correspondence Of The ~ 7. Tribune
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb q, 1857.
A brief stay in this metropolis Of the North
West suggests few notes which may be deemed OF
interest. The Territorial Legislature is now in
session, and the measures before it looking to the
advantage of indisiduals and Of cities in embryo,
are innumerable. When these are simply got up
for gas, without any intention of being made OF
practical account, they are allowed to pass with
out opposition; but if Of serious import they some
times meet with stiff resistance. The politics of
Minnesota are so equally divided between the two
great parties, that it remains quite uncertain what
will be the political aspect of the new State when
it enters upon its majority. In the present Legls-
lature the popular branch is Republican by one
or two msiOrity, while the Council has like ma
iOrity the other way.
But ordinary party lines are at present over
thrown in the division of opinion and action grow
ING out Of the removal of the capital from st. Paul
TO ST. Peter, which has recently become law. No
other subject here excies much interest aud BIT
terbess The st. Paul press is furious on the sub
ject, and evidently accepts very unwlngly this In
version OF the old maxim of "rObbing Peter to pay
Paul" The main argument relied upon by the OPP
popents of the removal is the want of rightful au-
thorify on the part of the Leglslature-such au-
thOrlty, as they aege, not being contained IN the
organic act of Congress- The Attorney General, in
an opinion furnished by request to the Legislature,
takes this ground, and gives the cold shoulder very
empbatcally to the doctrine Of Squatter Sow
ereignty. 1t is also attempted to throw odium
upon the party ofremoval by charges OF corruption
and bribery. Itjs said that lots and stock In the
new City of ST. Peter, now containing only some
500 to zoo inhabitants, have carried through the
measure of removal. That our Legislature, sur
rounded by the temptations peculiar to country
where fortunes are sometimes built up In year or
two, ia not more immaculate than Congress or the
legislative bodies of the States is not improbable.
That the proprietors of St. Peter should have been
willing to use other arguments than those growing
out Of its central position comes within the list OF
supposable cases; and that his Excellency the Gov
eruor. who is large shareholder in the new capital
may have used his personal and political influence
for the passage of the bill is barely possible.
On the other hand, that st. Paul has not always
been unmndful of its advantages as the seat of
government to influence legislation 80 as to pro-
mote its own interests at the expense OF other local
tiles, ia also among the possibilities. That with
their growing strength they should have united to
deal blow IN return, il perhaps no more than
natural.
A brief look at the assembled wisdom " of the
Territory conveyed the impression that the MEN,
bers would compare very fayoraby with other legls
latiye bodies that have visited, for intelligence
and decorum. They will probably average less in
age than the New.York Legslature-say from 30
to 40. There is among them less inattention to
business apparent than in the American Congress,
though the smallness of the cumbersome 40 in
the lower house-Ought to account, in large meas
are, for the greater degree OF order They have
no pages and there is OF course none OF that clap
ping Of hands or striking Of papers on the desk 10
call the attention OF those messengers, which SO
confuses the House and strikes 50 uppleasantly on
the ear Of the visitor at Washington.
Our Representatives, however, are not behind
hand in initiating some Of tue bad manners OF men,
bers Of Congress. Yesterday one of the gentlemen
from Dakota, in replying to charge OF another
member, tad he should treat it as the man did
when b. was kicked by jackass consider where
at came from" and further, declared said charge
ss false as HE'LL at which poins the speaker
promptly raped him TO order. At other times
members like oyerta sked schOOl-boys amuse them
selves by throwing wads of paper at each other.
To-day one of them, through the weakness OF his
armchair, subsidized to the floor, and while gather
ing himself and the fragments up, brother legs
latOr objected 10 motion being made While ar.
T had the floor.
Public opinion in the Territory, have no DOUBT,
inclnes 10 favor a division cas-. and west, on or
near the 46th parallel on our admission as State,
instead of the north and south line liked by the bill
which passed the House. A wiier Arrangement
would be to adopt both lines Of division, and or
ganize into State region of some 40 900 to $1,000
square miles. But the anxiety to avail itself ~
the advantages of admission TO the Union will
doubtless lead Minnesota TO overcome any iastdiOus
sOGcitude with reference to boundaries
The Winter in this Territory is said to have been
unusually seyere-more snow and wind than usual
And in ihese respects the southern portion has
suffered more than the northern. In the pine and
Superior regions the cold has been less intense, aud
there has been less snow than farther south Such,
at least, is the report OF persons hang from that
direction.
ST. Paul, notwithstanding the removal of tho
capital, will be great, and some day beautiful
city. So also will St. Anthony, with its trans
Mississippi neishbcr, Minneapolis. Real estate
in all these places has already reached an almost
fabulous figure aud the immigrant with small means
must OF necessity pitch his tent in some Of the
younger interior towns of the Territory. DIFF.