Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-01-31
Tf[innesota Giures,
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2S, 1857.
Minnesota Railroad Land Bill!

Much has been said about the fraud in the NEW
Railroad bill now before Congress, and the con-
seauent results arising therefrom. We sometime
since became disguised with the whole Railroad
movement in and out of this Territory. The fraud
in the first bill We fought with desperation, and
sought by every means in our power to convince
Congress and persons residing out of our Ter
ritory, that the people of Minnesota had no hand
in the alteration of the Bill. We fought it from
its incipiency to standpoint in its progress,
when we discovered that those who were opposing
it, were actuated by mean and sordid views, and
then we left it to be settled by the United States
Supreme Court. Subsequently new bill was
prepared and with the cooperation of the people
of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, it was thought
that THIS bill would pass without opposition
The three States alluded to, succeeded in getting
their grants through both branches of Congress,
but when the interests Of Minnesota came before
the Committee, instead OF presenting united
front. we presented an inharmonious array OF Pc
nurious Spectators, who, insisting upon different
claims, distracted the Committee and the bill was
allowed to sleep. ST. Cloud, st. Anthony, st.
Paul and St. Peter were represented, but not
withstanding their sanity appearances, the bill
was lost. Then came another bill, (the present
one,) and it was the opinion of the well-informed
that all the objections to the other bills had been
removed, and that now Minnesota would surely
come in for HER share of the public domain for
Railroad purposes, but this has received vital
stab, and here we are, foundering in the mire =
What's to be done? just nothing at all. Let
nothing be done until Minnesota becomes State
until some of those interests that have distract
ed our own people, have been harmonized-untll
the STATE of Minnesota can come into the pos
session of the land granted to us, and dispose oil
it in such manner as will not give rise to the
never-ceasing and blistering cry Of" Fraud =
Fraudi'
The n. Y. Tribune thus alludes to the last bill
and its opposition thereto:
"While we have hitherto earnestly opposed the
passage Of the Minnesota Railroad Land Bill
now before the House of Representatives, we
have done on quite other grounds than those
of any supposed corruption involved IN Its sup
port. We opposed it as setting bad preceden
of voting away lands to build Railroads wher'
Congress, in the nature of the case, cannot kno"
that Railroads ought to be built. Let Minnesota
assume the responsibilities of State; let heI
Legislature inform Congress on what lines mel
Railroads should be located; and then we shall
be in favor of grant by Congress equal, in pro
portion to her area, to the average of the grants
to other new States. Congress, so far as we arr
aware, has always granted lands to States neve
to Railroad Com panies. Whenever Minnesota a
State, shall apply for like grant, we stant
ready to urge the justice of her claim. The pas
sage or failure of the present bill cannot aztec
her rights.''
The charge of bribery to secure the passage
the present bill, was brought by the N. Y. Times
when on the admission of Mr.. Payne. of North
Carolina, that money had been extended to hin
for his vote, q committee of five was appointe'
on the part of the House to investigate the mat
ter. The resolution to appoint such commltte
drew forth an animated discussion and prett
thorough exposure of the whole affair. The Com
mite had not made their report, but as to tn
attempt at bribery there exists no doubt. Whe
will people learn that it is better to take
straight instead of a crooked path when?