Minnesota weekly times., 1857-02-21


the Capital, because st. Paul was not the place
for it, and would it confer extensive benefits up
on the Valley Of the Minnesota. 1t would tend
to develop the vast resources, and the variousn-
dustrial facilities of that fertile region He COM
planned that the Republican newspapers had as
sailed him and the people of Minnesota Valley,
by assuming to dictate to the members of this
House how they shall vote. Said they had tried
to make it party question, when it was entirely
local question, and interpreted by local inter-
ests. The speaker declared, moreover, that he
was opposed to infringing on the rights of the
people. as he was San advocate of Squatter Sow
ereignty" (Which the members thought was a
bran new plank in the Republican platform y =
He also declared that the object of the friends of
this bill in urging its immediate passage, was to
torestaH the action of Congress
Mr.. Whitlock believed in the principle, policy
philosophy of the glorious "Squatter Sovereign
ty doctrine" and made a straightforward Dem
ocratic speech
Mr.. WILSON wished to define his position. He
should vote for this bill to remove the Capital
to St. Peter, because he feared, that if the mat
ter was submitted to the people they would To-
cate it further South Democracy again dis
trusts the ''Squatter Sovereigns.') Further, he
said tho proposed location would give the ''bar-
rem conntry'' owned by his constituents, chance
for new territorial road % "a comprehensive
view.)
Mr.. Murray made very strong, manly, perth
ncnt and eloquent speech. For the first time b.
had learned this morning that the Honorable
members who were the friends of this bill, were
endeavoring to pass it so as to I" "forestall the
Legislation in CongressH' For the first time he
had learned that the United States Congress was
subordinate to the Legislature of Minnesota.
And how are they to pass this measure? They
say to ouI side sc remove the Capital to St. Peter
and you establish North and South line.' They
say to their side '' remove the Capital to St. Pc
ter, and an East and West line is unavoidable" !"
The Speaker said that he had not thought till yes
terday that there was any thing serious and earn
est in the urging of this measure, and that he had
not believed there were men enough in the House
so dishonest as to pass this enactment in defiance
of the Organic Act. He referred to the outside
appliances and button-holding which had formed
a large part OIL the - cOnSlueraLlOn - unUer WHICH
the bill was advocated. He would at a proper
time bring up the subject, and have the fraud and
corruption investigated. 1t was due to all the
members that the House should rid itself of the
foul stigma which is reeking al. over our city,
and explain away, if it can, the charge that men
Honorable members-are being bought and
sold like sheep in the shambles!
One man is charged with being offered $4,000
for his vote, and another, of less influence and
less capacity, $500! And if, when the proper
time for developments shall arrive, he did not
prove that some men were directly interested in
the passage of this bill, then let it pass, and God
speed it ! And when this House had solicited
the opinion of the learned Attorney General res
pecting the legality of this bill, even then, the
friends of this movement, in their desperate am
bition, voted against receiving it. Are they a.
fraid of light? That could not be, because a
gentleman remarked to him (Mr. Murray yester-
day, that if Congress should pass special law
forbidding the passage Of this bil it should pasI
This is measure Of reckless speculation, not
one of either policy or principle; and when men
set out to do wrong, what do they care for the
wrong?