Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-03-21
From the Pioneer and Democrat.
- To Oar Constituenss. 20 i'.f'-

laal tBns FROM the Pioneer and Democrat.
| biGHa - To Oar Constituents. 20 i.h. l"'
| We, minority Of the Legislative Council Of
this Territory, having taken the responsibility to
use the rules governing the body, Of which by
your SURFACES we were members, 90 a. to stop to
great extent the action off, the late Legislative
Assembly, deem it a duty incumbent on US to
state briefly the reasons which induced us to take
a step so important and 80 liable to misrepresen-
| tations. -. Ia .r,.eh,tF ~ .alrraans baa 4
>. Even in the beginning of the present session,
the other branch of the law-msking power was
flooded with bills the most pernicious to the fu-
ture welfare Of the people. Counties cut up and
established for the purpose of making county
seats railroad charters with unhesrd.of privile-
ges, covering our territory in every directions for
the especial benefit Of spectators in town-sites
and q census bill, in which the squandsring Of
some eighty thousand dollars out Of theresour-
ces Of the Territory, and an utter disregard to an
equal and fair representation were its least OBJ
jectionable features, We had tried our utmost to
defeat. To crown1all, . bill for the removal of
tho seat of Government was introduced into the
Council utterly reckless IN its conception, and
pushed through Both Houses BY tho most foul
and Ubiquitous means. so I'D b5sssqsT bIs -
This bill, virtually contract between the
Legislature and the ST. Peter Company, wherein
the party of the first part, for and in considera-
tion of the sum of twenty thousand dollars, to be
paid by the said party of the second part in GER
tain regular instalments, locates the Capitol on q
School Section between the towns of st. Peter
and Traverse, deprives the people of the right
guaranteed to them BY the Organic Act, that
they, the people, should select the permanent To-
cation of the seat Of Government. The simple
fact that the location was on School Section,
which cannot be occupied until after we become
State, shows the ACT to have been intended for
all time to come, and the fact that members of
the Company are individuals high in Office. and
at the same time the warmest supporters of the
bill, makes the scheme only the more nefarious.
On the eve of assuming the mantle of State SOW
ereignty, ignorant of the boundaries Of such flu
tore State, any unbiased mind can conceive the
folly and presumption Of the late Legislative As.
semblyin removing the seat of Government, even
supposing the act constitutional. ,6s ,n 10 7nai
Thus, fellow-cirizens, contract between the
Legislature and an overgrown Company, depriy-
ing the people OF their constitutional rights; Q
census bill, including an apportionment the most
unfair ever attempted to be forced upon any peo-
pie, and granting dangerous and unusual power
ton in the shape Of Objectionable charters and
county bills for the benefit of town site corpora
tors and spectators generally, were the evils
which threatened to overwhelm the people. "a
On Saturday, the 18th of February, the Coun-
cilor from Winona rose and offered Q series of
resolutions, depriving the Hon. Chairman of the
Committee on Enrolled Bills Of his Office, and
| substituting tool Of his own. The resolutions
were well-timed, for Hon. Joseph Rolette, Chair
man Of said Committee, was absent saturday
being day when many members had been in the
habit Of absenting thcmselves) /; and the course
of the Councillor Offering the resolutions was out
rageous and unprecedented, for Immediately af-,
ter reading the same, and while yet In possession
| of the floor, he moved their adoption, and on
that motion moved the previous question: thus
cutting of all debate. Without notice. and in
the absence Of the gentleman attacked, the reso-
| lutions were sprung upon US, and we were not
defend his injured name on the floor of the body
| of which he was a member. Every HONORABLE
and unbiased man can see the malice aforethought
of the plans Of the majority. Our only resource
was a call Of the Council, and of this we availed
ourselves. 'l.''' 90 80 - =. . .-Slle,s
Pending said call, the minority again and
again requested that the unlucky patchwork styl-
cd a bill Tor the removal Of the seat of govern
ment, might be dropped, and the legitimate busi-
ness, the bills possessing a general interest and
aiming ut the general good Of the Territory, be
taken up pledging themselves not to renew the
call, unless compelled thereto by aggressive mo-
tions on thepart of the majority. The majority,
however, were determined to pass the resolutions
before an adjournment should be had, or to re-
new mot.ous equally rs offensive, and the minor
ity being equally positive that they should not
| ~~l,, L IL 80. Al. al =
session, under call, for the space Of 1--WE days
and nights. At the end Of that time, several Of
the Councillors who had acted with the majority
signifyng their willingness to proceed to busi.
ness, the call was suspended on Thursday at ii
O'Clock, A. NJ, but within an hour Of suspendjng
The call, the Councillor from Winona again intro
;duced resolution, the efsetofa which would
j have been the virtual expulsion of Hon. Joseph
Roletrs, and for the second time she call was re-
newed on our side in self-defeaos.r - vgg
Even on the last day OF the session, when the
call had again been suspended for the purpose Of
trausacting some necessary business, and before
the business, could DO reached it was renewed
| again by the Councillor from Olmstead, and kept
up until the final close of the session. We there
fore contend that it wss the majority who, for
the purpose Of pushia9 through asdu passing pri.
'vate charters and local measaresIfor the benefit
of spectators, have delayed business Of a gsnsr-
T.
A., The above, fellowIoiti5ens are simply the facts
as they appear on the journals Of the Two Houses.
Far from being desirous Of delaying legitimate
and necessary business, the minority ware alaays
ready to bury the strife and push forward the ee-
Prious and important labors of the session., but
not suiferto see our fights trampled upon and our.
selves the impotsnt tools ofani ovefbearing ma.
iority, without resisting and though ,wiiingito
Submit our acts when fully and fairly understood
20 your judgment, still, whatever your verdict
may be, we shail alwayslIbs eooxineed that "
acted right. ~ =. -. II. n, SE7zER, f,ess
DIR ~ S''' WV. FkrsBoRx,
bal ''oo1a'i' LswIs Sfokf,
T 81, .-.5 gzes Jos. RoLsFEi, cdr :,
4 j. d. LUDDIE, !,
+ teI $50 ai1 % j. B. BRtsBIN.
4 SroSs OF SPRixe I'VE saw tiny silk paraso
yesterday, carried BY y lady Of fashion. W,
looked about for anumber Of green things anG
found them. 's7AiDsi'1Hq Or
i CT The case, City Of st. Paul., o.. thu
Bridge Company, has just been tried before judge
Sherburne. He did not, yesterdays, render biz
expected decision, but, if We may Be allowed e
foressall his opinion, We may say that III i
not probable that the Judge will grant an iniunc