The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-08

az fresh piece Of pleasantly as was ever de-
vised, even by the collective wit Of the people.
Not the conundrum which took the prize at
the Melodeon, not even the last bm.mOt
which captivated Paris, and saved France
from revolution is equal 10 essential ludicrous-
ness TO the project preached in the Senate
on Tuesday for the removal Of the capital
Now there is nothing in the general pro-
position for the removal Of the capital which
need necessarily excite smile. The ques-
ton is always legitimate one, and the
measure itself high ly proper one, if any
better situation can be found for the purpose
than St. Paul, combining with greater ad-
vantsges Of accessibility from oil parts of
the State, at least, equal accommodations
for the various departments Of the Govern
ment.
In the present state Of our internal com
munications, st. Paul, we think, will be up-
versally admitted, to combine more sdvan-
tages Of geographical situation and social
comfort than any other place 10 Minnesota,
and the future system Of internal conmun-
cations which is 10 fix the Typographical re-
lations Of the different parts OF the State, is
not sufficiently matured to indicate the pro
per point for the final location Of the capital.
Whenever our railroad system approaches
sufficiently near completion TO give any OF
the interior towns greater degree Of acces-
siblity than 81. Paul, and q more central
and proximate relation TO the population OF
the State, us n whole, it will be time enough
to talk Of q removal. Any project, there
FORE for the removal Of the capital, is ex
pccted to be based on considerations Of pub
lie convenience and general utility. We
expect the subject at least to be treated Sc
riously. The grave formality Of pnrlia-
mentary paper promotes thi srcasonabe ex.
pectation.
There is nothing at all in the title Of MIR.
HuiIs bill &" for the removal Of the seat OF
Government by vote of the people, which
gives the most remote hint Of the enormous
Joke which lies ambushed in the first section
of that facetious instruments; and the
sudden transition from the stately gravity OF
the first lines to the ludicrOus bathos q the
concluding clause is irrcsistibly comic
Here 1t is:
sgcTlos |. That the qualified electors be, and
are hereby authorized and required to yo.e al
the next general election, or on the twdvth
day Of next October, for, or against q rem'vai
Of the seat of government OF this state rom
the city Of 81. Paul, in the county OF Ramsey,
to N,eoiist Island in the county Of Hsnnep'n.
To Nicolet Island, OF all places in the
world! We have had funny proposition
for the removal OF the Capitol before, to
breckenridge, to Pembina, to Glcncarrie, to
E.llio,a, but nothing so rich, 80 rare, 50 piq-
uant, so thoroughly original and, wiihal so
refreshipgly cool as this. II is believed to
have been purposely kept back to confront
the ascendency OF the dog star, and super
scdc the Legislative necessity for clairet
punches.
As some Of our readers may not know
where or what Nicollet Island is, it may be
necessary to explain that Nicollet Island is
delicate way OF adjusting in single
phrase the rival claims OF ~. Anthony and
Minneapolis, which are divided, or rather
united. by an island OF that rame. in the
middle OF the Mississippi; and the hamor
OF the thing consists in the fact that the
place 10 which il is proposed to reno the
Capital is about eight aud three quarter
miles from the place from which it Is TO b.
removed. The exquistness of the jest Is
enhanced by the fact, that the proposed re-
moval can only he effected at large ex-
pense. without comforting single COM
pensa,ing advantage without meeting a
single one OF the conditions which could
justify the change.
There is no reason for it in heaven or
earth; none eau be alleged or conceived. II
is founded on no possible consideration Of
public utility. and has its origin in no mo-
tive but the ignoblc local one that it may
enhance the price OF lots at st. Anthony
AMI the meaner, vindictivs one that it may
injure st. Paul, which latter, in the minds
OF some Of our legislators. is considered the
principal epd OF human government. But
the infinite absurlty Of measure so utter.
ly without Conceivable pubic purpose, SO
utterly without, even plausible pretsxt OF
q public purpose is lost in the radical pub
lie depravi,y which il eviuces. And we
pas from u sus Of the ludicroW TO . sense
OF shame that the Legislators Of Minnesota
can me-, only in the capacity Of small traders
i'm town lots. To turn IsyislAtiou into dirty