The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-31
Gbe Gmiqraut Sin 9ouruul,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 81, 1858.
Adjournment Of the Leg1slature-The Five
M1ll1Om Loan Nm.

MILTON Loan B1ll.
Our Legislature adjourned over on the 25th inst, K
the middle Of June. A large number of she member.
were under apprehension that their legislation was lille
gal until the State was admitted into the Union, and
entered a protest to that effect in the journals. Az q
consequence OF the ansmolous position Of affairs exist
ing, and Unexpectedly prolonged BY the hardness Of
Congress to receive the Consultation, a degree If hest
fancy and apathy has prevailed in the deliberations Of
the Legislature, and but few important acts have been
adopted, although q large number :were discussed and
put through various stages previous to adjournment.
One very important measure was brought to their al
~tention, after being sometime before the public, and that
was in relation to the building Of the railroads for.
which Congress had made q large donation Of public
land. 1t was almost universally conceded that they
would not be built for many years, probably not within
the stipulated time Of the charter Of the companie-
ten years. A bill was therefore introduced to grant
aid by the State to expedite their construction. At
first the suggestion was coldly received by the public !;
but began to gain support az the discussion went on,
which was very animated until its final passage, both in
the Legislature and outside-and is still vigorously car
r'ed on among the people, evidently to result with them
as it did with their Representatives, and IS decisively.
AS will be seen by the bill, the amount of the loan
is tive million dollars, and it is SO framed that the State
is secured against loss as much as it was possible for the
Companies to secure any parties in borrowing the ne.
cessary capital to construct the road. 1t is only on the
monstrous supposition that there will be collision among
all the p~artes-includiQg a large number of the first
citizens of the State, the Governor and other eminent
ohcials-and that open and palpable corruption will be
permitted aud continued for a series Of years, that the
loan can be improperly applied or squandered. The
spirit aud letter of the bill requires each road to have
a certain amount of work executed that will be at least
equal to the advance permitted thereon-one hundred
thousand dollars on each ten miles prepared for. the
saperstructure, and double that amount when in running
order. This would seem eAectual in securing the State
against loss, but IS additional guaranty it will have q
mortgage on the entire effects Of the..company in
GLIDING their lands, with special provisions for holding
~disposing Of two hundred and forty sections, free
Of incumbrance, from each company, to meet any emer.
eency against loss when the payments Of interest are to
be made.
1t is m~anifestly an unjust charge to accuse over two
thirds of the members of each branch of the Legisla-
of being actuated by fraudulent motives in euacting
this law it is a measure that the people are to pass
upon, and if it should be carried and result adversely
to the interest Of the State, the responsibility will rest
directly on those who suffer, for it is impossible to be-
that the loan will not be honorably and judiciously
applied in accordance with the provisions laid down in
the bill.
After this was carried through, so much Of the legis-
lation is to be affected hereafter, by its adoption or re-
lection by the people that an adjournment was ordered.
Before they meet again the State will undoubtedly be
into the Union, and freedom of action and
dignity OF rfoeliug will actuate them as their pasis1on
is recognized and their legislation acknowledged by our
sister States.