The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-13
The Five Million Bill.

to travel.
The Five Million Bill.
TO new community, plunged into finan-
ciai embarrassment, without dollar in the
public treasury to pay the pressing and need
full expenses OF government, with revenue so
meagre as to be scarcely sufficient, with all
the assistance of the General Government,
to meet the limited requirements of Terri
torial government. the questian of lending
$5.O00,000 under such circumstances, and
at such time, is startling and fearful
Every citizen who feels an interest in the
permanent welfare of our infant State, should
hesitate before he lends his aid to impose so
heavy and so unexpecteda burthen upon her
at the moment she elnerges from her swad-
ding clothes. But when it is considered
that the common sentiment of the people,
and the unanimous opinion of the delegates
who framed our Constitution but yesterday,
were opposed to such State debt, that our
Constitution, adopted with singular unanimi-
ty, pointedly and guardedly provides against
it; we naturally inquire-why is our entire
State policy to be changed-so carefully di-
gested, so recently adopted Why is this
conspicuous and most salutary restri ctiOn in
our Constitution to be torn from it, although
but few months since sealed by the unani-
nous approval of the people?
ia.
debt of $1,000 900 now, than we were debt
of $3.50, 900 then? Are our resources great
er? Are the times better? What grounds
or pretence have the first Legislature of cur
new State, elected under this Constitution, to
say to the people who deputized them to act
under it and carry out its provisions
You know not what you did. You
have made mistake which requires instant
correction. Let them pause before they
place themselves and their constituents in so
humiliating position.
However attractive the object of this
measure may be, whatever questions OF ex-
pediency may arise, for one, feel that there
can be none which would justify the over
throw of the priciples, with which tue people
so unanimously, prudently, and recently un-
derlaid the structure of our new government.
At time of danger and alarm, men are
not SO we'll qualified to act with delberation
and prudence. Drowning men catch at
straws; and while the present financial storm
is bursting upon us, it is not surprising that
may in the excitement of the moment, deem
our newly launched bark of State in danger
of wrecking aud believing that it is going to
pieces, think it time to desert her and make
the most of the wreck, and to secure
plank each for himself | trust how
ever that there is preponderance of that
conservative and reflective element among US
that will frown down this sentiment, and
marfully stand by our young government in
this emergency.
Let me, as an humble sailor who has en-
barked his all on board, and has served be-
fore the mast, sound one blast on the Boat
swain's whistle to pipe all hands on deck, and
take in sail, so that she may not drive upon
this rock.
But who are the men and What is the pur-
pose for which this debt is to be created q
The answer is, certain Railroad Companies,
controlled by interests out of our State, and
unfriendly to it, whose agents have been
crowding the lobbies of our Legislature
chartered monopolies, to whom we have al
ready given away our splendid Land Grant,
in the hope that they would furnish the cap
i'at which a new community could not COM
mand, and who now ask us to furnish them
with the capital also.
To say nothing of the meanness of the
spirit which induces men from the States,
protesting to be capitalists, to ask pecuniary
assistance from an infant State, and an i'm
poverished community, it is a violation of
the condition upon which we gave them all
We had to give-our lands. That condition
was, that they were to furnish the capital and
build the roads. If they have obtained this
land by false pretences, should they receive
further favors from the people who have been
deceived by them? and should such fayors
be granted at the sacrifice of the institutions
of our country, our credit, and our State
honor. Let every one put these questions to
his conscience and answer.
Let every settler and hardy pioneer of Min
nesota who has had the doors of the Land
Office closed against him by these companies,
consider whether his hard earnings, and his
farm should be taxed to sustuin debt OF
$5,OOO,00O to furnish money to these modes
financiers from tue States. JUNIUS. |
WM. RiTcHIE, the husband of Anna Cora