The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-16

cued from oblivion by a well written history.
That material can be collected, l have no
doubt, as am informed that two men were
quietly seated on haystack near by, and
witnessed the whole affray. Let us have
their afidavits, by all means.
Mr.. HALL-Mr Chairman some Of the
gentlemen seem anxious to crush the memo
rial because it calls for an appropriation to
pay the expenses incurred by this expedition
to the Sunrise. They must recollect, sir,
that this will cause the heaviest loss on those
least able to afford it. Whatever may have
been the error of the authority which can at
all or any time call upon the volunteer mi
litia, in ordering them on this unwise expe-
ton, they should be paid for their time and
means expended. Many of them are poor
mechanics, lily able to lose what they spent
in equipping themselves. They were called
out by regular authority, and must be paid.
Mr.. COWAN-I too, Mr.. Chairman am
in favor of that, as those men were mustered
into service in a regular manner, and wheth-
er good or evil resulted from either of the ex-
peditions, they can claim and recover pay for
their services. In regard to the Spirit Lake
campaign, l can believe nothing else than
that the outrages committed there justified
the expedition. We, in that part of the
country, had nothing whatever to gain from
it, and the sum called for by that resolution
will not any more than reimburse claimants
for their actual losses. Men fed from their
houses, fearing the band of savages would de-
vastate them, and brought their families into
tie towns. Their cattle died in many cases,
of utter starvation, and 1 saw the bodies of
hundreds lying by the roadside in the snow,
myself The injury done to that whole Sec
ton of country could not be calculated by
tens of thousands of dollars. This memorial
was simply for the relief of persons who had
been spending time, or furnishing supplies
for the expedition.
The question coming up on Mr.. Cowan's
substitute, it was carried
Messrs. SMITH, BEMAN and others con-
tinued the debate, censuring the Governor
and leaders Of the Sunrise expedi tion, severe
ly.
Mr.. COWAN defended them. He admir-
ed the promptitude and readiness with which
relief was sent, as it was believed relief was
needed, in both cases. In one it proved to
be unnecessary, but detracts none from the
merit due the Governor, who was influenced
by statements which conveyed the impression
that assistance was really needed by the
Sunrise settlers.
Mr.. VAN ETTEN-It is we'll known, Mr..
Chairman, that I opposed the Sunrise expe-
ditiOn from the first. 1t was unnecessary
There had been no heart-rending outrages
committed on the peaceful settlers on the
Sunrise, to call out force for their assist
ance. While they were quietly and uninter
ruptedly pursuing their avocations, a troop
of cavalry, holiday parade soldiers, undisci
plined and reckless came into their neigh
borhOod. Finding there a group of drunk
en- Indians, who had, may be, committed q
few thefts-fOr drunken Indian will steal
straightway they attack them, kill one and
take child prisoner! But in the fray, they
lose one of their own number, and the good
done, if any, is overbalanced by the evil The
corps, besides, were not mustered or forced
into the servce-they all volunteered, and
after spending several days in labOrious pre-
paration started out anxious for fun, and ca
ger for any excitement. If you had seen
them sweeping through the streets, in gor-
geous uniform, with bugles playing and sa-
bres cleaning, you would have thought
none of the hard-working, hickOry-shirted
yeomanry going on mission of mercy, as
some of the gentlemen have eloquently said
therefore move that the committee rise,
and report back the memorial to the Senate,
and recommend that it be referred, in accord
ance with Mr.. Cowan's motion, to commit
tee of three, &c. Carried
The committee therefore rose, and report
ed it back with the above recommendation,
which was concurred in, and the Chair ap-
priated as such committee, Messrs. Cowan,
McKune and Van Etten.
Mr.. COWAN moved that $50 copies of the
ri. relative to payment of taxes, he printed
for the use of members.
Mr.. BEMAN moved to amend by insert
lug $50"
Mr.. COWAN asked leave to change his
motion to $3.50"
A discussion ensued in which some long
retrenchment speeches were made, and took
a general range, by Messrs. Cowan, Jones,
Beman, Smith and Hodges.
The question coming up on the highest
number. was lost. Yeas 5, nays 20.
Mr.. COWAN called for the previous ques-
ton. Nays 10, yeas s. So the motion was
lost.
Mr.. COWAN moved committee of three
be appointed to wait on the State Printer, and
ascertain the relative cost of printing so. aud
$50 copies of every bill
Mr.. Fol SOM moved to amend by adding:
And enquire the prices of printing per thou
sand Ms. and press work, &c.
Mr.. SKINNER moved to amend the
amendment by adding
Also, enquire whether the Pioneer office is
bankrupt or not.
As the resolution gave rise to discussion,
it was laid over, and
On motion of Mr.. HALL, Senate adjourn
ed.
HoUsE.-The House was called to order
pursuant to adjournment, by the Speaker
pro tenn.
NOTICE OF BILLS.
BY Mr. BRAY: A memorial to Congress
for donation for the benefit of an Agricul-
tural College.
By Mr.. WAKEFIELD: To locate State
road from Shell Rock, in Freeborn County,
to Blue Earth City, in Faribault County.
By Mr. STEVENS: To locate State road
from North Minneapolis by way of Winsted
and Kandiyohi, to the western line of the
State,
THE CODE.
Mr.. OTIS, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, made the following report:
Your Committee, to whom was referred
House Bill No. 68, entitled An Act in re-
lation to Courts and judiciary Proceedings"
have had tie same under consideration, and
would respectfully report
That the Bill contemplates law changing
the practice iu our Courts of Judicatnre from
the Code adopted in 1851, to the Common
Law system. That the system of pleading
and practice contemplated by this bill has
been wholly abolished in m any of the States;
and in all of them. where retained. it is es-