The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-30
bill to repeal the statute abolishing impris-

Here Mr. Van Etten interposed, and sta
ted that he had not impugned his motives,
or spoken Of them in any way-but had mere
ly mentioned the fact of his having given
notice of such bill.
Mr.. SMITH. l have no knowledge Of
course, except as / have been informed, of
the tenor and language Of the gentleman's
remarks,-but desire to explain now, and
correct the misrepresentation which that same
gentlemans remarks may have induced. l did
abolishing imprisonment for debt, it is true,
and can any of the gentlemen here deny that
the meaning of that imprisonment for debt"
refers only to fraudulent and swindling debt
ors and has no reference to honest and I'M
and always was evident, and the gentleman
himself when he impugned my motives, aas
well aware of all this.
1t was my intention, sir, to still provide
some means, as assert there should be, to
punish men who contract debts and endeavour
to defraud and indie their creditors by so
doing. Sir, law of this kind is needed to
put check on villainy, to protect the per-
son who would be the sufferer of the schemes
of the swindling debtor. 1t has no reference
to the poor and unfortunate, yet honest men
who may fall into debt. hope my reason
ing will not be misunderstood, and that the
gentleman from Ramsey will be generous
enough to accord to me honest and fair mo-
tives.
As to the bill now before us, am unqual-
fed in condemning some of its provisions
1t becomes, if you adopt them, not home
stead bill, but one for the protection of
wealth and dishonesty, against the poor and
needy creditor, it may be. cannot support
the proposed enormous exemptions mention
ed in the bill and the amendments to it. for
| do not believe they accord with the spirit
of Homestead bill in its right meaning
Mr.. BATES moved that the Committee
rise and report the bill back with the recon-
mcndation that it be referred to a select COM
mittee of five.
Mr.. RIDPATH opposed. We have spent
several days already in discussing this ques
ton, and it had cost above $500. 10 refer
it would be to delay it passage
Mr.. STREETER opposed. The design of
some of the members from the first had been
to defeat the bill. He knew them, and had
watched th ir course. The gentleman from
Fillmore was one. He couldn't find ten of
his constituents who would endorse his course
ir relation to it.
MIR. JONES said that unless the Senator
from Houston knew his constituents better
than he did himself he was doing what he
knew they would commend. He character
ised the bill as swndling scheme, ard said
he was glad that members were maxi q it so
ridiculous that it would finally be killed.
He was in favor of a bill, and the sooner this
was out of the way and decent one brought
up, the better for ourselves and constituents
too.
The motion was finally lest.
On motion Of Mr. RIDPATH the commit
tee use and reported the bill back, recommen-
ding that the various amendments be concur
red in, and that the bill be engrossed Tor a
third reading.
The reading of the amendments were call
ed for, and voted on separately.
The amendment of "l6O" instead of 80
acres in line 2, Section l, was carried-ye as
%, nays 10.
The amendment of 10000 SQUIRE feet in
any town plot was adopted.
The amendment on Sec. a. to allow the
householder to state what he or she wishes
exemptek was adopted.
The amendment of Sec. 5, in relation to
surveying the homestead in such manner
as to leave the buildings, &c., in CONT act
form, was adopted.
The amendment of Sec. 7, relative to wild
ows, heirs, &c., was concurred in.
The section eXemptng certain personal
property from execution was passed almost
without amendment
MIR. NORTON'S amendment to Sec. I, re-
curing person to be the head of family to
avail himself of the provisions of the bill was
then taken up.
Mr.. NORTON entered into an elaborate
and lengthy discussion of the bill, and what
Homestead bill should be and provide for.
lie SAID that 1t was wrong to stigmatise any
Senator as being opposed to a bill, because
ne opposed some OF the mOnstrous provisions
OF this one. He explained the term of "head
OF hmlly,' which he declared to mean any
one who had others dependant on him for
support whether married or not
MIR. LINDSLEY, MIR. STREETER and
others spoke also OH the bill.
When the roll was called, the amendments
was adopted, yeas TO- nays Is.
Mr.. HUDSON moved to amend Sec, |,
by inserting, provided that snch homestead
do not exceed $4,000 in value"
MIR. COOK moved to amend amendment
by inserting instead of e. Yeas 10, nays
20, so the amendment was lost.
Mr.. VAN ETTEN offered as substitute
that the bill be ordered to be engrossed, and
that two hundred copies be printed. The
Chair ruled this out.
MIR. HUDSON'S amendment was lost, yeas
9, nays 81.
Mr.. VAN ETTEN moved that the bill be
engrossed. Carried, and on motion of Mr.
Lindsey it was ordered to lie on the table,
and 200 copies be printed.
On motion of MIR. RIDPATH the Senate
adjourned.
by tie Speaker pro ten.
BY Mr.. STARKEY: OF citizens of Anoka
and lsanti praying for the passage of an &C:
giving bounty for the destruction of wolves
panthers and other depredating animals.
REPORT.
Mr.. YOUNG from the Committee on State
affairs reported back certain Memorials for
the establishment of mail routes, and recon-
nended their passage.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. REHFELD: To provide for the
construction Of State road Fl ON Henderson
to intersect Noble road.
by Mr.. BUFFERS: To authorize the
electors of LIE Sueur county to vote upon the
location Of the county seat.
SECOND READING OF BILLS.
An act authorizing the Inhabitants of Dodge
county to vote Laid on the table for two
weeks.
An act authorizing the rate of toll and the
manner Of conducting gristmills.
An act to authorize the Commissioners
of Sibley county to issue bonds for the pur-
pose OF erecting county buildings.
RELIEF BILL.
On motion of T. A. THOMPSON, the
House went into committee of the whole for
the consideration Of the Senate bill, for the