Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-19

| with reference to this subject.
Many of the counties in the State have, as
yet, no building for the detention of offenders
against the laws, and they should be permit
ted to use the prisons in the neichboring
counties for that purpose, without restriction,
each county bearing, of course, the expenses
of its own criminals. No man before being
convicted of crime, should be confined within
the walls of State prison, for, even if de
clared Innocent by legal tribunal, the very
fact of his having been incarcerated therein,
fixes an indeible stain upon his chara .'er.
1t is necessary that there should be further
legislation for the purpose of securing the
State from injury to, or loss of the muskets
and accOutrements which belong to her,
They seould be placed, together with all OF
the property of the State, not specially en-:
trusted to others OF its officers by law, under
the particular direction and control of the
Governor. Many of these arms and equip
ments are now in the possession of volunteer
corps, and have required of the directors OF
these companies, that they make immediate
report to me of the number in their posses
sion, and the condition they are in. There
are boxes scattered through different rooms
in the Capitol, containing muskets and other
articles of military equipment, some of which
seem to have remained unopened and uneX-
amined since the year 1855. Provision
should be made for due care of these arms,
and further, direction should be given to the
Governor as to the disposition to be made of
them, for under existing laws he can only
issue them to uniformed companies composed
of not less than forty men.
1t is absolutely necessary for the protection
of the Capitol and the public property con-
tanned therein, that a trusty and competent
Individual be appointed to take charge of the
building-and the same person might be en-
ployed in securing the military weapons from
injury. There are S17 muskets still due the
State, which can be drawn-or commuted for
other military equipments. No power has
been given the Governor to commute, and l
suggest that he be authorized by law so to
do if deemed necessary.
The militia laws requires entire revision,
in order to make them effective. An imme-
date enumeration and enrolment of all the
inhabitants of the State, subject to military
duty, should be made and returned to the
Governor, that a proper organization may
| take place, and with a view also, to claim
from the General Government the arms due
us, under the laws of Congress, in proportion
to the number Of militia properly authenti-
Gated. The military code of the State should
be as simple and free from complication as
possible, and the officers who accept COM
missions under it, compelled to perform their
respective duties, or suffer such penalties as
may be authorized by law. The formation
Of volunteer companies should be encouraged.
by eXempting the members thereof from
some other duties devolving upon them as
citizens, on condition that they meet and
drill certain number of days during the
year, and ne always prepared to obey the
acquisitions of the authorities of the State
| Companies thus formed of active young men
in the several counties, prompted by lauda-
BILE desire to excel in military drill and ap-
| pearance, would be sure reliance in case of
sudden outbreaks among the Indians, and in
maintaining at all times the supremacy of
the laws.
The statute now in force "of demanding
fug;tives from justice, &C., contains some
provisions which should be amended without
delay. II requires that all the expenses at
| tendant upon the arrest and return Of fugi-
tives from justice from this State, shall be
paid out OF the treasury. In cases Of fla
grant crime, this clause would be proper and
unexceptionable, hut indictments are frequent
ly found against individuals in their absence,
on the strength OF &c parte testimony, which
is more or less frequently, dictated by vim :
dictive motives and entirely destitute of truth
Still, the Governor being ignorant of the
facts in each particular case, may feel bound
to issue a requisiton for such alleged often
der against the law, and no discretion is al
lowed him, with regard to the expenses in
volved in his pursuit and capture. The law
| imposes tie burden upon the State. instead
of upon the particular county or individual,
upon whose application the requisition has
| been made In most of the other States. the
responsibility is placed upon the Governor of
deciding when the State should meet the ex-
penses OF such requlsItlOns. | learn that there
are already some outstanding claims against
the State, under the Territorial laws, for the
pursuit of fugitves from justice, which yet
remain unpaid.
| L have received reliable information. that
the sum required to purchase three hundred
and twenty acres Of land, to comply with the
terms of an act establishing State Agr;cul-
tural College at Glencoe, has been raised bv
the public spirited citizens of the county of
| Mcleod. In addition to $4,000, subscribed
for that object, $500 has been obtained for
the purpose of breaking up the prairie land,
and to forward other preliminaries connected
with the important Institution named. Sit
uatcd in central position in one of the finest
agricultural counties in the State, there is
every reason to Anticipate, that the enterprise
will be successful, and be the means of ad-
vancing the great interests of husbandry.-
+ me state should foster and encourage an in
stituton which bids lair :o become eminentlv
useful to large class Of the citizens.
| I have issued proclamation anc caused
it to be published in most Of the papers of
the State, commanding all the officers of the
law to be active in apprehendng and pros
ecutng Indians, Of whatever bands, who
may commit murder upon other Indians, or
depredations upon the property of the whites
within the limits of the State A COW Of
the proclamation is herewith transmitted.-
Immediate and energetic action by the State
authorities, is necessary to put an end to the
massacres so often perpetrated by war parties
OF savages upon each other, as well upon de-
fenceless woman or children. The local law
is as operative upon them as upon the whites;
but as there is doubt of this upon the minds
of some, it would be judcious to place it be-
yond a question, by the passage of an act to
extend the laws of the State over all the In
dian tribes within our boundaries, and to
confine them to their own lands. unle>s allow
ed by special exception to be absent from
their reservation for limited period Acts
OF thett and robbery are now comp mplaincd of
by our citizens, which have been committed
by the Indians, who have hitherto been al
lowed to roam unrestrained through our set
Elements. The best interests, not only of the
State, but of the Indians themselves. will be
promoted, bV restricting them within thair
own limits, as much as possible.
During the first part of the session, an ap-
preparation of $500 was placed under the dl-
rection of the Governor, to be expended for
repairs and care Of the Capitol. Upon
thorough examination of the condition of the
building, the sum granted proved to be in