The weekly Minnesotian., 1858-03-27

Letter from Senator M'Kune, of VASE
ca County, In Opposition to the
S5,OOO,OOOs M A
70 ~ xai4 4ors Of es 4innesostas l5saY
Allow me throneh yourcolurnns to state
my position in@fegardt to the S5,OOO,OOO
loan. Having been prevented from being
present during the passage Of the bill, by
sickness in my family, deem this explana-
ton due to myself and my cohstituehts-
Whilst am in favor of the immediate con-
struction of our Railroads, and believe that
the prosperity Of Minnesota depends in
bhe degree on their early cohuientenent
and completion, believe the above named
measure eminently calculated to defeat the
desired object, and will submit few of the
many reasons why I am opposed to the
measure, and why the people should reject it
with u, iversal MOL .' "''"Hl.. -..- %
l. Because the principle of loaning the
credit of the State to corporations, thereby
incurring State debt and consequent taxa
ton, is wrong and dangerous. ".
IL. Because it will have a tendency
to prevent our immediate admission in
to the Union, by showing that the
people are dissatisfied with their Consti-
tuition, and because the Constitution which
has been presented to Congress, as the Con-
stitution of Minnesota, might be changed be-
fore our admission, Or after our admission but
before the news of such acceptance could ar
rive here-makng unpleasant complications,
| and giving no security for ourselves, or guar
anty to Congress that the Constitution of to-
| day will be the Constitution of tomorrow. 70
! III. Because the people cannot have a
fair expression, as in a great many localities
the bill cannot reach them before they arc
called upon to vote. .,..,..r., ..t s.. .....:
w. Because the passage of the above
named act, is in direct violation of Mrse pro-
visions of the Constitution, not proposed to
| be amended 4! Sec. !, Art. 9 of the Consti-
tuition provides, that the State shall never
contract any public debt unless in time OF
war to repell invasion, or suppress insurrec-
ton, except in the cases and in the manner
provided in the fifth and siGth sections of this
..rticle-not Section TEN, which is proposed
to be amended Section five, article nine
provides that no law creating State debt
shall take effect, until it shall haves been
passed by taco-thin1s Of the members Of eacl
branch of the Legislature. The $5,OOO,OC(
loan did not receive the votes of two-thirds o
either branch. of the Legislature. Section
one, Article fourteen, provides that al
amendments to the Constitution shall be
published with the laws which have beel
passed at the same session, shall be submit
ted to the people at the end and not in the mid
die Of session, so the same Legislature canno
take advantage of Constitution OF their own
making, under which they were not elected
In such case, the People have no representa-
tion in the measure passed having never
elected Legislature on the Issues which al
ways will arise under a new or an amended
Constitution.
V. Because the State has not the leas
shadow Of security Judging the Companie
from their own words, they have not got on
dollar to commence their roads with; have a
credit abroad and are in debt consequently
are not entitled to any credit at home. A
soon as the $5,OOOOOO are expended, the
would be just where they are now, and woul
; again appear with their beggar's petition
, praying to be released so as to enable them
, obtain credit somewhere else and the Stat
) must do it OF the works would go to decay
vi. Because this loan is to all intents an
, purposes STATE DEBT. All the securt
the bond holder has, is the faith Of the State
and to make that faith good, the Constitr
: ton provides (article 9, section 81 tha
y every such law shall levy q tax annually
, sufficient to pay the annual interest of sue
! debt, and also tax sufficient to pay tn
J, principal of such debt within ten years
h which must be done if the people ratify I'll
proposed amendment ; and every member
the Legislature who votes against the ia
will uiolate the oath he took when he swol
a to support the Constitution" The tax mu
= be levied to give validity to the bonds, au
q that befor4 the final adjournment of the l.
+ gislature!
IS VII. Because the bill does not provit
:, any actual security for the completion Of Oh
e mile of road, nor for the completion of al
n two continuous miles of grazing.
J. VIII. Because the companies propose
J. make part if not all of the bends Janki
l. capital and by transferring them to cre
a tures of their own, they can compel the Sta
A. to pay or rather owe them the interest al
=; principal and the people will have FIVE m
d lions of dollars in currency without one dc
v lar Of coin to redeem it with =!
IS IN. Because the bill does not provide al
Ill security to prevent the Governor from CO
s. veying at any time when he is corrupt enou!
to do it, land the two late Governors Of WI
consin are evidence that Governors may
bought,) to any person agreeing with t
companies, the whole amount of land held
ur trust for the State for one dime, and t
he Lord only knows who IS our Governor,
ra who he will be, of this half State and h
be Territory of Minnesota.
Nc portion Of the above statement is mea
, to apply to the Cedar Valley and Minncal
/, lis Railroad Company, as l understand til
, are not an applicant for any portion Of
: loan. LEWIS Mex NE,
... State Senator from the Count
sh OF Steele and Waseca
~ .s.. |.t. -tt
be Claims.
er Full landed farmers who can afford to b
of the first settlers, will not come, if you !