The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-27

HieaSutc VIC otC utIuiu 10 TAKE tuc EespouSi-
bility Of? That gentleman had also said thai
those who proposed this measure of RELIEF
MEASURE OF RELIEF, forsooth ] should pro
pose something better. But such arguments
are lame. 1t matters not whether Other
propositions are submitted or not. There
was an actual question even whether the
Legislature could pass any legal acts or not
Even Senator Beman, the gentleman who had
spoken so brilliantly and wittily in favor ol
the loan, had repeatedly made fine speeches
declaring We were not yet a State but
Territory, and could pass no valid acts.
The Speaker closed with an impressive
warning to the members and the people not
to pass this measure. He touchingly and
beautifully alluded to the apt simile of the
gallant ship starting out on voyage. 1t was
like our Stale-our own beloved Minnesota
She is starting out into the future, across an
untracked sea of domestic policy. Take care
that YOU do not run her upon the shoals, or
the breakers, or the hidden rocks at the be-
ginning of the enterprise; but avoiding these,
let it go down to posterity, not entailing on
them the curse of debt, but securing to
them the blessings which wise policy be-
gun by US will perpetuate. (Applause
Mr.. TAYLOR being loudly called for, said,
he would prefer to speak at the close of the
meeting, and answer the whole speakers then.
In answer to the calls of the audience, Col.
Robertson came forward
He reviewed the positions of the friends OF
the measure on Monday evening. He said
that Mr.. Holllnshead had acted the Star Ira
gedian, Mr.. Taylor genteel comedy, and MIR.
Be man loac comedy. The cast was well cho-
sen; so far he gave them credit for arranging
it so as to have the best effect.
Mr.. BEMAN had declared he was fast
man-would rather 20 to the devil on cars
than on foot. But we must be old fogies, for
we would rather 60 as slow as possible, to
see that aforesaid individual. This was a
specimen of the speeches and arguments used.
They impugned our motives, because they
have motives of their own, which are assaila-
BILE, and say that we want to gain the ap-
plause of the people. l was assailed, and
declared to be an out, and wanted to get in.
But some of them, if treated fairly, who are
in, would get flung ont! (Applause.) He
appealed to the audience to say if he had
ever sought for Office more than once, and
then he quit mighty soon, or been unduly
before the public in any way. He had not.
fhey had accused us of wishing to destroy.
Destroy what Good Heavens destroy
the safeguards in the Constitution. He pro-
ceeded then to show the fallacy of the argu-
ments used by Mr.. Holinshead, and the So
phistry of the positions, and picked them to
pieces in mastery and logical style.
Having concluded this part of his address,
which was rather too lengthy to report in
full he dwelt on the bad effects Of the pro-
posed measure, which he supported by ex-
tracts from the History of Illinois, by Gov.
Ford, the greatest governor Illinois ever had, !,
and one who had saved it from ruin brought
on by the same species of loaning the State
credit to railroad companies. Now, Illinois
had declared against such a ruinous system,
and had utterly prohibited the loaning the
State credit for any purpose.
And now, while other states are contract
ing their debts, we are expanding. While they,
from filter experience are putting prohibitions
in their constitutions againt leaning state
credit, we, unwarned by all this, are porpos
ing to alter our constitution so as to allow it !
Is this wisdom
interests. This was the only "motivcs' he
had in opposing the measure. He declared
if the measure was passed, destroying State
credt-and expressing the people, his pro-
perty, in common with all others, was to be
the sufferers. They would go down togeth-
er. So much for the motives on our sde.-
Now let us examine their reasons.
There are men in embarrassed circumstances
connected with these roads, who are anxious
to have this measure pass. They will be
enriched by it. A few will be benefited, but
the injury will result to the many, whose in
terests in common with his own, he was de.
Tending. He believed in the greatest good
to the greatest number. 1t was democrat
ic idea. But this bill proposes to enrich a
few at the expense of the many. The COM
panies want % pay their officers, the officers
want to pay their creditors, provided they can
like to see the loan bill passed so as to get paid.
He detailed the operations during the ex-
ira session of the summer of 1857, as to the
manner of the passage of the grant to the
several companies. Wisconsin men, he said
had come here with half million dollars
Some Individuals suddenly changed their op-
inions-got more light, and in wonderfully
short space Of tin e and with wonderful unan-
unity the grant was handed ever to them. The
only company of Minnesota men, have declar-
ed they don't want aid This is significant !!
The companies say that we have imposed
a duty on these railroads we would gladly
take that duty from them, and give them
four fold as much as they themselves say they
have expended in surveys, &c,provded they
give back these lands.
-, l. 1.co 10 of
railroads. charge back upon the friends of
the bill that it is they and not we who are
opposing progress When the Companies
get hold of this loan, they will suck the juice
out of it, as they would an orange ,and throw
the rind, in your face Stop now Run
not this risk in our present condition. 1t is
not the part of wisdom in man, or in a
State, to stake all in one single throw, and l
hope it will not be done in our Legislature,
or ratified by the people Of our State. Gap
plause.)
Judge HOPKINS said he liked the West
he was himself Western man. The West
ern people had good plan of investigating
everything, as they are investigating the pres
ent proposed loan. The question is, shall
you open the Constitution at this time to
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Grant Companies. Next, that this bill will
follow in the wake. Some had opposed the
bill because they supposed the State would
be losers thereby. If it is not made secure,
vote it down when it comes to you, but be
contented there were smart men enough
to fix it so that it would make the State Sc
cure. Next, how are the railroads to be
built. Suppose they vote for it. Why are
we compelled to do it. 1t is because we are
young and have no money. 1t is prepos-
ferrous to think we can now do it. In Wis
consin they built roads by mortgaging their
towns, cities and everything to get the roads
built. They were bound to have them, and
did have them at all risks, and Wisconsin
was now rich State. Who do the railroads
benefit? The land owners, and farmers, who
seldom ever take stock, or aid them along.
Now you are afraid to run the risk of HAVING