The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-03-13
The Agricultural College at Glencoe
Senator Reinerss Speech.

The Agricultural College At Glencoe
senator Reinerss Speech.
A few days ago, in the Senate, during the
discussion upon the expediency of establish
ing the Agricultural College-which is final
" located at Glencoe, in M'Leod ccunty-
Senator REINER, OF Saltwater, in short, but
most eloquent speech, showed himself the
peer of any member Of that body. His re-
marks were SO much to the purpose-so viz
id-so scathing upon those advocates of the
Railroad Loan Swindle who opposed this
bill, with counterfeit newborn horror of
taxation, that we have had the report of the
honorable Senator's observations written out
in full for publication, and We present them
below. Saltwater and Washington county
may we'll be proud Of their Senator.
The Senate being in Committee of the
Whole, considering the bill, Mr.. RE1sER ad
dressed the Chair as follows:
Mr.. Chairman-I admire the devotion OF
some of the members on this floor to the in
terests of the State. hail it as a symptom
OF returning consciousn: IS Of the duties de-
volving upon them as Legislators. But
few days ago they seemed blind to the fact
that to them in part were entrusted the fu-
ture welfare and destiny of the country
They were the anxiQas and daring champions
Of o bill to loan the credit Of the Stale, in
aid of the land grant Railroad Companies,
assuming that the resources OF the country
would be thereby developed, emigr alton en-
coulaged, and the channels of wealth and
prosperity filled to Overlooking. While
admire their devotion to cause which in
their opinion (whetuer we'll or lily formed
will advance the general good, l much regret
to see them manifest that spirit of exclusive
ness that would shut the bars hedge every
pathway, guard every avenue, and frown on
the attempt 10 kindle the genial rays of sci
ence which are calculated to warm into life,
energy and action, the laten' germ Of intelli-
gence, and expand the opening bud Of prom
| Use, that the mental gardens of our land,
shall be redolent with the perfume of grea,
and noble deeds.
! They are willing, nay anxious, that ali
should be rich, but forsooth, that weatl.
must be enjoyed ii. ignorance, stupidity and
degradation. But, Mr.. Chairman, the plea
of unconstitutionality, and the various obj,c-
tons they have paraded against the bill, are
u>ed only to cloak the real object in view. -
Take this College from MLeod County and
locate it in Rochester or Winona those cities
OF the south, and these very gentlemen would
be foremost in their advocacy of the bill, and
wonid defend it on the ground of eXpediency
and necessity. as demanded by the wants ii
the age, until this Senate Chamber won {
become vocal with the swelling strains of el
uQuence, carrying conviction to every heart
But no. the College is to be located il
M'Leod County, and hence dire visions o
taxation rise up to fright the morbid sensi
b,lites Of the gentlemen. Strange, passing
strange The Five Million Loan Bill excit
ed no apprehension on that score. The
conscience was luIled by the hope of wealth
They could endure that But f. educatio,
the idea of taxation becomes startling il
the extreme.
Mr.. Chairman, it becomes our duty to fos
ter and cherish education in every possibl,
way. Shall we prove recreant to the trus
committed to us iii neglecting the plat,
teaching OF selfpreservation? Shall We ignor
the promptines of a common humanity, ant
let the opportunity pass without improve
nent? Shall the young and rising genera
items meet with no sympathy from us in pro
vlding for them the means of culture to fl
them for honor, dignity and usefulness, a
they shall supercede us IN the busting care:
Of life and selfgovernment Proud, indeed
will be his position, who looks back on ei
forts put forth in promoting the cause of edu
cation and science and rich the boon await
ing him in the appreciation of conscious
aess Of having tearlessly and manfully dis
charged his duty 10 his country.
The youth Of coming generations shall ris
. Up and call him blessed. The old man, stand
ing upon the grave as he recounts the van
ties Of life, shall name him blessed. Tn
widowed heart, made to rejoice by sympath
and kindness, the orphans complaints sootl
ed by the humanizing spirit of benevclenct
the dark heaving waters OF human passion
rising and falling like the pillows Of the Sc;
smoothed and calmed at last by the aid {
human kindness. shall proclaim him blessed
l would ask no richer boon than this.
would rather be dOubly taxed for the SUP
port of education and the spread of popula
intelligence, though earned by the sweat g
my brow, than be the pet ed, sickly syce
plant, bending to the gilded pageantry {
mammoth munopoles and ,oulless corpora
tons.
would make education accessible to a
"free as the air We breath" 1t is THIS tina
gives us an earnest of the future, aroun
which our hopes OF p. osperity cluster. 1t
this that furnishes the only ample security 70
the permanency and stability of our govern
'nent. gives us as people, respect, disni
J w. mower greatness frpedOrn AS n Stat,
wealth, security, prosperity and stability. A
it is, then, question of such vital impor
lance to US as people, | trust on its fins
passage, no vote will be recorded in the ne.
alive.