The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25


/ these oompanie', and perhaps his annual or
/ quarterly salary was dependent upon the sue
/ cess of this measure. lie did not doubt but the
I motives Of these gentlemen were pure. but as
I they had impugGci the motives OF others. he
/ thought IL no, cat OF the way, In friendly
manner, 10 make the retort courteous.
I Mr, IL. was surprised 90 lind these Scnilemeh
/ speak Of those who had opposed this measure
| as siaDdcrvIs aud decryors Of our state. he
| cause they wanted 10 wait, and hold back \
little, does il follow that we are the enemies OF
Minnesota What Is the proposiiont Whether
IL Is advisable To loan the credit OF the State to
| the railroad companies Tor 5000. .0Oo !, lsa
proposition OF the gravest Importance, aud
should be discussed candljly. What private
interest could any Of the opponents al this
measure have IN opposing A. Is II was 10 he oi
general benefit TO The people.
What pecuniary interest could influence men
against u measure that would tend to tho glory
of the state. II was not the principle OF Bank
e,s, OF farmers, of merchants, to oppose mea.
sure that would bc i"r the general good. For
what subserves the Interests of one class Of the
community, Is for the benefit Of all classes, for
the farmers, the bankers, the merchants. the
laborcrs. II the roads can be built without
sacrificing the peouniary interest OF the state.
We want thom hut the question IL, whether at
this tims We viii advise the State 10 take hold
Of the matter and help them.
credit. jus, ~ prudent man would he, on the
presentation oi paper for his enforcement. Til"
first inquiry he would make, would be.
"wbat pecaniary means do ] possess. what
do owe and II incur this liability,
aud ] am called TO meet u without en-.
barra ssncnt ~ the ebdorser, can do soF The
Railroad Companies ask the stat. 10 loan her
endorsement, and Il Is prudent for the state ~
see how she can meet the liability " the Com
panes fail 10 meet their engagements. What
are the present liabilities of the state , The
state Treasurer aud Auditor say that the State
taxes for ls5, were 100000, and the county
taxes IA The aggregate, 80 On 900 These Zig.
ures had amazed him. They were much
greater than he supposed. The whole tax Of
1857 was then s3J00DO. The Legislature In ao.
cordance with the expressed wishes of the peo'
pie, had almost unanimously passed la" eA'
tending the time Of collecting these taxes. ea.
oept IN two counties. This show the citizens
are unable 10 pay the old arrerages. The esti.
mated state tax for the current year u 900,
and the aggregate county taxes ti2D, 900 all 10
be added TO last years taSes-making grand
total of ssi0 1000 TO bs paid on taxes this year.
iiat this IA not all. The Legislature had author
lied the issae Of $500 state scrip for the
current expenses Of the Government. Thia
amount added to the taAee, made the amount
10 81 ,OJ1, 900, which the State has 10 pay. The
next question ia whether tbs amount sbnl be
further swelled siOo, 900. Tor interest and ga
peu.o OF collecting the same. on loan Of sj..
OVD, 900, to the Railroads. Oaabt the state to
become nn cndorser under theas circumstance
II she should not, there's an end ~ the qnes.
ton. The opponents OF this measure ought not
then 80 be stigmatiLed, until tlc friends Uf II
show there Ia gross error IN this statement, and
that these figures are incorrect; or where the
money Is 10 come from 10 d seharge the.e LA
bilites.
Notwithstanding the iDputation of Mf. ioI.
tsstI
criticize and tear down \ measure, but "A great
statesman TO propose and build np, that gentle.
man himself though a man Of the amplest ~.
rnensions, did not undertake. but expressly dc
cliHeI the affirmative AL, 0cacy 0f this measure,
leaving that little job 10 the twin giants who
followed biin--Msssrs. Taylor and Bcamsn.
Mr. Hollingshead's sole mission was 10 answer
the arguments of Gov. German Cot. Robertson
and Judge Cooper. The two gentlemen who
followed him did not meet the case, but went
Of IN pyrotee ehnes, and dwelt With great eio-
queBoe upon The con1ds tatlons Of glory, and
the advancement oi the state IN wealth and In
nusnce.
II the State cannot now pay the expenses of
the Government, the Legislature should not
undertake. 10 increase her liabilities at tho
present time. Al the last election, our wh0lo
vote WAS not ~, 900. The great amount of
taxes are paid by the land owners, and the
estimate is that one fourth Of the adult pOpua'
ton oi q state pay three -four'hs Of tie iaSes.
1hs would leave this Whole body o' hS,
o., ,G3O, 900, tG be paid by about 1000 persons.
suppose tie Companies make you believs
the bonds can be met at maturity, have they
oa. red the proper security What kind Of se
cnriiy was the proceeds ~ 5000 acres of
land tor loan " tj, ,GJ1, 000f
Mr. Hale further proceeded 10 examine Nr.
Hpnshead's argument, c"nicnding het tho
Companies might sgaander the money, and all
the state would have iof her s,1yy. 100 would
be the 3gD,D00 acres of land. lie doubted Nr.
HoEshs ads figures about the net proceeds ~
the Milwaukee and Nississippi Road. because
Oh the construction price, those net pfohs
would be equal " n per cent. and would
Lripg the stock up ~ par, while IL sss selling
attn per tlG0 share.
Mr.. Hale referred to the argument Of pros
peetivs population. Other states had q future
aud zls0 n past and the latter had taught
them the folly and ra.hDess of making debts II
thi, character, and ihfy had incorporated into
thss fundamental law provisions 90 prevent
these debts. keare.ly ninety days sgo was
similar proposition In Orpd aisd into our Con
,iltuuon. lot no rutlless hand destroy II. II
vas not manly to draw on posEniJ Tor Tie
payfasbt OfouT debts.
Colonel kobsrtson Sss the next speaker, sls1
10 opposition 10 the loan. lie tbOaghi be coa!a
present. A0rn" additional facts 10 support The
posI'lOD of Nt. Hale. A. the iast meeting TIE
frsnds ~ the mszsnre hal tie star Hagcdlan.
wh0se business !, vss ~ DO the heavy work oi
tue evening: and he ga. followed by the gen
iesl comedian. whose forte was Ia isI'id ina
gsry, aoi lasdaiofy pras4F Of ,hs 'a'ufs glory
of the STATE and the last vss the IOS come
q 40, who hs1, IN bis opinion, really made the
best poni. Being fast man. be wanted to 20
t0 ths devil on train of cars Al twenty miles
30 hour. We were cd fsgiss however, And
wanted TO 20 ~ slow a. possible, " That Vas
"a he our Destination. AZ the previous meet
ioy We ssrs tols that W. we're demsgoyues
that We opposed tins nnss ssafs 10 Win applause
from tue people that vs we're the palIers
a0ws; ~ though w. were willing 10 crush
ouf..iye. ia rain wnicA would Inevitably fall
upsa ~, vs sucrgeird w p',i'iEg down sas
dssnOyiss or STATE.
Mr.. K. thsb procssasi ,of.ply 10 lie attack