Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-17
A Place to set Sheriff at Defiapce-The
Democracy opposed to Honest Voting.

A Homestead Exemption law is the most
important bill that has yet been passed. This
law, exempting from execution 160 acres of
land, with the necessary buildings, stock, and
tools for farming or in lieu thereof 4O. 600 sauare
feet within town or city limits, together with
house and furniture, &c, without reference to
valuation, is believed TO be the most liberal kind
in existence-rather too liberal in my estima-
tfon, as giving dishonest people too great an
advantage over those ofthe opposite character
but well-mcaning people differ on that point.
man certainly ought to be able TO- paw his
debts with the amount Of property which this
law viii come TO operate upon and the ultimate
effect of the exemption will be TO set a tolerably
plain mark upon all holders of property who
will notpay A bin for Registry Of voters.
designed to protect the polls from any future
raid Of reckless scoundrels, and shield them
from wholesale frauds, has received probably
its quietus from the hands Of the Judiciary
Committee. These gentlemen, four fifths of
whom are Democrats, face the music admirably
and boldly recommend the House-also DEM
ocratic--to refuse to entertain or pass the bill
in any shape. The usual plan with the Dem
ocracy in other States in similar cases. where
an efficient Registry Law was demanded by
the honest portion Of both parties, has been to
strangle the measure as silently and secretly as
possible; and for thus coming out fat footed in
opposition to the only effectual method of sup
pressing Of fraudulent elections, / consider that
the party in this region deserves especial com
mendation and favor at the hands Of the great
head Of the Democratic church, who owes his
present elevation entirely to practices which
Registry is bound to prevent. @
The four Railroad Companies. 10 whom vere
allotted the splendid grant of lands msde by
Congress for the conatructiop of R.;lro.d. =
Minnesota, finding that the recent crisis has dis
sipated their hopes of raising the wind from
Eastern capitalists on bare Railroad Bonds. are
vigorously pushing through the Legislature a
proposition submitting to the People an amend
ment to the Constitution, authorizing loan of
the State Credit to the amount Of Ave millions
OF dollars--the State to be secured for both
principal and interest by the lands donated BY
Congress so fast as they become the property
OF the companies by their fnlfillment Of the
terms of the grant, and by first mortgage on
the roads. n The BILL since its introduction into
| the Senate, has been materially amended In i'm
portant particulars, one of which Ia that no
State Bonds shall be loaned to either az the
Railroad Companies until such COMPANY has
first constructed ten miles Of road: when \ i'm
tied amount u bonds are 70 be issued. and after
another section is built It will receive further
amount Of bonds, and so on. The scheme en-
cites violent opposition from a portion of our
citizens as well as warm support from others.
but will probably become law. With the aid
OF these bonds, the companies expect to be able
TO commences vigorous prosecution ofthe work
on their several lines early in the season, and
by sales Of land and land bonds, to push them
to speedy completion.A-.St. Paul, Minnesota.
Correspondent efMe ~ T. Tribune.