The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-03-20

The Central Committee instructed to call Mass
Meeting at St. Paul at some early day.
ROBERT c. MASTERS, President.
L. A. BABcoCK, Secretary.
ImmfgratiOn!-The Prospect of a State
Debt and State Taxation, Death to it!
Since the introduction of the $5,OOO,OOO
loan bill in the Senate, we have frequently
heard the friends of that measure declare
that one of their main objects, in favoring its
passage, was, the Involvement it acold o6e,. to
immigration
If such were the honest motive of any sin.
gle advocate of that bill, how little did they
reflect upon the causes which affect the i'm
migrant. Still there is one class which it will
uuquestionably bring hither-a class too nu-
merous already-viz. : the loa0est class of day
taborers.
But when we look to that class of immi-
grafton which gives body, strength, wealth
and responsibility to a commonwealth, we
must offer other inducements than the build
ing of railroads, or the clamor about building
them.
The sturdy farmer, with his frugal and in
telligent family the Industrious and thrifty
mechanic; the active and laborious business
man, who expects to do steady and regular
business, and to eschew gambling of all dis
criptions-these men, we say look for some
thing else. They look first to the climate
that, thank God, corrupt Railroad companies,
cannot fitch from US, and that we can offer to
tie classes Of immigration to which we refer.
They look to the classes Of people-the char
acter of the population next, whether intell-
gent or the reverse, whether moral or immo-
raj. This may be and most probably will be
seriously prejudiced by the class of immigra-
ton railroad building will draw to our infant
State. But this we can say that now, taking
our population as whole, end emitting one
or two dark spots, SO far as intelligence is con-
cerned, the equal Of Minnesota does not ex-
list within the broad pale Of this Union.
Consequently we can still offer this induce
ment for immigrants to settle in Minnesota.
As to our morality, it is as whole, equal
to any State in the Union but introduce
10000 raw, wild Irishmen, and our criminal
calendar will rank above California. There
fore, although we can now offer home to
the immigrant among people as moral as
any on the face of the earth, the time we fear
is not distant when our criminal record, will
cause the moral toned immigrant to shun our
borders.
1t might be said that we must have Rail-
roads and men to build them Admitted.
But let us build them as we need them-let
us unite our energies to complete such as are
needed and let those which are not required
at present wait until those are done which we
do need. Let this be done, and the men ne
cessary to build them, will not be so dispro-
portioned to our present limited population.
When we have SOC, 600 feop;e, we can bear
10000 of the reckless class we have alluded
to without feeling their weight. Now they
would be burden too heavy for a Christian
people Of Our numbers to bear. And we re-
peat tiff this system of grading, or pretend
ing to grade hundreds of miles of useless and
ro6tless roads, on the wide prairies, and the
introduction of this horde of acId Celts is per
sisted in, the moral immigrant will shun US.
There is another fact, upon which all men
will agree, viz that we must for many wears
to come depend upon foreign, that is, Eastern
Capital,to build up our towns and cities and
develope the country. Within our own re-
sources, at present, beyond our lumber trade,
we have absolutely nothing. Consequently,
so far as the Development of the country
generally is concerned, we must still look to
the East for our means-capital, sufficient to
build our towns, cities, factories, mills, &c.
1t must be remembered that in the East.
the rates of money are lower than they have
been for many years. In London money is
only worth 3 and 81 per cent in New York
and Boston 3! 70 fer first class investments.
Money therefore will seek some other place
of Observation-Disclosures it can be made more
rcnumeratve. But when it has got down to
and per cent. per annum or less, men
must calculate very closely in order to real
ize any thing-an eighth of one per cent. I'M
der such circumstances is regarded as of
great importance-not so, however, where or
when moneyis worth 3 or S per cent. per
month.
Then look at us, with tax of ST. 100000
and S3O,OOOOOO Of taxable property-equal
to nearly d per cent with a county and
school tax of II more and we have a per
cent eaxes, and our municipal or city taxes in
addition. Will the farmer even be willing
to pay this, when be can avoid it, by avoiding
us? Certainly not ! But where is your cap
ital to come from Will the capitalist in
vest his money where he has to pay a per
cent on the investment?
This will be the result of this loan. The
taxation on the one hand and the introduc-
ton of horde Of CeIts on the other will
entirely close the doors against immigration.
Besides this, a "burnt child fears the fire" and
most States have tasted the bitter fruits of
State Debt, and the farmer, the mechanic
and the man of means who has felt the bur-
den once will shun it ever afterwards. Few
but have had this experience and they will
AVOID US as they would fire.
Then we say once for all, reflect! Look at
the consequences of the loan! Reflect npon
the taxation -! Have an eye to the moral and
intellectual condition of our people!