Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-01-22

From the d. Anthony Evening News
Railroad Meeting. la 7.Ha
The call for Railroad Meeting, on oasuf
day last, to take into consideration nA
matters generally, was responded 70 Dy nun
dreds of our first citizens. oo''A
Hall" was densely filed at an early no"
when B. F. Baker was called to the Cnan'
large number of Vice Presidents were cho''
and George E. Keith and I. l.. bloon'S WV"
chosen Secretaries. s,-
A committee of six, composed Oh INC y"
lowing named gentlemen, were CHOSEN y" 10
solutions:
loci B, Bassett, D. Morrison, Edward MUIR
nhv W d. Washburn, H. S. Plumer, and
G. E. Huy. $50,
The Committee reported the following:
WHEREAS, The People of Minnesota, did, on the
18th day OF aPr ire Of doars for the pur
nose of aiding and expediting the construction OF
Certain lines of Railroads IN this State: AND
WHEREAs, the said loan was voted upon the faitn
GERS and Directors of said Companies, that they
would in good faith carry out the policy contem-
plated by the people at the time of the adoption OF
said Loan of State Credit and to which policy the
Railroad Companies repeatedly and solemnly pieu-
ged themselves.
AND WHEREAS, The said Railroad Companies, or
q portion of them, have grossly violated those
pledges, SO often repeated, to induce the adoption
of the said loan of State credit and have failed OF
refused to comply with the express conditions OF
their charters, in the construction of certain lines
and branches of their respective roads, therefore,
Resolred That the People of Minnesota, in loan
ing to their Land Grant Railroad Companies the
credit of the State to expedite the completion OF
their Roads, relied with implicit confidence in their
integrity, capacity and financial ability TO accom-
plish the objects, and carry out in good faith the
pledges then made by their officers and frlends,
upon the faith of which the said loan was voted
Resolrsd, That among these objects and pledges,
the citizens of Hennepin county distinctly recall to
mind the commencement and simultaneous con-
struction" of the two branches leading from st.
Paul and st. Anthony to Shakopee; the putting
the road from saltwater to Breckenridge, and the
faithful and economical expenditure of the avalls
of the State Loan in the construction Of said roads
'aoithom taxation" or q resort to Reputation by
the State. ..,.r ~
Rsolcsd, That the attempt on the part of several
of said Companies to depreciate our circulating
medium by hooding the State with wild cat
currency based upon State Railroad Bonds re-
cevable at par the neglect of the Southern Mime
sofa Company to comply with their charter, in not
commencing work on their Road from st. Anthony
to Shakopee, while they are grading the branch
from St. Paul, the undenied corruption and ex-
travagance exhibited in the direction and manage
ment of the affairs of the Minnesota Pacifc kali
road Company, their neglect to put under contract
any portion Of their main line, leading west Of the
Mississippi river, together with the stoppage OF
work upon most, If not all OF said roads, after get
ting large share of the State Bonds coupled with
the rumored proposition and necessity Of conven-
ing the Legislature to levy a tax to pay the inter
est on such Bonds, force upon US the unpleasant
conviction that the people of Minnesota have been
made the victims Of honest but misplaced conf
dence.
RESOLVED, That the course pursued by portion
of the Railroad Companies, at least lead US to the
irresistible conclusion that it is their design to
extort from the State the amount of Bonds voted
them, by as little work and expenditure as posi-
BILE; and then abandon their Roads, or leave them
to be finished by the people, thus making fortunes
for themselves, but oonsigning the State to bank
ruptcy.
Resolued, That in view of the course which the
Railroad Companies, or a portion OF them, nave
and are still pursuing In the management OF tneir
Roads, the disposition made of the Bonds already
issued to them, and their rumored intention OF
forcing the people to provide for the interest upon
the same, we feel it duty to ourselves and the
State at large to most solemny protest against any
additional issue of Bonds to the said Companies,
until they shall have complied with the conditions
upon which said Bonds were voted, both as to the
construction of their Roads, and prousding for
the interest the Bonds already issued, aohe due
lists who would willingly undertake the construc-
ton of all Railroads required by the wants OF our
people, in consideration of the lands voted by
Congress for that purpose, without any State
Bonds or aid whatever, could they have the oppor-
tunity, thus saving the people of this State from
any liability or loss from the issue of five millions
of Railroad Bonds.
ResolUed, That the proposition advanced of call
ing special session of the Legislature for the pur-
pose of levying a tax on the people of Minnesota
to pay the interest on the Bonds issued to the va
rious Railroad companies after the repeated assur-
ances and pledges from such companies that the
people should neoer be taxed for such purpose,
and after the publishing of card by the members
of the Legislature who favored and advocated the
policy of State loan in the first instance, pledg
ing themselves that they would never vote for,
but would resist such q tax under any circumstan-
ces, is piece of impudence and brazen effrontery,
only equalled in degree, by the bad faith and dis
companies.
The following Resolution was also adopted
by the committee, after adjournment:
ResolUed, That while as citizens of Minnesota we
will ever sacredly cherish and maintain plight
ed faith, and sustain to our uttermost ability the
credit of our State both at home and abroad, we
can but protest against the imposition OF tax to
pay the interest upon class of Bonds, which were
only issued upon the condition precedent, that the
people should never be called upon to pay either
the interest or principal.
After an animated discussion, the Preamble
and two first Resolutions were unanimously
passed, when the meeting adjourned unit
Wednesday Evening, the 18th.
The adjourned meeting was called to erde,
by B. F. Baker, Esq, Chairman. The Rail
road operators had rallied their forces and
were on the ground early, to protect theil
Graft" A large delegation from st. Pau
was present, among whom we noticed severa
Directors and officers of the various Roads
and who manifested the most intense anxiety
as to the result of the proceedings.
Mr.. Charleton obtained unananimous con
sent to introduce series Of Resolutions, which
he proposed to offer as substitute.
DR.. Keith moved the appointment of
committee of three to confer with the Mime
sofa & Pacific Railroad Company, and to in
terrogate them as to when they intended t.
build the Road from st. Anthony to Shake
pee.
Mr. Bassett said we had better take NOR
practical measures than the appointment of
committee We had been deceived by thes
companies, and especially by the Minnesota
Pacific, long enough. As to comforting witt
the officers and directors of the Road, h
thought it of very little consequences, Itwa
poor source to go to for reliable information
1t was controlled by the Milwaukee Forty
Thieves class of men, and what could w
expect from them. Mr.. Rice managed tn
affairs of the Company to suit himself, ant
everybody knew what sort of a man he was
His very connection with the Road was .enougl
to, and would, kill the Company in New York
When Mr.. Smith, of st. Paul, was propose