Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-19


Company.
We publish below communication from
L. R. KING, ESQ.,, of Winona County, Chair
man of the Board of Supervisors of that
County, and brother Of the Hon. E. L. KING,
Senator elect from that District.
In answer to the question as to the right of
Railroad Companies to enter upon and take
forcible possession of premises without max
ing compensation therefor, we can only say
that we have never heard of any instance OF
the like having been attempted by any OF the
other Companies. Sec. 10, Art. l, OF the
Constitution of the State of Minnesota, says,
private property shall not be taken for pub
lie use withoutjust compensation therefor, first
paid or secured" This we think ought to be
conclusive ~ to the right and power Of the
Company in the csse. Possibly, however,
the Transit Company assumes that when the
IS, 0OO, 900 loan was voted into the Constitu;
lion, this section of the Bill of Rights was vo-
ted out.
The following is the letter alluded to:
STOCKTON, WnoNA Co., MIMI.
March ., 1859.
To the Editors Of tie AJnnssosian:
Myself and others, through whose farms the
Transit Railroad passes, wish to inquire of
you whether the other Railroad Companies,
in this State, claim the chartered and legal
right to take forcible possession Of the lands
through which their roads run, and when the
lines of their roads require it, to destroy the
houses, barns, springs, wells, groves, crops,
&C., without in any shape or manner offering
any compensation, except to break our heads
should we offer any opposition orfesistance.-
Or, is the Transit Company alone in her acts Of
tyranny, invasion and devastation This
company has conducted herself towards the
citizens through whose farms the road passes,
more as conquered and subdued people than
as fellow-citizens, possessing the legal and ma
tural rights SO sacred to Americans. The
Transit Company has ever refused to offer or
accept any conditions by which an amicable
or legal adjustment might be made in regard
to the right of way. Her motto ever has been,
" Force, intimidation and robbey." When
we heard that the Company intended to make
application for the first Bonds for building the
Road, we sent petition to the Governor ask
ing him not to grant them, as they had no rail-
road that, as the road was built on our farms
and they had never taken any steps to obtain
title to the land, the Road belonged to US
But the Governor paid no attention to our
humble and respectful petition. We are Of
the opinion that, had our request been receiv.
ed "the day before" instead of g. the day after
the election" his Excellency would have treat.
ed US with more respect.
Mr.. Editor: Interested City Councils may
pass vain resolutions, in order to condemn
and intimidate you and cause you to desist
from your bold, honest and Independent de-
nunciations of their schemes to defraud and
cheat that class of the citizens of Minnesats
who labor for their bread, instead of building
up great fortunes by bleeding hard working
men by intolerable taxation and despotic op
pression-things which may seem very fair tt
those vampire corporations and to those WHIT
are in their pay-but we will assure you thai
those, not blinded by interest, view these
things in very different light.
When the agents of the Loan Bill were can
vassing the State, they made the most solemn
promises that the people would never be call
ed upon to pay one cent of principal, and
harped much upon the pledges which the six
ty members had entered into, that by no &C
or influence of theirs should the people evel
be taxed one cent to pay the interest on tn,
Railroad Bonds, and that the proceeds of tn
State Loan should, to the last dollar, be faith
fully, honestly and judiciously expended il
the construction of our Railroads. In anothe
communication, Mr.. Editor, we will inquire o
you, as the faithful guardian of the rights o
the farmer, whether all or any part of thos
promises have been complied with.
Respectfully yours, L-R. KING.