The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23
What has been done by the Legis-
lature on the Railroad Question

I
What has been done by the Legis-
lature on the Railroad Question
The shameless indifference, or imbecility,
of the Republican members of the last Leg
islature, and their reckless disregard of the
interests of the people, and of the solemnly
plighted faith of Minnesota, has made itself
30 manifest, and is even now so deeply i'm
pressed upon the public mind, that no de-
fence.has been, and none need be, interposed
upon their behalf. With two>thirds' ma.
jority in both branches OF the Legislature,
and the possession of the Executive depart
ments of the State government, the Republi-
can representatives have proven themselves
incompetent to conceive any measure of
adjustment to relieve the State from her
present embarrassed and disgraceful position.
The fair promises held out before election
have been repudiated and are now demon
strated to have been uttered for purposes of
individual aggrandizement and public de-
ception. No defence can be made of the
impostors who usurped the title of legisla-
tors. Out of the mouths of their own party
organs they are condemned.
The Railroad bond question was the most
important measure before the Legislature.
1t had been the exciting topic of discussion
on the stump, and through the public press
of the State, for over year. 1t was the
question, above all others, upon which the
people of the State demanded speedy, yet
we'll considered action. 1t presented cons
plications which required the genius and
wisdom of the most profound craftsmanship
to unravel. The Republicans claimed to be
equal to the task, and the people trusted
them. Yet. that party placed in the Exc
cutive chair, a time-serving politician, whose
chronic non>committalism and timidity upon
all great questions of politics or finance.
prevented him from proposing with earnest
ness, any specific measures to the Legisla-
ture, for its approval or rejection. And
the Legislature, after a few farcical at.
tempts to dispose of the Railroad difficult
ties, at the heels of the session, gave up in
despair. The journals of proceedings con-
tain the record of the indifference and ina
biIity Of the Republican majority, to save
the State from dishonor, or to advance i'm
portant and necessary works of internal
improvement.
In the House of Representatives, an ear
nest attempt was made by few Republican
members, to legislate upon the Railroad
question so that the work on the roads
might proceed, and the bonds outstanding
be taken up. But this effort was postponed
until the close of the session, and then hasti-
ly rushed through, but then only by the
aid of Democratic votes. The case of
Mrs. B1LANsKY-the violation of contracts
personal liberty bills-the propriety Of
capital punishment, and dozen other
schemes of legislation, beneath the dignity
of a country lyceum, had precedence of the
great and absorbing question of State
policy. The bill which passed the House
did not meet our approval in all its details,
but it proposed the speedy settlement of a
question which will become more entapgled
and difficult of solution by every hours de-
lay. 1t provided for calling in the old
bonds and the issue of new ones but not a
dollar of the new bonds was to be issued,
nor cent of additional debt incurred. until
the Railroads were built-not graded mere
ly-and the cars running thereon.
The Senate was even more criminally
negligent than the House. Not until the
last day ofthe session upon schieh bill could
be oenstamionally passed, soas there an at
tempt made in the Republican Senate, to con.
slider any measure of adjustment. Time and
again, the talented and energetic minority
of Democrats, implored the Republicans to
bring forward their propositions. The
request was met by further delays and post
ponements. But on the last night of the
session, an imperfect and crude bill was
taken up, and for mere buncombe, pressed
to vote, in order that the Republican
Senators might be placed upon the record
in favor of some plan of settlement. The
majority knew the bill could not constitu~
tionally become law. They also appreci-
ated the fact that the amendment to the
constitution, which had passed the House,
hy the affirmative action of the Senate
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