The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15
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Legislative Topics.

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Legislative Topics.
The MILITIA B1LL.-"What shall we do
with it," was the question on the 9th in the
Senate. After its indefinite postponement
by the House, even Col. SANBoRN hesi'
tated and faltered," and adopted the expe-
dent of submitting it to the inspection of a
military commission, to report such amend
ments as they might deem proper to adapt
it to the condition of this State. Mr..
CLEVELAND travelled out of the line OF his
argument in favor of its reference, to make
an attack on the PIONEER, because that
paper had the temerity to agree with large
majority of both Houses, that the bill as it
now stands would prove an abortion. We
are of the opinion that the good judgment
of the members of the House was as efec-
tual in killing it as anything the PIONEER
may have said against it. We believe the
gentleman from Faribault wears the ju-
dicial ermine, and may be ambitious of
dof6ng a military uniform, but in assuming
either, it is hoped he will not unnecessarily
show the parts SO prominently exposed yes
terday, when he arose from his Senatorial
seat to attack newspaper. Z 1'
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERN
MENT-The act passed last year has been
amended by bill that has passed the Sen
ate, so that where the Commissioner dis
tricts cannot well be bounded by township
or ward lines, the Commissioners may dis
trict so as to include two or more Commits
sioners in one district, and may re. district
their counties respectively after each United
States or State census. Section twenty.
two of the old act is amended, so as to pro-
hibit the levying of tax of over four mills
on the dollar, unless authorized so to do, by
vote of the people of the county, provided
that no county having a population less
than one thousand inhabitants shall be
authorized to vote an additional tax for
county purposes, unless authorized by a
special act Of the Legislature. The coun-
ties Of Ramsey, Houston, Hennepin, Good.
hue, Olmstead, Rice and Wabashaw are ex.
empted from the provision allowing an in
crease in the limit of taxation.
The BORDER STATE CoNvENT1oN.-Gov.
RAMSEY having received telegraphic hint
from Senator WILKINSON, that it would be
advisable for Minnesota to be represented
in the Border State Convention, now in
session at Washington, on the 9TH, sent a
message to the Legislature, stating this
fact, and requesting early action on the
subject. Mr.. SANBoRN introduced series
Of resolutions, which will be found in an
other column, expressing willingness to
meet Virginia, and other States loyal to the
Union, and unite in earnest efforts to restore
peace to the country. These resolutions
were very fair, but they did not suit the
ultraists-the men whose patriotic vision
cannot carry them beyond the Chicago
platform-and accordingly instructions
were added to Mr.. SANBoRN's resolutions of
the most obnoxious character, and which,
if acted upon by the Commissioners assem-
bled at Washington, would efectually pre-
clude every prospect of settlement. The
resolutions as amended, were passed, and
will come up in the House to-day, and, we
trust, they will be rejected. 1t is useless to
send Commissioners SO hampered by in
structionss as to be unable to meet any
proffer of Cancellation and compromise in
the same spirit in which it is teudered.
Better send blocks of wood to Washington,
or such notorious abolition negro worship.
pers as JOHN w. NORTH, Mrs. SwIssHELM,
or GEO. A. NoURsE. Senators SMITH, Of
st. Paul, and GALBRA1rH, of Scott, both of
whom represent conservative aud Demo-
cratic constituencies, were foremost in OPP
posing everything looking to an honorable
settlement.
LEGISLATIVE RAILROAD REPORTs.-In the
House, on the 7th, Mr.. CORNELL, from the
Committee on Railroads, reported series
of resolutions, and recommended their adop-
tion by the House:
Resolved, That this House will entertain no
proposition for an amendment to the Consti-
tuition impairing or altering its present provis.
ions prohibiting the creation of a State debt or
the loan of its credit for purposes of internal
improvement; or which would secure to any
Railroad Company the extraordinary privilege
of constitutional sanction of its privileges
and franchises, thereby placing them beyond
the reach Of Legislative action and control.
Resolved, That the preservation of an entire
ty of each of the Land Grant lines of Railroad,
as defined by the act of Congress of March Sd,
1857, making the grant and the Territorial Act,
to execute the trust created by said act of
Congress, is required by the terms of the grant,
the pljghted faith of the State and Justice to
all localities and such legislation as will pre-.
vent the formation of q new line of road from
detached and fragmentary portions OF the old
lines under the control of any company and
will devote the lands and dispose of the fran
chses appertaining to each of the several
roads exclusivelv in aid of ito CONSERVATION