The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-18

great (if we are to believe what they have
said) for few millions of dollars. = iia
Mr.. Lane-For which they are to be
taxed /? .g gsslas eigea7 it
Mr.. Rice-Yes, for which they and we
are to be taxed. shall be very much
pleased to have the correctness OF that part
of the Senator's speech tested; and / expect
to have an opportunity to do 80, by having
the yeas and nays on the amendment which
I am about to offer. | move 70 strike out
all after the enacting clause of the bill.
Senator RICE promptly presented an
amendment to the House bill, which, if sue
cessful, will secure to Minnesota and the
North Pacific country, that provision tor
internal communication to which they are
Justly entitled. His proposition constitutes
certain gentlemen Board of Incorporators,
to organize company to construct a railroad
from the western boundary Of Minnesota to
Puget's Sound. It grants the company the
usual alternate sections of public lands on
each side of the road. and provides further
for the following grants of United States
six per cent. bonds, to aid in the construc-
ton of the road:
Commencing at the east end of said road, at
the rate of $40, 900 per mile for the first three
hundred miles; thence, at the rate, OF $1,000
per mile for the next three hundred miles,;
thence, at the rate of $4,000 per mile for the
next three hundred miles; thence, at the rate
of $25, 900 per mile for the next three hundred
miles; and thence, at the rate OF $50, 600 per
mile; and, commencing at the west end, at the
rate of $4,000 per mile: Provided, that the
sum so advanced as aforesaid shall not exceed
the sum of thirty millions Of dollars.
This is less than the provision made for
the southern road.
Mr.. FoorE, of Vermont, said he would
vote for Mr.. R1cE's amendment. He re-
garded it as fair, more equitable, more
lust to all sections of the country than the
House bill"
On Wednesday last, the bill came up
again in the Senate, when the following
proceedings took place:
Mr.. Wilkinson moved its reference to a
select committee.
Messrs. Gwin and Latham objected.
Mr.. Rice thought the friends OF the bill
wanted to pass it without giving the Northwest
show. He moved its indefinite postponement.
Mr.. Baker seconded the motion.
Mr.. Latham demanded the ayes and noes:
Mr.. Lane thought that this was not the tune
to press such q bill. 1t was better to say to
the South that their rights should be protected.
The railroad would not restore peace.
We have not heard of final action on the
bill. A dispatch states that the President
will veto it, on the.ground that it is mex
pedient at the present time, to augment the
public debt. This is certainly true. But
for other reasons, we hope if the measure
passes the Senate in the unjust shape in
which it came from. the House, it will re-
ceive the Executive veto.
is it not little singular that Senator
SEWARD, after the " blarnying" which the
Northwest received at his hands last fall
at St. Paul and other places, should be the
most effective instrument the Secessionists
have in use to build up the South at the
expense of the Northwest? Yeti t is true;
for with his influence welded against the
House bill, it could never pass the Senate,
unless provision was made for Northern
road. Mr.. SEWARD says be will favor a
Northern road, in another bill, and at an.
other time but everybody acquainted with
the subject must appreciate the fact, that il
the House bill passes, in its present shape,
all hope of Northern road is gone. Its
passage would create an iusurmountable
influence against the building of line Of
railroad which would prove in few years
formidable rival of the two southern lines
to the Pacific. If we cannot now secure
grant for a Pacific road, 10 connection
with the southern roads, not one cent will
the United States government ever contrib
ute to it. We will have to look to Other
sources for aid.