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

Legislative Topics.
The MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE ON THE
CR1s1s.-ln yesterdays issue we gave in the
Senate report sketch of the proceedings had
on the resolution to appoint Commissioners
to the Union Convention which met in
Washington Oh the 4th, with the joint reso~
tions adopted. Yesterday in the House
(uide report) they were stricken out, and
after protracted debate, the following in
serted in their stead:
Resolved, (The Senate concurring) that the
State of Minnesota will not send delegates to
the so called Peace Convention, or in any
manner recognize the existence Of that Con-
ventiOn.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Lee
glslature the basis of compromise embodied in
the resolutions of the State of Virginia are not
acceptable to the people of this State, and
that it is not expedient to compromise, when
the only basis is farther protection to slavery.
To-day the subject will come up in the
Senate on the question of concurrence. We
will await their action, before giving any
extended review of the proceedings.
RAILROAD REPORTS FROM THE SENATE
CoMMrrrEE.-The Committee on Railroads
in tie Senate reported on Tuesday. The
first report was signed by JAMES SMITH, Jr.,
of Ramsey county, H. w. HoLLEY of Fill.
more, j. K. REINER of WASHINGTON, and
S. F. BARNEY of Blue Earth. The report
was lengthy document, and would occupy
more space than we are able to spare. 1t
was principally devoted to the enforcement
OF the bills which accompanied it. We
give synopsis of the main provisions of
the bill, "for an Act to secure the construc-
ton of Land Grant Railroads.:
Section l. Provides that all the rights, bene.
fits franchises, property, &C., acquired by the
State by virtue of laws heretofore passed by
Congress, or the Legislature, or by reason of
foreclosures, &C., are held by the State in
trust, to be conferred on and vested in such
companies as shall lcomply with the further
provisions of this act, upon such conditions as
are hereafter provided.
Sec. 2. Names the following companies that
shall first be entitled to the benefits, and SUBJ
ject to the provisions, &C., of this act:
LIST. company to be styled the "Winona,
st. Peter, and Missouri Railroad Company"
and the incorporators named are those in Mr..
Norton's bill for the incorporation of that COM
pany, some time since presented to the Senate.
I'd. The Minnesota and Southern Railroad
Company" to consist of any persons who may
choose to organize the same.
Sd. The "Cedar Val ey, st. Paul and Mime.
apolis Railroad Company" to be hereafter or.
gained.
4th. The "North Pacific Railroad Company"
the corporators to consist in part of Edmund
Rice, R. R. Nelson, Richard Chute, and Dwight
Woodbury., or any other persons who shall
organize the same.
9Th. The mississippi, st. Croix and Super
rior Railroad Company" to be composed of
such persons as may organize the same, or may
assume the name and acquire the rights of such
company.
Sec. 3. The Winona, ST. Peter and Mis-.
souri, River Railroad Company" are to be in
vested with all the rights of the Transit Com
pany, and to construct road from Winona to
st. Peter, via Mankato, and thence as in acts
provided. The Minnesota Valley and South
CAn AsoAioou OOmPduy, 10 luNesttu Will oil
the rights, &c. of the @ Root River Valley and
Southern Railroad Company" saving so much
thereof as empowered said company to con-
struct its road from St. Paul to point of Juno
ton in the county of Dakota. The Cedar
Valley, St. Paul and Minneapolis" Company
is invested with the rights, &C.. of the Mime
apolis and Cedar Valley Company. and in adj
dition the right granted to the Root River Com
pany. to construct road from St. Paul to a
junction in Dakota county. The " North Pa
ciic" Company is invested with the rights, &c.
of the Minnesota and Pacific Company, saving
that portion embraced between St. Paul and
Saltwater. The Sc Mississippi, St. Croix and
Superior Company is invested with the rights,
&c. of the Pacific Rallroal Company between
Saltwater and st. Paul, and in addition, is au.
thOrized to construct road from St. Paul via
Saltwater, Marine and TayIor's Falls, with a
branch from ST. Cloud to a point of junction
near ChengwatonDa, in Pine county, to Lake
Superior, &c. The bill grants to this company
the right of way through swamp lands, &C.,
and swamp lands within six miles of the line
are granted, not to be conveyed, however, un-
til the road is actually completed and the cars
running thereon.
Sec. 4. Each of the above companies, be-
fore it is entitled to the benefits &c. of the
act, is to deposit with the Treasurer of State,
before the first day of April, 1861 the sum of
fifty thousand dollars, or its equivalent, in any
State or United States stocks Except Minneso-
ia Railroad Bonds), at their cash value in the
City of New York, to be held as security that
such companies will construct and put in ope-
ration, with regular trains running thereon, at
least thirty miles of road, by the first of April,
1862, said sum to be forfeited to the State in
case of default, &C., in the meantime the State
to have the first lien upon thirty miles of the
road so to be constructed. Provided that the
Mississippi, st. CroiX and Superior Company
may make the deposit required within six
months.
Sec. S. Compels each Company to complete
and put in operation fifty miles of each road I'M
til the whole is completed.