The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. ACKER in the Chair

The Committee took up the railroad question
and debated it for over two hours.
The SPEAKER moved to amend the subst.
tute for the resolutions Offered yesterday by
Mr.. Sherwood,) by striking out the word "or"
after the word "cash," and insert after the
word ''stocks," the words, "labor or material
furnished upon the line Of any such rail-
roads,
The amendment was adopted, but the subst.
tute so amended, lost.
The following are the majority. resolutions
Resolved, That the preservation as an entire
ty of each of the land grant lines of railroad,
defined by the act of Congress, of March 3, 1851,
making the grant and the Territorial Act, to
execute the trust created by said Act of Con-
gress, is required by the terms of the grant,
the plighted faith of the State and justice to all
localities and such legislation as will prevent
the formation of a new line of road from de-.
tached and fragmentary portions of the old
lines under the control of any company; and
will devote the lands, and dispose of the fran
chises appertaining to each of the several
roads. exclusively in aid of its construction,
will best subserve this and secure the ultimate
completion of all of said roads.
Resolved, That the construction of our land
grant Railroads, should not be delayed nor
made in any manner dependent upon an at
tempted settlement of the State Railroad
Bonds, but each question should be considered
and determined upon its own merits.
Resolved, That regarding donation of the
present partly finished road beds, and the bonds
applicable to their completion, amply sufficient
to secure the building of all our land grant lines
of Railroads, as fast and as soon as the business
wants of the country demand, sound and pru.
dent policy requires that the State should not
resort to taxation, a loan of its credit, nor to
any other of its sources of revenue present or
prospective, to aid the construction of either of
these roads.
Resolved, That in any act proposing to trans
fer to any parties the bonds, properties, and
franchises appertaining to the several land
grant lines of Railroad, or either of them, the
interests of the people should be fully guarded
and protected by such provisions as will guar
antee and secure the State against any loss or
unreasonable delay in the construction Of said
roads.
The following is Mr.. SHERWOOD'S substi.
tute:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this House
that the State should not part with the grad
ing and improvements along the line of the
late land grant roads to any company or COM
panies except upon such deposit in advance
in cash or stocks as shall secure the State
against loss or damage by reason of the failure
OF such company or companies to perform
their agreement with the State.
At one o clock the Committee rose, and the
House agreed to recede from business for one
hour and half.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House went into
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Mr.. ACKER in the Chair
After some farther consideration of the ques.
ton before the Committee this morning, the
committee rose, and reported back the major
ity resolutions, recommending their adoption,
etc.
The resolutions were taken up separately.
Mr.. BANNING moved to strike out of the
first, all after Internal Improvements" in
sorting instead, Except such as may be ne.
cessary for the prompt completion of the said
roads," He said he could not see how it could
be done without an amendment. He called for
the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and
there were yeas 10, and nays 26, as follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Banning, Butler, Howe. Hunt.
Mantor, Munich, Sherwood, Tattersall, Thomas
and Whiting.
NAYs.-Messrs. Acker, Baxter, Cathcart.
Chamb1in, Chapman, Cheadle, Child. Cornell,
Drscoll, Gregory, Hoskins, Hayden, Kenne.
dy, Mayhem, Morrison, Paulding, Petit. Sar.
geant, Smith, Stewart, Strecker, Tefft, Warner,
Wheeler and Mr.. Speaker.
So the amendment was rejected,
The first resolution was then voted on, and
Messrs. Banning; Butler, Howe Ma Ma aas sher.
wood, Tattersalf, Thomas and Whiting.
The second resolution was carried by same
vote. excepting that Mr.. Hunted voted -" no."
TIE third resolution was carried by same
vote, except Mr.. Munich voting mo-"
The fourth resolution was adopted, yeas 26,
nays 10.
The fifth resolution was adopted unanimous.
ly.
The balance of the report-indefinitely post
poning the two Banning bills. was carried. ayes
26, nays 9.
'The House then adjourned.
SENATE.