The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-30
The Comm issiOner of Statistics.

abolish the Office of Commissioner of Statistics.
This Is but an expression of the general feeling
throughout the State, that under our present
circumstances it is absurdly extravagant to pay
two thousand dollars per year for collecting and
publishing the statistics of Minnesota. This is
a luxury which many Western States far wealth.
Ter than ours, have felt unable to afford :-es-
pecially so at time like this when taxes are so
high, with no prospect of diminution. * x
We doubt if dozen Wheelocks, each with a
handsome salary, could induce an emigration
hitherward.- Ptm Union, PHI.
We believe there is but one opinion in
regard to the superlative nonsense of sup
porting Commissioner of Statistics at a
cost of $4,000 per annum, when all the
useful statistics requi ed under the existing
law can just as well be forwarded to the
Secretary of State, and be spread before
the people in his Annual Report, as is
done in older and richer States. The
fact that the present Commissioner has
found time during the past year to edit
daily newspaper, is conclusive proof that
his Office is sinecure, and that the sta
tistics of the State can be collated in q
much cheaper manner. AS it is now,
Minnesota cut a ridiculous figure among
her sister States. The office of Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, or of Com
mon Schools, abolished, and the important
educational interests of the State left with
out responsible head, while it keeps up
a Bureau of Statistics, which are of no
earthly Use, because they are entirely I'M
reliable
The Bureau was created, as we all know,
to give WHEELoCK Il comfortable berth at
the expense OF the State, and if it is con-
| tinued, it will be for no other reason now.
We repeat the suggestion, that all the
statistics which are of any value for refer
ence, or which may be of any interest to
the public. can be collated in the Office of
the Secretary of State, and published in
his Annual Report, and saving to the
State effected of over two thousand dol
lars per annum.
The Progress Of Federal E.urpation.
The first step taken by the Federal Ad-
ministration towards concentrating all the
powers of government in its hands, was
in srlspending the writ Of hube0s co,.;)us -;
thus placing the liberty of every citizen
and inhabitant Of the country, of every
age, sex, and condition, at the mercy of the
President of the United States, and the
ministers and agents who act under his
authority.
The second step was, the maturing of a
scheme by which all the State banking
machinery was to be destroyed, and all
State securities made valueless; and the
forcing Of all the financial operations OF
the Government and people to be carried
on with SUCH currency, alone, as the Fed
eral Treasury might choose to issue.
The third step is indicated in our tele-
graphic dispatches of this morning-by
which it will be seen that the Federal
Government is arrogating to itself the
entire control of the State Militia.
With the personal liberties of the whole
people subject to it's uncontrolled will and
disposition: with the finances ofthe whole
country, State and Federal, under it's man
agement; with the army and navy of the
United States, subject to its undisputed
authority; it needs only the transfer of the
whole militia force of the several States to
the Federal Government, to render it the
most absolute and irresponsible Despotism
that now exists. or that has ever existed,
on the face of the globe.