The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-01-14

by law Ill What manner the State anu SclOOl
funds may be kept, transferred and dis
this authority over the ordinary State funds.
They are used in current expenses nearly
as fast as they cone into the Treasury. and
this fact is great protection against abuse
OF the power. But the school fund is per-
manent fund, to be held and invested in
performance OF the most sacred trust which
can be oevolved upon us. It has hitherto
been invested in securities whose suffciency
is beyond question. But there IS row no
check upon the authority of the Legislature
over it.
Bv enactment it may be made lawful to
loan it to individuals, to banks, to school
districts. or to invest it in securities by
which it ought not to be imperiled. In
other states where similar authority
has existed, these funds have been made
the prey to legislative rapine, melted by
and successfully for their spoliation. The
consequence has been to disinherit the chill
dren of the patrilnony which wise legisla-
ton attempted to entail upon them.
There is no reason to hope that the time
may never come when this State will not re-
peat these warning acts OF history. The
possession of power surely brings its abuse
sometime, and an abuse such as this. which
implies irretrievable ruin to its subject,
should not be permitted to remain posi-
bility.
The constitution prescribes a mode Of in
ves:ment of the proceeds resulting from the
sales of the internal improvement lands,
which place them beyond the reach Of such
influences. | most earnestly recommend
the adoption of similar provision as to the
school fund
A Hill proposing an amendment in this re-
spect to the constitution passed the House
OF Representatives last winter, but was sac
rificed in the Senate by the familiar exigen-
cies of the last night Of the session.
GRAssHopPERs.
| The condition OF our people in several of the
Southwestern counties has been the subject
Ct earnest endeavor for its alienation. In
carving out the measures which were adopt
ed have had the benefit of the counsel and
assistance Of Gen. H. II. Sibley, whose ex-
ertions in this behalf take this opportunity
of most gratefully acknowledging. The rail-
road companies have acted with great lib
crafty You will find it necessary to aid
these districts by liberal appropriations. A
fuller statement of the situation and of hat
will be needed is reserved for special COM
munication, which it is my intention to ad-
dress to you very soon after the organlza
ton of the Legislature has been effected.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
have complied with the requirements OF
a concurrent resolution passed by the last
Legislature by which the Governor was re
ouested to make inquiry into the condition
OF the several bands OF Chippewa Indians in
this State, and to recommend such leg1sla-
on as may he requisite or desirable for the
aid and encouragement OF these Indians IN
adopting the industries and habits of civil
zation, with view to their remaining as III
nabitants and ultimately becoming citizens
, OF this State.
The importance Of this duty seemed to
demand the Offices q some person OF eXpe-
rience with these people, coyrizant OF their
+ views and wishes, and OF the history of the
relations of the wiite people to them tor
many years The services of Mr.. Charles
Ruttee were fortunately secured, and he
upon the subject covered by the
e resolution after personal inquiry and
i examination. lie has performed thoSe du-
ties most thoroughly as the report which he
: has made and which is herewith submitted
!, will attest.
i 1t states with abundance Of detail the pres
ent condition Of these people, their grievances
! ances II indicates the remedy by contrast
ing the condition OF the Indians at White
: Earth, who have been the subjects Of real
I and Intelligent attempts to bring them to the
ways OF civilization, with the condition OF
the other bands who have been left merci-
! essly TO the influence Of those processes by
which their natures are RENTED to . deeper
degradation and barbarism.
: am required by the resolution To recon-
!, mend legislation In the premises do not
y understand that the State has any power to
J legislae upon this subject. BY judicial
Q decisions which have settled the question
: upon constitutional foundations, the Indians
> are held to be domestic, dependent nations,
!. and to this construction apply several pro-
= viejons Of the Federal constitution which
u prohibit the State from dealing with these
naiions at all Minnesota cannot treat with
! them. Congress has power To CIRCULATE
: commerce : with the Indian tribes
e It is suggested in the Export that if the State
y could he entrusted with the management Of
:, the Indians many Of the evils which are SC
apparent and seemingly as remediless in the
present system could I've remeded. But the
: Institutional provision to which | have al
iuded equally iorbds the delegation OF any
! sucii power by the United States or its as
! sumption by the State. 1t was proposed
: many years ago to permit the State OF Cali,
q ttrssa 10 assume such relations to the Indians
u withifi sse boundaries, but these objection,
: were ioifiE1 y - insuperable.
= have no dcuIs n--s the earnest endeaver
a aow being made by tiae Unifen gtasrn .vill
~ In due tine, result in remedying the mos
u obnoxious difficulties which bescf this uues
:. tim. The problem ID complex apd nnwield,
., aid we nu1 await it, solution by tho auth
~ 0 fy to which it has keen exclusively CON-
er mited. rendering such assistance through
our Representatives and Senators In Con-
a grer as our experience and their Tisdor
- may suggest.
of EXTENSION LTsEs ST. PAUL AID PACIFIC.
ng In 1857 the United States granted TO Min
Of nesoA most muEifcent quantity Of land
on aid in the constitution of rallrOodK. I'LL
endowment was Increased in 1855. In
lte lines q these roads were prescribed in tn
,es act ,tsslf with precedent knowledge Of th
Mt destiny Of a country hat was then almost
er wildernss. The sys.sm TINS devised III
to been completed withan important exceI
n ton. Tat exception i the line between :
in Cloud ard st. Vincent and the line fro
be Wa.ab to Brainerd, in all about s6b mile
he few mics Of iron have been laid south
Of Brainerd .oward Watab. The road has bee
ms fully constructed for about thirty miles fro
St Cloud To Melrose, and the iron has bes
es laid upon segment Of the line bctve'
it'll towns l3s and 1873, Of which there is no re
ne ular operation. The whole ike betwe
ty. Brainerd and Wa.ab is graded and ready
suIerStructure The line between Melrose Al
the the British line is graded except about fol
NV miles In the summer Of 1872 the work
. OF construction was suddenly stopped and
will never been resumed. Tie people Of thu
eg- portions Of the state 10 he benefited
i've these roads have waited patiently for the
allY irsstment Of the private difficulties by win
,rne the rork has ieen frustrated They h,