The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-12


Of !ull treaty powers. The evils Of this system
1ustify an effort for their correction. l. suggest
that yon memorabilia Congress either to provide
! government of law for the Indians or bring them
under the operation OF the laws Of the State or
Territory which includes their reservations or
mitted. H. ]!si' 1.@3 %: ltt'}isl o!t aftCG9fI
5r: THE MINNESOTA STATE RAILROAD BONDS. u,
I come now to subject, the speedy and proper
| disposal Of which believe to be demanded by
the Pes ha oo9
Standing ::Minncsots State Railroad Bonds. ''Hs
those entrusted with the highest public interests
lie credit. Without that. indeed. little is left
holders of these obligations are debarred the or
! binary remedy provided by courts of justice.
and are forced TO rely wholly upon the honor Of
sense Of such obligation in the minds OF honest
men.
I will not insult your understanding or sense
Of justice SO far as to attempt \ serious argu-
ment in support either of the validity or equity
Of this claim upon the State. The -pu rpose to
Is
In This case it will suffice to; say that there is
| if possible, less than the customary excuse for
for the issue of these bonds underwent an IN
usually protracted and searching discussion
during the longest legislative session ever held
ions were subj ectcd to close inspection and
criticism by the people convened in public
meetings and by jealous and watchful public
the scheme, ample time was given for its further
discussion prior to its submission to the people,
| whereupon 1t received the popular approval by
thus became, not by hasty and inconsiderate ac-
ton. but by successive, deliberate steps, part
of the constitution, entrenched within the i'm
prcgnable sanction of organic law. Moreover,
the bonds thus provided for were finally issued
| only upon the most rigid compliance by the obi
xf sSf sgd sSi
tits not, of course, pretended that the passage
Of the measure was wholly uninhuenced, in the
Legislature or before the people, by those undue
often impair the purity Of legislative and popular
action hut it is certain that its success was not
more due to the influence OF those who were
than to that widespread zeal in its behalf, which
was founded upon an honest faith in its benefit
! to the people at large.
That the scheme itself was, at the time, pre-
mature and unWlse, the people quickly discovered
to their cost, but the attempt to charge upon the
other party to bad bargain, the results of an
act Of folly deliberately committed BY them
ton, which I should be sorry to think could
fairly characterize the people Of this State.
| The bonds thus deliberately issued are held by
GAOfeSS
| an unmistakabIe obligation attested by the great
| seal OF the State, but they convey no hint o:
qualified payment nor intimation that could, by
purchasers Every day they thus reman dis.
honored, threatens the lasting dishonor Of our
| State But the conclusive eetoppel Of the last
equitable grounds, is the fuct that the state long
ago obtained by foreclosure, the property which
was the consideration for her assumption OF the
debt to secure which such property was pledged.
Except for her obligation TO pay such debt, she
had no right to the property securing It,. And
moreover, this property thus obtained, consisting
from the State served to forward the construction
OF the existing railroads, whose benefits we have
Can there remain possible plea for the nom
payment OF debt thus honestly contracted,
and when the object for which it was contracted
has been obtained and enjoyed?
fore justified the non-payment of the interest
upon these bonds by people harrassed with the
various hindrances and hardships incident to
frontier ife it no longer excuses refusal. by the
producers Of agricultural products worth $50,OoO,-
600 annually, and the Posscssors of taxable
property approximating 9ssoooo,ooo. If . cue
1 early existence-the exigencies of great civil
war, and of q devastating Indian outbreak, the
%
tofore caused rather an inability than an indispo-
sition to meet our just obligations, their prompt
both by proper. sense Of long delayed justice
and by due appreciation Of the Prosperity we
And, now that our educational, Charitable and
retormatory institutions, whose claims could not
well be deferred, have beeu provided for, there
ought to b. no further postponement of simple
| act Of justice whose performance is demanded
by the imperative voice OF expedience any honor.
Moreover, the 500 QUO acres Of so.called internal
Improvement lands, which fortunately l moi
cay prov!dentially- into our possession a
few years since, il judiciously used will render
easily practicable the course to which honor
! plainly points. Fortunately these lands have
been placed by constitutional protection beyond
their absorption and waste, and wisely subjected
/ to the same supervision which has proved SO sue
cessful with the school lands. Under such man
! agement the sale of these lands has already
commenced, and a fund accumulated of about
500, 900. :. 49,. +
With such proceeds, reliable sinking fund is
! created with which, and the pre- ctice of that
retrenchment in general and local affairs which
have recommended, land which prudence demands,
an issue of new bonds running a long period at
low interest, with little or no addition to tempo
rary burdens. l am profoundly impressed with
the conviction that fthe longer -postponement
ment Of this long deferred indebtedness, must
infick upon the fair name of our State the in
! efaceable stain of reputation. And l venture
with the beginning Of my official duties, to COM
action. .-..'
| THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
The grave questions growing out of the various
relations of the producing to the transportation
handing importance. The constant tendency Of
industrial development toward the growth Of
speciaties, and that division of labor producing
| the best results, necessitates constantly in
| creasing Interchange Of commodities, and multi
| plies the public dependence upon those means
| for guiCk lnfercOnrAp QcfiyQ tra1 thafo