Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-30
M'MILLAN EXPLAINS.
He Intended No Reflection on Gov. sibley
and the Supreme Court, but Makes
Lame Defense of Republican Repudia-


ton.
Congressional Record, May H.
Mr.. McMillan: Mr.. President, in speech
delivered in the Senate on the 18th of April
last by the honorable Senator from Missouri
who sits farthest from me, (Mr. Vest), he
referred to the State which have the honor
in connection with my colleague to represent
here as having repudiated its pecuniary obi
cations. In order to protect our State against
the charge of reputation of any portion of it's
debts stated to the Senate, with the permits
sion of the Senator from Missouri, that that
portion of our citizens who were opposed to
the payment of the railroad bonds issued as a
loan of the credit of the
State to certain railroad compa-
MES, based their opposition to the payment of
these bonds upon the ground that the bonds
were issued fradulently and without consider
alton, and the Indebtedness therefore was not
bona fde obligations; and when the Senator
from Missouri proceeded further to state the
facts in reference to the issuing of these bonds,
stated to him that the bonds were issued by
the executive of the State upon mandamus
issued by the supreme court of the State.
1t might appear to one not familiar with all
The circumstances that according to this state
ment those who are opposed
to the payment OF these
bonds charged that the action of the SUI
preme court and the action of the governor OF
the State was tainted with corruption or fraud.
In justice to the judges of the supreme court
of the State as then constituted, to the govern
or of the State and to myself, l desire to say
that no charge of corruption, fraud, or wrong
doing in the mandamus proceedings or OF the
action of the governor in obedience to the
writ, charged against the judges or the gov
ernOr, and if my remarks will bear constrc-
ton unfavorable of these gentlemen regret it.
The charges of fraud refer to other steps in the
proceedings resulting in Issuing these bonds,
which will not now discuss. These gentlemen
are eminent and honored citizens of our State;
with all of them my relations are cordial and
pleasant, and some of them are my personal
friends.
Mr.. President, desire further to. say that
while there is deep-seated and strong convlc-
ton in the minds of many of our citizens that
there is no obligation upon the State to pay
any portion of these bonds, yet there is not
one person, so far as know, who is not will
these bonds the full amount paid by him fo1
such bonds as he holds.
The refusal to pay the entire amount of the
bonds must not be construed into an indiffer'
ence to the maintenance of the public faith OF
want of moral or political integrity.
Whether right or wrong those opposed to
the payment of these bonds believe that in re-
sisting their payment they are performing a
duty. Under such circumstances, whatever
you may say of them you cannot call them re-
pudiationists. Remove or overcome this con.
viction, and in my opinion those who are now
opposed to the payment of these bonds will be
prompt to insist upon their liquidation.
| Every other pecuniary obligation incurred
before or after these railroad bonds were ISSUED
the State has or will promptly meet and dis
charge. Her bonds, whenever offered, com
mand premium in the New York market
and since the speech of the Senator from Mis-
souri, was delivered per cent. of the munich
pal bonds of her capital city, in which hav,
the honor to reside, being offered, were eager
ly competed for and commanded premium .
per cent.
| Therefore, Notwithstanding the existence O
this unfortunate railroad bond indebtedness
which trust will soon be satisfactorily re
moved, l can assert in this honorable pres
ence, and before the nation, that no State il
this Union has higher appreciation of mora
and political integrity than Minnesota, tn
| State of my home.