USA > Minnesota > Illustrated history of Minnesota, a hand-book for citizens and general readers > Part 9
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When President Lincoln called for 600,000 more volun- teers in 1862, Marshall enlisted and immediately began active service in the Sioux campaigns, after which he was ordered to the South. His record was brilliant, and promo- tion rapid until he ranked as a brevet brigadier-general. In September, 1865, the Republican state convention nomi- nated him for governor, he being the choice of the soldier element. He was elected by a large majority over his Democratic opponent, II. M. Rice.
Administration Notes .- Gov. Marshall in his brief inaugural gave special prominence to the needs of the educational and charitable institutions of the State. The founding of the First Hospital for the Insane at St. Peter, the erection of buildings for the Institute of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind at Faribault, and for the Normal School at Winona, were secured.
Grants of land were obtained from Congress for the Southern Minnesota and the Hastings & Dakota rail- roads. Moreover, the right of the State to five hundred thousand acres of land for internal improvements, which had been overlooked by Marshall's predecessors, was estab- lished through the governor's influence. He was also the first executive after the practical repudiation of the railroad
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debt in IS61 to urge its liquidation, proposing that the above lands should be devoted to that purpose.
The recognition of the right of the State to a second grant of two townships of land for the endowment of the University, a right implied in the organic act, was pressed before the departments in Washington.
The word " white " in Sec. 1, Article VII, which relates to the elective franchise, was stricken from the Constitu- tion November 3d, IS6S, after having been three times persistently brought forward by the governor somewhat at the peril of his re-election.
VI .- MARSHALL'S 2d ADMINISTRATION.
Re-election .- Marshall was re-elected by an increased majority in 1867 over Judge Charles E. Flandreau.
Reform School .- By the special recommendation of the governor, the institution previously known as the House of Refuge was taken under the full control of the State and entitled the Minnesota Reform School.
Capital Removal .- In 1869, a bill passed the legisla- ture for the removal of the state capital to Lake Kandiyohi in the county of that name; but it was vetoed on the ground that the new site was not central to population- and probably never would be; neither had the people been consulted in the matter. The future proved the wisdom of the veto.
Northern Pacific Railroad .- In the above year, a con- tract was made with the house of Jay Cook & Co. by virtue of which they became the financial agents of the Northern Pacific Railroad. This gave the company the thirty mil-
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lion dollars that started the road and formed the basis of its completion.
Marshall's Last Message .- Gov. Marshall in his last message thus sums up his administrations :-
" During that period, the population of the State has almost doubled, its railroads have quadrupled. Its educa- tional funds and facilities have increased manifold. Its noble public charities-the highest mark of our civiliza- tion-have most of them been founded, and all of them advanced to high positions of usefulness. The resources of the State, by the half million acres of internal im- provement lands and other liberal grants for important railroads, have been greatly augmented. I am profoundly grateful to the Providence that connected me with the State government during so interesting and prosperous a period.
" I have practiced somewhat the maxim, that 'They are governed best who are governed least.' I am profoundly impressed with the belief, that evil lies in the direction of too much legislation and governing, rather than too little. The fewer, simpler and more stable the laws the better. The less interference the better, with the ever present natural laws that govern individuals and society."
VII .- AUSTIN'S 1st ADMINISTRATION.
Gov. Austin .- Horace Austin was born October 15th, 1831, at Canterbury, Connecticut. He received a common school education, after which, for a time, he worked at a trade. He studied law at Augusta, Maine, then, in the year 1854, removed to the West, finally settling at St.
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Peter, Minnesota. In 1863, as a captain of cavalry, he took active part in the Sibley campaign on the Msssouri. The following year he became judge of the Sixth Judicial District. In the fall of 1869, he was elect- ed govenor by about 2,000 ma- jority, and the following Jan- uary assumed the duties of the executive office.
Great Civil Topics .-- There was much excellent advice to the legislature in Gov. Austin's inaugural. He advocated,among other things, a revision of the GOV. AUSTIN. criminal code,1 whose intricacies often led to injustice. Then, too, he thought such residue of swamp lands2 as should exist after present grants were satisfied ought to be expended in founding public school libraries. But we are to look to his message of IS71 for a wise and earnest review of questions agitating the people, many of which became of grave import in the next decade, and some of which still remain as a heritage for future citi- zens. They should for both reasons be carefully noted by the student of civil affairs.
He proposed to divide the internal improvement lands among the counties of the State, to be used for such pur- poses in accord with their title as the citizens might elect; or, instead of making the gift direct, to sell the lands at a prescribed price and allow the counties to use the interest on the permanent fund, so created, for such specific works as building bridges and making highways.
He advocated the improvement of Duluth harbor, bv
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the general government, on account of the great future value it would have as a shipping port, especially for the products of the State.
He asked for suitable legislation to prevent railroads from extorting unjust tariffs.
He regretted excessive special legislation; that is, such as provided for individual schemes, the incorporating of villages, and many other things suitably provided for by statute. Such matters retarded and often crowded out more important legislation; for example, appropriation bills were left over to be acted upon in the final days of the session, thus giving the executive no time to fitly weigh their merits.
He recommended that elections of congressional and state officers should be arranged to come in the same year, in order to calm occasionally the political strife that con- stantly vexed the people in the midst of their private affairs.
He recommended, further, the calling of a convention to draft a new constitution in place of the one existing, which he considered both natively weak and outgrown by the needs of the State. It was wanted, he said,-
Ist. " To forbid local or special legislation on many sub- jects -- including the creation of corporations and the sale or mortgaging of the real estate of minors.
2d. " To prevent the granting to any corporation, asso- ciation or person, any special or exclusive privilege, im- munity, or franchise.
3d. " To limit local taxation.
4th. "To restrict municipal indebtedness.
5th. " To prevent the incurring of municipal indebted-
ness in aid of any railroad or private corporation.
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6th. " To regulate and restrict railways.
7th. " To abolish the grand jury system.
Sth. "For many other reasons not herein mentioned."
University Lands .- During the year 1870, Congress finally granted the two additional townships of land for the endowment of the University, thus placing it once more on a firm foundation; for the previous grant was long ere this almost entirely spent to pay an indebtedness incurred through early mismanagement.
Internal Improvement Lands .- These lands, already spoken about as a gift to the State in Marshall's time, un- der a congressional act of 1841, had not been appropriated to the support of public schools as in the case of like grants in other states. So the legislature in 1871, heedless of good advice and precedent given above, apportioned them among several railroad corporations that sought to obtain them.
Gov. Austin vetoed the bill. This led to an amendment of the Constitution November 5th, 1873, by which the leg- islature was restrained from appropriating the proceeds arising from the sale of these lands unless the enactment were first ratified by a majority of the popular electors.
Administration Notes .- Nothing else of great moment attracted public attention during this administration, save a steady and rapid growth in the Commonwealth. This was marked in various ways: railroad construction was pushed with vigor; a great tide of immigration set in; real estate increased rapidly in value; and everywhere the peo- ple, except certain of the producing classes, seemed content- ed and prosperous.
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VIII-AUSTIN'S 2d ADMINISTRATION.
Re-election .- Gov. Austin was re-elected in IS71 by a majority of about sixteen thousand, showing the firm posi- 'tion he had gained in public favor.
Biennial Sessions Proposed .- The governor in his annual message of 1872 made an appeal for biennial ses- sions of the legislature on the ground that the necessity for frequent meetings which arose in the early history of the State, when everything was in a formative condition, no longer existed.
Amendments Adopted .- Several amendments of mo- ment were made to the Constitution in 1872 and IS73.
One provided for increasing the public debt to maintain the charitable institutions of the State in a more effective manner.
Another prohibited any village, city, or county from granting a bonus beyond ten per cent. of its property val- uation to any railroad asking aid. This valuation was to be determined by the assessment last made before the obli- gation was incurred. An amendment of later years re- duced the per cent. to five. The restriction was much needed; for there had always been, as now, a tendency on the part of the people to magnify the benefits to be derived from rendering such aid.
Perhaps the most important of the list was one prescrib- ing the sale of internal improvement lands at the rate ob- tained for school lands; the investing of the funds so ob- tained in United States and Minnesota bonds; and, as else- where said, forbidding the appropriation of the funds with- out the consent of the people.
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Seeger's Impeachment .- A committee of the House came before the Senate in the legislative session of the spring of 1873 accusing the state treasurer, William See- ger, of making unlawful use of the public funds. The Senate convened as a court of impeachment and adjourned to meet May 20th. At that time Seeger pleaded guilty, but claimed that he had not acted with corrupt intent. The Senate, however, found him guilty of all the charges, and disqualified him for holding or enjoying any office of honor, profit, or trust within the State.
The Grangers .- The farmers had for a long time com- plained bitterly, and with much reason, against the exces- sive tariffs and discriminations of railroad companies in transporting grain and other products; also against buyers because of unjust methods in grading wheat. Soon a cry was raised against corporations in general; this was far less just, and but another version of the larger and ever present controversy between capital and labor.
The farmers organized " Granges," or clubs, for the pur- pose of mutual protection. In selling products and pur- chasing farm implements and household supplies, they sought to deal with manufacturers and wholesale merchants without the aid of agents and retailers, who for obvious reasons were called " Middle Men." About this time the movement reached its height, then quickly subsided be- cause of internal dissensions, visionary methods, and the intriguing of politicians. This result was a source of re- gret to many, who thought the " Granges," aside from a possible redress of grievances, deserved to live by reason of their social features.
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IX .- DAVIS'S ADMINISTRATION.
Gov. Davis .- Cushman K. Davis was born in the town of Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, on the 16th day of June, IS3S. In August of that year, his parents removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where in the course of a few years he entered Carrol College. Still later, he entered the senior year of the classical course in the University of Michigan, and graduated in 1857. He then studied law in the Office of Alexander W. Randall, afterwards noted as a governor of Wisconsin and Postmaster General. During the Rebellion, he served from IS62 to IS64 as first-lieutenant of Company B, 2Sth Wisconsin Infantry; then, much impaired MOSSENS CKY. GOV. DAVIS. in health, he came to St. Paul and took up the practice of his profession. In IS67, he was elected to the state legis- lature, and from IS68 to IS73 was United States District Attorney for Minnesota. In the latter year he was elected governor.
Railroad Legislation .- Gov Davis thus speaks of the railroad legislation of his time :-
" The most important political event of my administra- tion was undoubtedly the culmination of the controversy which had been carried on for some years between the railroad companies and the people, on the question of the legislative power to control the former in the performance of
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their duties towards the public, especially in regard to fix- ing rates for transportation. I had long before my election, come to the conclusion that the assumption by the corpor- ations of an inviolable privilege to do as they pleased in these respects was full of danger to the rights of the peo- ple, and that the unity and vigor of action which is always the result of great consolidated financial power, managed by the best executive talent, too often depraved in its use, could be encountered successfully by nothing weaker than the people in their political capacity. Long before these questions became at all political, I had taken advanced ground on the subject, but it was then so much a matter of speculative thought, that I little supposed that within a few years it would fall to my lot as the chief magistrate of the State to recommend and enforce legislative remedies which, when so recently proposed, had beeen scouted as the rhapsodies of a visionary. But great reforms move rapidly, and as the result, perhaps the reward of my posi- tion upon these questions, I received the nomination for governor, and was elected by a majority of about five thousand.
"At the first session of the legislature during my term, the movement for the redress of these evils took political shape. These evils were exorbitant charges, discrimina- tions against and in favor of localities, an arbitrary raising of rates, and general defiance by the companies of State control. At the session of 1874, a statute was passed for- bidding these exactions, and asserting the power of the State to its extremest degree. By its provisions the gov- ernor was required to appoint three commissioners, who had the power to fix the rates of the various companies within the State, and severe penalties were denounced
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against the companies for refusing to comply with them. I appointed as commissioners John A. Randall, A. J. Ed- gerton, and Ex-Gov. W. R. Marshall, who addressed themselves to their difficult task with great zeal and ability, and thoroughly performed it.
"The contention of the railroad companies had been that their charters from the State were in the nature of a fran- chise which authorized them to fix the rates and manage their vast properties at their own discretion, and that this franchise was a contract, under the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dartmouth College case,1 which could not be impaired by legislation.
" But about this time the Supreme Court of the United States decided in what were known as the "granger cases."2 one of which went up from Minnesota, and was conducted on behalf of the State by Mr. W. P. Clough with great ability, that the functions of railroad corporations were pub- lic and not entirely private in their character-were to a certain extent delegations of the power which all states necessarily exercise in regard to public ways, and that for these reasons the provisions of the Federal Constitution which forbids any state passing any law impairing the ob- ligation of a contract does not apply, and that the power of the states to regulate and control the railroad companies in the respect above indicated, by legislation, is undoubted.
"The companies of course were obliged to accept this de- cision, the agitation upon that subject ended, and the result was the establishment of a power controlled by the State which can be so readily applied when necessary that many of the evils which formerly oppressed the people were en- tirely remedied, and the companies were compelled to be cautious and more reasonable in their operations."
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
The Locusts .- For several years the western and south- western portions of the State were afflicted by locusts,1 the plague reaching its height in 1875. Gov. Davis speaks of it as follows :-
" This visitation became most severe just at the time when the wheat fields were giving the fullest promise of bounte- ous product. The whole country west of Blue Earth County and south of the Minnesota river was laid waste. The agents of destruction moved in clouds which darkened the sun and descended like rain upon the soil. The growth of thousands of acres would be destroyed in a few hours, and the locusts would then rise and seek new fields.
"The regions thus laid waste were inhabited by people who, generally, had no resources except from their crops. Many of them were in debt with their property under mort- gage. The farmer could not pay the country merchant, and the latter could not therefore pay his own creditors. It was not long before the question of subsistence pressed for immediate solution. I was clearly of the opinion that it was of controlling importance to sustain these people and prevent an exodus from the State, which would have drawn back the line of our frontier over a hundred miles and made each member of an exiled population a herald of our af- flictions. I accordingly appealed to the public for aid. In this way thousands of dollars were raised and the money expended through local committees of the afflicted regions.
"The devastation was repeated in IS75, but after that year was gradually withdrawn. With the disappearance of these visits confidence revived, and immigration began. There were not wanting those who denounced my action as tending to advertise the disadvantages of the State. These gentlemen were practical expounders of the modern
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laissez faire1 doctrine of political economy, which to my mind is in such cases a contradiction of the higher and bet- ter golden rule."
Blue Earth county nearly emptied its treasury in behalf of the grasshopper sufferers, by paying a bounty to those who caught the pests. Men, women, and children engaged in the futile attempt of extermination. For this purpose, many devices were used; the simplest were bags with mouths held open with hoops or triangles attached to han- dles like those of a hoe. Holding the hoop vertically, with its lower side close to the ground, the operator would run for a short distance. The air inflated the bags, and the young grasshoppers, rising from the ground in myriads, were caught within. A quart or two at a time were drop- ped from the untied pointed end of the bag into grain sacks. These when full were taken to the receiving offi- cers, stationed in the towns, and delivered at a stated price per bushel. The authorities usually had the grasshoppers buried in trenches. In some cases several hundred bushels were buried in one trench.
In the next administration, Gov. Pillsbury was very ac- tive in behalf of the farmers. He visited the afflicted com- munities to see for himself what could be done for the peo- ple. The result was legislative action to issue loans of seed to those in need; besides, the State refunded to the coun- ties in part what they had expended in bounties.
Administration Notes .- There were no marked po- litical events during this administration besides railroad leg- islation and the addition of certain amendments to the Con- stitution. The latter planned for the division of the State into judicial districts and the election of judges therefor; . investment of funds growing out of the sale of school
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lands; and conferring the elective franchise upon women in the case of school elections.
The general financial depression of 1873 affected the material progress of Minnesota. The Northern Pacific was bankrupt, and the Manitoba system was under fore- closure. The locust plague added still more to the mon- etary stringency, and retarded immigration. Surely through much tribulation, if at all, was the Commonwealth destined to assert its greatness.
X .- PILLSBURY'S 1st ADMINISTRATION.
Gov. Pillsbury .- John S. Pillsbury was born July 29th, IS28, in the little town of Sutton, New Hampshire. He was educated in the public schools, but when a lad of sixteen entered upon a mercan- tile life. At the early age of twenty-one, he formed a busi- ness partnership with Walter Harrimon who was afterward governor of New Hampshire. In 1865, he removed to St. Anthony, Minnesota, and soon became one of its most active citizens. During nine legisla- tive sessions, he represented Hennepin county in the state GOV. PILLSBURY. senate, and for twenty years has served as a regent of the University. In IS75, he was elected over Buell by a majority of nearly twelve thousand, and was inaugurated January 7th, 1876.
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Status of the Railroad Bonds .- The bonds which the people in territorial days had been so anxious to grant, at this time seemed to be irretrievably repudiated; but Gov. Pillsbury took the initiative in the last great struggle made to secure their payment, by appealing strongly to the honor of the citizens who desired to pre- serve the good name of the State.
Bond Settlement Rejected .- The legislature of 1877 passed a bill looking to the settlement of the railroad bonds by an appropriation of the internal improvement lands for that purpose; but at a special election in June, the people rejected the plan by an overwhelming majority.
Constitutional Amendments .- At the two regular fall elections held in this administration, four amendments to the Constitution were adopted. One permitted the gov- ernor to approve or disapprove of appropriation bills by items. Another instituted a board, consisting of the sec- retary of state and judges of both the Supreme and Dis- tricts Courts, to canvass the returns in the election of state executive officers. A third in case of disqualification of Supreme Court judges provided for filling their places with those of the District Court. The fourth forbade the use of school funds for the support of sectarian schools.
XI .- PILLSBURY'S 2d ADMINISTRATION.
Re-election .- Gov. Pillsbury was re-elected in 1877 by a majority of more than seventeen thousand over Banning.
Review of June Election .- The heart of the consci- entious governor was painfully stirred by the action of the people in the preceding June election, yet his confidence in
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the honesty of their motives was not shaken as this review of the bond question before the legislature of IS7S shows :--
"The measure proposed for this purpose by the last leg- islature, and submitted to the people in June last, was re- jected, as you are aware, by an overwhelming popular vote. This resulted, I am persuaded, from a prevalent misapprehension respecting the real nature and provisions of the proposed plan of adjustment. I should be sorry, indeed, to be forced to the conviction that the people by this act intended other than their disapproval of the par- ticular plan of settlement submitted to them. For in my opinion no public calamity, no visitation of grasshoppers, no wholesale destruction or insidious pestilence, could pos- sibly inflict so fatal a blow upon our State as the delib- erate repudiation of her solemn obligations. It would be a confession more damaging to the character of a govern- ment of the people than the assault of its worst enemies. With the loss of public honor little could remain worthy of preservation. Assuming, therefore, as I gladly do, that this vote of the people indicated a purpose not to repudiate the debt itself, but simply to condemn the proposed plan for its payment, I should be happy to co-operate in any practicable measure looking to an honorable and final ad- justment of this vexed question."
Page's Impeachment. - The senate organized as a court of impeachment March 6th, IS78, to try Judge Sher- man Page, of the roth Judicial District, against whom articles had been preferred accusing him of arbitrary and abusive conduct in his treatment of the grand jury and offi- cers of the court. The senate acquitted him at the close of an adjourned session June 2Sth.
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