The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-12
COMMUNICATED.
For the Pioneer.
Our Magma Charta.-No. 2.

Minnesota defines the duties and powers of
the Governor. This section differs from
the corresponding portion of the organic act
of Wisconsin in the term of office of the
executive, which is fixed at four years in
the former and three in the latter. As the
lower of removal at any time and without
any defined cause is reserved to the Presi-
dent in both cases, it becomes of little inn
portance what the nominal term may be-
1t would seem that the unlimited power of
removal thus retained by the Executive of
the. United States, aud which might at any
time be exercised from caprice, or personal
or political motives, ought TO he modified by
requiring specific and public charges prop
erly sustained, with opportunity of defence
or explanation, as d prerequisite for the re-
moval of the Governor before the expiration
OF his term of service.
The powers vested in the Executive au-
thority OF Minnesota are the same as here
totore given to the Governors OF Michigan
and Wisconsin. : He is comi,lander-iu-ch chief
of the militia and ex-ofiicio Superintendent
of Indian affairs. He has authority To par
don offences against the laws of the Terri
tory, and grant reprieves III case of crimes
against the laws Of the United States. He
is to commission officers appointed under
the laws of the Territory and s. shall take
care that the laws be faithfully executed"
The organization of the Territory gives
10 its Governor, in his capacity OF Supern-
tendenr of Indian affairs, all the authority
over the tribes within its extensive limits
west of the Mississippi heretofore exercised
10y the Superintendent at ST. Louis. In
many respects this will be an advantage To
all parties. The Governor, residing at the
capitol of Minnesota, will be near to the
tribes over whom his authority as Superlu-
tendant is to be exercised. Redress for
grievances arising from the intercourse be-
tween our citizens and the Indian nations
can he more readily obtained; peace and
order can be more effectuaiIy preserved
and the laws regulating trade and Inter
course and prohibiting the introduction of
spirituous liquors into the Indian country,
more rlgidly enforced. From the high char
actei enjoyed by the present incumbent OF
this important and responsible office, We
have every reason TO believe that the duties
OF Governor and Indian Superintendent viii
be most faithfully and ably discharged.
The third section OF lhesorgauIc law re-
ters to the duties of the Secretary of the
Territory. This officer is required to pre-
serve the laws and proceedings OF The Legts-
lature, and the official acts OF the Governor
in his executive Department, and to fulfil
the duties Of the Cove in case OF va
cancy in that office.
Section four has, reference to the LegisIa-
tive power and authority Of the Territory,
and is one of the most important in the
whole act. This power is vested in the
Governor and Legislative Assembly the
ioSSSA OtobSh ~ NohoiSt VI a OOuiiSlI anu
House of Representatives. Here it may be
of interest to call attention to the manner in
which the earliest form of Territorial gov
eminent attempted by the United States
has been modified and improved upon 10y
the result OF the experiepce of years, and
the clear and statesnaulike views OF prom
inent men in the public service. The ordi-
nance of 1887, admirable as it is in its gen
eral scope, contained several aristocratic
features which, however mach they might
have CONFIRMED with the manners and Gus
toms of the period ct their enactment, would
aud more liberal doctrines of the present
day. BY that ordinance the Governor is
required to have "a freehold estate within
the Territory northwest OF the Ohio +" in
one thousand acres of land, while IN the
exercise of his Office" The Secretary and
Judges are each required to possess a free
hold of not less than five hundred acres.--
But these features are more especially con-
spicuous in the organization Of the Legisla-
ture. This body by the ordinance is made
to consist of a Council and House of Rep
resentatyes. The former was composed OF
five members to be possessed of a freehold
of five hundred acres of land each, and to
be elected by Congress froE ten names
CHOSEN and transmitted to Washington by
the House OF Representatives OF abe Terri
tory. The term of Office Of members of
the Council <fas FIVE years, un'ess sooner
removed. The qualifications necessary for
a member of the House of Representatives