The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-05

was made evident but few days suisse
quently, when one OF my opponents, being
determined to test the question, moved to
add an item to the general appropriation bill
for defraying the expenses of Wisconsin
Territory for the ensuing year, which mo-
lion was negatived by large majority
The House was then taunred with having
admitted Delegate to represent Territory
which had in reality no legal existeffe.
The great object TO which turned my at
tension wasthe biif for The organization of
Minnesota Territory. was kindly aHsw-
ed, by the Committee on Territories of the
Senate. to change certain provisions OF the
bill so as to meet the wishes q my constit-
uents, and but litle difficulty was experienced
in procuring its passage by that body
But with the House the case was far differ
ent. The bin there was most Violently OPP
posed. The Committee Oh Territories bad
reported amendments to the Senate bill,
changing the boundary of Minnesota, and
making the act TO take effect on the 10Th of
March, instead of the day of its passage, so
az To preclude the administration of Mr..
Polk from making the appointments.
was averse 10 these changes, because we
had already sufficient territory, without eX-
tending our boundary to the Missouri river;
and us to the appointments. stated that
Mr.. Polk would only exercise the right to
nominate two or three of the officers, AMI
III at under any circumstances the proposed
amendment was TO my view breach of deli
cacy and propriety, but in both points was
over.ruleh.
An effort was made, in Committee, to APP
pend the Wilnot proviso To the Territorial
! bill, but this I resisted, as determined, So
far As it was in my power, not TO allow 1t to
be cloyged by provision wholly -uperflu-
Gus, as the introduction of slavery was pro-
hi!,ted on the east OF the Mississippi 10y The
ordinance 1857, aud on The west of that riv-
er hy the act Of 1919 establishing the Mis-
souri, line. The proposition WAS therefore
voted down before the bill was reported to
the House, but was brought in as an a,nerd-
nent by The minority 81 the Committee, and
was Uniy kepr n on. ',s..= '.'top'esi, and po-
duci,,g consequently II fierce and angry dis
cu-sion, uhieh would nave resulted in the
loss of The bill, by my moving and refusing
to Withdraw the previous question, which
cut off all amendinents. On the 22d ot
February, foved that the rules of the
House he suspended to enable ne 20 submit
= motion, ,ba; the Committee vi the Whole
be discharged from the further consid-
Grafton Of the hill for the organization
Of Minnesota Territory, so as to put it
uuon its passage The rules were suS-
pended by a vote of 100 70 L6, and
the struggle then commenced upon my
moving the previous question. turned a
deaf ear To all entreaties to Withdraw it, aud
| thereby incurred the ire of those who were
inimical to the bill. But after all attempt to
lay it on the table, or in other words, TO de-
feat it, which was unsuccessful, it was finally
ordered to third reading, and all opposition
TO it ceased. 1t was finally passed OF the
2d of March, and sent to the Senate, which
holy refused To concur in The House amend
ment, changing the date when the bill was
to take effect. By great exertion on the
part Of my friends and myself, the House
was at length persuaded to recede from its
amendment and the bill was passed and
became law on the Sd of March. As Mr..
Polk, with great ,nagnanimity, refused to
make the appointments, although he bad
perfect right so to do, waited on General
TAYLOR and the Secretary Of State two
days after the Inauguration, and submitted
written appeal, that the Territory should
he allowed the three offices, of Secretary,
District Attorney, and Marshal, if no others,
and that the remainder should he filed by
selections from the Northwest. The effect
of the step you have seen. Of the three
citizens of our Territory named by me in
connection with these offices, two only have
been appointed. and it was only by incessant
efforts on my part that even these were al
lowed us. believe if to be piece of in
Justice towards US, and n violation of usage,
not to have given us the office of Secretary
also. But the crowds Of office-seekers must
he conciliated, if possible. and at our cost,
so far as the Territory could furnish the
means. have no doubt the selections of
the individuals appointed to office in our
1 Territory are proper ones; but contended
| for the principle, that when the materials
could be found in the country for filling the
Offices, the Territory should he preferred.