The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-03-27

Norris's substitute, and decided in the
| negative.
On motion Of Mr.. Olmsted, the com
mittee rose, reported progress and OBJ
tanned leave to sit again.
The Council adjourned.
| 2O'CLoCK, P. NJ.
Mr.. FORBES moved that the Council
resolve itself into committee Of the
whole for the further consideration of the
Apportionmen bill
Mr.. OLMsTED. Gentlemen appear
afraid to give the opponents of this bill
time to scrutinize it. 1t is to be hurried
through without investigation. | stated
this morning that l was prepared to
prove many names in the Dakota and
Wabashaw returns, fictitious; and have
no doubt, that were PROPER time given,
it could be shown that large proportion
perhaps twO-thirds, of these names are
fictitious, or tie names of persons never
in the Territory. move that the bill
be referred to select committee of
three.
Mr.. FORBES. really trust, Mr Pres
ident, the motion will not prevail There
has been plenty Of time given to the OPP
ponents of this bill to examine il IN every
particular. A week has elapsed since
it was first before the Council; n sudl-
crent time, it must be acknowledged by
all, to prepare their amendments, sub
stitutes, arguments, and all other weap-
ons of attack. | am satisfied the motion
to refer to select committee is made
merely for the purpose Of delay in order
to kill the bill. The close Of the ses-
sion is nearly at hand; other important
matters demand our attention, aud We
have no time to lose. 1t has been as
serted by the gentleman from Long Pr j.
rie, that certain of the assistant marsha!s
have made fraudulent returns If we
even admit this, which | do not, there
are proper tribunals before which 10 ar
raign them for fraud and perjury II IS
not expected that bill of this kind can
be framed to please every one. There
| is no ether way than to take the census
as our guide, and 60 straight ahead. |
am convinced this has been done in draw
ing up the bill before us. It gives eve
ny portion of the Territory its rights, and
does not stop to enquire whether they be
the much traduccd rangers" Of Pembi-
ma, or the more refined of other sections.
lbelieve that great injustice has been done
the people of Pembina by remarks made
to-day on this floor; and knowing them
as do, feel it my duty TO yindicate
them. They have already large mis-
sionary school among them, under the
charge of the Rev. Mr.. Belcour:, nj
which all the branches Of learning are
taught; and it is, as l before stated,
their sincere desire to become better ac-
quainted with our institutions, and to re
ceive the benefits of our system of free
government and free education.
Mr.. NORRIS. The whole ground work
of this bill appears to be to give the west
side of the river an oyergrown Representa-
ton, to the manifest injustice OF the set
tied portions of the Territory. Gentle
men talk of justice. but does this look
like justice However worthy these
hunters of Pembina may be, they evil
IDENTIFY care nothing about representa-
tive. Although precinct was csta bIish-
ed there two years ago, they have never
held an election, and probably never
will. 1t is useless to throw away rep
resenta.ion upon such people, TO the
great injustice OF other portions Of the
Territory.
| Mr.. Mcleod. have document in
my hand, Mr.. President, which shows
that the gentleman from Long Prairie
ought to be much better acquainted wiih
the census of Dakota county than he pro-
TESS even to be. 1t is commission of
his, from the marshal Of the Territory,
authorizing him to takeshe census Of
settlement on the Missouri river, which
lies within the borders of that country.
This, / understand, he never attended
to, and in consequence, those people
were not enumerated. A census was
taken of them the year previous, howev-
er, and the number shown to be ST.
Had these people been taken into con-
sideration in the bill before us, Dakota
would be entitled to almost another rep
resentative. Had the gentleman atten-
ded to his duty in this particular, Dako-
IN svc,tld haya baco hln 40 c~oa,.