The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-03-27
LEGIsLATIvE DEBATES.
DEBATE ON THE APPoRrIoNMENT BILL.
Thursday, March 90.

Thursday, March 90.
On motion of MIR. Forbes, the Council
resolved Itself into committee of The whole,
MIR. Burkleo in the chair, for the further
consideration of the Apporiionment bill.
MIR. Mcleod offered as an amendment
substitute for the original bill.
MIR. Rollins moved To amend by discon-
Meeting Little Canada from St. Paul, aud
attaching it to the St. Anthony district.
MR. FoRBEs. hope the motion will not
prevail. II is a well known fact, Mr.. Chair
man, that all the business interests of Little
Canada are with ST. Paul. When the pre-
sent appOrtionrnent was made by the Cow
ernor, it WAS necessary 10 attach Little Can
ada to st. Anthony, in order to get a sufi-
cient population to form Council district.
The people of the former place were much
opposed To IT.; and expressed their unwil-
lingness to continue in that connection lon
ger than could be avoided. Il know their
desire is to be with ST. Paul, and int his they
should he gratified. They have no business
connection with ST. Anthony, and desire
none politically.
Mn. Mcleod. Knowing as | do, Mr..
Chairman, the wishes Of the people of Lit
tie Canada, | would consider il an act Of
great injustice to cut them off from ST. Paul.
dc not imagine it would entiile St. An
thony to any additional representation be-
You'd that given il Ivy the bill. Neither has
Little Canada population sufficiently
large to entitle them to a representation M
dependently Of any other place. 1t has
been asserted that St. Anthony has greatly
increased since the census was taken, but
believe this increase has been overrated.-
But even admitting all to be true, we have
no right to look behind the census returns
This is our only official guide. would
like to see the county of Washington retain
her present representation, but the facts and
figures prevent II.
MIR. ROLLINS. | feel certain, Mr.. Chair
man, that all the people of Little Canada
are not anxious to be disconnected with St.
Anthony. If the district be left as it is, and
a proper allowance be made for the Increase
of ST. Anthony since the census was taken,
the district will be entitled to two Council
lors and four Representatives. A road will
shortly be opened between ST. Anthony and
Little Canada, which will facilitate bust
ness between the two places, anG bring the
people in closer connection.
Ma. NORRIS offered substitute " hch
proposed an increase Of two Councillors and
-four Representatives 1t was radically diff
ferent from the hill before the committee
among other things proposing 10 give to
Pembina but one Representative, and a
voice with Benton in Councillur.1
Mr.. NORRIS. ! deem il but an act of
justice, Mr. Chairman, that the representa-
ton should be increased, at least to the ex-
tent contemplated Ivy this substitute. We
are entitled TO this and more under The Or
ganic Act; and il is an admitted principle in
representative governments, that the larger
the representation, The more correctly will
the wishes and opinions of the masses be
reflected. believe it is our duty to exer-
else our constitutional rights in this partic-
ular. 1t will he no additional expense TO
the Territory, and it will give to certain
communities their just rights, which, with
out this increase, they cannot have. The
substitute, il wall be perceived, also differs
from the bill in the principle of making sim
gle districts. Small settlements should not
be deprived Of a representative, when it is
practicable to give them one, and their voice
stfied by the action of large towns and
ne,ghborhoods. There was considerable
said the other day against an increase, but
| failed to hear one valid argument advanc-
ed by gentlemen who opposed it. | repeat
what then said, that hold the agriculture
al pal is of the Territory, which are daily
increasing in population, are more deserv-
ing our attention than the Indian country.
1t is proposed by the bill to give Pembina
one Councillor and two Representatives.
! know rot what these people have done,
that they should have this large representa-
ton. They are set Of rowing hunters,
who have never given cent of revenue to
defray the expenses Of government, and we
have no certainty that they win. Ihave no
idea CT giving so large Il representation TO
people of such uncertain character.
Mr.. LOOMS. The first feature we dis
cover in the substitute offered by the gen.
tIenan from Cottage Grove, mir. Norris
IS an increase of representation. |, Mr..
Chairman, when this hill was up before,
gave my views upon this point. The gen.
tleman says he has, as yet, heard no good
argument against an increase. Now, / am
compelled to say, that neither have heard
any convincing argument from the other
side. Ii is mere difference Of opinion be-
tween US. He has failed to convince ne,
and must regret that | have also failed TO
convince him. The principal argument he
advances in favor Of an increase, is that the
larger the representation, the more correct
ly will the opinions of the people he repre-
scented. Now, if This he The case, why not
at once increase the Legislature to the full
extent allowed hy the Organic Act? If The
views Of the people will be better regarded
by an increase of six members, it will GER
tainly he still better to have all the increase
at ouce which we have the power TO make
There are other features in this substitute
wherein fail to see any of that great i'm
prOvement which its author claims for it
over the original bill. Washington county
is divided into three Council districts, and
the lower portion, or Cottage Grove pre-
cinct, is given one Councillor and Repre-
sentative. Saltwater, with population of
more than twice as great, is given no larger
a representation on this floor than Cottage
Grove. 1t is true, Saltwater is given three
Representatives in the other branch; but
what reason or justice is there in this p
The original bill, asswell as the substitute
introduced this morri;ng by the gentleman
from Mendoza, { Mr.. Mcleod gives to The
whole of Washington county an equal rep
reservation in both branches. can see no
reason why the whole of that county, under
the circumstances, cannot be combined in
one Council district The business inter
ests Of her people are connected from one
end Of The county to the other. The luin