The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-09-11


secure to ail-the people, living as well on
the unce,le,. MS the ctdetl lands, the right of
representation in the Assembly, and Of vo-
ting at all elections, subject only 10 the re-
strictions of the laws 10 regulate the quail
ficati0ns of voters; and are not elections
held on the unceded lands, made equally
valid mud legal by the prov isons OF the or
ysnic law, with those held on the ceded
country? .' s" peg
An early reply to these questions will be
gratefully acknowledged 10y
F," Yours, very respectfully,
ual r' H - II. II. SlBLEY.
it WAsHiSGruN, Feb IS, 1851.
Hon H. II. St5iey, .'.
Delegate from NE Territory Of Min:
I DEAR SIR-I have examiued, though
briefly, the law organizing The Territory Of
Minnesota, in relation 10 The questions you
PROFOUND IN your note of yesterday. l
was surprised that any question of The kind
could arise in The mind of any one. had
been one of The committee that framed the
law in question, and presume that no one
of that committee ever doube ed that the leg
isIative power Of the Territory exrende.
70 the entire limits of the Territory, re-
s,rcted only to "righiful subjects of leglsla-
ton, consistent with the Constitution of the
| United States, and the provisions Of this
act," and subject to the approval of. Con-
gre.s. Nothing Of course could bedone by
the Legislature of the Territory in regard
to the Indian tribes, Us this subject belong,
exclusively to Congress; but that the Ter
ritory, in all its parts was devoted to, The
same legislative control, is proved hy the
pre- visions tha, every free white citizen of
the age of 81 wears, " no shall have been a
resident of the Territory a, The time of The
passage of the act, SHALL he entitled TO vote
at the first election. All could vote the
consequence of which is npparent-lhat all,
in contemplation OF law, were to be repre-
sented. Subsequent Legislatures could
regulate the qualifications Of voters, but in
the Territory, and in any part of it, The
right of voting would main, aud of course
the right of representation.
This short view of the subject answers
the points made in your note. The organ
&c law Of the Territory regarded the entire
Territory in precisely the same light--all
parts of it enttled to representa,ion-ali
male citizens of 81 years of age, being free
40 matter where situated or living, being
entitled to vote. The legislation over the
whole Territory is a complete right in the
Territorial Legislature, subject only TO the
restrictions implicit in the exclusive right
of Congress to regulate the intercourse be-
tween the Indian tribes. Excuse the inn
/ projections of this note, written in the midst
of boisterous debate.
With great respect, am truly yours,
JAMES THOMPSON.
Considering then the principle Of repre-
sentation for all sections of the Territory
iucoutrovertiI,ly established we will now
proceed to show by the details of the Appor
tionment Bill, its fairness and Justice, which
have been, and are daily assaiied 10y tn,
Winnebago Fur Company, with the mos
unscrupuIuus faisehoods; and for this pur
pose, we cannot do better than to make tn.
following quotation from the uuanswerablt
speech of Speaker Ames, on the passage o
the bill: .....
"But 10y way Of comparison, to ascertain
whether or rot, the provisions of this b,l
are just and equitable, let us see what rep
rpsentatlon it nllots tn the several districts
according to the census.
The LIST Council District, including thu
counties of Chisaeo, itasca and Washing
ton, had n population, on the LIST Of Jun,
last, of 1858. Here then, is the basis o
representation; fe: one member of the
Council represents n populaton Of 6S5, a!
will be seen by dividing the whole popua
ton of the Territory, 6,l92, nv ., the mum
her of members of the Council; and by III,
sane rule, one member Of the House rep
resents a population Of 344.
The lst District then, is by the provis
ions of the bill, a little ovei represented, a,
il has two members Of the Council and fou
of the House; which, by the basis, onght Il
represent population exceeding 1900. Nj
district then, is over represented in the frac
ton of IFS, besides sharing IN the election
of third member Of the Council; and Ger
tnnly, we cannot complain. Remember
that by any rule of apportlon,nent, som,
fractions will be represented, while oiher
are not. ia4i ~ iNs 'tf .a'i +N'
How IL it in the 81 Council District? st
Paul, Liitie Canada, including also Pig
Eye and Suake River, has population o
LISTS; emitting il Ia five members of I'll,
House, and considerably over two member
of the Couucil; and itis to compensate 10
this large fraction OVER the basis for tw,
members Of the Council, thar the 2,i Dis
trict shares with the list District, in the cleo
ton of n third member of the Council.
The population of ST. Anthony, the 3.
Council District, is 656- being 30 less thai
is requisite by The ratio Of the census, Z,
make ihe full constituency of one Ineinbe
Of the Council and two members of tn,
House,; yer sthis bill gives ST. Anthony
me,Dler OF the Council and two members o
the House. ssitss 1eaalh ISL t.a - afl.si q
The 4ih Council District, rs before ex
planned, is made up OF unrepreseuted frsc
tons 10 Ramsey and Washington counties
The 5h Council District, embraces tbs
jcounties Of BYnton and of Cass, with
population of 73S, and one member Of tho
Council and twoo Of the House. But ii viii
be found. by a law Of this session, that some
fifty or sixty persons are removed by a
change of county lines, from tho 9th into
the 9th District. Again, If the 9th District
texcludes from her census, The soldiers, who