The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-04-03


will be seen by dividing the whole popaltiion 81
the Territory, 6I92,Ly 8, the number Of mem
bers Of the Council; and by the same rule one
member Of the Honse represents population oil
34i. -
The Is, district then, is by the provisions Of the
bill ii little over represented, il has TWO men,
bers of the Council and four az the House; which
by the basis ought io represent population ex-
ceeding 1900. Ny District then, Is over repre-
scented in the fraction Of Ii3, beside sharing III
the election of third member of the Council; and
certainly cannot complain. Remember, that
10y any rule of superintendent, some fractions will
be represented, while Others are not.
/ How il it in the End Council District? Saint
Paul, Lii,e Canada including also Pigs Eye and
Snake River, has population of 1873; en'i-
Ting il TO members of The House and considerably
over two members If the council and 1t is to
compensate for this largo fraction over the basis
/ for two members of the Council, thai the 2nd
District shares with the LIST District, III the cleo
( lion of Sd member Of the Council. a
! The population of ST. Anthony. the Sd Coun-
Gil District, Is 656 being 80 less than is requi-
size, by the ratio Of the census, TO make the full
constituency Of one member of the Council and
two members of the House. yet this bill gives ST.
Anthony member OF the Council and two MEM
I bcrs of the House.
! The Alb Council District, as befnre explained.
is made up of unrepreseuted fractions in Ramsey
and Washington counties.
! L he 9th Council District, embraces the coun.
lies Of Benton and Of Cass, with population OF
1873 and one member Of the Council and Two OF
the House But ii will be fonnd, by law Of
Of this session. that fifty or sixty persons
are removed by change Of county lines, from the
or: into the 9th District Agan if the 9Th district
excludes from her census, the soldiers who were
enumerated, it is by no certain that that dis
trict would not be over represented by the provis
ions of this bill or giving Benton all that is claim
ed by the census, there would be unrepresented
only about fifty persons. Yet, | would have
gole 10 the extent Of giving Benton one of the
Representatives which this bill awards 10 Pembi-
ma
! I he 9th District embraces the county Of Ca-
kcta, extending westward to the Missouri river.
The census Of THE county, is returned as being
$50 persons, fully enumerated. Errors IN
that ccnsus, are charged, and truly no doubt: by
duplicate enumerators of 40 persons, owing 10 ii
ctange Cfthe boundary line, not understood by
the narrhals, whose districts were di, ided by the
county line Let Us then admit, what is claimed
as IN error Of 40 names; but recolleci that there
is also IA larger error ON The other page, i'll favor
Of Dako.a--that when The census of 1919 was
taken, there were returned think Sc names OF
residents Of that county living Oh the waters OF
! the Missouri, who are not enumerated ut all In
this census, and whose numbers have unques-
tionablv increa sed since The census Of lS49, and
let Us hen see how the figures stand For II
members viii go behind the census and question
the sworn returns Of L. s. officers, we wish 10 see
it done with some exaclncss and nicely; if you
suhirae, the 40 duplicate names from $50 and
add the So names of the colony Gu the Missouri
river, Dakota will then have an aggregate of 632.
But IL il Sill id soldiers were enumerated in Dako-
Ia county. Certainly; and SO were soldiers en-
umcrated in Gas, county. But suppose they
were improperly enumeraiet.-there were not
quite hundred of thenl-and the population 81
Dakota would sull remain nearly six hundred
or almost enough to be represented by one MEM
Der Of the Council and two Of the House, which
is all the I'LL provides.
come now 10 the 9Th ana last Council dis
trict-,he much abused Penlhina--bordering on
the frozen regions of British America, and which
you recolIect was brought distinctly to the notice
and recognition Of the Territorial government OF
Minnesota, much through The agency Of the Rev.
Mr., Bcicourt, Of Pen.bina, who IN 1919, returned
TO Gov. Ramsey list Of 100 names of menorasts
there, claiming the protection and the rights Of
American citizens, living within the limits Of
Minnesota; which names appear at length in the
legislative Journals Of last session. signed 10 a
memorial.
The census shows the popula'inn Of Pembina
10 be 1875. This bi!l gives that district one
member Of the Council and two of the House
leaving All persons nnrepresented, Adult thai
the population there Is over estimated; We, here
IS "A deduction made upon u mere suspicion o
error, of about 40 per cent. Would gentlemen
ask any hing more: Or are we to throw ava
the census, and sit here and guess NJ the right
basis Of representation IN the Legislature, will
reference 10 our own notions Of what is due tc
distance or complexion
/ will next proceed TO an examination Of the
rights Of the people residing unceded lands, tc
Il representation n the Legislature The hrs
section Ct The organic act provides:
/ ''That, from and after the passage of thi: act
all thai part Of the Territory of the United States
which lies within the following limits, to wit
Beginning in the Mississippi river, al the point
where the line Of AZ degrees and 30 minutes OF
north latitude crosses the same, thence running
due west on said line, which is the northern
boundary of The State of Iowa, to the northwest
corner Of the said state of Iowa. thence southerly
along the western boundary of said state, to iht
poin, where said boundary strikes the Missouri
river, thence up the middle OF the main channe
OF the Missouri river 10 the mouth Of White
earth river, therce up The middle Of the main
channel Of the White Earth river to the bcun-
!, CEited States aud Great Hli,ain; thence cast
aud south of east along the boundary line between
the possessions CT the United States ard Grca,
Britain TO Lake Superior; thence in Il straight line
to The northermost point OF the tate of NIscou-
sin in Lake Superior; thence along the western
boundary line of srid stale CT Wisconsin TO the
Mississippi river, thence down the main channe
# said liver to the place of beginning, be and
the same Is hereby, erected into Il temporary gov
crnment Ivy the name Of the Territory Of Mime
sofia
This, Mr.. Speaker, settles the point as to the
boundaries. L he fourth section of the same uc
further declares
''lhat the legislative power and authority Of
said Territory shall be vested IN the Governoi
and Legislative Assembly. The Lcgisla,iv,
Assembly shall eonss, of Council and House
Of Representatives.. The Council shall consist o
nine members, having his qualifications Of voters
as hereinafter prescribed, whose term of service
shall continue two years. he House Of Repre-
senIatlves shall. ut It's first session, consist Of Is
members, possessing the qualifications as
prescribed for members Of The Council, and whose
term Of service shall continue one year. I he
H., ii