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

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Equal Representation---Thc Appor-
.stnHr tionment Bill. 90:
Equality of, rights, lies at the foundation
of free government, whether a'pure democ-
racy or n government 10y representatives.
The birth Of RepuJicanism ON this conti-
nent, WINS ushered ip with rho memorable
declaration that by nature, all men arc born
with equal, inalienable rights. Such, in
all times, has been the disposition Of ,nan
to gain, and gaining, to exercise, control
over his trlow-Leings; so cruel, oppressive
aud injurious to the masses OF mankind,
had always proved such control Of the few
over The many, that il was deemed proper
in the Declaration Of independence, to i'm
bed this axiom ut equal rights as the firm,
foundation upon which to rear the whole
fabric of free institutions. With certain
necdful exceptions, this principle extends to
all persons living within the limits and jn-
risdiction governed, the right TO constitute
a part Of the government. This is priv
Ilege extended by the organic act Of this, as
well as of all territories, to the people,
without regard to the tenure, or title of The
land they occupy; 1t Is ii personal right, de-
pending IN no manner whatever upon the
proprietorship of the sofia personal and
not property qualification. The national
sovereignty Of the Union, is asserted over
ali the lands embraced within the limits of
the seyeralterritories; whether the usuiruc-
tuary title of the Indian he extingui$hed, or
not. Ia Oregon, at the formation of its ter
-rltorlal government, not foot Of Indian
territory had our government ex:inguisbed
The title of nor has our government yet,
except by Indian treaties just made, aud re-
naming yet to be ratified So oar organic
act, defined what were the limits and bound =
aries ef Minnesota, and gave to the people
of our whole territory, excepting Indians,
tn every section Of The territory, a right OF
representation. This is the language OF
the organic act san apporiionment shall
be made, as nearly equa! us practicable
among the several counties or districts, for
the election of the Council and Representa-
tives, giving to each section Of The Terri
tory, representation ia the ratio of its pop
ulation, Indians excepted, as nearly as may
be-" This exception of indians, by the or
ganic act, was made expressly in contem-
{ plation of giving representation to the
,chite nihabtsants on the west side of the
river; no Indians inhabitimg the East side.
/ / he first apportionment was made in ac-
cordance with these plain, unmistaknble
provisions Of the organic act. 1t was moi
+ then for a moment pretended, that one sec
lion OF the Territory, was better entitled to
representation than another. The Indian
territory of Pe,nbna, was dislr;cted with
Benton county; and Benton saw no MUS
tice in having the population of Pembina as
the basis Of her large representation, nj
though Benton did not pay u dollar Of taa
.. snlo The Treasury, never has while Wah-
nata and Dakota counties, both in Indian
, territory, were ASSESSED aud paid their tax
es into the Treasury, as appears by the
Treasurer's report. II was not until as
winter, when a new apporionlnent was te
he made, and separate right of represen
tation given TO Pe,nbina, that the discover,
was made, that there could be no represen
tation of Indian territory. Representative
from Benton then turned around and de-
{ MED the right OF their then own constituen
cy 81 Penibina, to be represented! 1t wa.
all right for Benton to elect representative
for Pembua--to govern Pembina--to hav,
t a representation not Gas equal as prac,ica
Die among the several counties or Districts
but of course, it was all ,crong to give Penn
, bina representation of her own. The ap
portion,ilent bill did not diminish the rela
live political power Of that disirict--not al
all; it simply atUided The district, giving t.
/ Benton its righ,ful ratio Of representation
and TO Pembina, something less than it
righ,ful representation, according TO tn,
census. We offer these truthful remarks
to the candor of every voter in Benior
county. Which Of you, voters, would CLAIM
that it was just and honest and democratic
: for you TO insist upon carrying t,ro ballot
: to the ballot box, while your neighbor is al
!, lowed to carry no balioi' This is tn
whole length aud breadth of the question
$ about the aprortionment bill, which ha
: been denounced with revolutionary threats
It simply gives to the inhabitants OF ,thi
e Territory, as enumerated by sworn officers
. fair, equal right Of representation -th
census being taken expressly for tho pur
/ pose of distributing political power, fairl
y and equally amongst the different section
of the Territory: Their purpose really was
d IN fact. that Benton county should con,iuu
e to represent Cass and Pen,bina counties, IL,
, stead Of those counties representing them
1 ~. n.