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

princf?aify 10 attend To great matters ana IN
lay before Congress the wants Of the people,
representing the greatest insrests of the
territory without drawing a line which tends
10 invidious distinctions.
Mr.. Norris. The gentleman from
Mendoza has certainly made very clo-
quent speech; but he has failed to con-
vince me of the right Of the people in
the Indian country to a representation
here. have always been willing, and
am still. to concede to them the privi-
Iege, but can acknowledge no right they
have in the premises. The right thus
claimed is neither established by law
or precedent. The gentleman has
brought forward the Organic Act, to
prove this right which he claims. Now,
the Organic Act is merely law Of Con-
gress, and must be construed in connec-
ton with other laws of the same body
The Trade and Intercourse laws forbid
any white man, unless he be licensed
trader, to put his foot in the Indian
country. The laws which we pass here
have strictly no binding force in that
country There, the laws of the United
States hold supreme sway. We allow
representatives from the Indian country
to hold seats here, merely by suffcrence /;
not that we acknowledge any right a.
bout the matter. l repeat, however,
that l am not willing to shut them out
entirely; and by the substitute which l
introduced, they were amply provided
for.
Mr.. Mcleod. have but one more
remark to make, Mr. President. There
has been SO much said here about the
injustice done by this bill to Benton
county, that, in spirit Of concession, l
feel willing to take one representative
from Pembina and give it to Benton
If either Of the gentlemen from that
county will make the motion, will vote
I for it.
Mr.. Sturgis then moved to amend his
amendment accordingly, and the motion
prevailed.
The question then recurring upon or
dering the bill to be engrossed, it was
lost by the following vote:
AYEs-Messrs. Boal, Burkleo, Forbes
and Mcleod.
NAys--Messrs Norris, Olmsted, Roll
Inns, Sturgis and LOOMS, President-5.
The Council then adjourned.
Two O'CLOCK, P. NJ.
The President called Mr.. Burkleo to
the chair.
Mr.. OLMsrED moved n call Of the
Council, and stated that he knew what
was the programme of the afternoon
The question to engross the Apportion-
ment bill, which was lost before dinner,
was to be re-considered on the motion of
the gentleman from Marine, Mr. Loom
is, and taking advantage of the absence
of the gentleman from St. Anthony, Mr..
Rollins, who had gone home, upon the
supposition that the gentleman from
Saltwater, Mr.. Burkleo, was also go
ing to leave town, the amendment giving
to Benton county something approach
ing her just rights, was also to be re-
considered, and the bill put through.
After various speeches by Messrs
Norris and Olmsted, upon points of or
der, and one or two appeals from the
decision Of the chair, Gall ef which were
sustained by the Council, further pro-
ceedings under the call were dispensed
with, and Mr.. Rollins excused from at
tendance during the afternoon.
Mr.. LOOMS. The gentleman from
Long Prairie is good at guessing. He
has stated precisely the course intend
to pursue. therefore move to recon-
slider the vote by which the Council re-
fused to order the Apportionment bill to
be engrossed.
Another call Of the Council was
moved, and further debate ensued upon
points of order; during which
Mr.. NORRIS remarked that he merely
contended for the point raised upon
principle. 1t would not alter the result,
he said, if the gentleman from st. An
thony were present The friends Of the
bill had sufficient strength to do as they
pleased with it,
Mr.. MCLEOD. rise to make my f.
nal remarks upon this question. 1t was
well known to me this morning. and to
every member here, that the friends of
the bill had sufficient strength to pass it
as it stood. II was not to secure votes
that we consented to take a representa-
tive from Pembina and give it to Benton;
hut we yielded the point-not the prin-
ciple-supposing that the gentlemen who
had opposed the bill would be willing to
appre ciate the spirit of Cancellation
which prompted US to favor the amend
ment find we were mistaken, and |
for one, am sorry voted as did. i
find there was no sincerity where we ex-
pected to find small portion at least.
The President took the chair, and
Mr.. Burkleo asked to be excused from
attendance during the afternoon, mas
much as it appeared to be understood,
that he and the gentleman from st. An
thony had "paired off,"
The excuse was granted.
The motion to reconsider was then
put and carried, after all kinds Of mag
Unable opposition by Messrs. Norris and
OImsted.