The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12
New Advertisements.
Gs See frat column on this page.
The Right of Representation.

representation, just and equal, based upon
population. With the exception of savages
and negro slaves, this principle is now vir-
ually recognized Throughout all the various
State Governments in the confederacy. IL
there be any exceptions, they are in South
Carolina and few other States, that al
ways have been laggards in tho progress of
free principles and in which property
qualification to vote, still dissraccs their
constitutions. We have learned to deride,
and with justice, the pretended self gov
ernment of the English people, through
their representatives because the House
of Peers is not elective and only represents
the nobility, while the members Of the
House of Commons, represent boronghs
and election districts, without reference to
the census or population of their boroughs
In such government, the principle Of ma
jorities cannot govern the people are
therefore down-trodden. That active pull
sation Of the popular will, manifested by
our people, which, moves our legislative
bodies in obedience to its voltion, as if the
Legislature were mere automaton, that
force Of public sentiment and public opin-
ion, which polarzes all legislation aud moves
like m unseen magnetic current through
our Legislative halls, is unknown and unfelt
in the British legislature. The reason why
our legislature is tremblingly alive to popu-
lar infuencc.is simply, that in our icgis-
lstures, our whole population, who make the
constituency here, is equally represented
The majority that made member, can un-
make him at the next election. He knows
that his duty requires him to obey that
majority or to resign; whereas, n member
of the House Of Commons. is fixed in his
plan Of legislation before he is elected and
isno more turned by tempest of petitions,
than ifhe were Dutch wea,hcr-cock, nail
eel to an ancient sieeple.
This principle then, which comes as
near as possible to securing self-government,
to all the people governed by our laws, is
one for which we always have commended
aud always shall.
Congress acted in the right spirit, in
framing our Ordinance. Congress recogniz.
ed fully the right Of self government, in the
inhabitants Of this Territory. Irishmen,
Canadians, Yankees, native or foreign, ma
turalized or unnaturalized, were all placed
OIL the saline footing at our first election
No matter on which side Of the river they
lived, whether they ate pemmican or corn
dodgers, whether they ever saw tax gath
crer or not, they had all perfec, and equa!
right to participate in this primary act vi
self government. We were presen, at the
frs, election and fel, pride and admira :
ton to see that Congress had thus laid the
corner stone Of our political fabric, on a
broad foundation Of equal justice to all
men. This principle, has been since carried
out in Minnesota and has been substan-
TALLY tho basis Of the qualification of voters
since. We rejoice at it. Amy thing else,
would have been monstrous. Any system
Of rotten boroughs, such as has been at
tempted siace, by sham Democrats, to be
fastened upon our Territory, by which the
east side of the river should DO all the leg
islation and hold all the Offices of the Ter
ritory, is fit only to be entertained by mer
who despise the ballo.-b ,y, and who believe
only in the supremacy Of the epaulelte.-
There are men no: yet residents here, who
have the GOODNESS to propose that the inhab
itants of three or four villages, and few
farmers on the east side of the river, shall
'nonopolize. all the political power of Min
nesoia, now and for years (forever, if they
could effect it) Of all the white population
scattered every where west to the Missouri
river and north to the British possessions,
Are We wrong in saying that such poli,ica
rnountebanks, are either arrant hypocrites
or else profoundly ignorant of the very ele
,nents Of true Democracy aud equal rights
Thcre has been much ignorant twaddlins
abont taxation and representation going to
gether; just as if, under a government, the
expenses Of which are betrayed by Con
gress, no man could vote, without produ
cling tax receipt. The doctrine was neve
meant to teach, that there could be no rep
resentation without the payment of taxes
but only that there could be no taxation
without the right to representation. The
very idea Of Territorial Government
contemplates the support Of Government b
Congress and no. by the people Of the Ter
ritory; doubtless for the very reason iha
tho collection and payment of taxes is diff
cult in a young Territory and especially il
one like Oregon OF Utah, whers not foo
Of title TO Indian lands is cxtinguished an,
there is nothing but personal property 4
assess. All this fuss and flare up about tn,
payment Of paltry tax in this Territory, o
$1,000, 90 annually, to pay the salary of tire
orsfour needless Territorial officers all be I'M
! on The east sida who are utterlv ~