The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-03-24
ened by a reference to the history and devel

ened by reference to the history and devel
opment of our territorial organizations
In the early periods of the republic it was
not the usage to allow the people OF the !errl-
tories, in the first instance to have any voice In
the enactment of their laws. The power was
conferred upon the governor, judges and other
territorial officers, who were appointed by the
President and Senate, with the power to col
late and select such laws as they should find in
force in the several States of this Union, and
which they might deem adapted to the wants
and condition of the people of the Territories,
and to declare them in force without the consent
of the people or the sanction of any legisla-
ture. So long as this system prevailed. there
was manifest propriety in requiring the gov
ernor and judges to lay those laws before Con-
gress to the end that if disapproved, they
should be null and void.
But when in the progress of legal and polit-
ical reforms and developments, the right was
conferred upon the people to make their own
laws, through legislative body, elected by
themselves, the reason for this provision, re-
serving to Congress a supervisory power over
their laws, entirely ceased; especially SO long
as the veto power was vested in governor APP
pointed by the President and Senate, by the
proper exercise of which the rights of the Uni
ted States are amply protected against improp-
err legislation. The retention of this right of
disapproval in our territorial organizations for
so long a period after the reasons for It's adOp-
ton had ceased. adds only another to the innu-
merable and familiar instances in the juriSpru-
dence of our own and other countries, of per-
petuating legal provisions, forms and customs,
for long period of years, after the causes
which induced it, or the objects to be accom-
plished by it, had ceased to exist. In the new
Territories recently organized, this right OF
disapprOval has, by common consent, been
oh nd hoi lop oil hacp oru
or useful; and the committee can perceive no
reason why it should be retained in Minnesota
after it had been surrendered in the other Ter
ritories. The attention of the committee has
been especially directed to the consideration oil
this point by q memorial adopted by the Leg
| islature of Minnesota, now in session, to the
Congress of the United States. asking for the
repeal of so much of the organic act of said
| Territory as reserves to Congress the right to
Assembly thereof Regarding this prayer Of
the Legislature of Minnesota as being reasona-
BILE, and in accordance with those principles Of
popular rights and self government which have
been recognized and established in the other
Territories, the committee recommend that the
joint resolution of the House of Representa-
tives, proposing to disapprove the act entitled
IAN act to incorporate the Minnesota and
Northwestern Railroad Company" be amend
ed, by striking out all after the word resolved
and inserting clause repeating the provision
of the organic act of the Territory of Mime
sofa which requires call laws passed by the leg
islative assembly and governor to be submitted
to Congress, and if disapproved, to be null and
of no effect" and that the Senate pass the res
olution in that form and ask the concurrence
OF the House of Representatives therein; and
the committee, being of the opinion that it is
inexpedient and improper to dsapprove an act
entitled can act to incorporate the Transit
Railroad Company" as proposed by anothe,
joint resolution of the House Of Representative:
recommend that the same be rejected.