Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-01-26

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n. a.,.rs.y and Mi..-isy R.p.... Of II. c.~-
nissss sa - much II The Gevernes's Messass
~ Relates - slavery And the Passage Il tAe
Kansas and 'NeSraska Dill. IS .sg'7'9
The Committee to which was referred so
much Of the Governors Message a. relates to
the subject Of Slavery, and the passage Of the
Kansas and Nebraska Bill, would respectfully
report:
That your Committee have examined the
Message Of the Governor with much care, and
find that the subject Of Slavery IS character
ICED therein - TIE ore upon which excitement
81 is, perhaps, the most dangerous Of oil others"
but your Committee can find no evidence in
the Message, that the subject has rs yet crea-
ted anv dangerous excitement in this Territory;
and from the fact that i was forever put to rest
by the wisdom OF those who adopted the Ordi-
nance Of 1857. there can, in the opinion of
your Committee, exist no reason 70: q fear that
the people of Minnesota win ever be subjected
to dangerous excitement from any attempted
recognition Of Slavery within its limits. Your
Committee are also of opinion that while we
have no voice in the legislation Of the General
Government, we can gain nothing for ourselves
or for others, by agitating the question OF Sla-
very In our midst. .iasol
As regards the passage of the Kansas and
Nebraska Act, your Committee are unable to
give a complete history. A Bill to organize
The Territories of Kansas and Nebraska was
introduced into the Senate Of the United States
by Judge Douglas, Of Illinois; and after some
debate and amendments, the bill received
maiority Of the soies, and was passed. In the
House of Representatives the bill was also dis
cussed, and finally passed; after which !. was
laid before the President, who after examina-
ton, signed it. and it became law.
Although your Commitsee are not able to
cite all the incidents connected with the pGss0ge
of the Kansas Nebraska aca, II may not be in
appropriate at this time to refer to some al the
provisions which the act contains.
1t is well known that under the Organic Act
of this Territory. Acts passed by the Legisla-
tive Assembly must be submitted to Congress
and that body may repeal or amend the same.
Hence, Congress, in which body we have no
vote, is the law making or law-revising power
OF the Territory. In the Act organizing the
Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska this revi-
sorry power was not reserved by Congress
The people Of Kansas and Nebraska select
Representatives who are, IN fact, the law-mak-
kers CT their respective Territories while the
people of Minnesota can only submit laws to
Congress, and can never know whether law
Is or is not valid, until it has been so submitted
generally many months after it has been
passed by our Legislature. This, the most
Important feature of the Kansas. Nebraska act,
VIC most heartily approve. We regard the
doctrine Of Popular Sovereignty in the Terri
tories. as embodying one Of the cardinal prin-
ciples of the Federal Constitution and the
Kansas Nebraska act. by destroying all geo.
graphical and political barriers to the free en-
joyment of the law-making power by the peo-
pie of those Territories, exhibits an advance in
the system Of popular government, which can
only be realized when compared with the Or
ganizaton Of the original Northwest Terrific
ry, wherein the Governor and Judges, appoint
ed by the President, were constituted the law
making power of the Territory.
Your Committee believe however, that the
system Of popular sovereignty in the Terrific
ries is yet imperfect. While advances have
been made towards the perfection of that sys-
tern through the several successive acts organ
izng Territories, each Of which has been more
liberal than its predecessor, We cannot recog-
nize even the last as perfect. Your Commit
tee is of opinion that the people in the Terri
tories should not only be allowed to select their
own Representatives to make laws, free from
all revisory control, but that they should also
be at liberty to select their Judges to admins
ter justice under those laws, and their Govern.
crs and other officers to see that those laws are
faithfully executed. Your Committee cannot
see the justice Of permitting the people of Wis
consin, with Representatives in both branches
OF Congress, to elect all their Executive and
Judicial officers, while the people Of Minneso-
ia, without voice in either branch Of Con-
gress, can only have those officers through ap-
pointment by the National Executive.
Your Committee, therefore, recommend that
the Congress Of the United States be memori-
allied so TO amend the Organic Act of this
Territory, as hereafter to allow the people
thereof not only to make their own laws, bu,
also to elect their own officers.
All Of which is respectfully submitted,
6 w "a a: M0LroD' Com.
Mr. Holland presented the following minor