The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-15
SATURDAY, AUGUST S, 1857.


The morning roll-call by the Secretary gave
the following report of absentees, to wit -
Messrs. Aldrich, Anderson, Baldwin, Bates,
Bodies, Coe, Cedarstam, Dickerson, Eschlie,
Foster, Gerrish, Hall, Kemp, Lowe, Mantor,
Mcclure, Murphy, North, Putnam, Robbins,
Stannard, Smith, Vaughan, Walker, Winell,
and Wilson.
The journal of yesterday was read by the
Secretary.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
On motion by Mr.. SECOMBE the Con-
vention took up again from the table, and re-
sumed the consideration of the Report (No.
14) embracing the Suffrage Article, the ques-
ton being on the adoptioe of the first section.
Mr.. KING submitted a substitute for the
entire article, with substantially these pro-
Visions:
Every white male inhabitant, of the age
OF u years, and upwards, who shall have re-
sided in the State months, and in the town.
ward or precinct, next proceeding any election,
provided he be citizen of the United States,
or have resided years in the United States,
and filed his intention to become citizen;
also, any foreign born person of 81 years,
whose father has been naturazed-shall be
deemed and held to be electors. 9. The Leg
islature shall pass registry law. 5. Treas
on, felony, and illegal voting, shall disfran-
chlse. The Legislature may restore 4. Re-
sidence shall not be impaired by absence on
business for the State or the United States.
D. Electors privileged against arrest on cleo
ton day, except in case of treason, felony,
or breach of the peace. 6. Voting shall be
by ballot Uncivilized Indians excluded.
The substitute was rejected.
Mr.. FOSTER proposed to add after the
word "Constitution," in the 10th line of the
first section these words Cor if he be CIV
illzed person of Indian descent, and not a
member of any tribe
After debate by Mr.. FOSTER, Mr.. PER-
KINS, Mr.. HUDSON, Mr. MESSER, Mr.
ROBBINS
Mr.. BILLINGS proposed to amend the
amendment, by inserting after Indian" the
words Cor African"
Mr. b. said, if civilization gave the right
to vote, he did not care whether they belong
cd to the Indian or the African race. So
tar as civilization was concerned, the educa-
ton OF the Indian, if he have any, did not
place him in quite so favorable position, to
his mind. What little education the African
had was all American; what he knew of
civilization was American civilization and
in that view Of the case he had an eminent
right over the Indian, who has never taken
upon him the habits and civilization of the
whites. He objected, in most unqualified
terms, that we, as Republicans, or as Mime
sotlans, should, at this or any other time, at
tempt to prescribe and deprive men of the
rights of citizenship on account of color or
birthplace. He believed it to be anti-Re-
publican and anti-American, and upon this
rock, he believed that we, as people. split
If the choice were left to him, if these were
to be excluded, he would say, let our Consti-
tuition be rejected. :. Let Republicans receive
a check, that will teach them to study the
right of all, to carry into practice what they
have prOfessed. Let us be true to the age in
which We live, and to our former declarations.
and the people will be true to us. If the
people are not prepared for this proposition,
let us prepare the people; and not wait for
the people to push us on to the vantage
ground. If this proposition be not right, let
us change our Bill of Rights-say that all
men are not created equal, and let us take
from our State Seal the Motto we have pro
posed. Let US not affirm the right, and then
disaffirm and disavow the same. for policy.
Mr.. BALCOMBE, (Mr. Mantor being in
~ ', 0nio qucStlOu udO Oeeu us
cussed now two days, principally upon the
other side. Four long speeches had been
delivered upon it. The gentleman from Rice
county MIR. North had probably presented
that side in as fair light as it could be nre-
scented, and when the vote was taken. there
were two to one against striking out the word
''white.''' Since that, the question had been
again raised and discussed at length. and the
Convention had again refused to strike ont
the word. Under these circumstances. he an.
pealed to the gentleman to withdraw his
amendment
Mr.. BILLINGS did not know how louo
the question had been discussed. He had
not been present He should ask the unani-
nous consent of the Convention to be allow
cd to give his views in the premises on Mon.
day,
Mr.. BALCOMBE, personally, was perfect
ly willing to hear the gentleman's speech, but
doubted the general propriety of going back
and discussing this question half-ardozen
times. -
Mr.. WILSON suggested that the amend.
ment might be ruled out of order.
Mr.. COGGSWELL. The gentleman hay.