The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-08-13

"WEDNESDAY, August ;, 1857,
Reported l.s h. r,osssr and penceest,

by the Chaplain. Aftcr the Journal hai
been read, on motion Of Mr.. SErZER, th'
Convention went into Committee Il th'
Whole on the report IL the Committee OF
the Legislative Department.
Mr.. NORRIS 10 the chair.
Mr.. SETTER offered on amendment Il
the 23d section, providing for the electior
Of members Of the House II Representa-
,ives 10 serve for t,co years. and members o.
the senate for four years. lie did this with
view Of having biennial sessions Of tht
Legislature. Annual sessions were only
productive Of expense. and tended to con
fuse the laws by sn unnecessary number OF
euactments
Mr.. SIBLEY had been In favor of ben
NAL sessions of the Legislature, but having
learned that in the States where they had
been tried they are regarded as failure, aud
from authorities entitled TO respect, he was
inclined to approve the adoption of the
plan here
Mr.. BROWN. The Report Il the Com
mittee has provided that the Legislature
shall sit - oi.en q may be provided by Law
Mr.. SIBLEY Then am opposed TO
the adoption Of that feature. The Legisla-
ture, il their sessions were left TO its own
discretion. would sit continually.
Mr. MEEKER was in favor Of biennial
sessions II was adopted in several OF the
western States. lie thought the people Of
the Territory would he in favor Of biennial
ssssiops. II would make . saving Of
100000 . year in the State expenses A
Legislature Of bu iness men could, IN one
l., las. faR
ind in case OF an emergency. she Governor
can call an extra session. Excessive legs-
lation is the bane Of the western country,
and OF the eastern too.
Mr.. WARNER. Having ben familiar
with biennial sessions in Ohio, was in favor
Of the proposition.
Mr.. EMMETT was also familiar with
legislation in Ohio, and the people were sick
Of the system Of biennial sessions, and anxious
TO return TO the system OF annual ssiOns.
Mr.. A. l.. AMES WAS from Illinois. where
the Constitution provides Tor biennial ss-
sious, but where the Legislature has been in
session every year. not wi,hstandng. In u
new State like Minnesota. wher the insti
tutions Of the country are being formed.
more legislation is necessary than in the old
States.
d Mr.. SETTER thought the power Of the
Governor to call extra sessions was all that
was necessary even In new state
Mr.. T.. A. AMES reguried this as very
important question. Biennial scssions may
be proper in an old State. where the instits
tions are 4tt,led and fixed; but in new
State. he did hot believe legislative session
oace IN two years would he sufficient to
meet the wants Of the people. But he
thought solne limitation upon the con,inu-
ance Of the session would be advisable.
Mr.. BROWN. The first section of the
article provides for the meeting of the Irg-
stature at such times N shall he prescribed
by law. That leaves il 10 the people to Tx
the SESSIONS 50 ~ 10 suit their wants, AMI
that j. where il ought IN b. LEFT. The sec-
iion under consideration does not provide for
the election Of Representatives,, annually,
but thai they shall serve for one year, and
senators for two years.
Mr. N. 4. AMf.S was opposed To having
the matter to the legislature II should be
fixed in the organic law If len 10 the Ieg
stature. the sessions Of our Legislature
wouki last until Il would become oi'ous.--
The next one might go TO the other extreme
and provide for biennial sessions, thus Great
ing continual confision
M. EMMETT. n laws arc imwovi
drtly passei, one year is long enough to
suffer under them. The same Legislature
would not b. likely to repeal their own acts,
and therefore the necessity ofhaving . fresh
Legislature each year. The experience Of
other States ought TO adnoneh us OF the Pc
culsr appropratenesS OF annual sessions.
Mr.. HOLCOMB regarded the proprt
ton "a very unwisc or In this age OF the
world. Tie wantei the affairs and progress
Il the State 10 be discnsssl aDd reported
every year !, would be going backward
to adopt the prupositioo
Mr. SETTER The infrmation rlstIve
to the State and progress Il the country
would be obtained from the papers 81 lss
expgsse than to gain il by a session Of the
Legislature.
Mr. MEEKER Elections are prolue.
tive Of excitement. and the chief object o'
many. in having s,ssinns annually. il To keep
the seeihing esuldron of politics boiling, arsi
r,aping the benchts resulting To them there
from.
Mr. BAKER oGrrei substitute Tor the
2ath section, - follows senators and
Representatives shall he white male per.ns
ubo shall have rssidel in The State and Dis
srict for which they are csscssd. az months
or civilised male inhsbtsats Il Indian des
cent REJECTED
Mr.. BECKER oGcr,-i substitute fos
the 2Cth sec;ioa as follovs No Law shai
embe~cr more than one satjeci, which stal
h. ssaird in ihe titLe. Adop.sd.
Mr. BECKER propoeed an Sh.,iooA
section. % b. Bamt-rei Section q, - 81
lows Divorces shall no, i~ granted h,
the Ler,slA,zre.~ which was sdops~i
Mr. BROWN oserd an sid,tsnai So
tioa to be numbered % providing that ~
bl. shall h. Issssst in siih~r Ho9s On th'
Day syei tr the snsl sAsco-vrsn' -h''i
uas sdoptei.
NJ. EMMETT odrsed IN Aneodnsn; L
the la section. the ~Wds, q; such tlme
a. shall b- prvseritsrl by la~ hnA ins~
90 The frys Nsssiay ef DsemtSr in "a
year
Ar. kINGsBCRY oGer.l . sats.iiai
- fossSss AnuaaIly. bot D. -ssld6 shs
extend beyool 90 days~
W.. SITTER rrqs.pi 70 ans-si n
substitute by Iz~TtInx annually 81 s1s'
uaa - stsAl, t< pc~rribc,i ny L4s. sgl q
cor -sssoo shall eticfd tsyOtd 90 daya
Mr KINGsBrRY sscrpsnd vi c.
nr. arnenduen, sDi w Eam<<, seo~pss
VI Knssburys sah~s,'nts "a an xmrn'
NIT
NJ BECKER ealioi fo' dirissor Il Il
qs-~ssoa That par, of tho araepdpsni p-
vSl.ns sr annaal -~rions vS secrrsed. az
TIA, part limi.inS TIE ~.~sons 10 ~ Ia.
- scrspeed n 10 Is