The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-17
THE m1xKEso1s CONSTITUTION.

|
weeks, by a happy movement on the part Of
some member of one { : the bodies, were led to
entertain the notion OF con ference, and finally
to concur in one draft of Constitution-the
draft made by the Rep sblicsp or regular con-
stitutional Conventiot5 The officers of both
Conventions have signed the document-A. D.
Bslcombe and L. A. abcock for the Repsbli-
cans, and 81. 81. Sible and j. J. Noale on the
part of the Administrs ;ionists.
The result of the sc saration of the Admins
trstionists from the res ular body has not been
what was generally supposed it would be, and
We presume the sec4 iers are satisfied that
their movement was &, errabc one; certainly,
nothing has been gated by it, and it would
have been much tier way for the ,ohoIe
Convention 10 have hs a its ssiOns under one
roof.
The new CONSTITUTE n, VIII oh satisfies both
parties in Minnesota, ,rohibi.s Slavery in the
| following words:
"No member Of Ii State shall be disfran-
| chised or deprived of ny of th6'rghts or priv
| ieges secured to any tizen thereof unless bv
the law of The land or se Judgment of his peers
There shall be neither Slavery nor involuntary
| servitu1e in the Stats otherwise than in the
punishment of crimes whereof the party shall
have been duly convic ed"
There was no discu, ZION OF difference upon
this point, all parties the Territory agreeing
to prohibit Human Sh very there. The liberty
of the press and triai by jury are of course
guaranteed. The frst Legislature is to consist
of thirty seven Senate and eighty Represent
atives, their pay to b, three dollars per day.
Provision is made for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Attorney &c ,eral, Secretary of State,
and Treasurer, each t. be elected for the term
Of two years, and an uditor for three years.
The Judiciary is to vested in a Superior
Court, District Courts, Courts of Probate, Jus.
tees of the Peace, and such other courts as the
Legislature sees fit by .two.tairds vote to es
tablish. All judges an, Justices are to be elect.
ed by the people, the Convention not partici-
pating in the, at this ime, somewhat popular
idea that an elective Judiciary is an unsafe,
unreliable, and danger ,us institution.
White male citizen of the United States,
twenty-one years of ae !, residing in the United
States one year, and il the State four months
next preceding any eli ;tion, are voters. Also,
white persons of foreie birth, having the above
qualifications of age d residence, who shall
have legally declared ,eir Intention to become
citizens; and persons f mixed white and In.
dian blood, and Of Ind an blood, under certain
regulations. The Leg slature may, by two.
thirds vote, pass &c, sral banking law, with
stringent restrictions md requirements. St.
Paul to be the seat Of oVernment until located
elsewhere by the LegI ature.;
Know Nothingism ems to have no foothold
in Minnesota for the loors are thrown widely
open to persons of for, ign birth, the terms of
their admittance to CT izenship being exceed
ingly liberal.
We are very sorry t note that the Consttu-
tional Convention coul not be as fair and lib
eral towards the color, people of Minnesota.
Instead of welcoming is class of men to citi
zenship, they are ign, ed or deprived of the
right to use the elective franchise. This is sad
Inconsistency upon the ,art of the Repu blicans.
and they may be gu that it will be used
against them now ard 4ereafter, and flung in
the teeth of Republic, Is everywhere. When
the Republican writer's md takers of Minneso
ia venture to crihcise .e late decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States, will not
their enemies reply, ~ re yOui favor of giving
to the colored man th, rights of citizenship?
Do yOu advocate the Olitical equality of the
two races2 And if " j do not, why censure
Judge Taney2 Why ppose the Democratic
party for sustaining Ju ge Tsney's decision ?"
The Republican part should be consistent,
if it would win the RESI- sct of the l,eople. It
should prove itself tn, friend of tie colored
race as well as the viii not simpl1 the enc
my of the STAKEHOLDER. genuine Att Slavery
principles are the foun, alton lpon ,5hich that
organize alton rests. it CT tainly il grossly incon
sistent for it to forbid e elective franchise to
all colored persons. L is unjust, panders to a
mean and wicked prejt lice, and is ruinous
policy.
But while we feel it TO be our duty to ex
press our opinion cea} y and decidedly upon
this point, we would al say as emphaticallv
that nine-tenths of the republicans of Mime
sota-srd, indeed, in the States and Terri.
tories-are in favor giving the negro his
rights. 1t Is only sD i'll portion of their mum.
Der who are yet und, the influence of the
prejudice against colos But there is also a
larger class OF voters, no hare no settled poll
cy, whose votes must b had ty the triumphant
party, and who are ea' 1y frightened one way
or another. Undoubts ;ly, 'srge sority of
the Republicans in the Convention desired to
estend the franchise o negroes. But thew
knew that the Admins rationsts would make
use OF the popular anti Aegro prejudice to win
the loose voters, and 7 ,ssibl9 few members
of their own orgsnizat n. BY the use of this
cry, they would urque, .ionably carry the cleo
ZION by handsome ma l1rity, as they may still
do, without it. Such IS beea the history Of
every attempt in the fir States to give the col.
ored man the franchise The so.called Demo.
Gratis have moved heay N and earth to crusb
the attempt; and whe. they have succeeded.
they turn coolly round, and accuse the Repub.
hcan party of inconsi .ency - Of battling for
Southern slaves, and glecting Northern free
negroes. The INJUSTICE 3 well as the insincerity
Of this charge are pat, 1T to every intelligent
friend of humanity.
The Republicans g! Minnesota probablv
'nought II more import mt to give The weight
OF the influence of the new State in favor of
Slavery extension an freedom in Kansas.
rather than make an unsuccessful attempt at
MS lme 10 give to the colored inhabitants of
the Territory their RIG It's. We deenlv rsorot
tnat the word "ohite was allowed to enter
he draft for ConstitN ion, and it is the duty
of every honest Anti-& avery citizen of Mime.
sofa to endeayor IN o Z .be 5;a--o oc1