The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-29
CONsTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


CONsTITUTIONALC CONVENTION.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1851 1
The journal of yesterday was read by the
Secretary.
LOCATION OF THE STATE CAPITAL.
Mr.. MILLS resolution, offered yesterday,
with reference to submitting to the people
the question of the permanent location of the
seat of government, coming up in order now
for consideration, ....
Mr.. FOLSOM submitted the following
substitute
'Resolred, That the first Legislature of this
State shall make provision by law for the
election Of five State Capital Commissioners,
whose duty it shall be to procure the title to
SIX hundred and fifty acres Of land, as near
the geographical center of the State as can
be procured, suitable for the erection of the
Capital buildings and other buildings which
may be deemed necessary for the future use
Of the State; and which land, when located,
shall be and forever remain the permanent
Capital of the State of Minnesota"
Mr.. STANNARD hoped the resolution
would prevail. Public land had been appro-
prated for the public buildings, and he saw
no good reason why the State should not
speculate in town lots as well as individuals.
Mr.. CLEGHORN moved to lay the reso-
luton and substitute on the table
Which motion was agreed to.
EXTRA COPIES OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. PECKHAM'S resolution submitted yes
terday, for printing 90, 600 copies of the Con-
stitution for distribution among the people,
coming up in order,
Mr.. BILLINGS proposed to amend by
adding 5000 copies in the Norwegian Ian
guage, 5000 in the Swiss and 5000 in the
German. If the Constitution was to be
printed for popular distribution, it should be
published more particularly for foreigners
omongst US who We're without the advantage
of newspapers. If $4,000 copies should be
thought too large number, he would be in
favor of diminishing the number in the Eng
lish language. The Swedish copies could be
printed at Red Wing. The Norwegian CO.
pies, he supposed would have to be btained
from Madison, in the State of Wisconsin,
German copies could be obtained in this
city.
Mr.. PECKHAM accepted the amend
ment
Mr.. MORGAN said the difference be-
tween the Swedish and Norwegian languages
was so slight, that perhaps the publication
in the Swiss alone would be sufficient for
the people speaking both, the difference be.
tween those languages being about the same
as that between the English and Scotch
Mr. BILLINGS-That was true in part :;
but he had understood that many Norwe-
gians could not read the Governors message
in the Swedish language.
Mr.. CEDARSTAM was understood to
say that the difference was. sufficient to au-
thorize the printing in both languages.
Mr. HAYDON moved to add, 5000 copies
in the French language.
Mr. PECkIAM accepted this amedment
also; and so the resolution was adopted.
Mr. BILLINGS moved that the Commit
tee on Printing be instructed forthwith to
procure the return from the Printer of all en-
crossed bills in his hands, whether printed or
not.
The motion was agreed to.
After proce -ding in call of the Conven-
tion-
THE JUDICIARY.
On motion by Mr.. KING, the Judiciaryart
Gle REPORT No. 49, was taken upand consid.
SiOu y" eHC hildi Icd'iiuS anu tLc sillllc Oclle
read through bv the Secretary,
Mr.. COLBURN proposed, by unanimous
consent, to strike out from the 8th section
the words ell judicial decisions shall be
free for publication by any person. be.
ing substantially provided for in the 35th Sec
ton of the article Oh the Legislature Depart
mcnt.
The amendment was agreed to: and SC
the article was passed the third and last rea.
ding, and referred, under the rule, to the
Committee on Arrangement and Phraseolo
gy.
On motion by Mr.. COLBURN, the article
on Taxation, Finance and Public Debt, IRE
port No. 2l.) was taken up and considered
or its final reading, and being read through
by the Secretary, it was passed the third and
last reading, and referred to the same Com
mittee.
On motion by Mr.. BILLINGS, the article
on Amendments Of the Constitution was ia.
ken up and considered on its final reading
and the same being read trough by the Sec
retary.
MIR. BILLINGS suggested the correction
of a clergical error in the first section, which
correction was made,and then the article was
passedthe third reading, and referred to the
same Committee.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
On motion by Mr.. KING, the article or
the Elective Franchise REPORT No. 14) has
taken up and considered on the final reading
and the same being read through by the Sec.
retarv.
Mr.. BOLLES made an Intellectual motion
to go into Committee Of the whole on the
consideration Of this article. He desired tc
vote for every article in this Constitution
bnt he could not sanction the first section in
this. and on that account should be compel
led to vote against the whole. He desired
the yeas and nays on the final passage of the
article which were ordered.
Mr.. COLBURN moved to refer the consid
Grafton of the third section to the Commit
tee of the whole /; and the reference being
made.
The Convention resolved into Committee
of the whole thereupon-Mr. Bartholomew
in the Chair.
Z The Chairman read the 3d. Section as fol
lows
Sec. 3. No person shall be qualified to vote
at any election who shall be convicted o
Treason--or any Felony-or of voting or at
tempting to vote more than once at any elcc
tion-or of procuring or inducing any per
son to vote Illegally at any election-Provid
ed that the Governor or the Legislature may
restore any such person to civil rights.
Mr.. MORGAN moved to strike out thu
whole section. 1t was very sweeping piec'
of legislation. Innocent persons might b.
dish anchised under this provision.
The motion was lost.
Mr.. BUTLER proposed to amend in th'
Sd line, by striking out ''procuring," and in
serting "voting" in its place.
Which was agreed to.
Mr.. BALCOMBE proposed to amend, by
striking out from the section all after th'
word ''felony." in the second line.
Mr.. COLBURN opposed. because, it would
cut off authority to restore civil rights.
| Mr.. MORGAN said the act of pardon re
stored civil rights: But the gentleman's OBJ
iect could be obtained by retaining the pro
vision of the latter clause. Any person, no
| fit subject Of pardon, was not fit to vote.
Mr.. BILLINGS proposed to amend The
amendment, by striking out 'any" in the sec
ond line, and all after "felony," and befor,
''provided.'
The amendment to the amendment wa
agreed to. And then the amendment a
amended was adopted.
! The Committee then rose and the CHAIR
MAN reported the amendments.
| The amendments were concurred in and
in this shape, the Article passed the third ant
last reading in the Convention, by yeas 2t