The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-02-05
TnIrry-Foursh Congress.
THIRD sEssIoH.
WIsHINeroH, Jan, 81,

NAshiN0fOhg Suns siN
HousE.-Mr. Grow, nom the COMMITTEES
on Territories, reported q bill fixing the
boundary Of Minnesota, sad authorizing the
people thereof to form for themselves Con-
.stiluion and Stnte Government. The bill
provides for the admission of Minnesota into
the Union on a footing with original States
according to. the Federal Constitution, and
for an election to-be held on the first Nom
day in June, for delegates 10 q Convention
TO form State Constitution, and in the event
Of the people deciding in favor of State
government, the Marshal shall proceed 10
take the census Of Miunesota with a view to
ascertain the number OF Representatives she
Is entitled to under the present census.
The same provisions are In this bill as in
former ones Of a similar character, relative
TO public lands, for education, &c (, to be az
sented to as Obligatory on both Minnesota and
the United States. @ .'
Mr.. Crow said that the proposed State
embraces 10000 square miles, leaving west
of the boundary line 80 square miles, to be
hereafter erect.d into a government by the
Indian name of Dacotah.
Mr.. Phelps did not desire to impede the
progress Of the bill, bat wished to know how
much OF the proposed Territory lies On the
west Of the Mississippi river. 81
Mr.. Grow replied about three fourths.
Mr.. Phelps said that Mr.. Grow had frc-
quently advocated the sanctity Of cOmpacts,
and he (Phelps) wished to know whether DIR.
Grow believed in the sacredness OF the or
dinances of 1917.
MIR. Grow replied, certainly. GA
Dir. Phelps resumed, saying that by the
fifth article of that ordinance, provision was
made for five States out Of the North. West
Territory, which have long since been or
ganized, now another was proposed. .-@s
Mr.. Grow thought this came with bad
grace from Mr.. Phelps considering that
Platte county was taken and enclosed With
4 in the limits of Missouri. @
Mr.. Phelps explained be did not regard
the ordinance of 1857 and compromise Of
1920 as sacred compacts. H- Hsf
Mr.. Boyce asked whether Minnesota had
sufficient population for n State.
Mr.. Grow said it would be about the size
of Missouri, uHd that her population 10 be.
tween l75,O00 and 900 persons.
A motion to table the bill was then voted
down by large majority.
The bill was then passed by a vote OF 9S
against IA. 800.
Mr.. Grow, from the Committee on Terri
tories, reported bill for the relief of the
people of Kansas, declaring all purported
laws passed by the Legislature assembled at
Shawnee Mission, null and void, for the rea .
sons that the members thereof were elected
through violation of the organic act, and
usurped powers, and enacted cruel and ON.
pressive statues. +
The bill provides for holding a new elec.
ton, any person offering his vote must prove
by his own oath that he is bona Gde settler.
and by the oaths Of two legal voters that he
has been for more than one month precediao
the election, an actual resident of the Terri.
tory, and fifteen days resident Of his dis.
trict. Fines from 500 to $25, and impris.
onment from one to twelve months 10 be
imposed on illegal voters. Disturbances or
control Of the polls by armed or organauized
bands, and for wilful reception Of illegal
votes by those appointed 10 receive them.
4 Mr.. Ciingham moved to lay the bin on the
table but the House refused to do so by /
vote sc against 90. t's ~
+ Mr.. Kem5le said he could not consent IN
sweep away the whole code OF Kansas laws
and appealed to Mr., Grow to withdraw his
demand for the previous question, SO that he
| (Kemble) might offer substitute repealipp
al obni xious laws ar@
| Mr., Campbell, of Ohio, wished to make
an amendment allowing none but citizens
OF the United States to vote.
MIR, Fletcher wanted to go where il could
be seen and discussed. -JI sastaa 8
4 The bill wus re. committed, and the House
took up the bill authorizing the inhabitants
Of Oregon to form Constitution and State
Government preliminary to ADMISSION into
the Union. The provision OF the bill with
the exception of the boundaries are similar
70 those of the Minnesota bill. It gives one
Representative to Congress-
Mr.. Grow said the bill gives Oregon &c.
600 square miles and that the population
now was about 10000. 4 a's'f.a e&
/ Mr.. Whitney wished to confine to voting
to citizens OF the United States. ,Y.a.
Dir. Lane replied that the laws of Oregon
did not allow aliens to vote nor do they claim
that privilege. n.' ss9fI.
| MIR. Humphrey Marshall offered an amend-
ment which was agreed to by a vote or II
against ~ comforting the sutfrages at the
election for delegates TO frame constitu.
ton to the citizens OF the United States.
The bill subsequently passed and the
House adjourned. s.st sg. sg,f
SENATE.-A debute followed respecting
the policy toward the Indian tribes on the
Pacific coast, amendments were then agreed
/ on approPriating nearly seven hundred thou.
sand for the restoration and maintenance of
peace, &C., in Oregon and Washington ter
rltories. Without further action on the bill,
the Senate took up and adopted Mr.. Hous-
toms resolution calling on the President to
furnish the number and cause of desertious
from the navy yard since the passage of the
act providing for the efficiency Of the navy.
Adjourned.