The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-17

10 have his name atlachei TO the Cousti,u.
ton. There was nothing in it it was an
abortion---a noaentity. without begin
Mug, middle. or end. lie did not care what
was done with it. 1t was formed by two
parties, as compromise, and was hurried
through without printing, or giving men,
bers an opportunity to examine it. lie had
been told 10y Democrats and by Republi.
cans, whose name were attached to the Con.
stitution. that they did not know wha, it
contained. He urged tina, the Constitution
should be published with the names of all
the members attached.
lie (Mr. LlNDSLEI) had sworn, at
that desk, TO support the Constitution
He had sworn 10 support noaentity; some
thing which had no legal existence. Tor they
could know Of no Constitution until the
vote upon il was announced.
Mr. JONES said, that when the Consti.
tuition was adopted by the Conventions. aud
before the people during the canvass, it was
loudly endorsed by the Republicans, bu,
now. to accomplish their own ends they dis
card it, Before the people they praised its
provisions, but in the Senate Chamber jesred
at il, as an aborton--a nonentity--a thing
without legal existence. lie regretted for
the honor Of the Senate, the confession made
by Mr.. LNpSLIY. lie Mr.. h. confessed
he had taken solemn oath TO support some.
thing-he acknow lodged he did not know
what. II this is the character of the Re
publicans, he felt sorrow for them and their
constituents. lie Mr j supposed there
was some stability among the Republicans,
and that they regarded the solemnity of an
oath, but from the confession made by Mr..
LINDSEY. it would appear they do not
Mr.. }. said there was but ono Constitution.
and we had all taken II solemn oath to sup.
port il. That document was deposited in the
archicves of the State,
Mr. LlNDSLEY characterized the re.
marks Of the last speaker ~ mere bonbas,.
lie (Mr. H. had sworn TO support the State
constitution, and il this document Ia printed
copy was The State Constitution h. had
sworn to support it. lie did not say, as
charged by Mr.. JONES, that he knew not
what he had sworn to support.
Mr.. HUDSON was opposed 10 the
amendment offered by MIR. JosEs. lie Mr..
H. WIS u member of the Constitutional
Convention, and was well aware Of the pc
culiar circumstances under which the Con
situation was formed. lie would not dis.
cuss the merits OF the two bodies. but de-
tailed the manner in which the compromise
was effected. After the agreement entered
into, il would be unfair 10 insert the names
of the officers OF one Convention, and no, of
the other.
Mr. VAN E1'TEN viewed the facts in.
VOWED in taking the oa,h,to support the con
stitution, differently from the gentleman from
Olmstod, Mr.. LlSDsLKYl lie (Mr, NAS
ErrEs,) had taken an oath TO support the
Constitution Of MiDncsota--the Constitu-
ton signed by HENRY II. SiHLrY IA Prcsi.
dent. This was the only Constitution he
had ever seen II the Republicans had circu.
lated any other kind, they had no, done 50
in II. Paul Neither was he willing 20 lie
under the grave charge that he had sworn
to noscn,lty. The senator ia so stating
had made grave charge against himself
II was not true, as stated by the Senator,
that no official evidence existed that the
Constitution was adopted Ifhe (Mr LIMBS.
LEY,) would take the trouble to enquire at
the Secretarys Office, he would find that the
Constitution had been adopted by y 900
majority The evidence Of this fact existed
when We took our official oath aud at that
very time, the Constitution was in full force.
When the gentleman took the oath. II was
administered to him by Judge FLANpRAu
from this very Constitution, signed by Sir.
SIBLEY as President, II was suiliclcn, for
him Mr. VAS ErrENj 10 know that the
Democratic party stands up and supports
this constitution. IL j. true that in the
printed copy, there were some clerical er-
rors. but il could be construed harnonimi.
~, and il Is our duty to DO 40. lie MEAS
Errgs) wanted 10 better authority as 10 the
validity dtbe Constitution. than the sigma
ture Of IIEsRy II. !SIBLgY attached 10 it.
The Republicans attn urging the Consti.
tuition upon the people, und voting upon i,
and suffering disastrous political dciea, n,
the election beId under 1t, now come forward
ami s,ek To inyalidaic lis provisions by plead.
Ing the baby act.
Sir LINDSLki again characterized the
Constitution as bulge, ~ absur1ities and
contradictions, and pOiuirj out Omissions.
He referred 10 the fact, that under the Con
stltutIon the official trrm al member
Of the House Of Representatives was not
specified, and therefore they held Office fof
life.
Mr.. VAN EITEN said this omission
was owing 10 the neglect Of a Republican
member Of the Conference COMMITTEE
Mr. FOLSOM withdrew his amondmcn,
for printing separate constitutions. when
Mr. BATES moved an am ndment, that
the name. 81 all memts,rs elect TO the Con
stiiutiona Convention b. affixed 10 the
Consultation.
Further debate cnsued Oh the amendmen,
between Me.srs COWAN. MckEkt,
FOLSOM JONES and BATES. when
vote was bad and the amendment, adopted,
az fD!lDws
Yeas e..r. BsHfi. Bates, Bsensn, Cira-s.
'ook. Folsom, n0dges. Hudson, I4ud.isy. "
kube, Norton. Pheips ReiHsT, EsdPaih, Smith.
-gmmsf-. TbomA. Van E'i.n. Wstson--la.
a.