The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-25
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The journa! OF yesterday having been rea
and authenticated.
FRIDAY, JULY Il, 1851,

and authenticated.
| EI.rGIBII.ITY OF MEMBERS.
Mr.. COGGSWEIL submitted preama
bic and resolution to the effect: That
wher, as it has been represented that in SOM
of the representative districts of this TeiritO
ry. certain pers. 'nsw no We're appointed and still
hold federal Offices were voted for as member
of tins Convention and have received ceItlti
Gates of election rs such and whereas
strong doubts arc entertained as to the alIgl
bilty of such federal Offices to retain seats il
this body, therefore,
Resolved, That Committee of three b.
appointed to ascertain whether any person o
persons Holding commission under the au
thority of the United States, POST Master
excepted and if so, in what districts, and al
so whether such persons received a ma
jorty of the votes cast, and have recelVe'
certificates of election.
| 9. Whether any person holding office un
der the authority Of the United States
Post Masters excepted-is eligible to sea
in this Convention.
| Nj. GALBRAITH. 1t was unnecesar.
and improper to institute such an inquiry, 81
long as no question of eligibility had beel
raised. Every member of this body had hi
seat here by virtue of law-sat here under
the Aesis of the law, as members de tac'O-
and until some question as to this righ
srould be raised, it was certainly improper
| to 60 about any such inquiry.
| The debate was continued urder motion
to suspend the rule, by Mr. Galbraith
Mr.. Mcclure, Mr.. Secombe, Mr. Coggswell
and Mr.. Wilson, when
The Convention refused to suspend the
| rule, and the resolution was laid over.
Mr.. NORTH submitted the following:
Whereas, There are considerable number
| of Delegates, well known to have been elect
! ed to this Convention, who are now in this
| city. and are apparently undecided in regard
! to presenting their credentials; therefore,
Resolved That this Convention have been
! and are at all times ready to receive Delegates
who have been duly elected within the limits
If the proposed State of Minnesota, and that
all such delegates are respect ully invited to
present their credentials and take seats on
terms of perfect equality with the present
members of this Convention
offer this said Mr.. NORTH, simply to
express what believe to be the sentiment of
every member of the body. and to put Onr-
selves right upon the record.
Mr.. GALBRAITH was in favor of this
resolution sine rely. Now that certain ap-
prehenIed difficulties had passed away, he
believed it was the unanimous desire of the
members of this body that there should be a
union of all the members representing con-
stituencics here, in order that they might
! all have a voice in our deliberations, and it
was for us now, by this resolution, to put the
brand of falsehoOd upon the slander that
members were kept ont of this hall by main
force. He would say, let us open orr doors
and say to every man, you are welcome to
come in here and consrIt and act with US on
terms Of the most perfect equality. This
was no more than the honor of the State re-
0urcd, and it would put us right on the re-
cord 1t was well known that in no instance
had any attempt been made to keep out any
man who had a right here. All wished to
oold ont the olive-branch of peace. If those
'nen desired to do so, let them come in
Let this be put Ep)n the recor', saving to
our constituents ard to ever, boIy, that the
doors Of this hall are not closed to members
Of this Convention. He desired this to be
the unarimous voice. He hoped for peace
and quiet. He desired t. wipe out the slam
der that had gone forth, about which ho"cv-
er every MANS conscience here was at perfect
rest. Tie hoped never to mention the mat
ter again. He desired brief expression OF
the minds Of members, and ho, ed the reso-
luton would be adopted unanimously.
Mr. HAYDEN moved suspension of the
rules which reqlires new matter involving
debate to lie over one day.
Mr.. LOWE regarded the resolution as un-
d'gnificd and unsuitable for such a body
adopt-teling those members that they have
right to come in here, when their right was
"A matter Of nublic notoriety. 1t was prepos-
ferrous. The resolution itself was an absur-
diy; although he thought well of the spirit
and intention. lie would do anything which
he might properly and riehtfully do, to in
luce these men to come in, but e adoption
of thisresolution wouli certainly represent
| our position IN an unfavorable light.
Mr. DAVIS also opposed the resolution.
THIS b dy was organized according to 'aw.
II was legally the Constitutional Convention
of Minnesota. 1t had now SO members; and
it was organized with Sc members 1t W s
| beneath the dignity of this body to coax
these men in this way. They had con-
vencd in another part of the building, because
they could not control the whole bOd,.
They are perfectly aware that those having
rights here would not be refused their seats
He would not give them sticks of candy and
sugar to coax them to do right. because he
himself had been spoiled in that way. He
hoped the resolution would be unanimously
rejected.
Mr. MANTOR said this seemed to him the
height of folly. 1t was pleasant thing
enough to receive friendly greetings and cards
of invitation in social good neighbOrhood-
way; but we had come here as the peoples
| representatives to form State Constitution,
| to do great public work, and not to please
| ourselves and make display OF our social
! feelings.
Mr.. COLBURN hoped the rule might be
suspended, and the resolution passed at thi,
time. He had no fear that the Convention or
| any indi, idual member was going to compro
| mise honor, or dignity or self respect. 1t had
been 81 ated outside, that our course had been
such as to preclude those members from COM
ing in, and that we are not desirous to have
them cume in. 1t had been said that we
wished to exclude certain portion of the
Delegates from this body. Now let this res
oluti'n contradict and counteract this report.
1t was simply an assertion on our part with
| N' "-uiS any tni"s,, VI IttIcdCiilH Il Sin-
gle step, or expressing single regret. but
| simply declaring that we have been. and still
are deslrOns that those men holding their Ger
tifcates OF election would come in. 1t was
simply declaration Of good feeling. He
| was des'rous that these men should come in
and give us their aid. They were men OF ex-
perience and ability. whose advice would be
of service TO the Convention; and if. BY pass
ing this resolution, we might remove adverse
impressions on their minds, by contradicting
false report. without compromising any
thing or retreating from any position, he
could see nothing improper III such course
Mr. HAYDEN. 1t is often the case that
men have to receive line upon line and PIE
cept upon precept in order to persuade item
to c,me to what they knoN'to' be truth and
right. 1t was often the case that men had
to be urged, entreated and expostulated with
in various ways, tc do that which they them
selves believed to be right. He had never
supposed it was undi mfed to ask people at
any time to do their duty. The great moral
feature Of the world was based upon the OBJ
l'gation to persuade men to do their duty.
II those men would but do their duty, we
should he all satisfied, and glad of it. If any
"' us We're to go to them, we would be glad
10 be we'll received. Let us then be ready
TO do by them as we would have hem to do
ny u.s. Let MS make them believe this, anil I
''onbt not but we shall have accomplished A
QoO.l tiIipg IF thar c.,,,, ,,,, And h. Ia