The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-23
TnE Two CONVERSIONS IN MrNNrsorA.

iiirs lWO tONNENllONS IN MINNESOTA.
We have already been advised by telegraph that
owing to serious difficulty between the democratic
and blackrepublican members of the convention re-
Gently elected in Minnesota to frame State consti
tuition two conventions now actually sitting at
st. Paul each engaged in framing constitution to
be submitted to the next Congress- What win be
the result OF this unfortunate division it is not diff
cult to conjecture In the mean time we lay before
our readers plain statement of the origin of the
existing difficulties, as furnished by the ST. Paul Pr
oneer
Ia accordance with understanding among the del
egaes To the constitutional convention they assembled
on the 18th instant in the hall of the house of represent
atiyes Precisely as the clock indicated the dele
gates were called to order by Hon Charles L. Chase
rotary OF the Territory of Minnesota Ex-Gov German
Immediately moved that the delegates adjourn until H.
M next day. The motion put by Mr.. Chase and
earned sufficient number of the republicans voting
with the democrats to constitute quorum of the whole
body AS near as could be ascerained, about forty
five democrats voted to adjourn and at least twenty
republicans voted nay. No division was called for
and Mr.. Chate declared the delegates adjourned un-
til noon next day The democratic members then left
the hall AT the same time that MIR. Chase called the
convention to order, Mr.. John W. North back-republi-
can delegate of Rice county nominated Thomas j. Gal
braith as temporary chairman After the convention had
been declared adjourned by Mr. Chase the democrat
ic members had left the hail. Mr. Gabrath selected
by those rcmainng-not quorum of the convention.
temporary presiding officer In such capacity he took
his seat; the remaining officers of the meeting, mob
were selected and committee credentials appointed
who reported iftysix delegates-not quorum of le-
gally elected delegates raying abolitions
named Balcombe from Wnona then selected per-
manent president and after the election of other officers
the meeting adjourned until 8, a, M, next day.
This great point of difference was whose duty priv
ege it was to call the convention to order and preside
until temporary organization should be effected The
lined thp
individual and fully sustained in that position by pre-
cedens the only rule governing such matters in the alb
sence of positive legal enactmcnts The Wisconsin and
Iowa constitutional conventions both presided
until temporary organization had been effected by the
secretaries Of these Territories notwithstanding there
provision of this character in the acts authorizing the
conventions to be held. In States where conventions
held for the purpose of forming constitutions the
Secretary of State is universally acknowledged the
proper officer to call the body to order We could cite
presidents of this character In almost every State in the
Union. One other fact bearing strongly the is
that by the enabling act the secretary of the Territory
is made the custodian Of the returns of the election for
delegates to the convention and this alone unsstaned
by the precedents have cited point him out the
proper officer to take the initiative in organizing the
vention.
Mr North defends his action in calling the convention
to order the ground that he received request to do
So signed by majority of the delegates No democrat
signed any such paper and it only by procuring the
names of bogus delegates who never elected
and have right to seats in the convention than
Fred Douglass or any other that shadow of
is afforded for such statement dishonest regis
ter of deeds, and few petty scoundels, ready to take
advantage of his rscaty and thrust themselves into
position the people designed they should occupy
not the individuals TO whom the task should be
hded of organizing constitutional convention, yet
it is by the of the of such that
John W. North procures his boosted majority. The
only result that arrive at in examination of the
facts that Mr. Chascs action in calling the convention
to order sustained by the preceents and
indirectly the custodian of the election returns
toned by the law Mr. Norths excuse of call from a
majority Of the delegates is sham unworthy of the
man and the occasion As to the vote the adjourn
ment dispute the correctness of the decision
of the secretary The democrats forty-ve in number)
voted aye, and upwards of twenty republicans voted
no., thus constituting quorum vho acknowledged Mr.. Chase's
authority. No division called for, and the decision
the chair declaring the convention adjourned acqu
esced in by large number OF delegates The democratic
members favored djournmcnt because the whole
Der of the members not present and also because
they well aware of the intention of the black re-
publcans to exclude five legally democrats from
their seats and substituting bogus delegates by the aid
whose votes they would be able to the oganz
ton of the convention