The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-01
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29.

The Convention adjourned till tomorrow
morning at 9 o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2s.
Prayer by the Rev. Chaplain.
The journal of yesterday was read by the
Secretary.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.
Mr.. RUSSELL, from the Committee on
County and Township Organizations, report
ed two articles. The article in relation to
County Organization, prescribes that each
County shall be body cOrp0rste-that no
new County shall be organized with an area
less than 400 square miles, nor shall any
County be divided without the concurrence
Of majority of the interested electors voting
thereon. No county seat shall be removed
until the peint shall be designated by two
thirds of the Board of Supervisors, and ma
jority of voters second the demand The
County Board of Supervisors to consist of
one from each township. The Board may
borrow money for public improvements not
to exceed $1,000, without the assent of the
voters. County officers shall be-Sherif,
Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Prose
cutting Attorney, Superintendent of Common
Schools, and Coroner.
body corporate and prescribes the officers.
This report was read twice, referred, and
ordered to be printed under the rule.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Mr.. BALDWIN, from the Committee on
Educational Institutions and Interests, re-
ported an article of II sections, prescribing,
school fund to be derived from the school
lands, &c, to be for the support and mainten-
ance ofcOmmon schools, Academies, and Nor
NAL schools; thus the legislature shall, within
live years, pro vide and establish system of
commonschools, as nearly uniform as practical
BILE, whereby schools shall be kept, without
charge, in every district, at least three
months In each year-nO sectarian instruc-
ton to be allowed therein. The State Uni
versity is recognized, agriculture to be fos-
tered, and an agricultural school provided,
to become branch of the University. Re-
gents of the University to be a corporate
body, to control its funds, &C. A State Su-
perintendent of Instruction is recognized, to
have supervision. The Secretary and Treas
urer of State, and Attorney General to be
Commissioners for the sale of school and
University lands Township Libraries, and
Library in CIV sry school within the laws and
ly authorized and provided for.
The article was tvice read, committed
and ordered To be printed under the rule.
Mr. MILLS resolution, offered yesterday,
now coming up for consideration, to wit:
ReSolred That the object of Cons titu-
ton is to organize government, prescribing
the nature and extent of the several powers
thereof, and that to engraft any legislative
enactment therein would be anti-repubIican !;
and further, that bill of rights should only
be declaratOry of a general fundamental
principle
MIR. FOSTER regarded this very we'll, as a
declaration of sentiment; but it was work
OF superogatlon to place it upon the journal.
On motion by Mr.. RUSSELL, it was laid
upon the table.
RIGHTS or MARRIED WOMEN.
Mr.. NORTH'S proposition to amend the
bill of rights, declaring that Married wo.
men shall have the right to hold and convey
real and personal property in their own right,
and separately from their husbands and to
contract on their own behalf" coming up in
the order Of unfinished business.
Mr.. SECOMBE proposed to substitute the
following:
Sec. :. The common law disability of
married women, to hold and convey real and
personal property, and to contract on their
own behalf shall not exist in this State.
Mr.. SECOMBE supported his proposition
in brief speech.
Mr.. FOSTER, saw in it, be thought, ten
dency to separate the marriage bond still
he was for relieving woman from some of the
old restraints imposed in feudal times He
submitted substitute, which was copied
from the California provision. It is as fol.
lows :
" Sec. -. All property, whether real or
personal, of the wife, owned or claimed be-
fore marriage, and that acquired afterwards
by gift, device or Descent shall be her separ-
ate property; and laws shall be passed more
clearly defining the rights of the wife, in rela-
ton to'her separate property, as to that held
Uncommon with her husband. Laws also shall
be passed for the registration of her seperate
property"
This substitute was adopted-affirmativ
10, negative 1G.
Mr.. WILSON opposed the whole of this,
on the ground that there was no fear that
Minnesota Legislature would legslate adver-
sely to the rights of married women. Legis-
latures were commonly inclined to 20 too
far in that direction. If a married woman
owned property before her marriage, he also
was in favor of such legislation, that her hus-
band could not deprive her of it, without her
consent.
Mr.. NORTH affirmed that this PROPOSE
ton was NEITHER new nor fanatical. 1t was
Constitutional provision in the State of Cali
fornia and the State of New York had
long ago come up to the same standard. He
supposed the section as drawing still closer
the connubal tie and all the interest of mar
rage.
Mr.. PERKINS opposed the proposition
at some length.
Mr.. NORTH rejoined.
Mr.. McLURE replied to Mr. North and
after further debate by Mr.. Bolles-
The yeas and nays were demanded, and or
dered on the adoption if the substitute as
amended, and being taken, resulted-yeas 80.
nays 19.
SO the section was adopted.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Mr.. BOLLES proposed further to amend
the article by adding
Sec. The Legislature shall pass no law IL
censing the traffic in intoxicating liquors.
=, Mr.. HARDING proposed substitute in
these words.
Sec. The Legislature shall pass no law
granting license for the sale of Intoxicating H.
quors as beverage; but they may prohibit
the sale thereof by suitable laws, provided
such laws be approved by a majority of all
the votes cast at the next election succeed-
ing their enactment. ~
Mr.. MANTOR made speech in favor of
the original section. "'oA VI
The substitute was rejected, and the oues.
ton required on the orig inal section bv Mr.
Bolles. ~ ILL.,
The yeas and nays were demanded and or
dered upon this question, and being taken
resuited--yeas Il, nays 81: so the section
was rejected.
Mr.. STANNARD proposed to amend the
article by striking out in Sec. ii, all after the
word "prohibited"-[the land lease restric.
ton to Is years.
Inc amendment was adopted.
Mr.. STANNARD proposed this substi-
tute for Sec. g.
Sec. 3. The liberty of the press shall for
ever remain inviolate. and ali persons NAV
freely speak, write and publish their ,senti-
ments on all subjects, being responsible for
the abuse of such right.
The amendment was adopted; yeas 20,
nays 10.