The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-05

ton do now proceed to sign this enrolled
Constitution. Ss
I But before this signing
The Committee took recess till half past
2 o'clock, p. M. ~
8f AFTERNOON SESSION, AUGUST 20, 1857. 81
. The PRESIDENT resumed the chair at
the expiration of this recess, and members Of
the Convention proceeded to sign the Con-
stitution under the order moved by Mr..
Hayden-each member signing the parch-
ment on the Reporters table, in the alpha
betical order in which the names are called
from the Secretary's roll. 49,
EXTRA COMPENSATION TO THE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY.
|. Mr.. ROBBINS submitted resolution al
lowing $75 compensation to j. @. A. Ward
for extra services as Assistant Secretary of
this Convention. -
Mr.. COGSWELL moved to add, sand
each member of this Convention;" which was
rejected; - N i
And the resolution was adopted. o
PAY OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS REFUSED.
/ Mr.. DAVIS announced, for information of
members and others interested, that Mr..
Mills and himself had just presented their
certificates of milage and per deim, duly
signed and attested by the President and
Secretary, as the law requires, to the Treasu-
rer of the Territory, Mr.. G. w. Armstrong /;
and that he had refused to pay thin, saying
to them for answer, "We do not recognize
these certificates" And thereupon Mr.. D..
had told the Treasurer that he was acting in
violation of law, and he believed the people
of Minnesota would next fall place man in
that office that could pay these certificates.
Mr.. NORTH submitted the following "
Resolued, That this Convention respectful
ly request the Territorial Treasurer to pay
all certificates of the members of either Con-
vention as well those signed by III. ii
Sibley, as President; and j. j. Noah, as Sec
rotary, as those signed by St A. D. Balcombe,
as President, and L. A. Babcock, as Sec
rotary.
The rule being suspended for the conside-
ration of this resolution
Mr. N said he hored this body would place
it on their records to show that we continue
to maintain our honor and let the people OF
the Territory see the contrast between our
course and that of the seeding members; ii
there is any.
Mr. FOSTER hoped the resolution would
be adopted. The case was here, that the
majority had descended to treat with the mi
nority on equal terms and had recognized
their acts, with the tacit understanding, that
there should be equality as to all the rights
of members; and in the face of this, the mi
nority had instructed their Treasurer to re-
fuse to pay the certificates of the majority,
and say: We will not recognize these certi-
<1xo oil
Treasurer, but the Democratic members in
this Capitol and the Democratic party
Here was the power behind the throne. He
accepted this issue before the people. in all
it's relations, here and elsewhere, and with
his friend from Steele County, Mr.. Davis
was willing to trust, and wait for a man to
be placed in the Treasurer's Office that would
nay. :,
not prevail. The Convention had nothing
to do with this matter; and he thought there
had been boys play and fools play enough
about it. The Legislature had passed law
providing for the payment of these expenses
and how they should be paid and this Con
vention could not change the matter in the
least. Gentlemen might think, that, by pass
ing this resolution, we shall be taking the
wind out of the sails of our adversaries, but
he thought we should be doing much better
by passing the matter over in silence. The
seeding members in the other end, with the
Attorney General, member with them, were
the advisers of the Treasurer. Leave then
to their responsibility.
Mr.. NORTH. There was not perhaps 6
member in this Hall but regarded the othel
Convention as illegal; but preferring rider tt
anarchy, preferring that one Constitution
shuuld 60 to the people, and secure the pros
perity of every great interest of the State
they had condescended to treat with thai
body on equal terms, with the EXPIRE IS and
fairly implied understanding. that all the
members of both bodies should have theiI
pay here. Now, for one, he desired this Con
vention to carry out that understanding tc
the letter. However others might choose to
act, he hoped this Convention would continue
as heretofore they have done, to stand upon
The principles of equity and honor, and suffer
no shade of meanness to mingle with their
transactions. ' -
Mr.. MCCLURE was in favor of the resolu-
ton from the simple fact that we have ell.
tered into this arrangement with the lninori-
ty in good faith. We were about to adjourn
testimony upon the record, to prevent the
SANDER, that we also had ordered the Treasu.
rer not to pay the members in the other end
of the Capitol He alluded to what might
be the reason for Mr.. President Fl. H. Sibley
refusing to sign the Constitution with Mr.
President St. A. D. Balcombe. IF the latter
as the majority President, were to sign first
there would be an excuse for Sioley in the
contrast-the awful falling from Saint to a
Sybil Laughter.
Mr.. MANTOR hoped the resolution would
not pass for 1the reason, that prominent
members, in the other end denounced the at
tempted Reputation Of these certificates
and because further he intended to have his
paw on the certificate in his hand, with ten.
fold usuary, before the people.
Mr. COLBURN inquired in regard to the
facts in the understanding about pay.
Mr.. WILSON hoped the resolution would be
laidon the table, and the subject treated with
that contempt which best befitted the victims
of bad faith under circumstances like those by
which the members of this Convention were
now surrounded. 80
Mr.. GALBRAITH did not care whether
the resolution were pass or not. There wa
connected with this matter of pay pro
found question of honor-an obligation
more sacred than if We're written and baC
faith in regard to it was meanness beneath
any formal notice of the representatives o
! the people. He proceeded to denounce tn,
thing at some length, and to allege, that ever.
letter of the compact had been fulfilled OF
orr part. If it were to be broken on quib
BILE by the adverse party, let it be SO. If dis
honor fell anywhere, let us be clear oft.
| Mr.. NORTH fully agreed with gentlemen
as to the character of the conduct of the mi
nority, but the object of the resolution wa
not to cast reproach nor censure any act of ig
nominy, but simply to put this Convention
right upon the record, and to show that VI
keep good faith, regardless Of what other
may do. We were told, that this arrange
ment about pay, was understood as part o
the agreement upon one Constitution. HI
| wanted to see that upon the record I; ant
then if the other body choose to act mean
ly in the premises, let them have the credi
Of it. ss
After debate and further opposition by Mr.
WILSON and Mr.. C0GGSWELL, the reso
luton was adopted.
Mr. FOSTER offered the following
WHEREAS, when this Constitutional Con
vention, embracing majority of the duly
elected delegates, agreed 10 meet in confer
ence with the seeding minority Convention
for the adoption of one Constitution, it wa
r Al r 30