The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-18
(From the St. Anthony Republican,
constitutional Convention.

NUMBER II. @f
The question of boundaries of the new
State, suggested in our last number, is the
first question to be settled upon the meeting
of the Constitutional Convention; for the
enabling act provides, (Sec. g. after fixing
the extent of its jurisdiction, also for the
election of members of the convention, and
upon their assembling together, that they shall
"frst determine by vote aehether it is the soish
Of the people Of the proposed State to be admit
tel into the Union at that time; and If so shall
proceed to form q constitution, &c.
Now if majority of the members so
elected, shall deem it desirable to insist on
a division of the territory by an East and
West line, this question must be decided in
the negative. For in this case it would be
decided not to be "the wish of the people
OF the proposed State to be admitted into
the Union at that time," but simply the
wfsii OF the people of another and a different
State. After such decision, the convention
could not so OH "to form a constitution and
take all necessary steps for State Govern
ment" under any authority granted by the
enabling act; for that only authorizes such
further proceedings in case the convention
" shall determine by vote'' that it is the
wish of the people of the proposed State to
be admitted into the Union.
But if the vote so taken, should decide in
favor of the adoption of the boundaries pre-
scribed by the enabling act, then the con-
vention has the warrant of Congress to go
on and form the constitution and take the
necessary steps for the establishment of a
State Government" as before suggested.
Besides these duties, the act requires that
the convention shall act upon several pro-
positions submitted therein in behalf of the
United States, which if accepted by said
convention shall be compact binding and
obligatory upon the United States and the
new State. The acceptance of their propo-
sitlons is not made condition precedent to
our becoming State, but the rejection of
them would be likely to open a discussion
in Congress which would much delay our
admission, even should it be finally consent
ed to on our own terms. Let us examine
them a little:
That which Congress seeks to secure by
these propositions is that the State shall
never interfere with the primary disposal, by
Congress Of the land included within said
State be onging to the United States, nor
with any relation of Congress necessary for
securing title to bona fide purchase there
of; that United States lands shall not be
taxed, nor nonresident proprietors be taxed
higher than residents.
As an equivalent for this, Congress pro-
poses:
FSrst-That two sections (Nos. Is and
36), in each township of land belonging to
fhn Tnif,G fofo +l<>, cI,
be granted to said State for the support of
schools.
Sscoad-That seventy-two sections of land
(46,OS0 acres) shall be given said State for
the use and support of University.
1hiTd-That ten sections of land (640O
acres be given the State to finish it's public
buildings, or erect new ones.
Fourth-That all salt springs in the State
not property of individuals, not to exceed,
twelve in number with six sections of land
as nearly as may be, contiguous to each shall
become the property of the State.
FyM.That five per cent of the net pro-
ceeds of public lands within the State, sold
by Congress after its admission, shall be
paid to the State for the purpose of making
public roads and other internal improve
ments.
These terms we believe are quite as libe-
raj as any ever granted by Congress, to an
state, and our impression is that
none has Jared so well. 1t seems to us that
Congress tenders an ample equivalent for all
that is asked of the new State, and we pre-
dict that there will be no disposition in the
Convention to haggle for better terms.
With the settlement of these questions,
the convention approaches the performance
of its duty of forming constitution for the
new State, an organic law which shall be the
foundation Of the institutions of the State
of Minnesota. May that foundation be laid
broad and deep. G.