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

PRAYER DIV the Rev. Chaplain.
The journal of Saturday was read By the
Secretary.
RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.
Mr. COGSWELL, from the Committee on
the Preamble and Bill Of Ri.hts, to whom
was referred the petition IF B. +. Bond and
Others, citizens of Dodge county, reported
their opinion in writing, to the effect. that
the Constitution should contain nothing ey-
cept general fundamental prinples protecting
equally the rights of al! and believing that
that section ofthe Bill of Rights would amply
secure the rights of the petitioners before the
Legislature, the Committee asked to be dis
charged from the further consideration Of the
subject
The report was accepted and the Commit
tee discharged.
COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.
On motion { f Mr.. COLBURN, the Con-
vention resolved into Committee of the
Whoe-Mr GALBRAITH in the chair
and took up the conside alton Of the report
(No II, y from the Committee on County and
Township organizations, embracing an article
on these subjects
Mr. BILLINGS moved to strike out the
second section, prescribing 400 square miles
iur every county, &c.
Mr. WILSON opposed the motion because
this system of changing county boundaries
and county seats, had been, in this Territory
a system of fraud from beginning to end. 1t
undoubtedly required a constitutional restric-
ton.
Mr.. BILLINGS could not make 400 square
miles to contain certain number OF town
ships without a fraction, and there might be
design in that lie would not restrict, but
rather enlarge the right of the people to act
in this matter.
Mr. BALCOMBE. Although this section
was good provision, he thought it out OF
place in the Constitution.
The motion was lost.
Mr.. CLEGHORN submitted substitute
for the section. as follows:
"SEc. .. No organized county shall ever
be reduced, by the organization Of new coun-
ties. to less than six townships, as surveyed
by the United States, unless in pursuance OF
law, majority of the electors residing in
each county to be effected thereby shall SO
decide"
This was agreed to.
Mr.. HARDING proposed to substitute
the following 4" No new county shall evcI
rejected.
Mr.. FOLSOM submitted the following sui
stitute for that just adopted.
mo organized county shall be divided, or
have any part stricken therofrom, without
the question being first submitted to vote
of the electors of the county or counties to
be directly affected or dismembered, nor I'M
less majority of all the votes cast shall be
in favor of the same"
This proposition VS. adopted.
Mr.. FOSTER proposed the following sub
stitute, Yearly in the terms of the original
section
''Sec. .. No new county shall be formed
or established by the Legislature of less area
than twelve townships, without submitting
the question to vote of the electors of the
county or counties to be directly effected or
dismembered, and unless a majority of all the
votes cast shall be in favor of the same"
Mr. ALDRICH proposed to amend this
proposition by striking out all after the
words ''the county, and inserting that por
ton of the Territory which it is proposed to
set off or divide :" which was rejected.
Mr.. WILSON proposed the following sub
stitnted:
"Sec 2 No new county shall be formed
or established by the Legislature of less area
than four hundred square miles, unless a ma
.jority of the qualified voters residing within
the limits of the proposed county vote for
the same; nor shall any organized county be
divided, or have any part stricken ,erefrom
without submitting the question to vote OF
the electors of the county or counties to be
directly effected or dlsmcmbered, and unles:
majority cf all the votes cast shall be in ia
vor of the same"
This proposition was also rejected.
Mr.. KING proposed the following "No
new county shall be formed or established by
the Legislature of a less area than 400 square
miles, nor shall any county be divided. unless
in the estimation Of the Legislature. it shall
be imperatively demanded but the specu!a-
tive wishes of the people shall not make an
imperative case = which was rejected.
The question recurring upon Mr.. Fosters
substitute, it was also rejected.
So Mr.. FOLSOM'S proposition was finall,
adopted as Section two.
Section three was then read by the chair
man.
Mr. HANSON moved to strike out from
the section these words-"two- thi DIS of the
Board of Supervisors of the county, and,
Mr.. STANDARD made an ineffectua
motion to strike ont section three.
Mr.. ALDRICH proposed to amend by
striking ont in the 18th line, the words
sshall have voted for the removal of the
county seats to the proposed location.
Both of these last were rejected.
Mr.. THOMPSON proposed to substitute