The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-17

iOunCll 0uu tQlrCy-nlne members Oh the
louise of Representatives, making in all, ff-1
y-four, which number should probably be
increased to ninety or one hundred, in the
Convention. 1t will also be
necessary to provide for their compenss ton.
1t is, perhaps, desirable that should brief
y recapitulate the history of some of the
lew States admitted into the Union, the
line, and with what population-to serve as
guide in your deliberations on this State
question. And first of the Northwestern
States.
Indiana, by authority, took the initiatory
steps for State on the 10Th of April, 1916
held the Convention in June, andwas admit
ted in December of the same year with a
population of from eighty to one hundred
Illinois was formed into territory Feb
ruary Sd, 1909, and admitted into the Union
December I'd, 1918 with population of less
than fifty thousand.
Michigan was admitted into the Union on
the Goth of January, 1887, with popula
ton of about seventy-five or eighty thou
sand.
] he territory now comprised within the
state of Iowa, was a part of the Missouri
Territory from 1904 to 1872, and after that
was placed successfully under the jursdic-
ton of Michigan and Wisconsin Territories.
On the 18th of June, 1888, it was erected
into Territorial Governmentcalled Iowa, in
which was included all that portion of Min
nesota lying west of the Mississippi river.
In 1874, it asked admission into the Union
as state: with population of eighty -one
thousand nine hundred and twenty-one, and
Congress passed law, approved March Sd,
l845, for that purpose, which, however, al
tered it's boundaries, and was, in conse-
quence, not accepted. By the act of 4th Of
August, 1916, terms were agreed upon and
it was admitted into the Union on the 28th
December, of the same year, with popu-
lation of something over one hundred thou
sand.
Wisconsin was erected into Territory
on the 4th of July, 1886, and admitted into
the Union May Goth, lS4S, (after the first
constitution had been rejected by the peo-
ple) with population of over two hundred
and ten thousand.
Missouri first proposed State Govern
ment in 1917, but, owing to the vexed ques-
ton of slavery creating so much dissension
between the Northern and Southern States,
was not admitted into the Union until 1921,
when it contained population of sixty-six
thousand five hundred and eighty,sx.
Arkansas was admitted into the Union on
on the lath of June, 1886, with popula-
ton of about fifty-fve thousand.
Florida was admitted March Sd, 1916,
with population of about sixty thousand,
although a constitution had been formed in
1898.
1t may become necessary to anticipate the
ratification of the new constitution by the
people, and provide for the election of all
the state officers next fall. so that the Terri
torial officers may then surrender their
charges into the lands of those elected by
the people.
1t may be, and probably is, necessary to
notice an objection which has been hereto
fore, and may now be urged against imme-
date action, to wit : the absence of Con-
gressional authority. 1t has been settled by
the defnitive action of both branches of
Congress, that their authority Is not a ne
cessary prerequisite to authorize Territory
to form State Government, nor, indeed, is
the authority of the Territorial Legislature
itself. positively necessary to enable the peo-
l, to hold Convention, form Constitution
and ask admission into the Union, although
some distinguished statesmen always held
that Legislative or Congressional authority
was absolutely necessary to divest it of
revolutionary character. This doctrine, how
ever, has been emphatically denied by the
action of Congress, and by Mr.. Benton, Mr..
Buchanan. President Jackson, Mr.. Strange,
Mr.. King, Mr.. Niles, and most politicians of
the North at the present day.
For statement of our financial condition
I refer you to the reports of the Auditor and
Treasurer.
1t is again urged upon you to make some
change in your revenue system and laws,
both in the manner Of collecting taxes, and
the mode of assessment. The chec>s neces-
sary to detect fraud and defalcations do not
exist in our laws the facilities for avoiding
the penalties our law infcts are very numer-
Gus, and it would seem from the action of
some that they were fully aware of the fact.
These evidences of official negligence are
not seriously felt yet, but the time is COM
ing when our people will have to suffer for
the example set by some of your county
officers.
deem it very desirable that you should
look to the small details of the public SER
vice if you would secure faithful admins
tration of affairs. 1t is almost impossible to
get the public sufficiently aroused to give
their attention to the detail of state and
county matters, and especially in our Terri
tory, for the reason that every one is SO
much engaged in business as to seem to care
for nothing beyond the immediate objects in
view. While capital and population CONT
nue. coming, the speculative enterprises of
our people will continue, and but few will
turn aside to correct or reform the abuses of
the law, or bring to punishment the delin-
quent public servant. These things, to most
of our people, are secondary considerations,
if they are even entitled to so high rank.
have heretofore called the attention of
the Legislature to the necessity of amending
the revenue laws, especially as to the man
ner of levying, assessing and collecting the
taxes, their disbursement, and the accounta-
bility Of the various officers. l again renew
my former recommendation on the subject.
/ am not prepared to inform you what will
be the result of the suit instituted by the
United States against the Minnesota and
Northwestern Railroad Company to test the
validity of the act of Congress repeating the
act making grant of lands to the Territory
to aid in constructing a road from the Iowa
line from point between Ranges (9) nine
and Q7) seventeen, thence by way of st.
Paul to Lake Superior. The first suit, or
rather the writ of error, has been dismissed
by the Supreme Court of the United States,
and hence the Company are remedies I'M
less fhav obtain the consent of the govern