The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-05-30
The state Convention.

JAMES w. 1ANLOk, ESD, uou i"h u"
dence to hear his address on Friday evening
upon Constitutional Reform. While disa
greeing materially with Mr.. TAYLOR in ma
ny of his leading views, we deem it rish
and proper to give our readers an abstract o
the same.
After dwelling upon the fact that Mime
sofa, with a population of probably 25O,oot
and healthy progress of ten years, vii
come into the Union with great dignity ane
moral fcrce the speaker inferred that what
ever Reforms of the usual constitutions
formula are here effected, will have grsa'
influence upon the rest Of the country.
By way of preliminary remark, the dele
CATION of power by the people was traced to
the township, the county, the state and the
federal government: and the Importance o
resposible legislative body, separated from
the executive, within each county and town
ship, as well as in the state and nation was
insisted upon. A plan fer the better admin
istration Of these municipalities was present
ed, to which our space will not allow us to
do justice.
Mr.. Taylor then proceeded to the direct
discussion of Constitution: and, among
other things, urged the following features OF
a Legislative Department.: He proposed a
Single Representative Assembly, abolishine
the Senate The objections to Senate
were briefly: that it represented nothing
peculiar to our people; that it divided and
weakened the responsibility of the law-ma-
kers; that measures were often passed which
never you'd be, if it was not anticipated that
the other body would defeat them; that a
Senate made necessary large districts oi
several counties, in adjusting which the evil
of party gerrymander was constantly expe-
rieaced; and that the existence of SEN
ate often induced such disagreements and
refusals to elect United States Senators, as
have become an abuse. If these consider
ations should not weigh with the Codven-
tion, then that body was called upon to di-
vide itself into two bodies, instead Of re.
naming, as they would meet, in single ses-
sion. This idea of single body was urged
with much emphasis as an experiment worth
the trial at any rate,
Annual, but limited sessions of the Leg
islative Assembly, were advocated; subject
to the following restrictions upon the
general power of legislation.
lst. A majority of all the members elect
ed to vote for every law, with record of
the yeas and nays.
I'd. No special acts of incorporation; but
corporations to be only authorized under
general laws, with the individual liability
of corporators whenever dividends are cX-
pectcd.
Sd. No public debt-not even with the
consent of the people-except within a mil
lion, if necessary for any sudden occasion.
4th The guaranty cf the School Funds;
but no legislation in the Constitution upon
the Schoo! Lands.
AS to the Executive, Mr.. T. proposed to
make him the Auditor of State likewise
to consolidate the offices of Secretary and
Treasurer of State-tO abolish that of At
torney General, as assuming far too much
the responsibility which should be insepara-
BILE from other officers and departments Of
the State-but to establish the office of Sec
retary of Public Instruction, having charge
of the State Library, Statistics, Charities,
Public and Schools. t
He would give the Governor veto pow
er; but, fiat any time the Legislative Assem-
bly, should pass resolution of want of con-
1dence in the Governor, then the people
should decide at the next election whether
he should remain in office.
But little was said of the Judiciary ex-
cept that the election of Judges, with that
Of town, city, and county officers, should be
in the spring, when there is lull of party
animosity, and men are likely to vote indc-
pendently. E a.1
No change in the qualifications of cleo
tors was proposed; although the Speaker in
timated that he would not object to giving
power TO the Legislature to extend the
right of suffrage, if a majority were dispo-
sed: 1t would be unsafe to hazard the sue
cess of the Constitution on any other than a
white basis of suffrage.
Much was said in the way of congratula-
ton upon the hereafter of Minnesota; but
the above comprise the practical sugges-
tions Of discourse which occupied nearly
two hours in the delivery.