The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-11

in the Union as Slave State. once more the
Oligarchy would rejoice in Senatorial equi-
librlum, not again to be disturbed. With
Kansas i'll the Union, aud the veto power
again in their hands, the Gadsdcn Purchase,
Utah, Texas, Central America, Sonora, must
be looked to, for new Slave States, to keep
peace with the Free States already in pro-
cess of formation in the rest of the north
west territory.
Need We wonder at the repeal of the Miss
ouri Compromised monstrous acts OF the
Border Ruffans-the Slave acts of the bO-
gus Legislature gross violation of the
rights of the setters-thc burnings, assass-
nations, massacres, civil war--the irruptiOn
of Slavery propagandists from Georgia and
South Carolina-and the hot excitement
which swept over the whole country? The
question of Senatorial Equilibrium, between
the Oligarchy and the People, was at the bot
tom of ii. For season, the struggle seems
to be suspended. Some suppose, without
reason. that it is closed, and Kansas is to be
a free State. 1t is merely suspended, to be
again renewed, perhaps with more fearful
accompaniments than ever. Indications of
coming violence already reach US from the
Territory. and the first call made upon the
the new Administration may be, to decide
between Gov. Geary and the spurious Legis
lature which seems determined to crush out
the spirit of Freedom in the Territory, even
at the cost of Law and Order.
But, while this contest is yet undecided,
the People have quietly gained what will
prove as important in its results on Senate
rial equilibrium, as was the admission of
California. The passnge of the M eaabtmg
tie People Of Minnesota to form q State Coasti-
t"iioa, for admission into the Union, we re-
gard as the most important measure Of this
! Congress. We had looked forward to the
report of it with great anxiety, fearing that
amidst the hurry of business and from other
causes, not necessary to name, it would be
thrown over till another Congress.
AS the question whether aliens should be
permitted to vote in Territory in the cleo
! tion of delegates to form State Consttu-
ton, was needlessly connected with the
measure, and the action of some of tie
mem bcrs may be used by the hacks of par
ty, for sinister purposes, we shall give a plain
statement Of tie progress of the bill from the
day it was reported in the House, till the
day it was passed in the Senate of the Uni
ted States. Let it be borne in mind that it
was the great measure of this Congress, so
far as the rights of the Free States and the
claims of the Uligarchy are concerned: that
the loss Of the bill would have complicated
| the issues between them at the next Con-
gress, given the Oligarchy the vantage
ground, and good prospect of restoring
what they call equilibrium in the Senate, by
dragging in Kansas as a Slave State, first of
all ; and that its passage puts an eflectual
quietus upon the absurd and dangerous poll
cy of bringing in slave and free States po1i
passu---a policy which would prove perpet-
u:l source of bitterness, heart-burnings and
discord.
THE RECORD.
January 81, 1857, Mr. Grow, from the
Committee on Territories, reported bill 'to
authorize the People of the Territory of
/ Minnesota to form Constitution and State
I Government, preparatory to their admission
into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States" 1t provided as follows:
THAT the first Monday in June next the legal vot-
ers in each Representative District then existing within
the limits of the proposed State authorized elect
two Delegates for each Representative to which said Dis
tric may may be entitled according to the apportion
ment for Representatives to the Territorial Legislature,
which election for Delegates shall be held and conducted
ana The returns made in all respects in conformity with
the laws Of said Territory regulating the election of Rep
resentatives and the Delegates elected shall
Bile at the Capitol of said Territory the second Mon
day in July next, and first determine, by vote wheh
er is the wish of the people of the proposed State to be
admitted into the Union at that time and if so, shall
proceed to form Constitution and take all necessary
steps for the establishment of State Governments in
conformity with the Federal Constitution subject to the
approval and ratification of the people of the proposed
State"
The qualification of electors being already
defined in the Territory, the bill wisely, we
think, avoided all questions concerning the
extent of the right of suffrage, by authorizing
! - /e00I 9Ofers in aach raprocant.f;vo of
| to vote for delegates to the Convention.
AS bnt two days were allowed for Terrific
| rial business, and vast amount of it was to
be attended to, Mr.. Grow moved the previ-
GUS question, announcing, however, that he
| would withdraw it, for the purpose of explain
ing the provisions of the bill, but not for dis
cussion. Various questions were propound-
ed; some obviously with view to provoke
discussion; and It was evident that. had he
withdrawn his demand for the previous Ques-
ton, the day would be consumed in debate.
S me of the Republican members, not Know
Nothings, who attach vital Importance to the
Principle OF restricting the right of suffrage
to citizens Of the United States. were anx-
ious tor the adoption of a corresponding
amendment, and were confident that it might
be moved and carried without endangering
the bill; and, when the majority Republican
members, convinced that to open the door
for amendments was to hazard the bill, vot-
ed to sustain the previous question, the form
er recorded their votes in the negative on
the passage of the bill itself-the vote on
which stands as follows:
YEAsMessrs. Aiken, Albright, Allen, Allison, Ball,
Barbour Benson, Billinghurst, Bliss, Bocock Drenton
Buihnton Caldwader, Caruhers, Bayard Clark Cling
man. Howell Cobb Colfax Cragin Danrel, Davidson
c. DO1d Fm.
re, English, Florence Thomas, j. d. Fuller Granger,
Grow Augustus Hail. Harlan, Herbert, Hickman, Hodg
es, Holloway, Thomas Il. Horton, Valentine r. Horton
Howard, Hughston, Jewett, Kelley, Knapp, knowlton
kuox, Letter, Mace, Samuel S. Marshall Matteson Nc
Carty. Kiian Miller, Smith Miller, Morgan, Morrill,
Mott Murray, Nichols Parker, Peck Pelton, Perry, Pet
tit Phelps Pike, Prinle Quitman Sain, Sage Sandidge
Sapr, Scott Sherman, Simmons, Samuel A. Smith, Spin
ner Stanton Stranahan, Tappan, Thorngton, Thurs,on
Tyson, Wade, Wakeman, Walbrdge, Waldron, Cadwad-
ere Washburne, Eihu B. Washburne, Israel washhurne
Watkins Watson, Wells Wheeler, Williams, and Went
worh-97.
NAYs-Messrs. Akers, Barksdale Hendley S. Bennett
Bingham, Bowie, Bradshaw, Burnett, James II. Camp
Williamson r. W. Cobb, Comins, Cox, Crawford, Cullen
Timothy Davis, Dean, Dowdell, Dunn, Durfee, Elliott
Ethrdge Evans, Faulkner, Garnett. Goode Greenwood
j. Morrison Harris, Harrison Haven, Houston, George
W. Jones, Kenneth King, Knight, Kunkel, Lake Letcher
Lnmpkin Alexander X. Marshall, McMullin, Millson
Pennington, Powell Purviance Puryear, Ready Ricaud
Robbins, Roberts, Rufin Savage, Seward, Shorter, VIM
s aa srR %snsv
Daniel B. Wright, and Zolcofer-75. s. 49,
So the bill was passed.
If We are not mistaken, only nine South
ern Democrats voted for the bill-no North
ern Democrat voted against it. The major
ity of those voting against it, it will be OBJ
served, are Southern Democrats and South
ern and Northern Know Nothings, with a
few Republicans not Native Americans, but
still holding that the question of citizen-suf-
frage is vital one. The great body of the
Republicans, the Northern Democrats gene
rally, one or two Know Nothings, and some
Republicans with Native American princi-
Piles, voted for the bill, because they believed
the great issue involved in it overshadowed
all other issues.
Monday, February Cd, the bill was sent tc
the Senate; and February 81, (only ten
days of the session remaining, it was taken
up for consideration.
Mr.. Biggs, of North Carolina, disclaimine
af6liation with the Know Nothings, moved
Proviso-
"That only citizens of the United States
shall be entitled to vote at the election pro.
vided for by this act"
A long debate ensued, chiefly carried on
by Southern Senators-all Of whom, whether