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

NUMBER II.
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. 3. }, after fixing
the extent of its jurisdiction, also for the
election of members of the convention, anC
upon their assembling together, that they shall
FIRST determine by role achether II IS the acisl
Of the people Of the proposed State to be ADMIT
| ted into the Union at that time; md If so shall
proceed to forGa u constitution, &c.
Now if majority of the members SC
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 4" the wish of the people
OF the proposed State to be admitted into
| the Union at that time" but simply the
| wish of the people of another and different
State. After such decision, the convention
could not go on "to form 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 votes 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 60
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-
sitions is not made condition precedent to
our becoming a 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 Oh oar own terms. Let us examine
them little:
That which Congress seeks to secure by
these propositions is thit the State shall
never interfere with the primary disposal, by
Congress, Of the land included within said
State be onSiDg to the United States, nor
with any relation of Congress necessary for
securing a 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:
First-1,at two sections (Nos. Is and
36), in eac!, township of land belonging to
the United States, within the new State shall
be granted to said State for the supper, of
schools.
Secoad-That seventy two sections of land
(46,OS0 acres) shall be given said State for
the use and support Of a University.
1hiaU-That ten secti ms Of land (640O
acres } be given the State to finish its public
buildings; or erect new ones.
Foufh-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.
Fyfh.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 amy ever granted by Congress, to an
incoming 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.