The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-22
MINNESOTA TERRITORY SATURDAY MORNING. AUGUST 22 1857
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
FRIDAY, AUGUST ID, 1857.
The journal of yesterday was read by the
Secretary.
| COMPROMISE COMMITTEE.
The PRESIDENT now announced the
Special Committee under Mr.. Galbraith's re-
solution in relation to Compromise with the
Democratic members of the Convention, so
that but one Constitution shall be submitted
to the People, and it consists of the follow
ing members, viz Messrs. Galbraith, Nc
Clure, Stannard, Aldrich and Wilson.
BOUNDARY.
Mr.. Davis's boundary resolution-submit-
ting the question to the people-in the shape
of memorial to Congress, came up in the
order of unfinished business-the question
being on the adoption of TIE Resolution.
Mr. SECOMBE had supported the propo-
sition, as harmless, bnt should change his
vote now, because of the duty devolved up
on him to support the wishes of the county
which in part he represented.
Mr.. MCCLURE should vote again for this
proposition, without special regard to any ex-
preston of the people of Goodhue county.
The yeas and nays were demanded, and or
dered on the adoption OF the resolution; and
after proceedings in a call of the Convention
the vote was taken, and resulted, yeas 26,
nays 81, as follows:
Ye0s-Messrs. Anderson, Billings, Bolles,
Butler, Cleghom, Colburn, Cogswell, Coe,
Davis, Dooley, Gerrish, Harding, Hanson,
Holly, King Mantor, McCann, McCune, Nc
Clure, Mills, Peckham, Robbins, Thompson,
Watson, Wilson, Mr.. President-26.
.Nays-Messrs. Aldrich, Baldwin, Bates,
Bartholomew ,Cederstom. Combs, Dickerson,
Eschlie, Foster, Folsom, Galbraith, Hall,
Hayden, Hudson, Keno, Lowe, Messer, Nor
gan, Murphy, North, Phelps, Perkins, Put
nam, Russell, Stannard, Sheldon, Secombe,
Smith, Veughn. Walker, Winels,-31
SO the resolution was rejected; and then
Mr.. ALDRICH moved to reconsider this
vote. He then moved to lay the motion to
reconsider on the table which latter motion
was agreed to, by yeas 80, nays %.
THE MILITIA.
On motion by Mr.. MORGAN, the report
(No. 20) from the Committee on the Militia.
was now taken up and considered-the ques-
ton being upon the amendment of Mr.. Fos-
ter to the substitute of Mr.. Stannard, which
had been adopted and was reconsidered, at
the time of the recess yesterday
Mr.. FOSTERS amendment was adopted.
Mr.. COLBURN proposed again to add
the third section of the original report-mak-
ing all militia officers Except staff) elective
by their respective commands.
Which was adopted.
The Article, as thus amended, was ordered
to be engrossed for third reading
TAXATION, FINANCE AND PUBLIC DEBT.
On motion by Mr. CLEGHORN, the re-
port mo 21. from the Committee on FL
nance, Taxation, and public debt, was taken
up.
Mr.. GALBRATTH, at the request of Mr.
Billings, moved to reconsider the vote bv
which the 9th Section of the report was
struck out (the State shall not be party TO
works of internal improvements except in
case of property specially granted for such
purposes. .
Mr.. STANNARD was favor of retaining
the section, and desired a considerate expires.
sion.
Mr. LOWE considered this discretion, in re-
gard to public works and borrowing monev.as
essential 70 all government, and that any con-
stitutional restriction would be avoided, and
would result badly, as it had done in the
Mr.. MORGAN and Mr.. KING considered,
that, by striking out this sixth section, the
State would be cut off from receiving any
grant of land for words of internal improve.
ment.
The vote was reconsdered, and then the
Convention repased to strike out the sixth
section.
Mr. CLEGHORN moved to reconsider the
vote on the adoption of Mr.. Fosters amend
ment of the first section, striking out the
word, "for Municipal Educational, Literary,
Scientific, Religious, Elemosynary, or charita-
BILE purposes"
The motion prevailed, and then the Con-
vention refused to strike out the words.
Mr.. MILLS proposed to amend by strik-
out from the first section the word "Elemosy-
nary -
After debate.
Mr.. SHELDON proposed to amend the
amendment, by striking out of the word "mx-
ed" in the 4th line and inscribing, s.but bury
ing grounds, public school houses, and houses
used exclusively for public worship, institu-
tions of a purely charitable character, public
property and for public purposes, and GER
tain portion of personal property, nay, by
general law, 6e exempt from taxation"
Which was rejected.
Mr.. Mills amendment was also rejected.
And then the article as amended, was or
dered to be engrossed for the third reading.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
On motion by Mr. DICKERSON, the
Convention resolved into Committee of the
Whole-Mr. Coe in the Chair-and took M
the consideration of the report (No. 221
from the Committee on Internal Improve
ment
Mr.. McKnno moved to amend the section
by striking out the word "forever," in the
first line, and all after the "object," in the
4th line.
Mr. FOSTER moved to amend the amend
ment, by striking out the entire section; be-
cause superseded by other matter in the
Constitution.
Which was agreed to.
The Committee then rose and reported;
and the amendment was concurred in.
PUBLIC PROPERTY.
On the motion of Mr.. THOMPSON, the
Convention again resolved into Committee of
the Whole-Mr. Foster in the chair-and
took up the consideration of the report
| (No. 23) from the Committee on Public
Property, embracing an article on that sub
ject.
Mr.. MCCLURE moved to insert estate"
instead of "people," in the last line of Sec. 2:
| Which was agreed to-
Mr.. COGSWELL moved to amend, bv
striking out of the second section all after
the word "State," in the third line and re-
hearsed a case ofhardship which might come
under the phrase "defect of heirs"
Mr.. MORGAN-the gentleman's amend
ment would not help the case. The words of
the section were mere rehearsal of the prin-
ciples of the common law.
Mr.. COGSWELL-The Legislature could
override the common law, but not Consti-
tutional provision.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. BILLINGS moved further to amend
the first section, by limiting common high
ways to "navigable" waters leading into the
Mississippi river;
Which was rejected.
Mr. ALDRICH proposed to amend Sec
by adding "for the use ofcommon schools
[escheated property j
Which was rejected.
Mr.. ALDRICH proposed to amend Sec. f.
by inserting, after the word University
these words: 'and all other donations fol-
University purposes -
Which was rejected.
Mr.. BILLINGS moved to strike out the