Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-05
Primary Steps for Admitting
Minnesota and Oregon =. Bill
for the Relief Of Kansas.

Primary Steps for Admitting
| Minnesota and Oregon =. Bill
for the Relief Of Kansas.
- WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. 3
HcusE.-Mr Grow from the COMMITTEES
on Territories, reported bill fixing the
boundary Of Minnesota, and authorizing
the people thereof to form for themselves
n Constitution and State Government
The bill provides for the admission of Min
nesota into the Union on footing with the
original States according to the Federal
Constitution, and for an election to be held
on the first Monday in June, for delegates
to Convention to form State Constitu-
ton, and in event of the people deciding
in favor of a State government, the Mar
shal proceed to take the census of Minneso-
ia with view to ascertain the number of
Representatives she is entitled TO under the
present census.
The same provisions are in this bill as
in former ones of similar character, rela-
tive to public lands for education, &c. to
be assenied to as obligatory on both Min
nesota and the United States.
Mr.. Grow said the proposed State en-
braces 10000 square miles, leaving west
of the boundary line 10000 square miles,
to be hereafter erected into government,
by the Indian name of Dahcotah.
Mr.. Phelp did not desire to impede the
progress of the bill, but wished to know
how much of the proposed Territory lies
on the west of the Mississippi river.
Mr.. Grow replied about lhree-fourths.
Mr.. Phelps said that Mr. Grow had fire.
quently advocated the sanctity of compacts,
and he Phelps wished to know whether
Mr.. Grow believed in the ordinances of
1887.
Mr.. Grow replied, certainly.
Mr.. Phelps resumed, saying that by the
5th article of that ordinance, provision was
made for five States out af the Northwest
Territory, which have long since been or
ganized, now another was proposed.
Mr.. Grow thought this came with bad
grace from Mr.. Phelps, considering the
Platte county was taken and inclosed with
in the limits of Missouri.
Mr.. Phelps explained, he did not regard
the ordinance of 1881 and compromise Of
1920, as sacred compacts.
Mr.. Boyce asked whether Minnesota had
sufficient population for State.
Mr.. Grow said it would be about the
size of Missouri, and that her population
is between 175,000 and 100000 persons.
A motion to table the bill was then vo-
ted down by large majority.
The bill was then passed by vote Of
SO against IA.
Mr.. Grow, from the Committee on Terri
tories, reported bill for the relief of the
people of Kansas, declaring all purported
laws passed by the Legislature assembled
at Shawnee Mission, null and void, for the
reason that the members thereof were
elected through violation of the organic act,
and usurped powers, and enacted cruel and
oppressive statutes.
The bill provides for holding new cleo
tion, and any person offering his vote must
prove by his own oath that be is bona
fide settler, and by the oaths of two legal
voters that he has been for more than one
month preceding the election, an actual
resident of the Territory, and fifteen days
resident of his district. Fines of $40 to
$25, and Imprisonment from one twelve
months, to be imposed upon illegal voters,
for disturbance or control of the polls by
armed or organized bands, and for wilful
reception of illegal votes by those appointed
to receive them. e
Mr.. Clingman moved to lay the bill on
the table, but the House refused to do so
by vote of SO against 90.
Mr.. Kemble said he could not consent
to sweep away the whole code of Kansas
laws, and appealed TO Mr.. Grow to with
draw his demand for the previous question,
so that he (Kemble) might offer substi-
tute repeating all obnoxious laws.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, wished to make
an amendment allowing none but citizens
of the United States to vote.
Mr.. Fletcher wanted the bill to 60 where
it could be seen and discussed.
The bill was recommitted, and the House
took up the bill authorizing the inhabit-
ants of Oregon to form Constitution and
State Government, preliminary to admis-
sion into the Union. The provisions of
the bill, with the exception of the bounda-
ries, are the same as those of the Minneso-
ia bill. 1t gives one Representative to
Congress. ~
Mr.. Grow said the bill gives Oregon So
900 square miles; and the population now
was about 10000. - .a -
Mr. Whitney wished to confine the vot-
ing to citizens of he United States. He
would do what he could to prevent aliens
from making constitutions for American
citizens. s'
Mr.. Lane replied that the laws of Ore
gon did not allow aliens to vote, nor did
they claim that privilege. =.
Mr.. Humphrey Marshall offered an
amendment, which was agreed to by vote
of II against 40, eonferring the sufrages
at the election of delegates to frame con-
stitution, to citizens of the United States.
The bill subsequently passed, and the
House adjourned.
SENATE.-A debate followed respecting
the policy towards the Indian tribes on the
Pacific coast. Amendments were then
agreed to appropriating 100000 for the
restoration and maintenance of peace, De,
in Oregon and Washington territories.
Without further action on the bill, the
Senate took up and adopted Mr.. Houston's
resolution, call in the President to furnish
the number and causes of desertion from
the navy yard since the passage of the act
providing for the efficiency of the navy.
Adjourned.