The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-25


cam, Nc Kune, E. Page Davis and Coe:
arrangement ana /hrdseofOOy Of the Constitution
-Messrs McCinre Anderson, Foster Bates and North
Scnea@eIMessrs Foster, Coggswell, Hudson, Rob
P'inttng-Messrs. Foster, Dooly and Russell.
.SaHpAes and Erpendaures-Messrs. Aldrich, Gar
rish, North, Butler and Lyle.
Elections and Credentials -Messrs Galbraith CIep
horn, Coombs, Messer ard Walker.
A"ffaa-Messrs. Mantor bartholomew and Colburn
TITLE OF THE PUBLIC LAND.
Mr.. PERKINS resolution authorizing al
lrrevorable clanse upon this subject, intro
duced on Saturday, coming up for considera
tiCn.
On motion by Mr.. COLBURN, it was re-
ferred to the Committee on Miscellaneous
Provisions.
CENSUS OF THE TERRITORY.
Mr.. COGGSWELL'S resolution of Satur-
day, authorizing a Committee to wait upon
the U. s. Marshal, for information with refer.
elice to the time of completing the census OF
the TERRITORY under the Enabling Act, COM
ing mp as unfinished business.
Mr.. FOSTER opposed. 1t was not cx.
actly the thing for Convention elected by
the people to be soliciting an infe ior officer
OF the General Government in regard to any,
thing he may have in hand under the direction
OF the Secretary of the Interior. The dignity
of the people would not be properly repre-
S nted by such thing at this time. There
might be propriety in seeking hereafter the
information contemplated in the res luton
Mr.. MCCLURE proposed to amend the
resolution by striking out all after the word
ascertain" and inserting cat what time, in
his judgment, he will be able to complete the
taking of the census of the Territory of Min
nesota"
Mr.. FOSTER. The amendment gave it
better shape; but still he thought it better
rot to make the application. The Marshal
would probably answer evasivclv. 1t was
an uncertain matter even to that officer
In fact. Mr. +. was informed that the Mar
shal had already told some delegate here,
that he could not proceed to take the census
till he should Get instructions from the De.
partment at Washington.
Mr.. WILSON Was of the same opinion
He lmpnted nothing wrong to the Marshal
That officer. probably Was not yet fully inr
structed in the matter, and if he we're, he
might think with his political friends, that it
would not be proper to give this BODY anv in
formation of the subject under existing Cir
cumstances.
Mr.. SECOMBE was in favor of the amend. .
ment, for the reason, that 1t would soon be-
come the duty of the Convention to appoltion
the State OF Minnesota Tor representative and
judicial purposes. Information of the census
contemplated by the enabling act was neces-
sary as basis for the acton Of the body :;
and it seemed to him nothing out of the way
for the Convention to get this il formation
at the earliest moment
Mr.. MCCLURE could not conceive how
the Convention would compromise dignity
by a,king an inferior officer of the govern
ment to give his judsmcnt Of this matter
The amendment proceeded upon the suppn-
stion, that the Marshal rs doing the work
required of him, and merely asked him to say,
at what time he would complete it, Tie
Convention certainly had no right to sup
pose, that the Marshal understood that this
was none OF our business. The government
officers were all gentle uen and the C0nyen-
non would undoubtedly receive Kind an
>wcr. If there was any information in his
Office, the Marshal would give it. It had
been we'll intlmated. that it would be abso-
luicly necessary We should have this informa-
,i'n soon, and there was no better way than
to get now the judgment of this officer
Mr.. STANNAED. 1t was too soon to
srpl"'se TOE Marshal had received his instruc.
t ns in this matter, nasn,uch as the instruc-
IONS have to await the decision Of the con-
"ention upon the question of the formation of
State government.
W. COGSW ELL deprecated the idea, that
he United States Marshal was not a gentle
o,,l fi.,t E, I ..,1x i
furnishing the Convention with any public in
formation in his power. As to the objection,
that we have no right to ask the Marshal if
he is going to do his duty, he affirmed that
the C,nvention had a perfect right to ask
him if he was going to peri rm what the law
required Of him, and this became even the
more necessary on account OF the divided
condition Of tie body. Nothing comld be
more proper, or more imperatively demanded
''y our duty to ourselves and our constitn-
IS. There was neither compromise of
iignity nor an imputation If wrong in this.
AS 10 the objection, that the Marshal had 10
Information, he thought it might appear that
Instructions for taking the census had al
:eady seen issued to that officer, upon the
RESUMPTION that the people through this
Convention would decide upon State gov
.'nment and such a course would be by no
means improper in the Secretary Of the In
.erior. As to the objection, that the Mar
>i.al would not be inclined to furnish the in
Ormation. he did nnt believe that he wOulu
urnish at once all the information in his
power. This, i. seemed to him, was the course
Jf duty for the Convention. and there was
no other source to apply to for this niorma
ion.
Mr.. WILSON. AS to the imylication.
hat the Marshal would not do his duty, he
ad the onor to be acquainted with that Of
ficer, and he did not believe, as he said be-
fore, that he would not refuse t., Go his duty,
but he would now say, that resolution to
ask man whether he was going to do his
,luty, was itself an implication against such a
man. He should never be a party to such
proceeding. fit was the Marshal's duty
to take the census Immediately. having his
Instructions, he would, of course, go on and
do it. When such body as this would ask
.or information, it should he, because the
answer would either enlighten the body, or
Modify its action. He did not believe the
Conventions action could be modified in anv
way by the answer of this officer, anil if in.
iividualenhghtenment were wanted the appli-
cation might be made by individuals. Were
he the Marshal, questioned as to his duty, he
would give information, and petite answer,
out he would not say much for probabilities
Of what he did know,
The amendment was adopted, but the res
''luton, as amended, was rejected-afiirma-
tive Is, negative 27.
AMENDMENT OF THE HOUR RULE.
Mr.. GALBRAITH obtained unanimous
consent t. Offer resolution, to the effect.
chat no member of this Convention be rer-
mi'te.l to speak more than Is minutes nor
more than twice upon any single subject, M
less by unanimous consent Of the Convention.
Mr.. WILSON said that it would be bet
ter to modify the 9TH rule, Of the Convention.
called to The hour rule, so as to confne
speech to ID minutes
GALBRAITH acquiesced
MIR. AiDRtCH proposed 50 to amend the
rule so as t" limit speech to ten minutes.
Mr.. FOSTER was not much in favor Of
on, speeches. AT the same time, there
might come up questions in this BODY, in which
he production of documents. and the DISCUS
sion of principles might require much more
tine than 10 cr l5 minutes. Still, he was in
favor of amending the rule, but he thought
the fall from an hour to Is minutes Was
pretty good descent.
Mr.. KEMP. In regard to time in the
rule he thought it best to strike that out en-
flrely. There was restriction against speak
ng more than once and he thought that sat.