The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-15

right to be heard.
Mr.. BALCOMBE withdrew his objection,
but gave notice oEhis own intention to make
speech on the same subject, and invited
others to do the same. Let us have good
long time, said he.
Mr.. COLBURN would be gratiied, if in
so doing gentlemen might be induced to do
right.
Mr.. GALBRAITH would stay to the last,
if gentlemen persisted, but protested against
this bringing up the same question day after
day. ts..
After further debate by Mr.. COLBURN
and others, ........
Mr.. LOWE demanded the previous ques-
ton, and under its operation, Mr.. Billings
amendment was rejected-yeas Ia, nays 30.
The question recurring on Mr.. Fosters
amenement, it was adopted, by yeas q,
nays IA.
Mr.. SECOMBE now offered substitute
for Sec. l, as amended, not with any purpose
which he read as follows:
"Sec. l. Any white male inhabitant, of the
age of 81 years and upwards, excepting per-
sons under guardianship, and persons of I'M
sound mind, who shall have resided in the
State six months, and in the town, ward or
precinct in which he may claim the right to
vote, for ten days next preceding any elect
ion, shall be entitled to vote at su CHI election
if he belong to either of the following classes
to wit:
81. Citizens of the United States
"Persons who have resided in the State
two years next preceding the election at
which they claim the right to vote.
'3. Persons who shall be residents of the
State at the time of the adoption of this Con-
stitution:
Procided always, that no person who is an
alien by birth, and not citizen of the Unit
ed States, Civilized persons of Indian decent,
and not members of any tribe, excepted,)
shall be qualified elector, until he shall
have declared his intention to become citi-
zen of the United States, in conformity with
the laws on the subject of naturalization"
Mr. FOSTER would insert the words in
parentheses, in the last clause-which were
accepted.
Mr.. COGGSWELL, alleged his opinion,
that the restrictions nregard to Indian suff-
rage, were insufficient.
The substitute was adopted.
On motion by Mr.. HAYDEN, it was Or
dered that Mr.. Billings have leave to hand
in his views on this subject in writing to the
Reporter to have their place in his report of
the proceedings and debates of this COnven-
ton.
Mr.. McKUNE made an Intellectual motion
to adjourn till Monday.
Mr.. ALDRICH proposed to add to the
first section, as amended, the following:
"Prorided, that no person shall at any
no oil fO TO
ton to impose tax, or for the expenditure of
money, in any town or city, unless he shall
have paid tax assessed upon his property
in said town or city valued at $3.50.
Mr.. WILSON-would not that exclude
poor man from voting for school tax. A
mans purse, usually, did not indicate his feel
ing in favor of schools, but the contrary.
Mr.. FOSTER opposed the amendment,
because it looked too much like property
qualification ; and that was bad. In the
next place, it was wrong in principle. lie
undertook to say, that the wealth Of individ-
uals make up the wealth of the State. 1t
was commonly said, that property bore the
burdens-paid the taxes of the State; but
really, the wealth of the State-the labor as
the property of the State, paid the taxes !;
for liz all cases the consumer had to pay.
Resides, he was opposed to the amendment
on account of the popular impression it
would give against the Constitution.
| Mr.. ALDRICH withdrew his amendment.
Mr. CLEGHORN proposed to add the fol-
lowing to Sec. l:
provided, that the Legislature may, at
any time, extend by law, the right of suffrage
to persons not herein enumerated but no
such law shall be enforced until it shall have
been submitted to the people at some general
election, and approved by majority of all
the votes cast at such election"
Mr.. FOSTER proposed a modification
"all the votes cast on that subject )" which
was accepted.
The provision was adopted.
Mr.. LOWE proposed to add to the first
section, the following:
"Provieed, That the right of persons of In
dian descent, who have assumed the habits
of civilized liie to exercze the right of stuff
rage, shall be exercised under such regula-
tons as the Legislature may, from time to
! time ordain."
This provision, he said, was suggested to
his mind by the remarks of the gentleman
from Steele county. (Mr. CogswelD The
danger of the right of suffrage in the hands
|
should be placed under peculiar regulations
The whole object of the amendment was to
place the control of the matter, without dis
pute, in the hands of the Legislature.
The provision was adopted.
Mr.. CLEGHORN moved to strike out
Sec. 9. Since these provisions had been
made in regard to Indian suffrage, it was
useless matter
The section was stricken out.
The article, as amended, was then ordered
to be engrossed for the third reading.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT.
MIR. CLEGHORN submitted resolution
for adjournment, without day, on the 18th
inst; which lies over.
The Convention then took recess till half
past 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
THE JUDICIARY.
On motion by Mr.. COLBURN, the Con-
ventiOn resolved into Committee of the Whole
Mr.. Colbum in the Chair-and took up
the consideration of the report (No. 49,
from the Committee on the Judiciary, embra-
cling an article on the Judiciary.
On motion by Mr.. WILSON, the first Sec
ton was stricken out-the matter and man.
ner ofimpeachment being elsewhere provided
| for.
Mr.. SECOMBE proposed to amend the
second section, by striking out "Justices of
the. Peace: Municipal Courts of limited Grim
inal and Civil jurisdiction, may also be es-
tablished by the Legislature in Cities-Pro-
vided that Municipal Courts shall not have
jurisdiction in their respective municipalities
to exceed the jurisdiction of Circuit Courts,
in their respective Circuits" and inserting
these words: "such other Courts of limited
jurisdiction as the Legislature may from time
to time establish; provided, that the iurisdc-
ton of no additional Court shall exceed the
jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts in their
respective Circuits.
= Which was rejected.
Mr.. HARDING proposed, in the Sd Sec
ton, to fix the term of the Supreme
Judges six, instead of nine years.
Which was rejected
| Mr.. SECOMBE proposed the following
substitute for Sec. s.:
"The Judges of the Supreme Court shall
be elected by the qualified voters of the
State, on general ticket )"
Which was rejected.
Mr.. GALBRAITH moved to fill the blank
in Sec. Ii, for the number of judicial circui is
with 'six;'
Which was adopted.
Mr.. CLEGHORN proposed to fill the
blank in Sec. Is. for the term of Clerk of the
Circuit Court with sstwO,' [years.1