The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-05
AFTERNOON SESSION, AUGUST 20, 1857.

|
2 o'clock, p. M.
|
AFTERNOON SESSION, AUGUST 20, 1857.
The PRESIDENT resumed the chair at
the expiration of this recess, and members of
the Convention proceeded to sign the Con-
stitution under the order moved by Mr..
Hayden-each member signing the parch-
ment on the Reporters table, in the alpha
beticaI order in which the names are called
from the Secretary's roll
EXTRA COMPENSATION TO THE ASSISTANT
| SECRETARY.
Mr.. ROBBINS submitted resolution al
lowing $75 compensation to j. Q. A. Ward
for extra services as Assistant Secretary of
this Convention.
Mr.. COGSWELL moved to add, "and
each member of this Convention )" which was
rejected;
And the resolution was adopted.
PAY OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS REFUSED.
Mr. DAVIS announced, for information of
members and others interested, that Mr..
Mills and himself had just presented their
certificates of milaee and per deim, duly
signed and attested by the President and
Secretary, as the law requires, to the Treasu-
7. ,
and that he had refused to pay thin, saying
to them for answer, ave do not recognize
these certificates" And thereupon Mr.. d.
had told the Treasurer that he was acting In
violation of law, and he believed the people
of Minnesota would next fall place man in
that office that could pay these certificates.
Mr.. NORTH submitted the following:
Resolued, That this Convention respectful
ly request the Territorial Treasurer to pay
all certificates of the members ofeither Con-
vention, as well those signed by H. H
Sibley, as President; and J. j. Noah, as Sec
rotary, as those signed by st A. d. Balcombe,
as President, and L. A. Babcock, as Sec
rotary.
The rule being susper ded for the conside-
ration Of this resolution
Mr. N. said he hored this body would place
it on Their records to show that we continue
to maintain our honor and let the people OF
the Territory see the contrast between our
course and that of the seeding members, if
there is any
Mr. FOSTER hoped the resolution would
be adopted. The case was here, that the
majority had descended to treat with the mi
nority on equal terms, and had recognized
their acts, with the tacit understanding, that
there should be equality as to all the rights
of members; and in the face of this, the mi
norty had instructed their Treasurer to re-
fuse to pay the certificates of the majority,
and say " We will not recognize these certi-
ficates." We; who? not the Territorial
Treasurer, but the Democratic members in
this Capitol and the Democratic party
Here was the power behind the throne. He
accepted this issue before the people. in all
its relations, here and elsewhere, and with
his friend from Steele County, Mr. Davis
was willing to trust, and wait for q man to
be placed in the Treasurer's office that would
nay. -,
not prevail. The Convention had nothing
to do with this matter; and he thought there
had been boys play and fools play enough
about it. The Legislature had passed a law
providing for the payment of these expenses
and how they should be paid and this Con
vention could not change the matter in the
least. Gentlemen might think, that, by pass
ing this resolution, we shall be taking the
wind out of the sails of our adversaries, but
he thought we should be doing much bet, '
by passing the matter over in silence. The
seeding members in the other end, with the
Attorney General, a member with them, were
the advisers of the Treasurer. Leave then
to their responsibility.
Mr.. NORTH. There was not perhaps @
member in this Hall but regarded the Other
Convention as illegal; but preierring rider tc
anarchy, preierring that one Constitution
shuuld go to the people, and secure the pros
perity of every great interest of the State
they had condescended to treat with that
body on equal terms, with the EXPIRE IS and
fairly implied understanding. that all the
members of both bodies should have theil
pay here. Now, for one, he desired this Con
vention to carry out that understanding to
the letter. However others might choose to
act, he hoped this Convention would continue,
as heretofore they have done, to stand upon
The principles of equity and honor, and suffer
no shade OF meanness to mingle with their
transactiOns.
Mr. MCCLURE was in favor of the resolu-
ton from the simple fact. that we have ell
| tered into this arrangement with the lninori-
ty in good faith. We were about to adjourn
without day, and he desired to spread this
testimony upon the record to prevent the
SANDER, that we also had ordered the Treasu-
rer not to pay the members in the other end
of the Capitol. He alluded to what might
be the reason for Mr.. President II. H. Sibley
refusing to sign the Constitution with Mr..
President st. A. D. Balcombe. If the latter,
as the majority President, were to sign first,
there would be an excuse for Si'oley in the
contrast-the awful falling from Saint to a
SybH. Laughter.
Mr.. MANTORhoped the resolution would
not pass for 1the reason, that prominent
members, in the other end denounced the at.
tempted Reputation Of these certificates
and because further he intended to have his
pay on the certificate in his hand, with ten
fold usuary, before the people.
Mr.. COLBURN inquired in regard to the
facts in the understanding about pay.
Mr.. WILSON hoped the resolution would be
laidon the table, and the subject treated with
that contempt which best befitted the victims
of bad faith under circumstances like those by
which the members of this Convention were
now surrounded.
Mr.. GALBRAITH did not care whether
the resolution were pass or not There wa;
connected with this matter of pay pro-
found question of honor-an obligation
more sacred than if it were written and bad
faith in regard to it was q meanness beneath
any formal notice Of the representatives o.
the people. He proceeded to denounce the
thing at some length, and to allege, that every
letter of the compact had been fulfilled or
orr part If it were to be broken on a quib
BILE by the adverse party, let it be so. If dis.
honor fell anywhere, let us be clear oft.
Mr.. NORTH fully agreed with gentlemen
as to the character of the conduct of the mi
nority, but the object of the resolution was
not to cast reproach nor censure any act of ig
nomny, but simply to put this Convention
right upon the record, and to show that we
keep good faith, regardless Of what Others
may do. We were told, that this arrange.
ment about pay, was understood as a part Of
the agreement upon one Constitution. He
wanted to see that upon the record and
then if the other body choose to act mean
ly in the premises, let them have the credit
of it.
After debate and further opposition by Mr..
WILSON and Mr. COGGSWELL, the reso-
luton was adopted.
Mr.. FOSTER offered the following
WHEREAS, when this Constitutional Con-
vention, embracing majority of the duly
elected delegates, agreed 20 meet in confer
ence with the seeding minority Convention,
for the adoption of one Constitution, it was
part of the terms of compromise, fairly un-
derstood. that the Democratic accounting Of
ficers should not refuse, as had been threat
ened, to acknowledge and pay the members
and officers of this Convention and where