The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-02-07
The State Question.

We give place with pleasure to the follow
ing communication in defence of the "census
BILL" which proposes to give one man-the
Governor of Minnesota, whoever he may be
the full job of "bossing'' the proposed con-
stitutional convention, and having the con-
stitution made according to his especial Or
der. Some of the expectant sub-contractors
may think they are making great Roadway
by misrepresenting the motives of the oppo-
nents of this bill, and slandering the people
of St. Paul, and the press of st. Paul, in the
manner which here follows; but we have
hopes that enough honest men are yet left
in the Legislature to thwart their nc ly
laid plans. The planners can have from us
the benefit of all the rope they need.
To the Editor of the Mnnesotian
In your daily of February Sd, you in a
short article relating to the " State question:"
alluded to the bill now before the Legislature
as anti-republican, and censure by implica-
ton the republican member who introduced
the bill, as also those other members of the
the party who support it.
From your unkind and, as l think, unjust
allusion to the Hon. Gentleman who intro
duced that bill, it might and probably would
be inferred that there is something unusual
and oppressive in its features and provisions
The main and only object aimed at is to
provide for Constitutional Convention in
which the people of the entire Territory may
be justly and equally represented. To effect
this just and republican end, it proposes that
census of the inhabitants of the Territory
be taken at an early day by the local author
tiles, and return of such census is required
to be made to the Governor of the Territory
son or before the first of May next''
This bill also provides that upon such re-
turns being made as required in the act, the
Governor shall make an apportionment
among the several counties of delegates to
form State Constitution as follows: Each
County to have one delegate for every
1900 inhabitants therein, and orr additional
delegate in any county where there shall be
a fraction therein over and above the said
1900, or any multiple of that number, $3.50.
That the counties having less than 1900 or
more than 500, shall be entitled to one
delegate.
And for the purpose of making the repre-
sentation in the Convention as direct from
the people as possible, it is provided that no
two counties, either of which are entitled to
one delegate, shall be united in the same
election district for the of election of del
egates.
We would not suppose that any person
would question for one moment the propriety
of the apportionment above made.
1t may possibly said that the representa-
ton is unequal, inasmuch as the bill gives to
those counties which contain more than 500
Inhabitants, and less than 1900, one delegate
But the answer to this objection is, that in
new and rapidly settling Territory it is almost
impossible to make ajust apportionment with
out making a provision similar in its char
acter with the one above referred to. In the
Territory of Wisconsin, the embarrassment
existed, but there the act authorizing the
election of delegates toform State Constitu-
ton, allowed each county in the Territory to
send one delegate without reference to the
number of inhabitants, and nobody there
thought the representation in that Conven-
ton was unjust, nor the act under which their
Convention was held was oppressive or anti
republican. And here 1 would remark that
this bill now pending in the Legislature of
this Territory, is quite similar to the act of
the Territory of Wisconsin above alluded to.
The bill also provides that the election for
delegates shall be held in June, and that the
Convention shall meet in July, and in the
last section it is provided that the Consti-
tation which the Convention may adopt shall
'e submitted to the people for their ratification.
Is there anything wrong in all this -?
But it is urged as an objection to this bill,
hat the southern and western portions of
he Territory have settled so rapidly for the
asst two years, that the influence of Saint