The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-17

Minnesota Legislature.
Reported expressly for the roueer and pemoer-t,
"WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 1857.
SENATE.
The Senate met at 10 An Prayer by
the Chaplain. Reading Of the Journal.
CONTESTED SEAT.
Mr.. STREETER moved that the petition
Of JARED BENSON contesting the scat in the
Senate of JoHN BANFIIL., he taken from
the table and referred to a Committee Of
five, to be appointed by the chair, with
power to send for persons and papers.
Adopted.
RULES FOR THE SENATE.
Mr.. COWAN from the select Committee
on rules, made report, embodying rules
for the government OF the Senate.
Mr.. HULL moved that the report be &C.
ceptod, the committee discharged, and 100
copies ordered to be printed, for the use Of
the Senate. Adopted.
COMMITTEES
The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs.
VAN ErTEN, M'krNE and RICHARDSON, as
committee to confer with the Secretary of
the Territory, in relation TO the furniture for
the Senate Chamber.
The Secretary was authorized by resolu-
ton to procure suitable desks for himself
and assistants.
Mr.. VAN ETTEN offered resolution
for a committee of two to be appointed by
the President of the Senate, TO confer with
a similar House Committee, and prepare
joint rules for the government of the two
Houses. Adopted and Messrs. VAN Er-
TEN and CHASE appointed.
The PRESIDENT announced Messrs.
BATES and HULL as committee TO wait
upon the Governor, under the resolution
adopted yesterday.
Mr.. BATES declined serving, and Mr..
ADAMS was substituted.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE sxECUrIvE.
Mr.. NORTON moved to rescind the res
olution adopted yesterday. in reference to
appointing II committee to wait upon the
Executive.
Mr.. BAILEY moved to adjourn until
Friday, at 10 A. NJ. Adopted.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House met at 10 o'clock, and was
called to order by the SPEAKER.
After the usual preliminary business,
THE COMMITTEE on CREDENTIALS
Through their chairman, Mr.. DOW, re-
ported the credentials Of GEO. S. LEONARD
a. correct, and emitting him to seat in this
House.
Mr.. BRAY offered a resolution directing
the SPEAKER to appoint teller from
each row OF seats, to count and report TO
the Clerk the number of votes upon divi
sion Of the House. Lost.
Mr.. DOW was called to the chair.
Mr.. EAMES offered joint resolution for
the appointment Of committee on Joint
rules. Adopted.
The SPEAKER resumed the chair.
COMMITTEE TO WAIT UPON THE GOVERNOR.
Mr.. OTIS offered the following rcsolu-
tons:
Rnoirsd. That the Speaker Of this House be
authorized to appoint q committee Of two to
act in con junct ton with committee to be ap-
pointed by the Senate, TO wait upon the acting
Governor. and inform him that the two houses
are now permanently organized, and ready to
hear any communication be may have to offer.
Mr.. BALCOMBE said he want d 10 en-
Ter his protest against the adoption Of this
resolution. 1t was possibly a iOregone con
olusion that this resolution should pass, and
what he had to say might have no effect ; bu,
20 far as il was possible, he wanted to throw
of the responsibility and put it upon those
h, hav lntnrvniuol 70 saGo - Ia
no constitutional lawyer, but plain farmer,
and could make no legal speeches. but he
would submit the propositions,
Fua-That as a Legislative body they
were not in condition to proceed TO bust
ness, because the Governor OF the Territory
vas no part Of the legislature aud that the
clause calling the Legislature together at this
,.rne was mere bllndr.
SeC0,pi-That the Senate was not legally
authorized, because there was no clause in
The Constitution providing for the election
Of President pro tenn. except at the close
Il the session, and cited Sect. 6 and :, Ar,
Of he Constitution.
Mr.. ID. then went into All argument TO
show that Section ) Of the schcIule, which
vas cited Us the authority for Gov. MEDARY,
TO assume the duties Of Acting Governor
could only apply after the admission OF the
State into the Union, in the event Of the
Governor elect refusing TO qualify He ad-
ialited that Gov. MEDARY would then be
the Acting Governor Of the State, but not
anti then. II ma;terei not. he said. whether
We mad the right 20 act IA State outside
Of the Union We had waived that right in
the constitution wien We provided ;ha, no
-.atc officer should h. sworn in pnti the
state was admitted.
ill- last point Sas, that the state bad no
existence yet which be proposed 10 show by
reference to sect 9, Art. ) 81 tb" COnstiia-
son and tia, tbs principle va. reiterated
- sect. /, Art. 10.
hr. bow con,en,i-i thu, the legislature
lad the night to met and pas. iav. under
the Constitution, and that IN acting 10 .tric,
accordsnce with the Consultation the al