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

On motion of Mr.. MURPHY, the vote
by which the Convention had Just refused to
suspend the fifteen minutes rule, was recon-
sidered; and the dispensation was then Or
dered
Mr.. COGSWELI, took the floor, alleging
his personal impression, that he should vote
az ainst this report. He objected, that the
report did not secure the rights of the ma
jority. Unlike the Chairman Mr., Galbralthl
he preferred to look back-to regard the trail
behind him. We came here claiming ma
jority of this body, and that the majority had
the right to rule and we had heralded this
to the world. After taking that position,
| and resolving to submit our Constitution, IT.
respective of the work of the seeding Dem
| ocratic members, it was now proposed, even
| by those who had been active in taking that
position, to back down from ito waive all
our vantage of majority which the people
had accorded at the polls. He alleged that
uron this compromise, the Democrats would
have the entire representation in the Con-
gress of the United States. He considered
the objections to the submission Of the Re-
publican Constitution. The idea OF beng
kept out of the Union by two Constitutions
was an afterthought of gentlemen as much
as that was of Stephen A. Douglas. when ne
undertook to champion the Kansas Nebraska
Bill. By the report, we have to give up the
submission of the question of equal suffrage
and receive in exchange for it nothing but al
most unqualified Indian suffrage - winch
would open the widest avenue for fraud at
the polls on all the Indian reservations. tie
would rather 90 home without any result,
than to adopt the Constitution here reported
1t could not have been made more objection
able to the Republicans of the Territory, if
it had been got up exclusively by Democrat
ic hands.
Mr.. MCCLURE concurred with great
part of the remarks of Mr.. Cogswell. The
resolution authorizing the Joint Commit
tee, was adopted. and he was placed upon
that Committee, in his absence and by
the advice of his friends, rather against his
own Judgment, he had. consented to serve.
He saw In the Committee at once the de-
termination of the Chairman of the Joint
Committee, that there should be no agree
ment upon one Constitution. After it was
thought, on all sides, that they could not
agree on one Constitution and after there
The justice of this proposition was acknowl-
edged on the other side, 1t was adopted
BY this, the friends ofequal suffrage sacrificed
the privilege of giving their minority vote
against negro suffrage. But they gained the
right by a majority vote of the Legislature
if they should ever gain majority thereto
sub nit the general question of extending the
right of suffrage-to women, if they choose.
He was more democratic than the Democrats
themselves I; and by adopting this, the Com
mittee had gone even beyond his own posi-
ton heretofore, to favor the friends of African
suffrage, if they choose to take the benefit of
it. He should now vote for this joint report
as the best think we could get He did not
ask Others to vote for it. He had not much
liking for unanimity in voting. He submitted
always to the majority-and would mot fly the
country. he thought, if even Fred. Douglass
or Ink -pa-du-tah were President. He re-
viewed the proposed suffrage article, in detail,
and concluded that the principle was well and
wisely prescribed, although he might have
preferred a little modification of it with refer
ence to the half-brceds. He was friend of
dignity-indulged as far as he could that way,
here in st. Paul, as member of one Of these
two dgniied, unyieidng Constitutional Con-
ventions. But somehow, this joint commit
tee had met on terms of perfect equality, and
had been able to submit a report that COM
promitted nothing, but the dignity of the two
presiding oiiicers-in part-they preferringto
sign separate papers, and file both together
along with the Constitution Of the State of
Minnesota.
Mr.. COLBURN moved to fix three o'clock
for the vote on the pending question.
Mr. GALBRAITH, endorsing the remarks
of the memher from Goodhue, Mr.. McClure]
invoked further remarks, and brevity and
diligence therein. The Committee had re-
ported, and now in his turn, he asked
the Convention to hurry along, and let US get
home as soon as possible.
Mr. BALCOMBE. Lest there might be
rome misrepresentation with reference to the
remarks of the gentlemen for GOodhue about
signing two papers, he wished to state, that
he had never refused to sign any Constitution
in company with his friend, Mr.. Siblcy, and
he did not now. He had stood ready at all
times to sign with him the same instrument,
and it was his desire SO to do, in preference
to signing two separate pieces of paper, to be
filed with the Constitution in the office of the
Secretary of the Territory.
The Convention took recess til! IL o.
clock Z. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention resumed the consideration
of the Conference COmmitte-, Report the
question being on ordering the third reading
of the Report
Mr. NORTH and Mr.. MESSER gave in
their adhesion to the report. in few words.
Mr. MANTOR submitted some considera
ton which would determine him to vote in
favor of the report.
Mr.. BILLINGS spoke at some length
against the report, because it was inconsistent
with his views of Republicanism. He made
no factious opposition. He would support
the Constitution when adopted here; Re
would support it before the people, and sup
port the officers elected under it.
Mr.. McKUNE took ground of unqualified
opposition, here and all the time.
Mr.. DAVIS were obliged to oppose the
report here, but would yield his own views so
far as to support it before the people and by
his vote at the polls.
The Constitution of the Conference Com
mittee was then ordered to the third reading,
without amendment, by yeas AZ, nays s.
Mr. MANTOR moved, that the said repor-
ted Constitution be read the third time now,
under suspension of the rule.
The yeas and nays were demanded and Or
dered apon this question: and beil.g taken the
result was-yeas AZ, nays s, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs Aldrich, Anderson, Bald
win, Bartholomew, Bolles, Butler, Clayton,
Colburn, Coe, Cedarstam, Coombs, Doolcy,
Dickerson. Eschle, Foster, Galbraith, Hay
den. Harding, King, Kemp, Lisle, Mantor,
McCann, Mcclure, Messer, Murphy, North
Phelps, Perkins, Peckham, Russell, Stannard,
Secombe, Smith, Thompson, Vaughan, Walk
er, Watson, Wilson and the President-42.
Nays-Messrs Billings, Coggsweli, Davis,
Gerrish, Hawson, Holly, McKune, and Rob-
bins-S:
So, the reported Constitution was passed
the third and last reading in this Convention.
Then, on the motion of Mr.. GALBRAITH
this substituted Constitution was adopted in
lieu Of the several articles of the Constitution
| heretofore matured and adopted by this Con-
tion-by similar vote of yeas 40. nays Z.
Mr.. FOSTER submitted the following
which was adopted under a dispensatioa Of
the rule:
Resolred. That the report of the Commit
mlttee oil Conference, as read the third time
and passed by this Conventian, is hereby re-
ferred to the same Committee, to be by them
carefully compared with the Report as adop.
ted by the other body; and that the said
Committee be instructed to number the ar
ticles of the Constitution in their proper or.
der, and cause the whole Constitution to be
correctly enrolled for its due verifcation and
Authorization by this Convention.
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