The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-11

-uiSSouii. IHiS accOnp lSneu. WITH Kansas
in the Union as Slave State once more tn,
Oligarchy would rejoice in Senatorial equi
librium, not again to be disturbed. Will
Kansas in the Union, aud the veto power
again in their hands. the Gadsden Purchase
Utah, Texas, Central America, Sonora, mus
be looked to, for new Slave States, to keel
peace with the Free States already in pro
cess of formation in the rest of the north
west territory.
Need We wonder at the repeal of the Miss
ouri Compromise-the monstrous acts Of the
Border Ruifians-the Slave acts of the bO-
gus LegiSlatcre-the gross violation of the
rights Of the settlers--the burnings, assass
nations, maSsacres, civil war-the Eruption
of Slavery propagandstS from Georgia and
South Carolina-and the hot excitement
which swept over the whole country? The
question Of Senatorial Equilibrium, between
the Oligarchy and the People, was al the bot
tom Of il. For season, the struggle seems
TO be suspended. Some suppose, without
reason. that it is closed, and Kansas is to be
free State. 1t is merely suspended, to be
again renewed, perhaps with more fearful
Accomplishments than ever. Indications CT
coming violence already reach US from the
Territory and the first call made upon the
the new Administration may be, to decide
between Gov. Geary and the spurious Legis-
lature, which seems determined to crush out
the spirit of Freedom in the Territory, even
at the cost of Law and Order.
But, while this contest is yet undecided,
the People have quietly gained what will
prove as important in its results on Senate
rial equilibrium as was the admission of
California. The plssnqe Of tic bW ta0b'in0
H.. PeoIeo Of .Iiaaesoto to form d State C0nai-
tuiioa. for admission into the Union, we re-
gard As The most important measure Of this
| Congress. We had looked forward to the
report of it with great anxiety, fearing that
amidst the hurry Of business and from other
causes, not Necessary to name, it would be
| thrown over till another Congress.
As the question whether aliens should be
! permitted to vote in a Territory in the cleo
! ton of delegates to form State Constitu-
ton, was needlessly connected with the
measure. and the action of some Of tie
mem bcrs may he used by the hacks Of par
ty. for sinister purposes, we shall give plain
statement of tie progress of the bill from the
day it was reported in the House, till the
day it was nasscd in the Senate of the Uni
ted States. Let ii be borne in mind that it
was the great measure of this Congress. so
far as the rights Of the Free States and the
CLAIMS Of the Uligarchy are concerned that
the loss Of ;hc bill would have complicated
| the issues between them at the next Con-
gress. given the Oligarchy the vantage
ground, and good prospect of restoring
what they call equilibrium in the Senate, by
dragging in Kansas as Slave State, first of
all ; and that its passage puts an eflectua
| quietus upon the absurd and dangerous poll
cy of bringing in slave and free States poyi
passn--a policy which would prove perpet-
u:l source of bitterness, heart-burnincs and
| discord.
| THE RECORD.
January 81, 1857, Mr. Grow, from the
| Committee on Territories, reported bill 'to
authorize the People of the Territory of
! Minnesota to form Constitution and State
4 Government, preparatory to their admission
I into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States" 1t provided as follows:
THAT the first Monday in June next, the legal vot-
ers in each Representative District then existing within
the limits Of the proposed State are authorized to elect
two Delegates for each Representative which said Dis
rict may may be entitled according to the apportion
ment for Representatives. to the Territorial Legislature,
which election for Delegates shall be held and conduct
and the returns made in all respects in conformity with
the laws of said Territory regulating the election Of Rep
resentaves and the Delegates so elected shall assem-
bic at the Capitol Of said Territory the second Mon
day in July next, and first determine. by vote whe
er il the wish of the people Of the proposed State be
admitted into the Union at that time and if shall
proceed to form Constitution, and take all necessary
steps for the establishment of State Governments in
conformity with the Federal Constitution subject to the
state ''Of'~N''
The qualification of electors being already
defined i'll the Territory, the bill wisely, we
think, avoided all questions concerning the
extent of the right of suffrage, by authorizing
"f'GM rofcfs in each representative district
to vote for delegates to the Convention.
KS bnt two days were allowed for Terrific
rial business, and vast amount of it was to
be attended to- Mr.. Grow moved the previ-
GUS question, announcing, however, that he
would withdraw it, for the purpose of explain
ing the provisions of the bill, but not for dis
cusSlon. Various questions were PROFOUND
/ ed some obviously with a view to provoke
! discussion; and It was evident that. had he
| withdrawn his demand for the previous ques-
! ton, the day would be consumed in debate
) me OF the Republican members. not Know
/ Nothnes, who attach vital Importance to the
/ Prnclple OF restricting the right of suffrage
to citizens Of the United States. were anX-
louS Tor the adoption of a corresponding
amendment, and were confident that it might
be moved and carried without cndangering
/ the bill and, when the majority Republican
members, convinced that to open the door
tor amendments was to hazard the bill, yOt-
ed to sustain the previous question, the form
or recorded their votes in the negative on
j the passage of the bill itself-the vote on
which stands as follows:
Barbour, Benson Bilnghurst, Bliss Bocock, Drenton,
Buhnton, Cadwaider Caruthers. Bayard Clark, Cling
man. Howell Cobb, Cofax, Cragn, Darlre, Davidson,
Jacob C. Davis, Day, Denver Dick, Dickson Dodd En-
rie, English Florence. Thomas, J. ID. Fuller, Granger.
Grow, Augustus Hall. Harlan. Herbert, Hickman. Holg-
es Holloway, Thomas L. Horton, Valentine b. Horton,
Howard, liughston, Jewet Kelley, Knapp, Knowlton,
Knox, Letter Mace, Samuel S. Marshall. Matteson. Nc
Carly. Killian Miller, Smith Miller Morgan Morrill,
Mott, Murray Nichols, Parker Peck Pecn, Perry Pet
tit Phelps Pike, Prnsle, Quman Sabin Sage Sanddge,
Sarr Scott, Sherman, Simmons, Samuel A. Smith. Spin
ner stanton Stranahan. Tappan Thorington, Thurs,on
lyon. Wade. Nakeman, Walbridge, Waldron Cadwali-
ere WaSlburnc. E.iu T. Washburne, Israel Washburne
worih--9I.
NAys-MeSsrs. Akers. Barksdale, IIendley s Bennett
Bingham, Bowie, Bradshaw, Burnett, James II. Camp
hell. Lewis d. Campbell. Garlic, Caske Ezra Clark
Williamson R. W. Cobb. Comns. Cox, Crawford Cullen
Timothy Davis, Dean, Dowde, Dunn Durfee, Elliott,
Ethridge Evans, Faulkner, Garrett Goode, Greenwood,
j. Morrison Harris, Harrison Haven, Houston. George
W. Jones' Kennett. King, Knight Kunkel, Lake, Letcher,
Lnmpkn, Alexander X. Marshall. McIullin Milson,
Pennington Powell Purviance, Puryear. Ready, Rcaud,
Robbins, Roberts, Rufn, Savage Seward, Shorter, VIM
Smith, VIM r. Smith, Stephens, Swope. Talbot Todd,
Trafton, Underwood, Walk, Walker Whitney, Woodruff,
Daniel b. Wright, and Zolicofer-75
So the bill was passed.
If we are not mistaken, only nine South
ern Democrats voted for the bll-no North
ern Democrat voted against it. The major
ity of those voting against it, it will be OBJ
served, are Southern Democrats and South
ern and Northern Know Nothings, with a
few Republicans not Native Americans, but
still holding that the question of citizen-suf-
frage is vital one The great body of the
Republicans, the Northern Democrats gene
rally, one or two Know Nothngs, and some
Republicans with Native American princ-
piles, voted for the bill, because they believed
the great issue involved in it overshadowed
all other issues.
Monday, February Cd, the bill was sent to
the Senate; and February 81, (Only ten
days of the session remaining,) it was taken
up for consideration.
Mr.. Biggs, Of North Carolina, disclaming
utilization with the Know Nothings, moved
Proviso-
"That only citizens of the United States
shall be entitled to vote at the election pro-
vided for by this act"
A long debate ensued, chiefly carried on
hy Southern, Sonators-all If xuhov,, xuhotbor