The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-12

sue whether the present Ierrltoriai oincors
ora or are not the executive officers of the
State and whether laws passed by the
State LEGISLATURE. with the concurrence OF
Gov. MEpARY, are worth or not the paper
they are written upon.
The Pioneer has maintained the affirma-
tive of these positions and has asserted that
Gov. MEDARY comedies in It's views.
So important matter ought certainly
not to be passed over in silence J; nor will the
people tamely see the whole question assumed
on one side, and carried along into execution
by sheer stupid force on the principle that
"might makes right" when SO great interests
are involved in getting fairly at what are
correct constitutional views on the subject.
1t is with satisfaction we find the country
press Of Minnesota disposed to examine the
subject in all its momentous bearings.
The last Saltwater Messenger comes to us
with an able article, exposing the untenability
of the proposed uswpation; and, to keep
alive the discussion, we copy it entire below.
In reference to this question, our cotempo-
rary of the Times few days ago INDUCED in
some remarks which are worthy of serious re-
Election by our opponents. They were
these
"As the Democrats have the matter in their
hands, they will doubt do they please legal il
legal, but in any trust they will not allow party
prejudice to bias them against the interests of the State.
We want the cooperation of all parties to adjust the new
nery, that it will work to the advantage of the
0af for thafr ht,ff fla
for whom the Legislature meets and deiberaes. 1t is
the most important session of the Legislature that ever
liable evil right tack will place foremost in the
ranks of the States of the West. Gentlemen Demo-
Gratis! you who have the power: look to it.
THAT sit AUparties should be anxious
to start our State laws and policy on the
right track.
For the sake of short-lved miserable par
tizan advantage, to blunder at the start with
boguS lars, J0gus Senator's, bogus STATE b0nde,
would work incalc liable evil, produce almost
inextricable confusion, involve us in shameful
disgrace before the world.
An eminent lawyer OF this city, but little
in the path of politics, declares that should
a client of his be injuriously affected by any
law passed by the State Legislature and Gov.
MEpARY's signature, he thinks he would be
able successfully to contest its validity before
the Supreme Judicial Tribunals of the land
and no lawyer of position will hesitate to con-
cur in his views.
Will the Democratic party, merely for the
sake of gaining month or two of time, with
the game certainly in their own hands wheth-
er played sooner or later,-risk the anarchy
into which persistence in carrying out the
ultra views of those behind the Pioneer, must
inevitably plunge us all !?
We hope second sober thought" will
bring them to reconsider their purpose of
usurpation. But hear the Saltwater Messen
ger:
THE BLUNDER OF THE CONsTITUT1oN--THE
MEETING OF TIE LEGIsLATURE-"A FIX'
Every person who carefully investigated
the new constitution of Minnesota either be-
fore or since its adoption, must have arrived
at this conclusion that it is made up of
mass of inconsistencies and cruditics, which
would have been disreputable to the good
name of and body of intelligent men, under
any other circumstances than those which
surrounded the double convention which
produced it. We saw these things before its
adoption, as did many others, and frequently
consulted with our friends witt: reference to
them but all seemed to concede that it was
best not to make war upon the ilegitimate
little innocent, it having already suffered
much from the circumstances attending its
birth and our people all feeling so much
anxiety to throw off their vassaiage to the
General Government it was though best to
throw no obstacles in the way of its adoption,
but to put it through blind.
The State Legislature provided for under
this Constitution, meets to morrow and
this circumstance has called out discussion
as to their powers and duties as legislators
Section 5, of the Schedule, says:
''Sec. 5. All Territorial officers, civil and
military, now holding their offices under the
authority of the United States or of the Ter
ritory of Minnesota, shall continue to hold
and exercise their respectioe Offices until they
shall be superseded by the authority of the
State"
Upon the strength of this section, the Pic.
neer takes the position that-'"Ths provision
continues in office, the present Federal and
act in conjunction with the State Legislature,
until the Territory is formally admitted into
the Union by act Of Congress.
SIN voting to accept that provision, the
people of Minnesota virtually voted to make
Gov. Medary Executive until his successor,
elected on the second Tuesday of October,
should be induced into Office.
This we believe, is the view taken by Gov.
Medary; and he will communicate officially
with the State Legislature, upon its assem-.
bage"
That Gov. Medary, and all the other Ter
ritorial officers, will continue in Office until
they are superseded by State officers, we pre-
Gov. Medary can act conformity with the
present Legislature in the enactment of laws,
we think most singular position to be as
sumed Our opinion is, and ever has been,
that it was 4 greater blunder in conYening
this Legislature at so early day befrre Con-
gress could take action upon the Constitu-
tion-that this Legislature can do nothing
more than to meet and adjourn from day to
day, until the State of Minnesota is formal.
ly admitted, by the only competent power to
make it a State-that Governor Medary has
no more business to communicate with that
body, by virtue of his position, than we. or
any other citizen-and that no action of that
Legislature previous to such formal admis-
sion, will amount to row of pins. Governor
Medary is merely the Executive of the Ter
ritory, under its Territorial system--a crea-
ture of the General Government-wbile the
people of the Territory can assume no pow
ers pertaining to State Government. farther
than the powers given in the enabling Act,
until we have been formally accepted and
made State by the action of Congress-
We have taken the initial steps to such or