The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-04

act In Kansas.
These difficulties having all been finally
removed, the chairman Of the committee re-
ported, On the 2Gth January, in favor Of the
admission Of Minnesota ~ State. The
bill for this purpose attests the churlish
spirit with which a majority Of the commit
tee welcomes Minnesota into the Union. 1t
gives Us one Representative only, until our
final returns show what our population en-
titles us 10; whereas, decent respect for
our Constitutional Convention, and the Con
stituton Of the State. might have induced
them to let all Our Representatives, take
their seats, until the completion Of the cen
sus should show whether We are entitled to
the constitutional number Or not. The i'm
plication Of the committee ought TO have
been in favor of the correctness Of the con
stitution on this point, instead Of being al
verse 10 it.
On the lst Of February, Judge DoCGLAs
moved TO take up the Minnesota bill in the
Senate. This gave rise to a spirited de-
bate, in which CRITrESDEN, Of Kentucky
DoUGLAs, HALE and Others, urged with
force and eloquence the claims OF MinDeso-
sofa TO immediate admission. GKEEs, Of
Missouri, insisted on delay, Mason, Of Virgil
min, declared, at LENGTH that ~ the Iecomp
ton Constitution was soon TO be before them,
tl.ey could not consent TO the admission o.
Minnesota as q separate measure. This was
evidently an open avowal Of the policy de-
tcrmincd upon by the advocates Of the L.
compton Constitution. The admissio of
Minnesotasis to be made,i appears, u depend
upon the admission Of Kansas. ] cannot
yet believe that Congress will commit such
wrong upon people who are guiltless of any
offence against the majesty Of the law or the
authority Of the government. Like every
great wrong, il will also prove to b. an act
Of folly for greatly mistake the spirit Of
the people Of Minnesota, il they do not, with
one heart and with one mind, resist such an
outrage on their constitutional rights. I
regret that the bill could not be pressed to a
vote, 80 that we might know with entire
certainty who, amongst the representatives
of the Sovereign States Of this Union
could do such injustice to the sovereign peo-
Pile Of Minnesota, because they happened at
the moment to have our people in their
power.
On the I'd of February, the Pas DESr :
Message. communicating the Lecompton
Constitution, was transmitted 10 Congress.
! This Message l. now before the coun
try. Unlike the Message in the Minnesota
case, ii urges the admission Of Kansas upon
Congress, in lengthy. laborod, and, will
add, able argument. find no fault with
this. cannot bring myself to condemn the
President, even where my convictions Of
right compel me to differ from him. en-.
tcrtaiu the liveliest feelings Of friendship for
him. and regret, from my inmost soul, that
he has permitted his own honest Judgment
to be biased by the suggestions of selfish
men, of inferior parts and questionable in
tegrity.
In the case OF Minnesota. there was no
litigated political question which called for
Executive accommodation; whereas, in Kan
Sls an unfortunate sectional struggle, invested
the question with national, but unnatural
prominence, which made il the duty Of the
President to express decided opinion on
the subject. Still, il has not failed to elicit
remark that the Minnesota Constitution,
which is the legitimate offspring of the
whole people OF Minnesota, has not received
the compliment OF a passing notice even
from the Executive organ. the Unioa, while
the Constitution of Kansas, which great
many honest people consider the fraudulent
offspring of tactious minority. should be
urged upon Congress, with all the weight
and authority OF the Administration.
A trial OF strength took place yesterday,
in the House, on the lccomptou Constitu-
ton. II was On question OF reference.
The Lecomp,on men were defeated. Tbs
reference to Select Committee was carried
by a majority Of three or four. But the
lecompton Constitution will pass the Sen
ate, and hardly think majority of four
will be able to hold ont long against the
iNtgi! Of tire Administration.
We have fallen on strange times. I can
no, venture prediction a TO the future
The people OF Minnesota will do well to for.
ufy their minds against any uniue excite.
mcnt. No man can tell where we are drill
Ing TO al this moment. You NAV depend