The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-05-13

sentatives are required 10 be chosen This
shows that il was the intention of the instru.
ment that representatives should he chosen
annually. and indicates clerical omission Of
the article to that effect, and, in fact, there
was such an omission in copying the Con.
stitution, of the following article
Members of tho House of Represents a,iyes
shall be elected to serve for one year, and
members OF the senate shall be elected to serve
for woyears." See ofhcial proceedings OF the
Convention.
The intention being thus clearly ascertain
ed, any lawyer will tell you that the courts
woud decide that the representative, cannot
hold for more than one year, and that an
election must take place annually. lsut
aside FROM ss.ss-ssS...a. saes Sy tic ARTICLES
above quoted II new election must take place
for Senators and Representatives every five
years--that Us, after each census by the State
and by the United States. In either case
the Legislature is not perpetual, and there
is nothing arti-republican in the term Of Of
fee existing even for the longest time men
toned. 1t is positively certain, however,
that if there should be any attempt on the
part of Representatives TO insist on the long.
est term, an appeal to the courts would settle
the fact that they could only hold for one
year. Under these circumstances il is
deemed beyond the authority Of Congress to
delay the admission of the State until the
people have amended u clerical error which
would be promptly corrected by the Courts
in the improbable event of dispute. The
impolicy OF such delay, considering the in.
justice and injury to the interests Of Mime
sofa which it would work, is still less ques
tionabe, when the Legislature can within
forty days itself correct the error. The FOL.
lowing Sc aion will show the ease with which
the amendment could be effected:
SIC. /. Whenever a majority OF both Houses
of the Legislature shall deem IL necessary TO
alter or amend the Constitution, they may pro-
pose such alterations or amendments, which
proposed amendments shall be submitted TO the
people for their approval or rejection and II
II shall appear in a manner tn be provided by
aw that a majority Of the voter. present and
voting. shall have ratified such alterations or
amendments, the same shall be valid 10 all in
tents and purposes, as q part OF thiA Consttu.
hon. " two or more alterations OF amend
ments shall be submitted at the same time, II
shall be so regulated that the voters shall vote
for or against each separately.
Would Congress be justified therefore.
when the people OF Minnesota have sucb an
easy, simple and inexpensive plan of amend
ment 10 resort to the harsh method Of keep
ing them another year out Of the Union, and
entailing upon them the large expense Of
another constitutional Convention Every
fair person must admit that il would be n
rank piece Of injustice. The delays Of Con
gress have already cost the pioneer people Of
Minnesota 100000, besides innumcrabe
snnoyances.
The parts Of the Constitution relating TO
the elective franchise provides that every
male person Of the age Of twcnty-one years
who shall have resided in the United States
one year, in the State four months, &c, and
who is either |. 4 white citizen Of the
United States. 2. White person u foreign
birth, who has declared aD intention TO be-
come a citizen coniormablc 10 law. 3 per-
sons Of mixed white and Indian blood. wo
has adopted the customcs and habits Of
civilization and 4. Persons Of Indian blood
residing within the STATE, who have adopted
the language, customs and habits 0f civil
zation and who have been examined aud pro
houHtrh 'apaoir vi 'hg'gIbS sD' iighS VI
citizenship by a district Court Of the United
States, should be entitled 10 vote for all Of
dcers elected by the people.
These provisions are certainly extremely
liberal, and there may be objections TO them
but whatever they may be-, consider that
/ Congress has nothing 10 DO with them A
State in the exercise Of their sovereign pow
er may regulate its elective franchlses for
Itself, anil 40 other power has a righ, 10 in
J tervene
! The peopIe Of New York would BE- quite
apt to deny the right d Congress to come in
and make objections 10 the provision Of
| your laws permitting negroes poescssed u Il
certain freehold. 10 yotc, whatever might be
! their individual opinion a. 20 the propriety
! of allowing negfO~ b. exercise that priv.
/ lege; bni Congress has the same right " do
that in New York a. 10 do the same thing
IN N nne<ota.
( Congress having already declared tbwe-
T fore. that under certain fulfilled conditions
Minnesota JiaR ,ome u, 10 the Union,
the obligation to admit her appears to BE-
: imperative. ! hope II will he doDe a, onoe
3 aud with good grace.