The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-15

mons: slden, Stuart, rrumbull, Wade, Wilson,
and wright.-il.
So the amendment was rejected.
The question then REQUIRED on Mr.. Will
sons amendment, giving the State but one
Representative, and providing that "the
Secretary Of the Interior shall cause the
census OF said State to be taken forthwith
according TO the provisions OF the net Of
February 20, 1887, and report the same Us
soon rs practicable" In order that further
representation may bc allowed, il justly due
the State.
Mr.. lvERsoS opposed this proposition, and
favored the following amendment offered by
Mr.. TooNps:
That the said State shalt be entitled 90 three
| Representatives until the census authorized TO
be taken by the act OF the 10th Of February,
1857, shall DO again correctly taken and TO.
turned, and then she shall be entitled 10 ~
many Representatives as the present ratio of
representation will enttlc her to on her popu.
lation thus ascertained; and that the Secretary
OF the Interior shall take all proper measures
10 retake perfect census Of the State, and 10.
turn the same Us soon Ms II can conveniently
| BIB done.
Mr.. lvERsoN said
prefer tho amendment which my col
league has offered to the amendment Of the
Senator from Massachusetts,. | presume
the effect, 80 far us the number OF Repre-
sentatives is concerned, will be about the
same but the amendment OF the Senator
from Massachusetts will refer the election
back to the people. have no doubt they
have population enough, or will have by the
time the census is taken. to cntitle them 10
three Representatives. under the present
ratio. The effect. however. will be that
| there will he new election In Minnesota
for three members, and ! npprehcnd our
| frieDds on the other side of tho Chamber
think they will stand better chance 10 get
three Of their own stripein. presume that
is the whole policy Of this amendment. II
we are TO have three members from Mime
sotd, ~ have no doubt they will be entitled
to three when the census il taken, prefer
TO have the three already elected. Let us
take them, and then direct ccnns Of the
people OF Minnesota 90 be taken, aud when
the true number IL asccrtaincd. fix perma
nently by il her representation in the other
House. | would rather take the three now
than run the risk Of taking three Others
hereafter.
Mr.. IIorsroS said
grant that, il you allow Minnesota less
than three members, You will have TO send
the election back TO the people-thc very
thing that ought TO DO done after census
is taken, and il is ascrrtaincd correctly TO
what number Minnesota IL entitled. Then
the people will have fair opportunity Of
expressing their opinions but until that IL
done, you cannot arrive ut il with that de
gree OF certainty which will enable you to
conform TO the Constitution and the laws OF
tho land admit that you cannot select
from the three members already elected any
one but you must send them all back or
admit the three, which should consider TO
be q monstrous violation Of the law and Of
the Constitution. They will hardly draw
straws, or toss up heads and tails to know
which shall have the precedence here but
they will all be admitted OF oil 90 back
The only course that ! can conceive 10 be
proper, IL TO disregard the provisions in the
Minnesota constitution. md send the Rep
rcsentaiivcs back. II will require but
short time 10 take the census, and il will be
worth much for there will be u solvency
of principle in that which will sustain us
hereafter, and we shall not be setting pre-
cesient for transccnding the law and the
Constitution but il you admit them as
they are now presented. IL will be disre-
gard Of all former preccdents OF law, and Of
the Constitution and if In this instance,
they are disregardcd, may they not be In all
future instances
80, sir, there IL no alternative
but one and that Ia, upon the acceptance
Of the constitution 10 receive the Senators
let the census he taken. and let the people
elect such Representatives a. the present
apportiopment may entitle them 10. Gen
tlemcn indulge in conjectures Of what their
population may lie, and various rciinencnts
and speculatiOns are brougb, forward 10
sanction this trnDsgrcssi0n. ~ ] consider 1t,
and 10 give currency 10 q precedent that
will some day be regretted, when the axity
that il now exercised in legislation regardless
Of the Constitution increases when csp'ii.
ency usurTA principle and convenience over
rides the Constitution
Mr. President, am NJ opinion that W. can
look into the constitutions Of states apply
ing for admission. The Constitution Of the
United States requires that they shall he
republican, AMI we mus, be satisIed d that.
Ifthey are not in conformity with the Con.
sti,ution of the United States, are they r.
publican in characterY II they are not,
they are antirepublican. Does this consti-
tuition Of Minnesota, contain no feature IN
violation of the Constitution Of the Upitesi
| ststez7 4 thi,k IL dos. IA contains n Ur0
vision allowing aliens To vote in Minnesota.
! contend that a State constitution " not
republican In character, unlesa II ia IN con
frmity with the Conzti,ntion Of the United
States, and say such a provision il MOI
warranted by the Constitution OF tiie United
STATES. by the Constitution Of the United
States II Is declared that Congress shall
have power 10 pas uniform laws On the
snbject u naturalization and Of course that
Z ,ousr ls,tot< co,pceded t,y the statss they