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

might never get down 70 seventy, sixty, or
fifty thousand.
Mr.. Pugh. Does not that show that it is
impossible 10 apply any principle derived
from the census TO Minnesota
Mr.. Collamer. think the Senator viii
understand me by the time am through.
What ! say is this, that if any gentleman
will take the census OF Minnesota and hand
it TO the Secretary OF the Interior, and tell
him to cypher it out by the problem have
stated, no man on earth would ever give
anything for the fraction. think | have
demonstrated that it would not be possible
to ascertain what fraction would give them
one member. Nothing, then, can entitle
them to one member except the whole num-
Der Of the ratio. They are entitled to one
member at any rate. If they have sufficient
population to entitle them to two members,
according 10 the last apportlonment, they
will get two by the second section; if they
have enough TO entitle them to three, they
would get three; but fraction never can
give them any. Unless | am exceedingly
muddy about it, think that if any gentle
man has listened to my explanation, he will
see that il is utterly impossible, taking this
census, TO give them more than one member
1t cannot be done under the terms Of the
enabling act and the second section OF this
bill. ! say, therefore, striking out the por-
ton OF the section now proposed to be
stricken out, will make no practical differ
ence whatever They will have one, and no
more than one member, If the section be
passed as it is, or If the amendment Of the
the Senator from Virginia be agreed to.
Now, sir, my idea is that it would be bet
ter to keep the section in its present form,
because the census is not yet fully completed,
and am willing to LET them have two mem.
bers, if that census, when completed, shall
show them to have sufficient population for
two members. There is, however, nothing
of that kind really expected. have anoth-
er reason for preierring to retain the section
in its present form, because there is an i'm
piled faith in the enabling act. ] vote for
retaining these words in the section, not be
cause think they produce any practical
effect, but because, as view it, the enabling
act contained plighted faith on our part,
and this is re-enactment Of that assurance.
II the ceusus gives them more than one let
them have more though think it cannot
give it by possibility. prefer to keep it
as it is would not break faith either in
words or in hope. Iwould keep my very
words and, therefore this section was in
serted in the words Of the enabling act. l
would preserve it in those words, 80 that
there could be no foundation for the COM
plant that we had changed our position in
relation to it.
But other propositions have been made
which are great deal talked abOut--One
by the Senator from Georgia, Mr.. Toombs,
and one by the Senator from Illinois, Mr..
Douglas. Those propositions, if / under.
stand them, are, in some way or other, to
strike out this section and allow three men,
bers according to the constitution Of Mime
sofa, or to insert provision directly allow
ing three Representatives. That comes to
the very point ought we to give them
three Representatives can see no found.
alton for it at all. do not find fault with
gentlemen, who, having private information
of their own, govern themselves by that in
formation but when they call on the Sen
ate to act upon it, it seems TO me to be al
entirely different affair we are left entirely
to conjecture, mere conjecture, mere guess
work. Gentlemen say that the census re-
turns are imperfect. What evidence is
| there Of that, The letter of the marshal
| has been read, and it contains but an excuse
| for the time that has been taken and the de-
lay that has happened. lie does not init
mate that the returns, as far as they are
made, are not right, that the census is not
perfect enough, as far it goes, for those
| counties where it was taken.
/ Mr.. Polk. Does he not say that no CEN
! sus was taken in region Of country cover
ing thirty thousand square miles.
/ Mr.. Collamer. As has already been
! shown, we have returns from all the conn
/ ties but four. When the first returns were
/ made, there were seven or nine counties not
/ heard from. That was when the returns
/ showed one hundred and thirty thousand
/ Since then, returns have came in from some
( other counties, SO that there are only few
/ left. My answer 10 the Senator from Mis-
souri,, then, is. that if You take the vote Of
/ the counties not returned DO not care how
many thousand or million square miles thew
cover, and estimate the people by the votes,
/ You will see that they only contain few
thousand to be added 10 the number return.
cd, and do not make il come up TO one hun
dred ana MY Thousand then. Now, in Kan
sas, when great complain was made about
an imperfect census, We were told that it
was authentic and fair, and We must abide
10y il, aud We were made 10 abide by il but
when you come 10 the case OF Minnesota
why Is a different rule insisted upon! Ten
t!emen think that Instead of taxing the cru
Gus they can find some safer guide Of duty.
some surer path to truth; and where does
1t lie? One says, take the number OF votes
returned and multiply it by six. Nothing
could b more uncertain than this. In the first
place, gentlemen who know anything about
the election in Minnesota, know perfectly
well that each party charged the other with
importing and manufacturing great numbers
Of voters. In regard 10 one county, Tod
county, where VT have actual census re-
turns, and no proof but that they have been
fairly made II il sngyestel that the f-pnt 10