The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-22

sonstifution, the words for consultation sr
against Constitution, may be written o. prin-
ted On the ticket u each voter but no voter
shall vote for or against this constitution on .
separate ballot from that cast by him for Old.
GERS 10 be elected 1t said electios unIer this
consultation"
My friend said be was aware Of that pro-
vision at the time be reported this bill
Mr.. Douglas. Clearly; We had it before
US and discussed it.
Mr.. Pugh. The Senator means, then, to
he understood 10 the language Of the pream-
BIZ, that submission in this manner was
proper submission to ratification by the PEG
pie.
Mr. Douglas. | shall answer the Senator
very carefully. cannot stand up TO be
catichised yes or no, ON each question. On
that tell him, unhesitatingly, yes but ]
do not understand this mode Of debate.
Mr. Pugh. 1t was not my object TO pro-
woke any controversy with the Senator, or TO
entrsp him in any manner but he stated
that the committee had carefully examined
every provision Of the constitution, and
every word Of the preamble that i, had oil
been weighed Mr.. Douglas. Yes. but |
did suppose, to bc frank with the senator,
that this provision had escaped his attention,
for 1t escaped mine until late point Of the
discussion.
Mr., Douglas. The only point objected
0 was putting one question and then ano.
her, without giving time for an explanation
TO accompany the answer
Mr.. Pugh. The Senator may give it
Mr.. Douglas. will wait until you get
through.
Mr.. Pugh. The preamble to the bill as
5srtse;7sst Tin, cs,nss ets.i AZ h1on1s.ess s
and ratified by the people. 1t WAC ratified
in the manner have stated. do not pre-.
tend, Individually, to pass any judgment on
such a ratification. II | put any question to
the senator which seemed to him at all Of
fensiye or disposed to mislead him or treat
him unfairly, beg his pardon, but propose
to ignore the disputed question by simply
taking the case Of the State OF California.
She had constitution formed by convcn-
ton and ratified 10y the people; but Il serious
question arose as to the regularity Of the
convention, and as to the legality Of the
vote and the wise men who framed the
compromise Of 1850, ignored the question
and adopted very much the form which !
have proposed here. II seems to me wo had
better avoid these questions, for they will
come up hereafter.
Mr.. Douglas. have only word or two
to say in reply to my friend from Ohio. IL
there was anything IN my response to him
that seemed uncourteOus, | will say to him
very frankly that did not mean it, and |
did not understand his language TO bear any
uniriendly or any unkind construction to
me. In regard to this mode Of submission,
! think it was free, fair, and complete, The
convention provided that the constitution
should be submitted TO the people for ratiti-
cation or rejection that every voter should
be allowed to vote Tor the constitution or
against the constitution, and on the same
ballot should vote for State officers but
! they could put just such State officers on the
ballots as they pleased, only they must bt
on the same ballot. They put democratic
ticket on IL, or the Republican ticket, or lcii
both OF and put on other names but what
ever vote they gave on State officers was on
one ballot This did not control the mode
in which they should vote, whether for the
constitution or against it, nor whether i,
should be- Tor or against this ticket or that
ticket for State officers. In other words
under that mode Of voting, every man was
left perfectly FREE TO vote as he pleased, ioi
or against the constitution, or for or against
either ticket for State officers. As SAID
before, the ratification was by a majority o
over thirty thousand one way, and only iiv,
hundred votes the other way.
Now, u word as to the preamble. This
preamble states:
5 Whereas, an act of Congress was passet
February 81. l.j1, entitled An act to authorize
the people of the Territory Of Minnesota TO form
acOnsututon and State government, prepara,o
. ~ to their admission into the Union on an equa
/ footing with the original states,
! Ii thus tar recitcs fact undeniahly true
and then goes on
And whereas the people Of said Territory
I did. on the 10th day Of August, 1857. by dele
gates elected for that pnrposc. form for them
selves a constitution and state government
which is Republican in form.
There is not question OF this being true
There is no doubt that. 10y delegates electe,
for the purpose, they framed a constitution
/ The preamble does not state whether n,
delegates met in one boiy or two bodies, but
4 that the delegates were elected Tor that pur
/ pose and framed a constitution, The origi
nal drsught contained the words, delegate,
/ assembled in convention IN pursuance of III,
enabling act" but. on motion Of the Senator
| from Missouri. those words were stricken
out. So AS TO leave II in Ms present form say
/ ing simply that the constitution was frame,
by delegates elected Tor that purpose. Gar
any body dispute that
What next The preamble next reciie,
that the constitution was ratified anc
adopted by the people A an election held OF
I the | 9Th day OF October lSj,. for that pur
pose in pursuance Of said ac, Of Congress.
That is, the election was held on the ratlii
cation OF the constitution in pursuance Of thu
act OF Congress. There is no dispute OF
that point. My friend from Missouri anc
myself, who mainly differed IN regard 10 tn
facts connected with this case, agreed tina
the election on the ratification Of the cons,l