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

ltft VI OuI Own OulCfTr, UT trUIu tLt ulIuculty
Of the work TO be performed, We on Our side
have not given Minnesota IN honest census,
the least we can do ia TO allow her constitu.
,ionaI convention TO act tor the present, and
then adopt the suggestion Of the Senator
from Georgia, (Nr Toombs,) and give her
new census, and apportion her representation
finally according TO the result Of true
census.
These are the reasons which will induce
me, IA said before, 10 vote against every
proposition which restricts Minnesota to one
representative. | believe she 10 fairly en-.
titled to three representatives, and I shall
vote 10 give her three. II the Senate does
not agree TO give her three, ! shall then vote
for two. shall vote for the most that
can carry. think she il entitled 20 the
whole three, and hope the Senate will al
low them.
Mr.. Fitch. The restriction proposed 10
be imposed by the amendment is wrong !;
and | am very sure il the Senator from
Virginia knew al much Of the population Of
Minnesota as other Senators do, he never
would have moved il, The Senator from
Ohio has well said that the defect Of the
census was our own fault the fault u the
Government. II was entirely 80. The en-.
abling act provided, it is true that census
should b. taken but it provided no means
Tor taking it ; and understand that the
convention that framed the constitution now
before M, asked that instructions and blanks
and other means for taking the census might
bc sent TO the Government officers in the
Territory but their request never was
complied with. 1t was utterly impossible,
therefore, that any perfect census should bc
taken. None was taken. One half, or
nearly half the returns are simply estimates
made by the assistant marshals in their
rooms, without taking the field TO ascertain
the exact number Of the inhabitants
This was well understood by the members
Of the constitutional convention, and they,
consequently, hoping for more correct re-
turns, postponed their own local apportion-
ment until the last moment, until the con
siitution was framed in other respectA and
it became absolutely essential that they
should agree on some manner Of apportioning
tho prospective State for its local or State
representation. They made this apportion.
ment on knowledge possessed by the mem
bsrs of the convention--members who had
come up fresh from every portion Of the
Territory, and who were infinitely better
judges OF the amount Of population than the
deputy marshals who never went, in sever
al instances, beyond their own dwellings to
ascertain the number Of inhabitants. The
members Of the convention made their esti-
mate upon their own personal knowledge,
and by comparison of notes on the part Of
those from different portions of the Territory;
and there is sutliciency Of local jealousy
there to prevent any one portion OF the Ter
ritory obtaining any undue influence or ad-
vantage in representation over the others.
II is known that the constitutional conven-
ton consisted in fact. Of two bodies. They
Ind their mutual political as well as local
prejudicies.
Mr.. Green. ask permission Of the Sen
ator from Indiana to interrupt him for a
moment.
Mr.. Fitch. Certainly.
Mr.. Gresn. | Understood the Senator
from Vermont to express himself as having
forgotten that there was any evidence before
the committee showing that returns had
been burned by deputy marshals, or that
any refused to act. wish TO call attention
TO a letter, copy Of which was sent to us
and was before our committee, previous to
the time when this bill WAS reported. Twill
read it
OrfiCs op TUE UNIrEp STATES MARSHAL,
81. PArL, MINNESOTA. December %, 1857.
aiR: have forwarded TO your Department
a. by Instructions, the census returns Of the
different counties OF the Territory. IA they have
1 Ia. tXal md min AI a.
No returns have yet been received from the
counties of Mower. Wasces, Nicollet, lie Seuer,
Asnomn, Pierce, Cass, Al lille Lac. ltasca, Penn
bina, and part Of Fiilmore--ncarly one hall
OF the Territory, geographically, and embracing
an area Of thirty three Thousand two hundred
and eighty SIX square miles.
Every sNerton has been made on my part 10
get through with the census of the Territory
aad report finally upon II before the meeting o
Congress. Many causes have operated 80 pro
duce the delay The work was commence
too late IN the season for a latitude like this
whore travelling in the winter over uortherl
pralres il amattor both difficult and hazardous
ltwas. moreser,very difficult 10 get proper and
conn etent officers 10 undertake the work, foI
the compensation provided by the law of Con
gress tor the census OF lsi0.
In many counties OF large extent and few in
hahliaats, the compensation viii not more thar
cover. II II does at ALL the travelling expense.
much greater In this Territory than in the
states. Several Of the assistants who com
mcnced the work. threw u up. some on &C
count II the inadequate compensation. Others
srom sickness and business engagements. The
assistant for Sibley county, alter being engaged
m making The enumcl alton for more than
month, refused 20 make his returns aud burned
them, rather than the Government should have
them for TIE pay All OF ,hese causes have
made my returns backward have written
however, and sent 10 the assistants Of the coua
ties not heard from, aud appointed new one.
IA those counties, ard will forward returns a.
soon A. they are received and examined.
would respectfully request that an appropria
ti1n be made :" deiray The expense OF this cen
sus IN more liberal rule than that % ls5O.
Very respectfully. your obt serv't
WILLIAM X. GERE.
tHii'd Mates Marshal.
Hon JACOB ruoarseS, >sc 81 ia isfs,lor.
Mr.. Collamer. There i, no intima,ior
; that those returns, 80 far ~ they went, wer,
not all good. There werc some counties hs
had 10, ", finished. several Of which h,