The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-13

oIoi " Iuclr auIuSSlOn lntO Cne Union on an
equal footing with the original States;' and
whereas the people of said Territory did, on
the twenty-ninth day of August eighteen
hun ared and ffty-seven, by delegates elected
for that purpose, form for themselves con-
stitution and State government, which is re-
publican in form, and was "a titled and adop-
ted by the people, at an election held on the
thirteenth day of October, eighteen hundred
and fifty seven, for that purpose, in pursu-
ance of said act of Congress-; therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the Unite States of Amer
lea in Congress assembled, That the State of
Minnesota shall be one, and is hereby declar-
ed to be one of the United States of Ameri-
ca, and admitted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original States in all respects
whatever.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That
said State shall be entitled to one represen-
tative, and such additional representatives, in
Congress, as the population of said State, ac-
cording to the census authorized by the
act approve d February twenty-six, eighteen
hundred AID fifty-seven shall show it to be
entitled tn, according to the present ratio of
representation, and no more"
The Senator stated he would call up the
bill, for action, at an early day-prcbably as
soon as the report was printed. I was only
able to- secure copy of the bill and report
this evening. They will be laid before the
members tomorrow, but when acted upon,
the Lord president Calhoun only knows.
The report of the Committee on Terrific
ries is lengthy document, embodying the
views of the committee on the subject of the
room lori IF Tho Iouhlo booJoJ Hooroux;o..
letters from Gov. Medary, and Messrs. Rice,
Shields, Becker, Cavanaugh, Phelps and
Kingsbury, and two copies of our State Con-
stitution, one signed by Mr.. Sibley as Presi-
dent OF the Convention, and the other by
Saint Balcome. The most important para
graph in the reportis the following:
"The constitution thus formed and signed
was submitted to the people of Minnesota
for their free acceptance or rejection, in COM
plance with its own requirements as we'll as
OF the act of Congress, at general election
held on the 18th day of October,an was then
and there ratified and adopted by almost a
unanimous vote.
"Belng satisfied that the constitution pre-
scntcd is republican in form, and is the act
and iced of the people of Minnesota, and a
fair embodiment of their will, and that the
| boundaries established therein are the same
as those prescribed in the enabling act of
last session, the committee have prepared
and submit bill for an act to admit Min
nesota into the Union on an equal footing
with the original States. The fourth section
of the enabling act provides for census to
be taken by the United States Marshal OF
the Territory, with the view of ascertaining
the number of representatives to which Min
nesota may be entitled in the Congress of the
United States and declares that said States
shall be entitled to one representative, and
such additional representatives as the popu-
lation of the States shall, according to the
census, show it would be entitled to accord
ing to the present ratio of representation ,
1t will be seen by exhibit marked E, that
the returns of the census have been received
from all the counties except eight, and partial
returns from ono other county, showing, as
far as heard from population of l36,464,
with seven entire counties and part OF anoth.
er to be heard from. Although an approx
mate estimate Of the entire population of
Minnesota might be made by taking these re-
turns as far as they go, and computing them
with the vote on the adoption of the consti-
tuition in the counties not returned, which
vote will be found in the exhibit, your COM
mittee have thought it better to leave the
question of representation as it stands fixed
in the enabling act, and hence have provided,
in the second section of the bill, that said
State shall be entitled to one representative,
and such additional representatives as the
population of the State shall according to the
the census authorized by the enabling act,
show it would be entitled to according to the
| nj OFT md
leaving the House of Representatives to as
certain the number when full returns of the
census shall be received, presuming that the
residue of the returns will be received by the
time that the act for the admission of Mime
sofa shall have become law"
Following this is letter from Mr.. Kings
bury relating the circumstances of the d.
vision among the members of the Convention,
and also the following statement signe by
our Senators and Representatives ::
WASHINGTON, Jan. ID.
SIR: In answer to the questions pro.
pounded in your note of yesterday, we beg
leave to reply
lst. At the time of our departure from
Minnesota the census had not been complet-
ed, therefore, the best data we can give you
is the vote within the limits of the State, pol
led on the 18th of October last for members
of Congress, which was 1924. Allowing
six persons for each voter, would give us a
population at that time of 235 AGA, which we
believe to be very nearly correct.
End. By the Enabling Act, passed at the
last session of Congress, one hundred and
eight b''delegates were authorized to con-
stittute the convention to form constitu-
ti0."
Sd. The election was ordered in conformi-
ty to the Enabling Act, consequently but
108 delegates could have been legally elected.
We deem it proper, however, to state that
several seats were in contest between the two
political parties.
4th. All that were legally elected, and all
that claimed Seats met together at the time
and place designated by law.
9TH Immediately after they met, a motion
was made to adjourn. The Democratic
members claiming that the motion was car
ried, left the hail. The opposition remained
and organized. The next day the former
met as pursuant to adjournment, and organ
lied. One party holding regular sessions in
the hall of representatives, the other hold
ing its regular sessions in the Council Cham
Der; each claiming to be the true Conven-
ton.
9th. The dispute was occasioned by each
charging that persons claimed seats not e.
titled to them. But without entering into
detail, we trust that your committee will be
fully satisfied upon this inquiry, when we
state that whatever differences may have
arisen on these points were afterwards hon.
orably and satisfactorily settled between
the two parties. The breach was healed by
each party appointing committee of confer
ence, which committee agreed upon the con-
stitution now before your honorable commit
tee. And the constitution thus agreed upon
was adopted by both divisions of the Con-
vention, and afterwards ratified by the almost
unanimous vote of the people Of the Terrific
~, and certified to by Governor Samuel
Medary, under the seal of Minnesota.
| Perhaps it would not be improper here to