The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-08

Mr.. Toombs. Then cut bono the argu-
mentl
Mr.. Brown. am making it for the same
reason that my friend from Ohio Mr.
Pugh the other day moved his amendment
to the Kansas bill--not that think there
is anything in it, but want to keep down
clamor. do not want to be misunderstood
on this subject. | do not want to be I'm.
derstood as in any manner approving these
provisions of this constitution when | vote
for the admission of Minnesota, and there
fore point them out and comment upon
them, and file my protest against them, so as
to exclude any such conclusion hereafter.
That is my whole object in doing it, said
in the outset, that if l supposed myself re
sponsible for this constitution, if | was to
be considered us approving it, could not
vote to admit the State. do not believe
that any State. old or new, ought to have
any such provision in It's constitution. |
feel that have no power to strike them out;
and If had my notion of State rights and
State sovereignty is. that if Minnesota
choose she could put them back again tomor.
row, ! cannot control them; | can say,
and will say, that cannot uphold them. l
do say that ! shall vote against this bi
even ifyou allow Minnesota three Represen
tatives yet ] do not well see how can vote
for it then with my notions of what is right
hope the Senate will do no such thing
Give Minnesota the two Representatives to
which her census entities her and then think
there can bel no further controversy. II she
has any right TO ask another Representative
on guess work. do not know but that
shall ask another for Mississippi. She has
been populating very fast, and has a great
many more people than she had when the
last census was taken. know that census
in many counties was imperlectly taken -
Let us stick to the record TO the census, as
made under the Constitution. Make your
apportionment according to that, and you
will always be right, or somewhere in the
neighborhood of il.
Mr.. Wilson. agree with the Senator
from Mississippi in regard to the restrictions
that we ought to place on this State. Min
nesota is young, growing, and prosperous
State; but we have only the evidence before
us that she has about one hundred and fifty
thousand inhabitants, and do not see why
we here should assume her to have pOpu.
laton emitting her to three representatives.
The State Of Vermont, with more than three
hundred thousand inhabitants, has only three
representatives in the other House Here
is State where the census has been taken.
1t may have been imperiectly taken; but it
is here with only one hundred and forty nine
thousand inhabitants; and yet she is claim
ing, and Senators are claiming for her that
should be allowed three representatives
This State will grow, unquestionably. |
am willing to give her one representative
now, and let her, il she chooses, take new
census, and have for the future, three, four,
or five representatives, if that census shall
show her to be entitled 10 them
The Senator from Mississippi complains Of
allowing civilized Indians to vote. think
the Senator ought not to complain of that,
for nc should remember that il was the votes
of the civilized Indians that gave the State
to the political party with which he acts,
and without their votes IL would have been
beaten by very decisive majority in
the Territory. On the occasion Of voting
in one section OF the State. gentleman in
formed me that he himself witnessed this
scene there was near by the place voting
large collection of Indians, in their native
habits and costumes; one Of your Indian
agents, or a person connected with your gov.
ernment, obtained some articles Of apparel
that civilized men wear "a few Of those per-
sons were rObe1 in them, marched up Ia the
ballot box and voted; they were then carried
back to the place where they were encamp
ed, these articles OF apparel were removed,
and other persons robed in them and this
was carried on throughout the day, and a
very large Indian vote was taken.
Mr.. Fitch. viii the Senator from Mas
achusetts be kind enough to state the place
where this happened
Mr. Wilson. ] cannot. ii was told to
me by gentleman who said he witnessed it
himself in an election precinct. ! did not
ask him where il occurred.
Mr. Fitch. ! only wished to ascertain
bis iniormant's veraclty. No such thing oc-
Cured.
Mr.. Wilson. ! do not certify to the fact,
but am SO told.
Mr.. Fitch. understand.
Mr.. Wilson. have good reason to think
that this was not a satisfactory instance Of
the kind Now propose to otter an amend
mept 10 the second section, If il b. IN order
to move i, now but ] suppose it is not in
order TO move il before the question ia taken
on striking Out.
The Vice President. There il an amend
ment now pending.
Mr.. Wilson. let it be read.
The Vioe President The Clerk will
again read the pending amendment offered
by the senator from Virginia.
The Clerk read the amendment, which IA,
in line two. OF section two, after the word
Representative" 10 strike out the residue
Of the section and insert "in The Congress Of
the United States" 30 that the section will
read
That said state shall be entitled 10 one Rep.
rssentstiye in the Congress Of the United
States.
Mr.. WILSON offered the following amend
uIent