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

| 'o"" her thc three. nau, however, TO
concur in the section as il is. in order TO OBJ
tain the assent of majority Of the commit
tee to the bill. would now prefer to strike
out that section entirely and leave the House
| Of Representatives to determine the number
of Representatives to which she is entitled.
| move to stike out the second section of the
bill.
Mr.. Green. shall vote against striking
out this section for one single reason | re-
gard it as the duty of Congress to fix the
representation to which State may be en-
titled; not the House of Representatives, but
! Congress. ! am willing that definite mum.
Der be fixed, but to strike out the section
entirely, and leave it TO the mere option of
one branch OF Congress, does not, in my
opinion, come up to the discharge OF the con.
stitutonal duty which imposes 1t uron Con.
gress TO fix the number to which the State
may be entitled. The census returns show
about one hundred and forty-six thousand
inhabitants. | have the evidence in my
drawer, and it can be presented at any time
IL il very clear to me that the State ought
to have at least two representatives. II from
the returns subsequently received the State
is entitled to three, | am perfectly willing
she should have three; but ! do not think we
ought to leave it blank for the House of
Representatives to fix just as they please
Congress may fix the representation to which
State is entitled, except so far as the Con
stitut!aa -Glses j. The Consultative, savS
they shall have at least one That il fixed
Whenever they are to have more than one,
Congress may say what the number shall be,
either by establishing rule or naming the
number
Mr.. Bggs desire to ask the Senator
from Illinois, if he has obtained information
in regard to the census, what in his opinion,
is the probable amount of the population Of
Minnesota at this timer
Mr.. Douglas II | take the census as a
guide my recollection is that il shows about
one hundred and thirty-six thousand re-
turned, aud seven or eight counties to hear
from; ! think the COMMITTEE came 20 the
conclusion that, if the remaining counties
contained the same proportion oi people to
voters, there would bc between one hundred
and iorty.iivc and one hundred aud fifty thou
Sand, according 10 the census
Mr.. Green. Yes.
Mr.. Douglas am under the impression
from unofficial, verbal information that the
census was not fairly taken, but to what OK
tent cannot say.
Mr.. Seward. Unfair which way?
Mr.. D0uglas ! understand that the cen
sustakers did not take the names OF all the
population. and the population iS much
Iarger than the census would Indicate That
is my impression.
II the Senator from North Carolina will
pardon me, will make remark here on
another branch Of the subject. One motive
| have in moving TO strike ont the section is
this: Minnesota has elected three members.
II We admit the State without fixing the
number, the question is how to determine
who was elected, and whether il docs not ex-
cludc the entire representation Of the state
Three have certificates. If Minnesota be
admitted with one or with two, the question
il whether any one or any two Of the three
already elected can take their 9eats; and if
go, which one or twoy The point is, there,
fore, whether We are not bound either 10
take the three or TO leave them all ont under
the circumstances. ] can hardly see how
the House Of Representatives, is 10 deter
mine which of the three TO admit and sce
ing that difficulty 10 arise on the point ]
move TO strike out the whole section, and
leave the House to determine the question
for itself The population, az far as return
ed, as furnished 10 me by the Senator from
Missouri. j. one hundred and r,y-two thons-
and with six counties wanting, which would
bring it up probably to about one hundred
and fifty thousand people.
Mr.. Mason. VIII the Senator from Hin
ois be good enough 10 inform me whether
there was any provision in the enabling
statute authorizing the election Of members
OF the House Of Representatives?
Mr.. Douglas. do not distinctly recol
lect. Ny impression is that the provision
10 ,he enabling statute was the same a. IN
this bill that she should have On" repre-
sentative, and sleh additional Ooes a. the
census ordered by that statHts should show
that she was entitled 10. That csFu' sbows
that she il entitled 10 one and fraction
and the question IL, how can you give one
for the fraction. il yOu construe that statute
literally? This il my impression Of the en-
abling act, but may be mistaken.
Mr.. Macon. II @eus 10 m that thc act
n, the Territory Of Minnesota. in ele'ting
/ S.rators and Repres ntatives 10 Congress
! before they could do so-and they coald not
/ do 80 until they were a State n this Union
/ was great rrcgulari'y. " was done in
the instance Of the Territory oi California,
aud Congress 90 ! though, very inrprovi.
dsn;ly, sanctioned II, by admitting those who
had been thus elected. But if the people Of
the Territory n Minnesota have placed
them-elv's In that position, e'ecting three
Representatives, without kno~ipg 90 With
ou, inqairing, even, from the census' what
nurlter they were entitled 20 u an emoar'
rasmett from which DO pot ~ that Cos'-
ores. car relieve them. Tbee thros grntb-