The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-16


ton constitution. Surely, it is not unrea-
sonable to require the people Of Kansas to
wait before making third attempt, until
the number Of their inhabitants shall amount
TO 93,42O. During this brief period, the har.
mony Of the States, as well as the great bust
ness interests OF the country, demand that
the people OF the Union shall not for q
third time be couvulsed by another agita
ton Of the Kansas question. by waiting
for short time, and acting In ODE
dience 10 law, Kansas will glide into the
Union, withou, the slightest impairment.
This excellent provision, which Congress
has applied to Kansas, ought to be extended
aud rendered applicable to all Territories
which may hereafter SEX admission into the
Union.
Whilst Congress POSSESSES the undoubted
power OF admitting new State into the
Union. however small may be the number Of
lts inhabitants, yet this power ought not. in
my opinion, To be exercised before the pop
ulation shall amount to the ratio required
by the act for the admission of Kansas.
Had this been previously the rule. the count
ry would have escaped all the evils and mis-
fortunes to which it has been exposed by the
X ansas question.
Of course, It would be unjust to give this
rule retrospective application, and exclude
u State which, acting upon the past practice
Of the government, has already formed its
constitution, elected its legislature aud other
officers, and is now prepared 10 enter the
Union.
The rule ought TO be adopted, whether we
consider it, bearing ON the peope Of the
Territories or upon the people OF the exist
ing States. Many of the serious dissensions
which have prevailed in Congress and
throughout the country, would have been
avoided, had this rule been established at an
earlier period Of the government.
Immediately upon the formation OF u new
I Territory people from different States and
| from foreign countries rush into it, for the
lauIable purpose Of improving their condi-
| ton. Their first duty to themselves is to
4 open and cultivate farms, to construct roads,
/ TO establish schools, to erect places OF relig.
! iOus worship, and TO devote their energies
/ generally to reclaim the wilderness and To
lay the foundation Of tlourishing aud pros
porous commonwealth. II, in this incpicnt
condition. with a population OF few thou.
sand. they should prematurely enter the
Union, they are oppressed by the burden Of
State taxation, and TIE means necessary for
the Improvement Of the Territory and thu
advancement OF their own Interests, are thus
diverted to very different purposes.
The federal government has ever been a
most liberal parent to the territories, and a
generous contributor TO the useful enterpr
ses Of the early settlers. II has paid the ex
pcnses Of their governments and legislative
assemblies on, of the common treasury, and
thus relieved them of heavy charge. I'm
der these circumstances nothing can be bet
ter calculated 10 rctnrd their material pro
grcss than to divert them from their usefu
empIoymen,s by prematurely exciting angry
political contests among themselves, for thu
benefit OF aspiring leaders. II is surely nc
hardship for embryo governors, senators anc
members OF Congress, to wait until Il e mum
Der OF inhabitants shall equal those Of 0
single Congressional district They surel,
ought not to be permitted to rush into the
Union with population less than one-hal
OF several OF the large counties in the interi
or Of some Of the States. This was the con
dition Of Kansas when it made application
t. be admitted under the Topeka consti,u'
ton. Besides, it requires sometime to reu.
der the mass OF population collected in d
new Territory at all homogeneous, and tc
unite them TO anything like fixed policy
Establish the rule, and all will look forward
to it and govern themselves accordingly.
But Justice to the people Of the severa
States requires that this rule should be es
,abllshei by congress. Should the people
OF the States fail to elect IL Vice President
the power devolycs upon the Senate to se
lect this officer from the two highest can
dida,cs on the list. In case OF the death o
the President, the Vice President thus cleo
ted by thu Senate, becomes President of tn,
United States. On oil questions Of legisla
ton the Senators from the smallest State
OF the Union have an equal vote with thos'
from the largest. The same may be said il
regard to the ratification Of treaties, and o
executive appointments. All this has work
ell admirably in practice, whilst it conform
in principle with the character Of a govern
men, instituted by sovereign States. | pre-
sumo no American citizen would desire the
slightest change in the arrangement. Still
is 1t not unjust and unequal to the existing
States TO invest some iorty or fifty THOUSAND
people collected in Territory with the at
tributes Of sovereignty and place them OF
an equal footing with Virginia and New
York in the Senate of the United States'
For these reasons | earnestly recommend
the passage of a general act which shall pro
vide that apon the application Of Territori
al Legislature. declaring their belief tina
the Territory contains a number of inhabi
tants which, il in a State. would entitl
them to elect member Of Congress. il shall
be the duty Of the President to cause
census OF the inhabitants to be taken, ans
il found sufficient, then by the terms OF thi
act TO authorize them 10 proceed " n ,hei
own way" To frame State constitution
preparatory to admission into the Union
also recommend tina, au appropriation ma.
be made to enable the Prsideut TO take
census Of the people Of Kansas,