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

q very large new State, and We thought We
should be- liberal towards her, and We allow.
al her two members, would act on the
same rule with Minnesota. While techni.
cally, under the law, she would be entitled
to only one member, yet the official evidence
shows that she has sufficient population for
one, and more than moicty Of the number
required for another. For this reason |
voted 10 allow her two members. | have
had evidence which satisfies me that the
census was not fairly taken, and that large
part Of the population were excluded, I'm
der that state Of the case, ] belieye there y
In Minnesota population more than enough
for two members Of Congress, and therefore
am in favor Of allowing three. ! do not
think she has quite enough population for
three, but she certainly has more than enough
for two. ! have voted for two; ] shall vote
for three in other words, shall vote for
the highest number not exceeding three,
that can get. ! act on that principle.
Mr. Mason. The actual number provided
for in the apportionment az the ratio Of re-
presentation il ninety-three thousand four
Hundred and twenty. Then to entitle u
State 10 two Representatives, il We are TO
be governed by the rule, she must have one
hundred and eightysix thousand eight hun.
bred and forty inhabitants. The census,
~ far ~ taken, shows, ] understand, one
hundred and fifty thousand
Mr.. Benjamin. One hundred and thirty.
six thousand.
Mr.. Douglas. The subsequent returns
show one hundred and forty-two thousand
with six counties 10 be heard from; and W.
timating the population in those counties
according TO the vote given, we should have
the whole number one hundred and forty -nine
or one hundred and fifty thousand, according
10 the census
Mr.. Mason. That is the whole Territory.
Mr.. Douglas. Yes, according TO the cen
sug.
Mr. Mason. Then one hundred and fifty
thousand ID the maximum population Of
Minnesota, according ito the actual returns,
from . computation or estimate that, sup
pose, has been literally made. ! understand
the Senator from Illinois, in providing for
the admission Of this northwestern state, 10
nay that because, In the casc Of Texas, Con
grsss assigned two members, without having
any official returns ct what the population
was, and allowing each Senator or member
Of the House Of Representatives, to deter.
mine for himself, by such estimate as be
could form, what II was; and because, in the
case Of California, on conjcctural estimate
alone, two members were allowed ~ that
state no, In this case, with official iniorma-
ton that there is not population in Min
nesota that will entitle this state to two re-
personalities, Is prepared TO give her three;
and the reason for II. II | understand him
correctly, Ia that he does not believe the cen
sus returns we're accurately taken.
Well, now, Mr.. President. VIC have a rule
Of tho Constitution, ono that In most impor.
tant 10 preserve tho equality Of these States,
and that IL, that In the popular branch, po.
litical power shall be welded in proportion
10 tho numbers. ascertained in the mode pro
vidcd by the Constitution. and We have u
law 10 carry TINT out ! would submit then,
with the great respect which bear TO the
honorable Senator aud his position here,
whether II is not rather too liberal to say
that In Affecting political power in the pop
ular branch he will feel himself at liberty
10 repudiate and disclaim information pro.
vidod by law, and given under tho sanctions
Of law. In order 10 copcede large political
weight In the popular branch to State
proposing 10 come in than would he con.
ceded either by the laws or the Constitu.
ton! cannot az, confess. any manner
by which VIZ can, as at present informed
allow this new State more than one Repre-
sentative, without doing il in fragrant dsrc-
gard both Of the Constitution and the laws
oil tho land.
Mr.. Gren. think the Senator from
Virginia Ia u little mistaken. because the en-
abling act. ~ We call il, is not obligatory
upon the present Congress. The enabling
act made q certain provision. That cna-
bling act said Minnesota should have one
member. and such Others ~ the census
should show her entitled to; but that cna.
bling act is not the law to govern this Con
gress- II was promise and pledge TO the
people Of Minnesota. and they have right
10 insist that We shall come up to it but
we have a right to 60 beyond il. The cv
dence before Us is this the census is impcr-
tcctly taken, and have here letters, received
by the Secretary OF the Interior. showing
that several Of the mArshals refused 10 take
the census because the compensation was
not enough TO pay their expenses. have
evidence more than that one OF the mar.
shals who had taken the CENSUS, when he ~.
certained what his compens ton would be,
threw tho returns in the fire and burnt them
up. We have census returns OF one hundred
and forty six thousand and other counties
not heard from, that would swell the number
up. according To the same rate, to more than
one hundrd and fifty thousand.
Mr.. Bayard. Is any return of this made
TO Congress!
Mr.. Green. ! have the evidences in my
drawer Part Of them | presented TO thu
Senator from Illinois Now we know tina,
the vote cast for the election OF State officers
was forty thousand four hundrcd and TWEEN.
tytwo. We have the census Of certain