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

almost impossible TO get the numbers Of the
entire population.
Before taking my seat, desire to ask the
Senator from Illinois, the chairman Of the
Committee on Territories, what objection if
any, he has to inserting in this bill, now
when weare disposingof the Territories that
wish TO become States, Il proposition to adj
nit Oregon? We know that she has gone
through all the forms. have her constitu-
ton before me- II has been submitted to
the other House, and it certainly will be
here very soon. There are none OF the OBJ
jections to her admission that | have heard
urged in regard to other States; and it seems
to me that this is the proper time to dispose
OF the question. | hope the Senator from
Illinois will have no objection TO an amend
ment Of that description TO this bill.
Mr.. Douglas. | will say, in response to
the Senator from California, that have not
brought up proposition for the admission
of Oregon, for the reason that have receiv-
ed no Official information that she has
made a constitution. She has sent no con
stitutioD here. We have no facts, no ey
dcnce, before Us, showing that to be the case.
Nor has the President so informed Us nor
have we any official information from any
source, on the subject. Having learned,
from the newspapers, that q convention had
been held there; that it had formed a con
stitutlon, and il had been submitted to and
ratified by the people have wondered how
1t was that 1t had not found its way here
spoke to the delegate in the other House,
General Lane, about it, and told him that
/ np1arGtnol hut ha bod oil a., tho
House of Representatives. lie said he had;
but he thought he had better let it sleep I'M
til the contest about Kansas and Minnesota
was over. said to him that whenever he
desired action here, and would furnish me
with copy Of the constitution OF Oregon,
properly certified, would take great pleas
ure in initiating the steps at once for her
admission. He thanked me for the sugges-
ton, and said he would attend to it. lie
has not done so yet, and hence we have no
thing here to act upon.
Mr.. Gwin. have made this suggestion
at the request Of the delegate from Oregon
in the other House. He has furnished me
with copy of the constitution, which is
here in House document No. So, and the re-
quest that | should bring the subject to the
notice of the Senate. Like the Senator
from Illinois, l have been somewhat sur
prised to find that the subject has not been
brought before the Senate. The delegate
from Oregon yesterday informed me that he
would be exceedingly glad if the question
could be disposed of now. There being no
objection to Oregon that can see, it hav-
ing gone through all those forms the want
Of which has been objected to in Kansas
and Minnesota, the constitution having been
framed and submitted to the people in va
rious forms and voted upon, thought the
Senator from Illinois, as Chairman of the
Committee on Territories, with his official
documents before him, might frame an
amendment to this bill by which it could be
brought in.
Mr.. Douglas. should do so. but have
never seen the constitution Of Oregon. do
not know what is in it; nor the boundaries of
the proposed new State do not know any
thing concerningit. have never set eyes
on the document and, if should offer a
proposition, it would be at random. do
not know whether her constitution is such q
one as | can sanction or not; but suppose
it is. | should think, however, the delegate
would present il to the Senate, and refer il
to the committee. Let the committee read
over the constitution, and report the facts.
should take great pleasure in calling spc-
cal session OF the committee at any moment
for immediate action upon it ; and would
hurry through as fast as could but | do
not feel authorized TO take paper which
have never yet had an opportunity Of read
ing, and move the admission OF State on
it, when do not know what il contained.
Mr.. Hunter. hope there will be no effort
to unite the two. In regard to the question
Of Minnesota, there is no doubt about it;
all are prepared to vote for her admission
but there may be some doubt in regard to
Oregon. At any rate the constitution Of
that proposed State has not been examined
and Investigated by the committee. None
of us have ever seen the facts II have not,
for onel in regard TO the constitution nor
have seen the constitution itself. | hope
that the measures will be taken up separate
ly. II application is made for Oregon, let
it be submitted and reported upon regularly,
a. a separate measure. There is no doubt
IN regard to Minnesota Congress has given
its permission in advance in the shape OF an
enabling act and If she has complied with
that she is entitled to come in without be-
ing delayed.
Mr.. Brown. | am very desirous to vote
for the admission Of Minnesota We stand
agreed, honorably bound, to admit her. and
| shall regret exceedingly if anything be
put into this bill which shall forbid me re-
cordlng my vote in favor of it. must say.
in all sincerity, that do not like this pro
position to give Minnesota three Represen-
tatives | understand that you are TO take
a census Of the population as starting
point, and then that your authority is to APP
portion your representation according to the
population. do not understand that il is
within the province of Congress to guess
the population OF an old or a new State,
and appOrtion its representation on mere
guess work II YOU are going TO guess for /