Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-15
First Days Debate Oh Minnesota In the
House.
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON. Nav 4,

WASHINGTON, May 4.
Mr.. Kingsbury (Minn.) caused to be read
printed remarks, stating the reasons why
Minnesota should have three Representatives.
and saving that the Government had not
been put to cert cost in preserving peace in
the Territory, while Kansas comes into the
Union bringing the infamy of opposition to
the laws of the United States.
| Mr.. Parrott (K.T.) asked on what authori-
ty Mr.. Kingsbury based that statement
Mr.. Kngsbury said that it was contained
in speeches delivered on this floor.
| Mr.. Parrott did not think it was contained
in any speech save the one just read and if
the rca-o, stated was the only explanation
the gentleman had to make, good taste would
have suggested lis leaving out that express.
ion.
Mr. Kingsbury was willing that the coun-
try shonld judge Of its prOpriety.
Mr.. Sherman (Ohio) moved substitute.
providing that the Constitution Of Minnesota
be submitted to new Convention, on the
ground that it does not conform TO the Con
| stitution and laws of the United States. n"
| such Convection as contemplated by the En-
| abling act had ever been held. The law pre-
scribed that it should be composed of seven
| ty eight DELEGATES, and there were one hur-
dred and eight. There were two separate
and hostile parties who got up what they
| called Constitution. In the election Of del.
egates, the example set in other Territories
was followed and was covered all over with
fraud. lie objected to the clause per.niitin.
aliens to vote, and expressed the hope Ii at
Minnesota might come into the Union decent
| lv and in order. The time had come when
Congress ought TO put curb on the Terrific
ries and require them to obey the laws.
Mr.. Kngsbury replied, that Minnesota had
conformed more closely to the laws than any
other Territory.
! Mr.. Sherman ascribed the irregularities to
Mes>rs. Sihley, Medary and others, who, he
said, had mingled in frauds ami irregularities
at home, and infused them into tie politics
Of that Territory.
MIR. Jenkens. of Va, replied to Mr.. Sher
man, aud said that it was a strange state of
things when the latter, who voted for the
admission of Kansas under tic Topeka Con-
stitution, designated the Minnesota Conven-
ton es mob. No man who in speeches had
advanced every conceivable argument to
override the Constitution and laws Of the
country in favor of mob, should apply that
term to the regularly organized Convention
in Minnesota, the Delegates to which were
legally elected.
Mr.. Garnctt, of Va, contendcd that Min
nesota had not complied with the enabling
act nor with the Territorial law. Under
these circumstances he must consider this as
an application de nopo for admission. He AT
gued that there was not population in Min
nesota for more than one Representative, let
alone three, as Mr. Stephens proposed.
Mr.. Grow, Of Pa. said that if Constitu-
tion embodied the peoples will, as this did,
it had his sanction, unless the provisions en-
grated on it were violative of the COnS,itu-
ton Of the United States. and repugnant to
the genius of the institutions of tie rerub-
lie. In reply to Mr.. jenkins, he said that
the Free-State men of Kansas had never
sought to pervert the Territorial oreaniza
tion without the consent of Congress but
Minnesota lad already subvertcd the Terri
torial Legislature. Where is the Pres ident
with his Fe leral army to disperse the Leg
isa'urc, as he in Kansas dispersed the Free
State Legislature .?