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

10 decide according TO the terms Of that cen
sus as they are before Us, she is technically
entiticd to but one member. | think we
may act On other information that is salts
factory to Us; that conyinces us that, although
the census shows population Of only one
hundred and fifty thousand. she has largely
more than that, probably two hundred and
twenty or two hundred and forty thousand.
think We may act upon that evidence,
which, though unofficial, is yet satisfactory
TO us, and allow to Minnesota proportion
ate number OF representatives | 20 Tor the
the additional member on that kind of evil
dence-the same that acted upon in the
/ Texas case ard the California casc-to which
4 | referred yesterday; but, if we are to con
fine ourselves to the technicalites of the law.
| she will be restricted to one member.
/ If we pass the bill with this section in its
/ present language, 80 that the House must
he confined 10 the technical language OF the
law, the House must restrict her TO ole
member. have made the motion to strike
out, under the impression that il We admit
the State without saying anything on the
subject, We give our assent to the provision
| OF her constitution for the election of three
members. The Senator from Georgia, how
ever, thinks that would not be the effect; but
that in that event she would fall back on the
enabling act and think, under the terms
OF the enabling act, she Is confined TO one
member; in my opinion, unjustly confined to
one. l am inclined TO think, therefore, that
perhaps we had better make our PROPOSE.
tions specially, and say that we will give her
three members, or if not three, that we will
give her two; or if we cannot agree to that,
We will give her one. think we had bet
ter say exactly what we are going to give,
lest we may have result declared in the
House Of Representatives different from what
We intend. My impression is, that the strik-
ing out Of the second section would,
in effect, decide that she would have three
members; but believe it is better to say SO
distinctly, if We think she is entitled 10 three;
or if we cannot get three, then let Us give
two; but let rs not deceive ourselves by the
terms we may use, in regard to the effect of
our own action. | make these suggestions
to the Senator from Georgia, because he
and l wish to arrive at the same result by
our action; and hope he will direct his at
tention to the use OF such phraseology as
|
Mr.. Toombs. presume the Senator
from Illinois and myself desire to attain the
same object; but he having moved yesterday
to strike out this section with a view to al
low three members to Minnesota, and that
motion having failed
Mr.. Douglas. II has not been voted up
on. The proposition to allow two members
has failed; but my proposition to allow three
has not yet been voted upon.
Mr.. TOombs. | was informed that the
vote had been taken and that the proposition
had been rejected.
Mr.. Douglas. IL | knew the fate of my
motion, should know exactly how TO shape
my action.
Mr.. Toombs. That being the case. shall
vote for the motion to strike out, as think
the question is one more properly to he sot-
tied in the House of Representatives. l
would leave that House to determine it &C
cOrding to their judgment of the facts under
this law, or let them make new law on &c.
count Of that one having been improperly
executed and when they send such law
to US, apprehend the Senate will be per.
fectly willing to take it as they have passed
it, they being judges of the election, qualif-
cations and returns, OF their own members.
That question being 30 peculiarly and const-
tutionally within their jurisdiction. Ichoose
to let them act upon it without being tram
melled by any action of this body. | do
not regard the constitution Of Minnesota as
in any way controlling this question. l
think that provision of the constitution en-
tirely nugatory. Ii is a question for the
House Of Representatives. or for Congress,
and prefer that the House should take into
consideration all the circumstances. ] am
ready to vote for allowing three members
but il that be not acceded to, will vote to
leave the matter to be settled by the House
Of Representatives. know that the popu
lation Of Minnesota is large. and increasing
and | recollect that when Wisconsin was al.
mitted the argument was expressly made
that the rapidity with which population
was pouring in would enttle her TO more
Representatives before the next census and
and she came in with three members, if my
memory does not fail me. This was unusual;
II was larger number than any census
which had been taken would allow her but
on account OF her peculiar position and the
rapid increase of her population, she was al.
lowed three members Of Congress. think
Minnesota ought to have three members. |
believe she has sufficient population for that.
Surprising that this body had already voted
/ down the motion to strike out the second
section and thinking it a more appropriate
! question for the House Of Representatives, |
was willing to leave it blank to be filed by
that House The question not having yet
been taken. shall vote for the motion TO 4,
I strike out when il is taken.
Mr.. Douglas will make proposition
by which. | think. We can get distinctly at
the object Instead Of moving merely to I
strike out the second section. propose to .
insert, in lieu OF it, provision that until the 4
next general superintendent the State of /
Minnesota shall have three Representatives.
Mr.. Gwin. | hope that motion will pre- /