The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-18

time enough TO consider whe; her their ere
dentials aud their election have been OF that
character 10 eu,itle them to seat. hops
We shall proceed with this bill and finish il
before anything else is done. l think it is
the greatest exigency that We now have.
The body is not cnmpleie. Two Of the
Judges that ought to decide upon all ques-
tons are excl ded, and it is id are to be
excluded till another question is settled. l
am opposed TO all tina, sort Of action by this
body. | want direct action ON every sub
that that comes before us, according to It's
character, and according to its exigency.
This is one Of the exigencies, in my opinion.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The Senator from
Mississippi mr.. BnowS seems TO be under
the impression that ! am going to apply one
rule to Minnesota and another TO KANSAS
desire to relieve him from any apprehen-
sion Of that kind SO far as am concerned.
lie is entirely mistaken in assuming that
regard an enabling act, as it is called, as es-
sential. Ihave in explanation Of that point
said in reply TO the Senator from Missouri,
Mr.. GREEN, the Senator from Pcnnsyl,a-
MIA, Mr.. BIGLER, and several other Sena-
tors, that deemed the want Of an enabling
act an irregularity which might be waived
or not according as the proceedings were
fair and just or not. do not regard IAN
enabling act US at all essential; because If
there is no enabling act, and il Congress.
therefore, has not given lis assent ~ the for
nation of constitution, yet if the people
proceed and make constitution, and when
il comes here we believe il embodies the
will Of the people fairly expressed, that they
have the requisite population. that the
boundaries are fair and proper, we may
waive the omission Of an enabling act ami
receive them into the Union. have voted
several times since have been member of
the two Houses Of Congress for the admis-
sion Of States under such circumstances aud
hence do not regard IN enabling act as at
all essential. II may be waived. The is.
sential point is that the constitution must
be the act Of the people embodying their
will.
| have not regarded submission to the
people as an essential principle. 1t is
fair way Of ascertaining the popular will,
when that will is disputed. 1t is means
Of ascertaining an end but If there is no
dispute that the constitution presented is the
will Of the people, it is no more essential to
have vote of submission, than il is 10 this
body on the passage Of bill that the yeas
and nays shall be recorded each time. II
you put the question and one Senator says
"ay," aud nobody says mo- You declare
il carried the viii of the body on the point
is not questioned bat if rise in my place,
at - an.,nr hos upl a. a., 4,
count or d sufficient number demand the
yeas and nays they are taken, IN order 10
ascertain tie o.>ential point, whether il is
the will Of the body that the act in question
shall become law. So with regard 10 the
question in X ansas and Nj neso'a Satisfy
me that the constitution adopted W the
people of Minnesota is their will, and ! am
prepared to take il. Satisfy me that the
constitution adopted. or said IN be adopted
by the people Of Kansas is their will, ard
am prepared to take it. will not apply
one rule 10 Minnesota aud another to Kan
sas. I viii never apply one rule TO free
state and another To- a sIaveholiiDy state.
hold each Of the Stat equal in this Con.
iederacy, and apply the same rue TO one as
10 the other.
have deemed this explanation nee; ssary,
in order 10 correct the erroneous impression
into which the Senator from Mississippi had
fallen. IL is al explanation which ] have,
in substance, had occasion TO make on two
or three previous occasions
Now, sir, in regard 10 the admission 81
Minnesota Iapprehend that there is no such
Irregularities "a enter into the essence Of the
question. shall be prepared TO show b.
yond all doubt, when the question comes up
that the constitution here presented il the
act Of the people Of Minnesota; that il em-
bodies their will that the enabling act has
Ieen substantially complied with that the
boundaries are those prescribed by Congress
in the enabling act that the population is
more than Sufficient for one Representative
in Congress {; aud that there are hone OF the
conditions omitted upon which she was 10 be
admitted into the Union. arm prepared
therefore Ia vote for the admission OF
Minnesota on her own state Of facts, and
then | will deal with kansas on her own
state of facts without reference IN Min.
pcsota. As ] stated before. show me a
constitution from kausa. that Is the act Of
her people, eInbodying their will, and you
viii MT find me voting against il, either
becarae of The absence Of an enabling
act, or because Of the absence nf formal
vote OF submission. or bcra1@ /, is slave.
holding State. or for any Other eause abe
having the proper boundaries and the reqni.
site population.
II ] know myself, II is my fyed purpose
20 deal with each ~ these questions sepa-
rai~Iy, each upon II. own state Of tact and
upon its own merits. When OREGON comes
and understand that her constitution Is
herc-l shall TAX up her case, and deal %
The same principles with bar, without IN
curing whether her Senators win vote this
way or ,ba, way on the Army bll, tbs way
Or that way Oh the Pacific Railroad biz,
this way or that way on Kansas; without
inquiring whether they are Republicans or
Democrats and without inquiring whether
her Constitution recognizes. tOeraies. o. pro-
hibits slavery. II he c"mes, she viii cons