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

doing.
| am also satisfied Of another fact that in
many instances persons have been registered
by the ceilsustakers who went TO Minnesota
as great many went into Kansas they
went there for the purpose Of settling them
selves they marked out their lands they
commenced their improvements, but had not
got their houses comfortably fixed yet so as
TO bring their families into them, and their
families were not there when the census was
taken for that reason. Most Of those FAM
lies are there by this time, or, in almost all
cases, will be there by the close OF the pres
ent season. differ entirely with the Sena-
tor from Vermont lMr. Colamer) on this
point. | think that in such a case the dom
icile Of a man and his family is not in Yer
mont or in whatever other State he may
have left, in Minnesota, If he had gone there
and commenced making his home, and had
not yet taken his family only because he had
not made his home comfortable enough to
bring his family into it.
am satisfied, therefore, that the popula-
ton Of that Territory is more than the two
hundred and forty thousand, which is the
conclusion at which some gentlemen have
arrived, by multiplying the amount Of votes
by six. There is further consideration to
be borne in mind. Minnesota is about equal
in point Of square miles, to the aggregate
territory Of the both States Of Ohio and
Pennsylvania and in many instances the
voting precincts were so far apart that there
were many men who were really entitled to
vote who were not able TO get to the precincts
and vote ; much less were they able to get
registered. In some Of the counties, the
gentlemen who undertook to take the cen
sus, were not actual inhabitants Of the coun-
ty. In the county Of Todd, for instance, as
] am informed the census that was attempted
TO be taken was taken by gentleman who
did not reside in the county, but who
was storekeeper in the neighborhood and
probably he returned only such persons as
came 10 his store and registered their names
themselves. The census of tha1 county,
think, showed about forty residents, and the
vote actually cast was one hundred.
In voting upon this question, |, for one,
will not consent TO shut my eyes to what !
know 10 be the condition OF new State
like Minnesota frontier State, where So
ciety is not settled down, and where the
people are not surrounded with all the con-
veniences for their voting or registration,
that belong 10 the older States. l am OPP
posed to the motion that is before the Sen
ate, and, 50 far from going for that, am in
favor Of giving this new State three Repre-
sentativss in the Congress Of the United
States; and do not believe, then, that she
will have anything more than very meagre
justice meted out to her. hope that, in
voting on this question, gentlemen will not
overlook the fact that the settlement in these
new States are OF such kind that you cam
not apply TO them the same standard that
you apply to an Old State that was in the
Confederacy when it was first formed under
| the Constitution. | have been told by n
gentleman who has had the very best means
VI Judging, that, in one county especially
nearly all the voters were in the category |
first named that is, they were making their
farms, building their houses, getting ready
TO bring their families there just as soon as
they should make their homes comfortable ;
but the families were not there, not because
that was not their residence, not because
they did not intend to bring them there, but
ouly because the physical circumstances by
which they are surrounded were such as to
make the father Of family forego their
presence only because he could not do other
wise, and do his duty to his wife and chill
dren.
Mr.. Douglas. 1t is well that we should
be sure that we understand the legal effect
OF what VIC are about to do. confess that
have my doubts ~ to whether the legal
effect of my proposition is to be what the
Senator from Georgia understands that it
will be. If his amendment be added to it,
| think it will then produce the opposite re-
suit TO that which desire. My PROPOSE
ton is to strike out the second section OF
the BILL in order to admit three members
from Minnesota. The Senator from Geor-
gia thinks that will not be the legal effect Of
il, and he proposes to exclude that conclu-
sion by inserting n provision that nothing
contained in the bill shall be construed TO
admit three members from Minnesota.
am very sure that if his amendment be
adopted. and the bill be passed in that shape.
/ Minnesota would have but one member I'M
der the law. n /, would then stand accord
| ing to the enabling act Ii we are TO be
governed strictly by that, suppose Mime
sofa can have but one Representative. The
provision OF the enabling act is, that she
shall have one, and such additional Repre-
senta,ivcs as the census ordered by that act
shall show her 10 be entitled TO. Now, the
census taken under tina, act, and returned
here, does not show population enough Tor
an additional member; and il. therefore, We
decide tlc question according TO the strict
terms of the law. she will be restricted 10
one member II we send the bill IN that
shape 10 The House of Representatives, the
! House viii have no discretion to 60 beyond
the law. The two Houses OF Congress, by
law. may say we have satisfactory evidence
outside ot the census, unofficial evidence,
that justiSes US in Designating the official,
and assigning 10 Minnesota two or thrce Rep
reseniatives; bu, If the law provides that
she shall have such number as the census n