The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-22

form Of government, the State being sovereign
having the right to direct their own affairs
in their own way. protest that any vote
which we may give here for the admission OF
Minnesota is not expressive Of any opinion
whatever, either for or against any feature
contained in her constitution, except that it
is republican in its form.
Mr.. Stuart thought that party considera
tons growing out Of our internal politics,
had alone caused the contentious which divi.
ded the members Of the Minnesota conven-
ton. The foreign element had no part or
place in that body.
Mr. S. said
The foreign vote in Minnesota, that is.
that vote which is described as foreign
vote, is, as it is in other States of the Union,
composing but very small proportion of
the whole vote. The difficulty in the Min.
nesota convention was a party difficulty, a
question Of whether certain delegates were
elected or not and each political organiza.
ton claiming to have a majority, seized up
on the earliest opportunity to organize, with
view to securing that result. The Sena
tor, apprehend, under his reasoning, would
find il difficult to distinguish between the
action of that convention, the action Of a
certain Legislature to which he referred,
and the action of the House Of Representa-
tives of the United States at the last Con
gress. The House of Representatives were
months before they were able to organize
Would il be said that that was on account
of the foreign vote of the country l,
might be said with equal proprety and with
equal accuracy. Sir, doubt if there was
man, certainly not any considerable number
of men, Of either party, in the convention OF
MinEsosa, wto vas iorrigGT. Tic idfgv
majority Of that body like the large major
ity OF every similar body in every State,
were citizens, and native-born citizens OF the
United States 1t is mistake, therefore,
to suppose that these difficulties, which orig.
mate in politics alone, have their origin at
all in the foreign vote of any particular
portion of this country.
Mr.. WILSON expressed his disapproval Of
the clause Of the Minnesota Constitution
extending the right Of suffrage to unnatural
lied aliens and denying it to native born in
habtants OF African descent. He should,
however, vote for the admission of Minncso.
sofa, as these were points to be decided by
the people of the several States.
Mr.. CLAY would vote against the admis
sion Of Minnesota for reasons which he had
assigned two years ago at the passage of
the enabling act under which this Constitu-
ton was formed, and with the repetition OF
which he would not trouble the Senate.
Mr.. HoUsroy would vote for the admis-
sion of Minnesota, with decided protest
against the doctrines embodied in her Con-
stltution with respect to alien suffrage.
Mr.. BRows expressed his entire concur
renee with the views of Mr.. IloUsroS on
this head.
Mr.. JoHSsoN. Of Tennessee, realhrmed his
argument in behalf of the power OF the
States to regulate and control the right Of
suffrage according to their pleasure.
Mr.. CRIrrgsDEs said that he would ad-
here in the present instance to the policy
which he had long prescribed to himself in
the admission OF new States that OF simply
inquiring whether the proposed constitution
was the will of the people and Republican
in form; though in consideration Of the mis-
chiefs which might accrue from the doctrines
contained in the pending instrument, he was
free to admit that be was not 30 well per-
suadei as formerly that these were the only
interrogatoric- which Congress might wisely
make
Mr.. GREEN thought the Senators on all
sides were pretty well agreed as to the alb
stract merits and dement's of the Minnesota
Constitution. lie hoped, therefore, the Sen
ate would torcgo the discussion and proceed
at once to a vote upon the real question be-
fore the body, which was whether Minnesota
should be- admitted or not,
This motion seeming to D. generally ac.
q,icsed in, the bill was put upon ts final
passage and carried Yeas A., nays ,. The
following are the yeas and nays
kas-Nessrs. Allen, Bell, Bigg-, Bright
Brodefck, Brown, Cameron, Chandler, Clark,
Cullamer. Critic nden, Dixon, Doolittie, Douglas
Durkes, Evans, Fitch, Pitchpstrick, Foot, Pos
ter. Green, Gwin. Hale Hamin. Hammond
Harlan, Houston, Hunter. Johnson Of Arkaa
sac johnson Of tennessee, Jones, hing, Mallory,
Mason, Polk, Pugh, Sebastian, seward. Sim
mons. Slidcll. sumner, stuart, Thompson. Of
NV Jersey, Toombs. TrumbuiI Wade Wilson
and Wright As.
EMps-r.. Clay, Kennedy and lnlee-3.
Two southern Psper- on Ls'ompt"r.