The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15
Minnesota legislature
SENATE.
FRIDAY. February 8.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. ERDMAN.

City of Saltwater. BY Mr.. BENNETT, requi.
ring the State to pay the expenses incurred IN
locating State roads. By Mr.. GALBRAITH,
REPORTS.
The Committee of Ways and Means, to whom
was referred the subject of the salary to be
paid to the Chancellor of the State University,
who is er-c6icio State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, reported bill giving him the same
salary as District Judge, l$2OO0,) which ena-
bles the State to obtain services at about one
half of the sum which is paid for similar servi'
ces in Wisconsin and Iowa.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. CLEVELAND introduced a joint resolu-
ton authorizing the Board of Regents to pro-
tect the University Lands, which passed its sec.
ond reading and was adopted under suspen.
sion Of the tules.
An act to authorize the counties of Scott and
Washington to issue bonds to fund the debts of
said counties. El
EXECUTIVE MESSAGE. o
The Governor sent to the Senate the commu-
nication of the Governor of Kentucky, encl0s-
ing the resolutions of the Legislature of Ken.
lucky. on the subject of sending Commission.
ers to the Convention called to meet at Wash
lngton, upon invitation of the State of Virginia.
THE PEACE CONVENTION.
The resolutions of the House refusing to send
commissioners to the Convention, or in any
way to recognise the existence of that Conven
ton, were taken up.
Mr.. CLEVELAND moved to concur in the
action of the House.
And the yeas and nays being called for and
ordered, there were yeas 10, nays 10, as fol
lows:
YEAs.--Messrs. Baldwin, Bennett. Cleveland,
Cook, Fake, Galbraith, Hayes, Holley, Nc
Laren, Reiner.
NAYs.-Messrs. Barney, Heaton, Jones,
Lynd, Roberts, Norton, Pell, Sanborn Smith,
Watson.
So the motion was lost, and on motion the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Prayer by the Chaplain, A. s. FISKE.
PETITIONS.
By Mr.. TEFFT, of 1s5 citizens of Lake City,
praying for prOhibitory liquor law.
By Mr.. HO SKINS, of citizens of Northf,ld,
relative to sale of school section.
By Mr.. SMITH, of citizens of Carver county,
relative to change of county seat from Chaska
to Waconia.
MAJORITY REPORT ON STATE OF THE UNION.
Mr.. BAXTER, from the majority of the Com
mittee on Federal Relations, submitted the fol-
lowing report on the communication of His
Excellency, concerning the request of Virginia
to this State to send delegates to the Cenven.
tion.
Whereas, The people of Minnesota, in view
of the unhappy differences now dividing the
country, consider it the first duty of an intelli-
gent and patriotic people to use every peace.
full effort to preserve the Union of these States
as we received it from our fathers, before re.
sorting to arms; and, deeming it proper to re.
spond as becomes free people, to the invita-.
tion from our brethren of the Southern States
to sen Commissioners to the Convention now
assembled in Washington. Therefore be it
Resolved, (The Senate concurring) that our
Senators and Representatives in Congress be
and are hereby appointed Commissioners from
the State of Minnesota attend said CnOvon.
tiOn.
Be it Resolved, That the Commissioners be
and are hereby instructed to act upon this I'm
derstanding-Thatt the people of Minnesota are
in favor OF the Union as it is and the Consttu
ton as it is. w. r. BAXTER,
(Signed) II. L. THOMAS,
w. F. PETIT,
Majority.
MINORITY REPORT.
Mr.. HOSKINS, of the minority of the Com.
mlttee, submitted the following:
Resolved, (The Senate concurring), That the
State of Minnesota will not send delegates to
the So called Peace Convention, or in any man
ner recognize the existence OF that Convention.
(Sgned) NC HANSCOMBE,
I'D. HOSKINS,
Minority.
Mr.. PAULDING moved to adopt the minori
ty report, Substituting it for the majority re-
port)
Mr.. LIE BLOND offered the following substi.
tute for the resOlutiOLs;
WI reas, In this alarming juncture of our
own natural government, it is by sages of the
land deemed eminently proper that there
should be Convention of delegates from the
several States to be holden at Washington, to
take into consideration and to adopt some
measure to save this Union of States, this union
of lands, this union of lakes, this union of
hands, this flag of our Union, forever; and our
worthy Governor having recommended that
this Legislature appoint three or more trusty
and prayer men to repair to Washington for
this purpose; and the enlightened people of
this great country having just passed through
one Of the most important and well-considered
contests under the testament of principle adop-
ted by the wise men of the party at Chicago,
and triumphantly succee ded in the election of
your leaders, and indicated and established
your principles, and being willing to make any
compromises and concessions that may be de-
sired for the safety of the Union consistent
with the supremacy of your party, and strictly
in accordance with the Chicago platform; and
since the election there are symptoms of wav.
erng in high places and occasional suggestions
that the objects of your platform have been
obtained, and we may now concede all our
Southern brethren require of US; therefore,
be it
Resolved, As the sense of this House that the
Governor be authorized to appoint three dis
Greet and respectable citizens as such dele
gates-but to require their faithful adherence
the Chicago platform, they be severaliy re-
CURED to deposit with the Treasurer of our
State, two thousand dollars each of the seven
per cent. Minnesota Railroad bonds, to be for
feited to the people of this State in case, in the
judgment of the Governor, they shall have
done, or concurred in, any act moons istent
with the original design of the trainers OF the
Chicago platform.
The yeas and nays being called,
The question was lOst--yeas s, nays 80.
Those voting yea, were Messrs. Cathcart,
Cheadle, Gregory, LIE Blond, and Warner.
The question was then taken on the substi-
tuition of the minority for the majority report.
(amended by Mr.. MORRISON'S resoiution.)
And the yeas and nays being called for and
ordered, there were yeas 30, and nays s. as
follows:
YEAs..-Messrs. Acker, Butter. Cathcart,
Chambln, Chapman, Cornell, Gregory, Hans.
come, Harkins. Hoskins, Howe, Hunt, Ken.
nedy, LIE Blond, Mantor. Mayhem, Morrison,
Nessell, Paulding, Sergeant, Sherwood, Smith.
Stewart, Strecker, Tattersall, Teift, Warner
Whiting, Wood, Mr. Speaker.
NAYs;-..Messrs; Banning. Baxter, Cheadle,
Child, .Driscoll, Hayden, Pettitt, Thomas.
So the substitute was adopted.
Init