The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-25
Mr.. R,e.'s sohsn. of New states.

the Committee of Thirteen, to authorizes
State organization, including all the terri-
tory of the United States, south Of So deg.
30 min., and another State north of that
line, has been received with very general
favor. Senator DAVIS, Of Mississippi, sup
ported it, and Senator SEWARD, of New
York, was understood to have withheld bis
vote, only because be favored, as prelimi-
nary measure, the admission of Kansas,
with the boundaries fixed by the Wyan-
dotte Constitution. Subsequently, Mr..
ROBINSON, of the New York Legislature.
brought forward the proposition, qualified
by the prior or simultaneous admission of
Kansas /; and there is every probability that
the Empire State will be recorded in its
favor. .,
Mr.. LIZ BLOND has also introduced into
the Minnesota Legislature resolutions ap.
proving the RICE, SEWARD plan and we
still hope that when the hour for the con-
sideration of practical measures shall arrive,
that it may command majority of votes.
1t has one decided advantage. 1t is an
act Of Congressional legislation merely. re-
quiring only majority Of both houses, and
the signature Of the President it would
effectually dispose of the subject matter of
sectional strife and, what is essential to q
successful compromise, it ofends no pride of
opinion in any quarter. Every party, and
all platforms, agree that the right of local
regulation is plenary, when State govern.
ment is organized. a9Q ..gll
But Mr.. R1cE's original resolution pro-
posed to dispense with all existing terrific.
rial organizations, substituting therefor the
theory and practice OF State sovereignty !;
and the objection was urged that the remote
Territory of Washington, and the region Of
the Upper Missouri, west of Minnesota,
could not be conveniently governed from
those centres of population on the Lower
Missouri and at Pixies Peak, which might,
appropriately enough, be associated under
one civil organization. To obviate this
objection, as we infer from the Senator's
proposition, reported by our kilograms of
January 10th, some notifications of the
original scheme of States are now brought
forward.
The figures of the telegraph are always
inaccurate, but we gather the following as
the new features proposed
l. An enlargement of the jurisdiction of
Oregon, so as to include the Territory of
Washington. ai1 l-
2. An enlargement of the jurisdiction of
Minnesota, so as to embrace the proposed
Territory of Dakotah, and the portion of
Nebraska lying north of latitude 43 degrees.
3. The readjustment of the limits of
California, SO as to include that portion of
Utah and New Mexico lying west Of the
Hath degree of longitude.
Let us unroll the map of the United
States and see what remains. By the above
programme the pioneers of Minnesota are
entrusted with the development lin connec-
ton, let us hope, with an overland mail and
a North Pacific Railroad,) of the eastern
slope of the Rocky Mountains, north of
latitude 45 degrees west of the Rocky
Mountains, the channel of the Columbia
and the harbors of Puget Sound are en-
braced 10 the State of Oregon, as they
should be; while the Washoe minss
and the Carson Valley settlements,
are given to California, whence
their population has emigrated, and to
which all their interests gravitate. And
then we return to the original proposition
two States, one north of latitude Sc deg.
30 min. Tor latitude 81 deg, conforming to
the present northern boundary Of New
Mexico,) and one South. What will each
comprise 2 aa4 .aehea v
I. Kansas, the proposed Northern State
would include the dense agricultural settle
ments, surrounding Omaha City and Leaven-
worth, the mining population of Pixies
Peak, and the Mormon community Of Salt
Lake-clasped together as these now are,
and soon to be made homogeneous by mails,
telegraphs, railways, and thepi exchanges
Between farmers, miners and graziers. This
would be great State, but no larger than
Texas. oIoisssW
j 2. The remaining Territory Of the United
States, to wit New Mexico, except small
angle on the West, transferred to California,
1 and perhaps o small district north Of lati.
. tude 81, included in the limits Of Kansas.
This scheme parcels what j. knowA ton
maps, a. the HGreat American Desert"
into six States Texas, New Mexico, Cali
fornia, Kansas, Oregon and Minnesota.
Are they too largef Texas and California
s. ara erester States-sbettef satis6eds-more
n -. ,i,i, rlss sd t.s.S ~