The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-13
A Sensible Speech in the Senate of
Mfnnesot~ by Mr.. Shilloek Of Brown
County. , .'f f. r.r -

Among the able men of our State SEN
ate whom we have heard in debate during
the present session there is none whose
views have had greater weight with that
body than the Hon. D. G. SH1LLooK, of
Brown county, the same gentleman who
distinguished himself for courage and Ca
pacity at the siege of New Ulm, and who
was severely wounded whilst defending
that place against the Indians. .....
Mr.. SHnLoCK possesses comprehensive,
cultivated, logical mind, and, considering
that he is of German birth and education,
his proficiency in the use of the English
language and clearness of expression, are
remarkable.
The following are his remarks, which
settled that question, on the bill pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, to the effect that the sessions of the
Legislature should be restricted to forty
days, which were made in the Committee
of the Whole of the Senate, on the 4th of
March, 1863. Mr.. SHuLocK said:
Nh. CHA1EMAN-I am opposed to the
proposed amendment of our Constitution.
Before we are going to amend any law,
and especially the fundamental law of our
State, we should be clearly satisfied of two
things: first, that the law is bad, and
second, that we will make it better by our
amendment. In the present case / am
not clearly satisfied Of either of those
things.
have read the Constitutions of several
States, and have sometimes pondered upon
our own Constitution, and from all that, I
have come to the conclusion that we have
very good Constitution, perhaps the best
in the world, though l would not say the
best that could possibly be made.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, am not much of
conservative, as you would call it, but
still l like to have some firm ground on
which to stand, and considering our Con-
stitution good one, should rather liken
the same to q firm and solid rock on which
We are going to build the future greatness
of our State, than to quicksand, ever
changing with the occasional notions of
every temporary Legislature, and with the
tickle undigested opinions of the general
public. think we have Constitution
embodying broad principles of justice,
humanity, and liberty, on which we may
progress considerable ways, without feel
ing any cramping restrictions.
Why then should this Constitution be
changed?
Perhaps some will say, other Legislatures
of this State have acquired the reputation
of being innovators and i1nprovers of our
Constitution, why should we not court
the same honor?
But, Sir, I dare say that those other
Legislatures who have attempted to lay
their hands upon our Constitution, have
inflicted upOn the same and upon our State
some very serious injuries, instead of i'm
proving the same.
The first amendment of our Constitution
ran our State into debt, to the amount
of some two and half millions of dollars,
without comforting thereby the least benefit
to the State; the second amendment,
which was an amendment to the first
amendment, straightway repudiated that
debt, and heaped dishonesty upon the in
debtedness Of our young State the third
and last amendment restricted our Legisla-
ture, by compelling the same to finish its
deliberations within certain limited time.
Now, these amendments do not look
very much like improvements. Our State
and our Constitution, instead of being
amended, have assumed ragged appear
ance by virtue of these very amendments,
and I am clearly of the opinion that our
State and Constitution would be at present
by far better off without any of these
amendments. The sad past experience
should give US q lesson, at least to act
with more deliberation and consideration
for the present and in the future. To
what does the proposed amendment amount
to? Simply to this, to restrict the Legis-
lature, the only popular branch of our
State department., still more.
All the powers of this State are vested
exclusively in the State departments of
the Legislative, of the Executive, and OF
the Judiciary. ....r.....
Hence every restriction of the powers of
any of these departments, results naturally
and necessarily in the increase OF the pow
ers of the other two departments. am
for maintaining the Legislature in its SOW
ereign integrity, because | know that of
all the departments Of the State the Legis
lature has always stood and always will
stand most firmly by the people and by
their rights. f .4 ia.ata I4ad2
Mr.. Chairman 1t is simply absurd to
restrict the Legislature to asession of for
ty days. 1t will require, in the first IN
stance, a couple of weeks until the new
members of tho Legislature become suffi-
ciently acquainted with each other, with