The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10
LEGISLATURES OF MINNESOTA,

LEGISLATURES OF MINNESOTA.
SEVENTH SESSION.
SENATE
MONDAY, February 6.
PROTEST.
Mr. SMITH presented q letter from Allen
Harmon, one of the Commissioners who took
the soldiers vote in 1865, protesting against
the bill which has passed the House. allowing
extra pay to said Commissioners. The letter
was read, and referred to the Committee on
Finance
SOLDIERS VOTING.
Mr.. SMITH also introduced resolution in.
structing the Special Committee on Constitu.
tional Amendments to ascertain if any legisla-
ton Is necessary to secure the right of suffrage
to the soldiers.
SUPREME COURT REPORTER.
Mr.. NUTTING introduced bill amending
the act regulating the duties of the Reporter Of
the Supreme Court. Read the first time and
referred to the Judiciary Committee
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
Mr.. SMITH introduced bill proposing an
amendment to Sec 1, Art of the Constitution,
90 that reading shall be qualification for the
right of suffrage. Read the first time, and
referred to the Committee on Constitutional
Amendments.
COURT IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT
Mr.. SWIFT introduced bill regulating the
time of holding Court in the Sixth Judicial Dis
trict Read the first time.
MILITIA LAW
MIR. SPRAGUE offered resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Military Affairs to in
quire into the exrediency Of continuing the
present Militia Law.
BILLS APPROVED.
A message was received from the Governor
announcing that he had approved the act an
thorizing the county of Blue Earth to issue
bonds. and also the act for the improvement of
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. BAXTER rose to correct an error in
our report OF last Thursdays proceedings. He
said:
In the reported proceedings of the Commit
tee OF the Whole considering the bounty bill,
on Ihursday last, am reported as having
said that the town of Shakopee had never
furnished man from her own precinct for the
service. only spoke of what she had done
durlng the past year in that respect comparing
that town, being town of wealth, with one
not 80 fortunate. did not intend to east apy
slur on the town of Shakopee, for am well
aware that her record during the war, has in
all respects been good
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, Feb. 6. 1866.
BY Mr.. TAYLoR@of e Citizen, Of Rice COM,
ty, praying for change in the Constitution of
the State, 80 as to confer the right of suffrage
upon negroes. Referred to Committee On
Elections.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr.. CROOKER-H. F. No. 12f-a bill
tor an act to incorporate the city of Owatonna.
Read a second and third times.
BY Mr. SHANDREW (from Committee on
Insurance)-a. r. No. 1872, substitute for RI
Z: No: SS-an act for the further regulation of
Fire Insurance Companies doing business in
this State. Ordered printed.
BY Mr.. GILFILLAN-H. T. No. 1874 bill
for an act to ratify the amendments to the Con.
s!itution of the United States, proposed by the
CONGRESS thereoi, by an act approved -.
By Mr.. OSCAR TAYLOR-H. +, No. 1914
bill for an act to amend an act entitled an act
to provide for the location and construction of
State road from st. Crow to Lake Superior.
Read a second and third times.
Also, II. +. No. 1864 bill for an act to
change and establish the boundary line between
the counties of Todd and Douglas. Referred
>~~~A~AAssSS
BILLS PASSED.
II. +. No. PA bill for an act to incorpor-
ate the city of Owatonna. Yeas 2z, nays O.
II. +. No. PA bill for an act TO amend an
act entitled an act to provide for the location
and construction of State road from Saint
Cloud to Lake Superior. Yeas q, nays 0.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE
House File No. 70-providipg for an amend
ment to the Constitution of the State by strik-
sfov or A.
scribing the qualifications of voters. was read
second time. The question being ON its en-
grossment for third reading.
Mr.. GILMAN said there was considerable
force In the remarks of the gentleman from
Winona. But the question of the right of suf-
frage and the classes entitled to it was one
more extended: BE moved to strike out the
word male from the same sentence, 90 that
1t should read" Every person of the age of21
years, &C., shall be entitled to vote" He said
the same remarks about the duty of allowing
the negro to vote would apply TO the fair sex.
4Dmen are tax-payers-they obey the laws,
and nave helped sustain our country BY SER
wees OF various kinds In our wars. They were
just az much entitled to the elective franchise
as other classes now debarred that right
Mr.. SMITH said the question was unexpected
and one that should stand on its own merits
He did not want to see it tied up with this bill
before Us. although in favor of it.
Mr.. GILFILLAN moved to amend the
amendment" provided that no female who
Is united In the bonds of matrimony shall
vote" He said that without such proyiso.
married men would have two votes, while he
would have only one: Laughter.
Nj. GILFILLAN'S amendment was then
voted on and lost
Mr.. COLVILLE moved to amend the
amendment by striking out both the words
male" and white. and submitting them to
the voters separately. Lost.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Gilman's
amendment. The yeas and nays being called
for ana ordered, there were yeas 10, nays n,
. follows:
Yeas--Messrs. Aldrich, Beatty, Colville,
Evans, Gilman, Goodrich, Guiteau, Peckham,
Poehler and Oscar Taylor.
Nays-Meesrs. Bulls. Chalfaut, Croker, Da-
Wis, Downer, Gibbs, Gilallan, Griswold, Hin,
Locke. Patteu, Rogers, Shandrew, Smith,
Stark, Stowell. Charles Taylor, Teachout, Tut
hill, Whittemore and Mr.. Speaker.
80 the amendment was rejected.
Mr.. GILMAN moved an amendment confn.