St. Paul daily globe., 1893-10-13
INTO The union OF STATES
cENcES BY JUDGE FLANDRAU
ON THE STATES ADMISSION.
THE ENAnLIN ACT OF 1857.

Parties Split and Adopt Two
Constitutions A Committee
Converted the Two Into One.
On this historical occasion, being the
thirty-sixth anniversary of the adoption
or the constitution Of the state, l
thought some of The. incidents connected
with that event might be of interest to
the present inhabitants of Minnesota,
SO give you my recollection about that
period. On Feb. 6, 1857, the
congress of the United States passed an
act enabling the territory of Minnesota
to frame constitution and apply for
admission into the Union. Politics were
at the boiling point, as is usually the
case in territories, but it was peculiarly
so in our case, because the party called
now the ''grand old party" was then but
Kid of three years growth, and, of
course, was doing all it could
to make itself prominent, and
make believe it was of some
Importance. The Democracy which
had long dominated the country, and
which was in power in the territory,
looked down upon the newcomer with
disdain, and considered it an intruder
not worthy of much consideration.
An election was held under the en-
abling act of members of the constitu-
tional convention, and they met in st.
Paul Monday, July 13, 1857. 1t was
found that the Republicans and the
Democrats were about evenly divided
in numbers, and great struggle was
anticipated for the control of the con-
vention. l can give some idea of the
border condition Of things that pre-
vailed at the time when | say
that on my way down to the con-
ventiOu from Traverse des Sioux, where
l resided, l captured a thief who had
stolen $1,000 bag of gold from the gov
ernment Indian fund, of which l was
then the representative, and who came
down like Capt. Scott's coon and COM
mitted suicide in my arms at Hender-
son, by stabblng himself to the heart
as soon as put my siX-shooter under
his nose to arrest him. got the money,
land office at Henderson, and was on
my way in twenty minutes after the oc-
currence. Arrived in st. Paul, all was
excitement. The Democrats generally
conGregated at the Fuller House, corner
OF Jackson and Seventh streets; we
figured on quorum, and found that
Joe Rolette and the Pembina delega-
ton had not arrived. This delegation
was always reliable for the Democracy,
but whenJoe reached the settlements he
could not resist the destinations of civ
ilization. and generally fingered by the
waySide. We sent out couriers to hurry
them up, but had no hope of their ar
rival before the day set for the meeting
OF the convention, but we knew the
Republicans were as badly off for a
quorum as we were, and we awaited
events. On the night preceding the day
of the convention the Republicans,
fearing some coup d'etat on the part of
the Democrats (of whom they were in
mortal terror, took possession of the
hall of the house OF representatives and
slept there until the next day. We knew
what was going on, and concluded to out
general them, even If we were in a min
Orlty. We found precedents to the effect
that when a parliamentary body is
called to meet on day certain, and no
hour is fixed, then high noon is the
time. We also found that when no one
is designated to call such body to Or
der the secretary of the territory was
the proper officer. AS good luck would
have it, Charles Chase, of st. Anthony
Falls,w was not only secretary of the terri
tory, but acting governor and member
of the convention. We decided not to
go the hall until II o'clock, noon. At
that hour we proceeded in line, with
Secretary Chase. Gov. German and
Henry II. Sibley at the head, and en-
tered the hall. The Republicans were
awaiting US, not knowing exactly
what to expect. The column moved
down the hall until the head
was near the speakers desk when Mr..
Chase jumped into the chair and called
the convention to order. Immediately
after, John w. North did the same thing
on the part of the Republicans. Gov.
German made motion to adjourn
(Which was all preconcerted), Chase
put the motion, all the Democrats voted
aye, and on the negative being put
very large part of the Republicans
voted no. The motion was declared
We had no doubt that the convention
was legally adjourned, and that it could
not be legally convened without the
assistance of the Democrats; but the
took the bull by the horns
and opened up their convention, elect
ing ST. A. d. Balcomb, of Winona,
chairman. The next day at noon we de-
manded the hail, but it was refused, and
to save serious disturbance and un =
doubted bloodshed for all parties were
heavily armed), we took possession of
the senate chamber and opened up our
convention. We both sat about fifty-four
days, and each made constitution, but
they were so similar that we concluded
that it would be detrimental to the
state to attempt fight over them, and
sensibly, by the means of joint COM
sent it on to Washington.
There were some curious things in
connection with our entry into the
Union besides this double-headed con-
vention. We never were people who
underestimated our rights, so we elect
ed three members of congress. 1t is
quite doubtful If we were really en-
titled to more than one. The lucky
gentlemen were George L. Becker, of
st. Paul; N. W. Phelps, of Red Wing,
and James M. Cavanaugh, of Preston,
affectionately called sour Jim." They
went to Washington full of the reflected
gsJry of the North star, but soon found
that only two of them would be allowed
to take seats, and they in some myster-
ious way decided who should stay and
who return. History does not record
the process, but Becker was left out.
We had never supposed for a moment